Home Automation Idea

[David_AVD]

A quick Google search showed this from a home automation web site:

It should go without saying that you can't do any electrical wiring yourself, you must use a registered electrical contractor. It is also illegal to install extension cords or power cords as fixed wiring.

I seemed to recall an electrician friend saying the same thing.

[peter.mitchell]

A quick Google search showed this from a home automation web site:

It should go without saying that you can't do any electrical wiring yourself, you must use a registered electrical contractor. It is also illegal to install extension cords or power cords as fixed wiring.

I seemed to recall an electrician friend saying the same thing.

See, this is where it gets a bit confusing, because doesn't that mean downlights with plugs that plug into sockets in your ceilings are illegal as they have power cords (and if they have dodgy SMPS drivers, they also have power chords)?

[David_AVD]

I think the key to it all is "extension cords", not "power cords".  Of course the power cords on down lights, etc are perfectly legal.

[-DOM-]

Sorry buy extension leads i meant power coble with plugs at there eands allowing the downlights to be plugged into.

[peter.mitchell]

Inside the transformer/driver for the downlights the cords are usually in screw terminals, so just unscrew and stick some IEC leads on, plug em in, plug this into a socket in the ceiling, tada!

[NiHaoMike]

yeah i didn't think of everything else causing issues with the x10. Pretty sure there is a similar product that includes confirmation signals.

Don't bother with making general purpose switch modules two way since that greatly increases the complexity. Just have the central controller repeat commands many times on every requested state change and also have it resend the state of all modules periodically.

For critical applications, you'll want some form of feedback to check if the desired end result is accomplished, so you'll be able to catch faults due to reasons other than the switch.

[C]

X10 devices can be effected by happenings on the power line because it is using power line communications.

The device DOM listed does not use power line communications, it uses network communications to control power line. It should only be effected by network problems.

C

[kxenos]

If you are in the mood of making this on your own, an arduino with a cheap SMPS 5V adapter, ethernet shield and some 5V relays would do the trick just fine.

[C]

If I was going to build one of these, I would not start with an arduino. Yes an arduino could do the job. When you start doing USB with an AVR, you should use a AVR with a USB Controler built in unless you wish to cripple your options on USB. The same is true if your project is connecting to Ethernet. Yes you can do both of these with the arduino, but your device will always be a cripple on that connection.
Add up the costs and add in the complications/limits imposed by an arduino like choice.
If you start with something with more power you could do more faster and cheaper. I would start with one of the arm cortex chips with a Ethernet controller and more programming space. When an arduino is at memory limits, a arm cortex would still have room to grow.

An arduino with a USB to serial adapter is like the first digital cameras that talked serial, they required a special program to function with a PC. Later digital cameras act like mass storage and are quick and easy with a PC, but this step requires a proper USB controller. You can not upgrade the software to the later if your hardware is based on a USB to serial adapter.

C

 

[-DOM-]

I thought about making my own however at the price questioned if it was worth it?? Once you take into account plugs case Etc..

[kaindub]

DOM
my background is:
Lve in Australia
Electrical Engineer
Have an electricians licence
I guess itlokks likes I'm big noting myself, but its just to establish where I am coming from. The question you pose has many answers depending on who you talk to
I also worked for awhile for HPM

You can use the device you show but I'd check that it has C tick. If your house burns down and the device is at fault you may have problems with your insurance.
You can install this yourself, provided you jusy plg it into an exisiting power point.
Here's where it gets tricky. AS3000 (the wiring code in Australia) covers any fixed wiring in residential, commercial and inustrial buildings. Since you are going to run the wiring to several lights, your local supply authority may consider the wiring between this device and the lights as fixed wiring. In which case you need a licenced e;ectricianto install the wiring and possble the switch.
Because there is no inspection of buildings after construction, you can get away with anything, even if it does not comply with the wiring rules.
But as I mentioned if a fire occurs because of the device  or wiring, you'll face some hard questions.
In addition, if someone gets electrocuted, you'll have even more questions to answer.
What you actually propose is a sound idea. But its not what an electrician and the authorities would expect.
Maybe stick with the usual solutions. There are a number of relable home automatin systems available though they tend not to be cheap.

You also may want to consider the costs of all the wiring. Most home automation systems have the switch part close to the switched device to reduce wiring costs.


Robert

[-DOM-]

Cheers Kaindub much appreciated and very informative.

I am still waiting to see what approvals there are on the device and if it has a c tick.

I may try and find a copy of the Australian codes, worst case scenario i learn something new

As for the wiring costs i am installing new light so cant see that side being that much more in the scheme of things

Cheers again.

[homeautomationmelbourne]

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[wizard69]

New York State doesn't have it.

so can you do as you please?

Not at all, there is still a requirement to build to code in many cases.   Further if the state doesn't require inspection, your insurance company may very well.   Even the requirement to build to code and get an inspection varies a lot in some states, with no controls at al over what you build.   I suppose you could do as you please in these locations but then you get back to can you insure the structure.   

Frankly I really don't see a huge advantage to licensing.   I've seen some incredibly bad work done by so called electricians.    In any event if you do screw up an electrical installation, as a private person or a licensed individual, the big risk is prosecution for murder if somebody dies.   It is always a good idea to leave your installation code compliant to CYA.    The risk of years in the big house is actually more effective in making sure good work is done than having a licensing program.

[wizard69]

For a lot of areas,   licensing is just a protection racket nothing else.
C

At least in NY it amounts to a way to tax business yet again.    Licensing does almost nothing for the quality of work done.