Components of a smart home system. Smart home: how it works and how to design? Do-it-yourself smart home budget option
About how the Belarusian company "Nero Electronics" started manufacturing components for a smart home. They took the matter seriously and even turned to Lebedev's studio, where they helped with the design of Belarusian devices. The key difference between the system, according to the manufacturer, is that it can be mounted independently without special skills. It is enough to be a moderately brutal man who knows how to hold a screwdriver in his hands and cling to the stepladder with his feet. We decided to test for ourselves how easy or difficult it is to make a smart apartment out of an ordinary apartment.
Understanding what and why you need is seemingly simple. It is enough to figure out how many points in the house need to be “wised up”, after which you can order devices. You will definitely need a server that will be responsible for setting up and managing the smart home from the application. Next - a bunch of sensors, remotes and relays. As it turned out, the issue must be approached responsibly. We, for example, scored devices with too much stock. Before moving on to the very process of teaching an apartment different smart things, first let's see what these devices are for.
Smart gadgets for a stupid apartment
Let's clarify that the system supports third-party sensors using the z-wave plus protocol with a frequency of 869 MHz. Belarusians do not have their own sensors, the company offers Polish Fibaro. If desired, you can connect any other sensors with a more humane price.
Server Oledo 7767 Host
The almost intelligent “head” of our house, which connects the command executors into a network, processes their indicators and allows you to control the system through an application via Wi-Fi or mobile Internet. There is support for GSM - you can install a SIM card so that the server sends SMS to the phone about certain events or receives commands through the same text messages to start some actions. But messages can also come directly to the application, so you can safely do without SMS.
The black box is equipped with a 500MHz processor, 512MB RAM, and 4GB storage. There is a battery that, according to the specifications, allows the device to last about 8 hours without being connected to the mains. The screen displays the current state of the server. Useful to find out the source of the problem in case of a lack of communication with the system.
Door and window opening sensor
We saw exactly the same or similar sensor for both y and y. The point is simple. In one set there are two cylinders - one is installed, for example, on the door leaf, and the second - on the door jamb. The sensors touched - it means that the door is closed, disconnected - it is open.
The larger one is attached with 3M double-sided adhesive tape, and the “baby” can be magnetized to the metal surface of the door frame.
Water leakage sensor
We are also familiar with such a thing since the review of the smart home from Beltelecom. You can place the sensor in a place of potential danger (for example, in the bathroom or in the kitchen). Leakage is determined by closing three metal legs with moisture. Additionally, the sensor is able to determine the temperature in the room.
Set and forget
Light, temperature and motion sensor
But this “eye” is already much more interesting. It is on this contraption that many smart home scenarios will be tied. For example, when the illumination level decreases relative to the set value, the lamp can automatically turn on. Has the temperature risen? We turn on the air conditioner. Did the person leave the room? Turn off all light sources. All three parameters can and should be combined.
The "eye" is attached to the plastic arc. It can be hung, for example, somewhere in the corner of the room, after which the sensor is placed there. And you can put it on any flat surface - the frame will hold on thanks to the flat "heel".
remote control button
Also seen before. You can remotely and wirelessly turn on or off the light or outlet. The device seemed to us of little use due to the presence of more interesting options for controlling the smart home system. But it can come in handy if you need an inconspicuous switch, for example, in the bathroom. Attaches with double sided tape.
Oledo Wall Mount
The same device that we preferred to the remote control button. With the help of a two-channel remote control, you can turn on / off the light or start and stop the execution of a particular scenario. Despite the simple description of functionality, in fact, this is a very nice thing that replaces the usual switches. This is because the Oledo is not tied to a wiring outlet - it is wireless and can be located anywhere. At least fill the whole room with such remotes.
There is a soft light indication of pressing. The remote control is attached to a flat wall holder, which, in turn, is attached to the wall with double-sided tape.
