submission by Derek Kennedy: Why the house Automation Hub? I’ve always been keen on the concept of house Automation, however two elements put me off getting started. One, the expense of a good HA controller (and I don’t imply a 24×7 PC). Two, She who should Be Obeyed hates wires running around the place.
So, I dealt with a buddy to establish a low entry expense HA controller which we phone call the ‘Home Automation Hub’ (or HAH). We are now almost two years into the project; it has taken a great deal of effort (especially on the software application side) however has been fantastic fun. finest of all it’s based on a re-purposed WiFi router that can typically be bought on eBay for around £10.
Getting started – The very first thing that was done was to produce the job Wiki which we’ve utilized to track all concepts as well as work done. Time was taken to replace the operating System on the system with one which we have all of the source code for (and open source back to the community). The system runs the BusyBox mini-unix kernel. Auto-update of firmware from our site was likewise implemented.
Then, we started to believe about what to manage as well as monitor. keeping the SWMBO ‘no wires’ thing in mind, we experimented with controlling RF mains sockets through a customized developed micro as well as RF transmitter. After some work with our ‘scope as well as on a MEGA8 advancement board, we had code to manage these which are extremely dependable in operation as well as with a great variety too.
Brett, my software application guru friend, started to designer the core functions on the HAH. He does this stuff extremely thoroughly. We were keen to utilize ‘open standard’ protocols, to ensure that the HAH can plug as well as play with other HA kit. Brett rapidly discovered xAP – a awesome broadcast based HA protocol. All ‘modules’ on the HAH are completely xAP compliant.
Custom Hardware – The link between our ‘custom hardware’ as well as the core router hardware is through the serial port on the router. Not numerous routers subject a serial port, however thankfully this design does. next I developed a little PCB that would in shape inside the router case. This adds four inputs, four relays, the RF transmitter, an LCD, an I2C bus as well as a 1-wire bus for reading upto 16 x DS1820 temperature sensors. We sent this off for manufacture as well as fortunately, the board that came back worked 1st time without any type of track alterations.
The HAH links to your broadband router as well as gets its IP address through DHCP. The allocated IP address is displayed on the LCD, so you understand where to point your browser at. My Sherline CNC desktop mill was perfect for cutting the aperture in the router situation for the LCD.
The awesome software application – Meanwhile, Brett turned out code like a guy possessed. The browser based UI started with a couple of easy pages to enable the RF remote sockets to be controlled, the values of the inputs to be checked out as well as the relays to be driven. temperature readings complied with soon after this. Pics of the UI are here. An xAP adaptor was established to speak with our customized hardware. A present expense support module was established to enable electrical power usage to be tracked. then an xAP to Pachube module enabled the system to log all datastreams as much as pachube.com arranged manage (rather than through the UI control) was next. An xAP to Google calendar module enables the system to be driven through events in a Google calendar. Twitter seems to be all popular these days, a twitter module enables manage of the system through tweets. Of course, the BusyBox OS enables the sending of emails too. The system can likewise send SMS messages – just plug in a Nokia phone. We have ‘Wake on LAN’ support too. fantastic for decreasing power by having PCs go to standby up until you requirement them.
HAH interfaces overview
Custom scripting – With all these modules in place, there seemed to be a requirement to enable interactions between the modules. e.g. if the temperature on sensor on reviews 25C, send an email alert; if the heater has been on for much more than an hour, turn it off; when input one closes turn off all RF switches. The ‘plugboard’ module, with its simple to utilize scripting language enables all of this kind of thing.
Practical utilize – In practice, everything works extremely well, solid as well as dependable in operation. quite ‘green’ since we reuse an old router that may otherwise be thrown away as well as it only draws 6 Watts of power, so not costly to run. I do keep an eye on temperatures in my basement workshop as well as can turn heating on ahead of showing up home. I can likewise get a tweet if somebody leaves the fridge door open. A dawn/dusk sensor, linked to an input line, enables me to script that illumination be changed on. SWMBO is pleased because the system (with the 1-wire bus connections as well as the other ‘wired’ sensors) sits in the basement. The RF mains sockets imply bit wiring is needed around the house.