Oledo portable remote control
The same beautiful thing as a wall remote, but more advanced. Here you can already manage five objects. For example, a group of lamps in the hall, bedroom, kitchen, hallway, bathroom and toilet. Initially, the remote control has a sticker with hints. If you remove it, you will be left with a beautiful, minimalistically designed, but not very clear device. We got used to the location and purpose of the buttons for a couple of days, using the prompts on the film.
The device is equipped with an accelerometer. When you take the remote control in your hand, it automatically highlights the last active channel. The device can be left anywhere - just like a TV remote control. But in order to bring a little organization to life, the Belarusian manufacturer has provided a square magnetic holder. It, as you already understood, can be attached anywhere with adhesive tape, and then magnetize the remote control. Experimentally, it was found that Oledo is "friendly" with any metal surface, even with a refrigerator.
Remote in film
Remote without film
Smart Relay Intro
Here is the most necessary device for a smart home. It is thanks to him that automation of the work of lamps and sockets is possible. The bottom line is that the device is actually built into the existing circuit, taking control of turning something on and off. On the example of a lamp, everything looks like this: network wires are connected to Intro on one side, and wires from a chandelier or sconce on the other. After that, it will be possible to control the light source, underfloor heating and other electrical appliances both using a wireless remote control and through the application.
Embedded Oledo Remote
This device is needed in order to maintain the functionality of existing switches. The fact is that after installing the Intro relay, the lamp will no longer respond to the standard switch - it will be possible to control it only through the "Lebedev" remotes or a smartphone. The built-in remote control is installed in the mounting cup of the switch and connected to it.
In our opinion, so-so device. Still, if we make a smart home, then first of all we rely on new ways of managing it. And Oledo's built-in remote actually offers to keep what we already had. However, Nero Electronics notes that most people, on the contrary, strive to maintain the functionality of existing switches. This is understandable if we are talking about a ready-made design repair, which provided for the presence of a specific type of switches.
Note that all devices are wireless and communicate with each other via radio. This should greatly facilitate installation compared to conventional wired systems. Well, let's move from theory to practice.
And why am I not an electrician?
Setting up sensors and installing a server is easy. Remembering the experience with connecting a smart home from Beltelecom, we first set ourselves up for a long and full of bugs procedure. But no - the server "starts up" and finds the network via WPS within a minute.
In the same way, sensors, remotes, relays and other good things “jump” into the application installed on the smartphone. Somewhere you need to read the QR code from the box of the device, somewhere you additionally press the button hidden in the sensor.
But with the installation, people with improperly growing hands may have problems. In Nero Electronics, they believe that it will take an average man about 7 minutes to install one point for a handy man. I have to admit to my own "non-handiness" - in our case, it took more time. No, the same "eye" with motion, temperature and light sensors was taken and placed or hung where the soul wishes - there are no questions here. Or an opening / closing sensor - glued it on an adhesive tape and clap your hands.
But the relay ... Yes, there is a simple video instruction, but in life the most unexpected circumstances can interfere with you. Stretch ceilings, short stature and a small stepladder, the lack of a screwdriver of the right size, all these tinting of “phase”, “earth” and “zero” ... And if you come across a tricky lamp with a bunch of “extra” wires, then it’s quite a disaster.
True, over time, the necessary “skills” are pumped over, and the work is simplified. It took me about 30 minutes to automate the first point in the bedroom. This is taking into account the nuances in the form of finding the right tools and finding out the reasons why it didn’t work the first time. Here we met with an important nuance, which was mentioned above. Once you connect the Intro smart relay to a luminaire, it will no longer be possible to control it with a conventional switch.
In order to leave the functionality of the switch, it must be disconnected from the power supply and connected to the Oledo built-in remote control. At first I did that, but then I decided that it was superfluous. Instead, I reconnected the switch to the mains and left it in the on position. At the same time, the light did not turn on, but the lamp began to respond to commands from the smart remote control and the application. Automation also kicked in. That is precisely why the built-in remote control in our case turned out to be superfluous.
ON
It seems to be something complicated - take it and automate everything around, get smarter with the house! But for this you will have to master the application, and this is not as easy as it seems. The interface of the program seems to be confusing from the habit, many actions are scattered across different menus. For example, to set up a timer relay, you need to go to a separate menu, although, in our opinion, it would be logical to duplicate the same functionality when programming events.
The difference between events and scripts, administrator and super-administrator rights is not entirely obvious. In all this, it is unlikely that you will be able to understand the theory - you need to master the wide, but intricate possibilities of the application directly in the process of teaching your home. It also doesn't hurt to check with the manufacturer.
Wishlist
We have a standard two-room apartment. Silly as a cork. The task is to turn a dwelling from a dull cave into a spaceship that will not be able to fly into space, but will at least slightly simplify our everyday life.
After some thought, after studying the capabilities of a smart home from Nero Electronics, it was decided to do the following:
- In the hallway, the light should turn on automatically when a person enters the apartment, as well as when he moves at dusk. Without human participation, all good things must also be turned off.
- Bathroom. It's simple: went in - the light turned on, went out - went out.
- There are more light sources in the hall. It was decided not to touch the main light with automation, leaving the opportunity to illuminate the room to its fullest using a portable remote control. Two floor lamps should be switched on in low natural light conditions and in the presence of a person.
- Balcony. This room is small, but advanced. It is equipped with a full-fledged office with a computer, a squiggly lamp and a warm floor. The task is to turn on the heating at temperatures below 19 degrees, provided that there is a person here, that is, me.
Let us clarify that the described case of apartment automation is not the most ideal in terms of possibilities. So, in the test version of housing there was no air conditioning, electrovalves blocking the water, roller blinds. Imagine how the curtains themselves rise and fall depending on a given threshold value of illumination. The same air conditioner can heat or cool the room by the arrival of the owner. If there are children, then for them you can set the work of the set-top box, computer and TV according to the schedule. All this is cool, but our tasks were more trivial.
Reality
We start making dreams come true from the hallway. We install an open / close sensor on the door and slope. In the application, we prescribe the condition: if the sensor detects the opening of the door (at the same time, the illumination is below 100 lux and there is movement), the lamp turns on. Works! To automatically turn off the light, a timer was set in the relay settings - 5 minutes. This is more than enough to remove outer clothing. And you can do it without a timer - by setting automatic shutdown when there is no movement in the hallway.
The light in the hallway also turns on when motion is detected, if the illumination is below 100 lux. Turns off if there is no movement.
From the hallway, everything was automated with a bang. The bathroom is more difficult. Install a second open/close sensor. Light up the opening - done! But how do you pay it off when you're out? Do you turn off the light when you close the door? Then you won't be able to close the bathroom door when you go in. Maybe add a motion sensor? Here it is necessary to make a technical explanation. As soon as the sensor has detected movement, it makes the next poll of the situation in 30 seconds. If at this moment you are lying relaxed in the bath, no movement will be detected and the light will go out.
But what if you program the light off to open the door too? Perhaps the system will sequentially execute different commands in a chain? That is, at first, as soon as you open the sash to go in to take a shower, the lamp will turn on. And the shutdown command will work a second time when you are already leaving. Alas, but no - in this situation, the lamp turns on sequentially and immediately turns off at the first operation of the opening sensor.
As a result, they found such a way out: when entering the bathroom, the light turns on automatically using an open / close sensor. But we turn it off ourselves through the Oledo remote control.
The heating of the balcony turned out very well. True, during testing, the temperature there did not fall below 19 degrees, so for the sake of the experiment, a threshold value of 23 degrees was set. You go onto the balcony, the sensor detects the movement and the temperature of 22 degrees - the warm floor immediately turns on. As soon as the temperature rises to 23 degrees, the heating is turned off.
We thought that the following problem might arise: you are sitting on the balcony at the computer, the temperature has reached 23 degrees - the warm floor is turned off, the temperature drops, but the sensor does not detect movement and you start to freeze slowly. As practice has shown, you will not sit at a computer completely motionless. Let the "eye" detect you not immediately, but it will find you anyway, and the extra few seconds or even minutes in this case do not matter - the system will work and will not leave you alone with frost-covered windows.
It is important to note that the sensor, as in all similar systems, reacts to pets. Therefore, if your cat in the absence of the owner looks at the open balcony, the system will turn on the heating for him. And you may end up with a nasty electricity bill at the end of the month. If we are dealing with a clearly normalized working day, then as a way out of the situation, you can set the schedule for turning on the underfloor heating. For example, the event does not fire on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
When automating the lighting of the hall again had to compromise. The inclusion of floor lamps, depending on the illumination and when moving, works fine. I had to forget about the automatic shutdown again. Imagine that you are watching TV. On the couch. Lying or sitting. There is really little movement. In general, it all comes down to the fact that the system will constantly turn on and off the floor lamps. They say that the issue is solved by installing a second motion sensor at the exit from the hall, but we have not yet been able to verify this.
We automate the lamp in the bedroom
In addition to everything planned, they made a smart socket to turn off the TV remotely (just to have it). All lighting as a separate scenario was tied to a portable remote control, which was installed at the front door. They pressed one button before exiting - and everything is de-energized. But even if they didn’t, the status of a smart home can be tracked anywhere via the Internet. In the same way, you can manage individual objects.
Impression
The possibilities of a smart home are much more than those that we have described. We got the impression that the system will be of more interest to owners of large apartments and spacious private houses, stuffed with various kinds of home and climate equipment. Add here a couple of cameras for video surveillance (Belarusians do not produce cameras, but almost any model with Wi-Fi should be suitable), electric drives for roller shutters or roller blinds and smart relays in each socket or lamp - and here we have a ready-made system.
As for a small city apartment, at first retraining it into a smart one seems like a far-fetched idea. But gradually you get used to even small amenities. We, for example, really enjoyed using both the wall-mounted and portable remote controls.
During the testing of a smart home from Nero Electronics, we noticed several features that are important to consider. So, the presence of a pet will become an obstacle to the creation of a simple algorithm. You will have to strain your imagination, use several sensors at once so that the smart home outwits the cat, or carefully look for such an installation angle that would not capture a pet sneaking across the laminate.
The NeroHome application is still damp. It's not even about usability, it's about performance. Somehow our smartphone stopped connecting to the server. No matter what we did, the program did not want to log in either via the mobile Internet or via Wi-Fi. A couple of days later, the application wrote that it was not compatible with the system and needed to be updated. At the same time, there was no update on Google Play. I had to contact the manufacturer, who shared the current apk file. As noted in the company, we are talking about a single failure in the transitional test period.
And the application is very “gluttonous”. With NeroHome running even in the background, the smartphone may not survive until the middle of the day. Not surprising, since the program constantly communicates with the server and updates the data. You have to check all the time whether you forgot to unload the application from the phone's memory. It is better to immediately activate the disconnection function when working in the background in the settings.
As for the cost, the arithmetic is as follows. In our case, one Oledo server, one portable and three wall-mounted remote controls, five motion / temperature / light sensors, two door open sensors and seven Intro smart relays went to a two-room apartment. Not much, given that up to a thousand devices can be supported on a single system. The cost of the kit was about 2,700 rubles, and exactly half of this amount falls on Polish sensors.
The smart home system from Nero Electronics still needs to be developed. It can be seen that a lot of work was done on it, a huge number of little things were thought out, and the design was approached on a grand scale. On the other hand, much remains to be done, primarily at the program level.
The price, in our opinion, may scare away some potential buyers. Therefore, it is advisable to take the time to carefully consider all the functionality of a smart home, all scenarios and events. Perhaps it makes sense to look for more budget sensors. You see, with the optimal arrangement, they will need less than we used.
We note right away that the systems described below allow any more or less educated person to create their own entry-level automated home, spending a minimum of money and effort on this. And all the described devices are distinguished primarily by ease of installation and use, and not by their outstanding characteristics. All of them can be easily replaced with similar ones, it all depends on your preferences, the availability of devices for sale, and of several technical factors. In addition, we do not specify here where you can buy the devices mentioned in the article, you will have to do this yourself if the need arises.
"Smart" home surveillance system
The first thing that comes to mind when you think about home automation is keeping your home and family safe. Especially if you see your home as a space stuffed with "smart" (and not so) electronics. Therefore, it is very important to know what is happening inside your home and in its immediate environment, including when you yourself are somewhere outside the home.
There are many companies that offer smart cameras that can monitor your home while you're away, including iSmartAlarm, which just unveiled its new ICamera at CEDIA 2014. It has a resolution of 1280x720 and also has a night vision function. In addition, it naturally contains motion and sound sensors. An interesting fact is that the camera can be used independently, without the need to be included in a single "smart home" system. The main advantage of the camera over the competition is the storage function. ICamera has a USB port that allows you to connect a local storage of information, such as a powerful terabyte disk. Such a camera costs $149, which is in the middle of the price range for such devices.
Or, alternatively, you can use Withings' smart HD camera, which should be available soon. Not only does this camera look good and has all the environmental sensors you need, it also lets you see what's going on in your home from anywhere. The system has a live recording function, and you can see what is happening in the house through a mobile application, you can also zoom in to see the details. The camera has the function of sending an automatic alert if something happens in the house that is different from the usual order. The price of the camera is 200 euros.
Here are some more options:
"Smart" environment control
Surveillance cameras alone are not enough to ensure security in the house - with all their desire, they cannot cover the entire space and follow all events. Therefore, to control and ensure security, it is necessary to use sensors of various kinds, since their choice is now very wide.
Take the Notion security system, for example, which uses a small, multifunctional sensor that is exceptionally efficient. With it, you can know how much fuel was left in the propane tank when your child returned from school, if you have a water leak, what is the temperature in the refrigerator, if someone has touched your safe, and the like. The system includes a hub that manages all sensors and connects to the Internet via WiFi, multifunctional sensors capable of detecting 8 different actions and a mobile application based on iOS and Android.
The system includes sensors for lighting, temperature, proximity, an accelerometer and a gyroscope to control the opening of doors and windows, a water leak probe and a piezoelectric transducer. Each sensor can detect several different events, so the system will respond more accurately to situations and thus provide protection against erroneous operation. Sensors work up to two years without battery replacement.
The price of the device is not yet known, as the project is at the stage of obtaining funding for production.
Alternative environmental control systems:
"Smart" lighting
It seemed like a simple thing - lighting. But remember how many times you have to get up to turn on this or that lamp, how many times you think that it would be nice to be able to dim the lighting a little here and add it there. There are several systems on the market (plus a few in the near future) that allow you to control the light with your smartphone, but one of the first and deservedly trusted buyers is Philips Hue. Since this system appeared on the market, it has grown and changed a lot, but the original system allows you to control 50 light bulbs connected to a wireless network using a mobile application.
The system includes a bridge that connects the lamps into a single network, and a smartphone (or tablet) application that allows you to do a lot of things, such as setting certain modes, within which individual bulbs change the tone and strength of the light. The system has a number of preset modes: Concentration, Energy, Reading and Relaxation. They all feature different Philips Hue LED controllable settings.
Philips Hue even allows you to change the color of the lighting or turn on a special mode for when you are away for a long time, so that it looks like someone is at home.
And all these settings you can choose right from your favorite sofa.
Such a system is, frankly, not cheap. A starter set of a basic controller and three lamps costs about $300, each additional lamp costs about $80.
Here is a similar system, with the difference that it allows you to control the lighting with your voice. We are talking about a light bulb holder, called Vocca, which acts as an intermediary between an ordinary light bulb and an equally ordinary cartridge. The smart gadget has a speech recognition function: when it hears a passphrase, it turns the lights on or off. Voice control is not new, but in Vocca it is implemented in the most simple and convenient way: the device does not need additional equipment and does not require any configuration. There is also a Vocca Pro modification that allows you to change the passphrase, as well as control the lighting from your smartphone. In this case, Bluetooth is used for communication.
Here are also a few alternatives:
"Smart" heating
Just as with smart lighting, there are many possible solutions, some of which can do more than others. And you have to decide for yourself what you want from your heating system, apart from being able to control it with your smartphone or tablet. You should also consider what type of heating system or boilers you have in order to find a solution that will work with them. Which is not as obvious as it seems. For example, the NEST thermostat, popular in the USA, has only recently been sold in Europe and so far it has not been suitable for use with heating systems familiar to Russia.
One very handy system is the Honeywell Evohome, which connects to a heating boiler and room radiators, allowing it to control 12 individual zones from a single central console or mobile app.
Each zone can have multiple radiators, and you can set your own parameters for each of them. The Honeywell Evohome system comes with several preset settings that allow you to, for example, lower your home temperature when you are away from home all day.
The Evohome starter kit, which allows you to connect your boiler and water heater to it, will cost over $400, and each battery sensor will set you back about $80 each. Frankly, it's expensive, especially when compared with competitive solutions, but it's worth it. Still, it is better to entrust the installation of the system to specialists, it will take less time and ultimately allow you to save a lot of nerves.
For a simpler option, consider the ZEN thermostat, which is currently being collected on Indiegogo. This device does not even have a display: all information is displayed through a group of LEDs, and the thermostat is controlled by pressing the edges of the front panel. Nevertheless, ZEN looks stylish and performs basic functions - heating, cooling and ventilation control - very well. You can connect to the thermostat using an app for iOS or Android. It allows you not only to adjust the temperature and mode of operation, but also to schedule. Of course, all this can be done remotely via the Internet. The thermostat only supports the ZigBee protocol so far; to connect to a Wi-Fi network, you need to use a special hub.
The approximate cost of the thermostat is $150.
Of the possible options, the following devices seem to us the most preferable:
"Smart" power supply
If you are one of those people who periodically start to worry about whether you turned off the iron before leaving the house, or start to wonder why electricity costs have risen so much and what can be done about it, then systems that remotely control devices connected to the network help you deal with those worries. Now such systems have begun to appear on the market in increasing numbers and their main function is to be able to turn off electrical outlets from afar and, thereby, turn off unused equipment.
The D-Link Smart Plug is a simple, easy-to-use device. You just need to plug it into a standard socket, press the WPS button on your router and the button on the Smart Plug. And your smart plug is already online. Controlled by the mydlink Home App, available for iOS and Android, free of charge. The application allows you not only to turn the device on and off, but also to schedule it to turn on / off at a specific time, which is very convenient when leaving for a long time. The suggested retail price of the D-Link Smart Plug is $39.99.
Alternative options:
Smart home equipment
Starting to build a "smart home" with security, lighting and heating systems is a very good step, but if your budget does not deplete, then you can expand your options somewhat by considering the use of "smart" home devices. Today you can buy many different kinds of devices that are controlled using a smartphone, and Korean companies Samsung and LG are among the leaders here. But we will introduce you not only these manufacturers.
Due to the rapid growth in popularity of the intelligent home equipment control system "smart home", the market offers many combinations and options, both integral and expensive, as well as separate schemes for installing the "smart home" system with your own hands.
How much are smart homes today?
The price of smart homes has a fairly large fluctuation. It does not depend on the “appetites” of the companies, but on the technologies, functions and equipment used in the installation of the system. For 1-2-room apartments, a complete set of popular functions of an intelligent complex with installation and connection can cost from 4 thousand to 15 thousand USD. Let's compare, in a cottage the price for "smart houses" starts from 6.5 thousand USD.
An automated control system is not a cheap pleasure, and besides, its price depends on the presence of various functions in the kit. Some of them are included by default and significantly add value to the whole, although, for example, they may not be used by hosts at all.
By the way! Popular features include: lighting control, climate control, security and safety.
That is why the question of whether it is possible to install a smart home system with your own hands is relevant for those who want to save money on installation and selection of equipment.
In fact, the technology and equipment for installation is not as complicated as it seems. And if the money issue is not in last place for you, then you can choose only the necessary minimum of functions, as well as independently install the Smart Home system.
Advantages of self-assembly
The installation price is about 30% of the total cost of the complex. Therefore, the independent construction of automated equipment is a way to significantly save in price. In addition, in this case, you can independently select the elements of one reliable manufacturer, optionally add or change the functions of the entire complex.
Experts say that if a person needs to cover all the functions, then it is better to take a ready-made version of the complex, which will cost the consumer 400 thousand rubles, plus additional installation costs. “And if you want to save money and are ready to do everything by hand, then you can dig deeper and assemble a good system for 40+ thousand rubles,” Oleg, a forum user, shares his calculations.
You can independently equip a house with intelligent automation in two variations: buying a ready-made budget option with ready-made installation schemes, or creating and developing a project from scratch.
Ready-made smart home systems provide for easy do-it-yourself installation, without complex programming. They most often have a wireless communication channel, so their installation is possible without dust and dirt.
Self-creation
- Installation of a smart home system begins with the preparation of a project. You must decide what you want to see ideally in terms of functionality. Most often it is the control of light, doors, heating, alarms. In addition, it is important to understand how you will manage all this.
Sit down and think about what is important for you to have in a home automation system. It is better to write a full technical task on paper. This should include the desired number of light points and switches, as well as their type, the approximate level of loads, the number of devices regulated by automation (heating, underfloor heating), the number of sensors.
Such a task will make it possible to determine exactly how many and which interfaces will be interfaced with other automation devices.
- Next comes the purchase of equipment. According to the project, you will need to buy a variety of controllers, servers, wires, and so on.
From what communication model your automated system will support, there is a purchase of information exchange protocols. This can be communication via electrical wiring, via separate wires, or via a Wi-Fi radio signal. Remember, if the repair has already been made, then it is better to choose a wireless communication channel so as not to hollow out the walls again, laying meters of cables. The type of controller also depends on the type of communication.
- Selecting a management server. Here you can install a touch panel PC with server software or a special panel. The latter costs more, but is considered more effective.
It is important to understand that the control of all smart home functions can be carried out not only when you are at home, but also remotely. For example, by mobile phone or via the Internet. Being anywhere in the world, you can simply send an SMS message to the intelligent system with the order to "turn on" the desired sensor so that the action is performed.
- Cable laying.
- Commissioning works. At the final stage of finishing work, you must install server, switchboard and other equipment, connect cable products.
- Programming, configuration and compatibility testing of all installed systems. This is one of the most important stages of work. It is necessary to carry out basic programming of the individual elements, carry out the configuration of the upper level of automation and test the software.
How much will the equipment cost?
As for equipment and prices for it, then you can decide for yourself which technique to use. Ordinary household appliances differ in price from “smart appliances” by 2 times, but according to experts, for example, the same air conditioner in a smart home system will play a key role and it’s better not to save on it.
Where can I find diagrams?
Schemes in ready-made budget options for intelligent automation for the home are offered by the manufacturers themselves. With self-assembly according to your own project, you can focus on the diagrams posted on the network in various forums dedicated to the smart home system. The scheme in this case will be tested on personal experience by a person who recommends his own version of laying and interfacing automated communications.
When will the system pay off?
A fully-fledged smart home installed by specialists is not cheap, but it will pay off in 5-8 years due to the possibility of saving on electricity, gas, water, heat, etc. . And if you install this intelligent system yourself, you can not only reduce the cost of buying expensive automation, but also periodically supplement the smart complex with new equipment, depending on your needs. Well, if there is not enough money for a smart home yet, then you can buy an apartment in a new building in Krasnodar in the Chocolate LCD and the Matryoshki LCD.
Video about setting up a smart home system.
I work in the company "Konvir" as a system administrator and programmer. It so happened that the office, laboratory and production are located in different places. I am sitting, in general, on the "Preobrazhenka" in a small room. But not far from home, and Internet communications are just excellent, with inexpensive traffic.
My side is sunny. Hot or cold depending on the weather. I put an air conditioner in the window, otherwise it’s not up to work during the heat. To make it cheaper, I bought a flow-through air conditioner ($ 180), at the same time, it ventilates the room, unlike a split system. I don't open the windows now, there's less dust!
In general, everything is fine, only with this air conditioner is a hassle. He doesn't have a remote control. He is so simple. And it stands at the top and it is inconvenient to climb to it. Another ambush. All these problems with climate and lighting are very distracting, and for me to focus is a big problem. I started thinking about this all the time. Well, I figured it out.
Our company is engaged in the manufacture of automation, including for the so-called. . Therefore, I didn’t have to go to the side for the “device”. And since you can’t ask for money from the authorities for all this, I did everything to a minimum, from the point of view of money, and, to the maximum, convenient for myself. My room is shown in Fig. one.
In general, everything is very simple. Workplace with a computer (1), air conditioning (2), electric heater with two heaters (3), code lock on the door (4), server rack with communications (5). Well, there is furniture, walls, lighting, in general, everything is simple ... The next task is to combine and automate all this more simply. I introduced my idea to our director and received a free voltage regulator (VCR) and an adapter to a computer. All electrical systems are controlled from one IRN. A simplified connection diagram is shown in fig. 2.
Scheme for connecting the nodes of the "Smart Cabinet"
IRN (1) has nine 220 Volt switches. They control the operation of the door lock (2), the air conditioner fan (3), the air conditioner compressor drive (4), the air conditioner heater (5), the electric heater (6), three electric lamps (7), general, table and spot along the walls.
Thus, I can: open the front door, ventilate the room, cool the air in the room, heat it and light up the room. Lighting involves 6 schemes for switching on lamps, plus, adjusting the level of light. IRN also makes optimal on-off switching for incandescent lamps. All devices can be controlled manually or automatically.
For automation, sensors are connected to the inputs of the IRN input block: code, for an electronic key (8), movement, for alarm (9), fire, for firefighters (10), temperature (11) and illumination (12). The IRN connects to the server via a COM port.
You don't need any super expensive adapters. Our additional exchange software is standard. The server works for me under Linux (Gentoo). On it "hangs" the Internet site and mail. Naturally, the IP address and access are permanent. The system is tied into a sql database and the "apache" web server, I already installed this for the site. The work is logged in the sql system, and managed and monitored through the web interface. I spent two days setting up the system and writing the “website”.
As a management console, you can use a work computer on the table, a mobile phone with a browser, or any remote computer. The whole system controls the climate, lighting, code lock. An example in the browser is shown in Fig. 3.
If I need to reconfigure something, I use the computer on site. When an emergency situation occurs (plus the protection of the IRN monitors accidents in the system itself, for example, a burnt out light bulb or malfunctions in the shadows), the server sends me an SMS to my mobile.
I can see what's going on remotely. I also have a webcam connected to the server.
There is a power saving mode. When I'm not at my workplace it's warm and the air conditioning almost doesn't work. I have left temperature and light sensors from some project along with a door card and an electronic lock. But the motion sensor had to be bought, "hit" for 485 rubles. So that turned out not quite free :-).
That's basically it...
Vadim Yezhov