What’s next for the HAH – Well, things aren’t so frantic now. Brett as well as I have great deals of day-job commitments. I’m tinkering with a RF receiver subsystem idea. This would utilize the xAP Bridge (which Brett has already coded) to hook as much as the HAH. We’ve tried to file whatever in as much detail as is needed to enable others to comprise their own HAH – difficult to understand if anybody has done this. would be pleased to hear if anybody believes this a worthwhile effort. Messages can be left on the HAH forum or on the AutomatedHome.com comments below.
Home Automation Hub : LiveBox on eBay : xAPAutomation.org
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submission by Derek Kennedy: Why the house Automation Hub? I’ve always been keen on the concept of house Automation, however two elements put me off getting started. One, the expense of a good HA controller (and I don’t imply a 24×7 PC). Two, She who should Be Obeyed hates wires running around the place.
So, I dealt with a buddy to establish a low entry expense HA controller which we phone call the ‘Home Automation Hub’ (or HAH). We are now almost two years into the project; it has taken a great deal of effort (especially on the software application side) however has been fantastic fun. finest of all it’s based on a re-purposed WiFi router that can typically be bought on eBay for around £10.
Getting started – The very first thing that was done was to produce the job Wiki which we’ve utilized to track all concepts as well as work done. Time was taken to replace the operating System on the system with one which we have all of the source code for (and open source back to the community). The system runs the BusyBox mini-unix kernel. Auto-update of firmware from our site was likewise implemented.
Then, we started to believe about what to manage as well as monitor. keeping the SWMBO ‘no wires’ thing in mind, we experimented with controlling RF mains sockets through a customized developed micro as well as RF transmitter. After some work with our ‘scope as well as on a MEGA8 advancement board, we had code to manage these which are extremely dependable in operation as well as with a great variety too.
Brett, my software application guru friend, started to designer the core functions on the HAH. He does this stuff extremely thoroughly. We were keen to utilize ‘open standard’ protocols, to ensure that the HAH can plug as well as play with other HA kit. Brett rapidly discovered xAP – a awesome broadcast based HA protocol. All ‘modules’ on the HAH are completely xAP compliant.
Custom Hardware – The link between our ‘custom hardware’ as well as the core router hardware is through the serial port on the router. Not numerous routers subject a serial port, however thankfully this design does. next I developed a little PCB that would in shape inside the router case. This adds four inputs, four relays, the RF transmitter, an LCD, an I2C bus as well as a 1-wire bus for reading upto 16 x DS1820 temperature sensors. We sent this off for manufacture as well as fortunately, the board that came back worked 1st time without any type of track alterations.
The HAH links to your broadband router as well as gets its IP address through DHCP. The allocated IP address is displayed on the LCD, so you understand where to point your browser at. My Sherline CNC desktop mill was perfect for cutting the aperture in the router situation for the LCD.
The awesome software application – Meanwhile, Brett turned out code like a guy possessed. The browser based UI started with a couple of easy pages to enable the RF remote sockets to be controlled, the values of the inputs to be checked out as well as the relays to be driven. temperature readings complied with soon after this. Pics of the UI are here. An xAP adaptor was established to speak with our customized hardware. A present expense support module was established to enable electrical power usage to be tracked. then an xAP to Pachube module enabled the system to log all datastreams as much as pachube.com arranged manage (rather than through the UI control) was next. An xAP to Google calendar module enables the system to be driven through events in a Google calendar. Twitter seems to be all popular these days, a twitter module enables manage of the system through tweets. Of course, the BusyBox OS enables the sending of emails too. The system can likewise send SMS messages – just plug in a Nokia phone. We have ‘Wake on LAN’ support too. fantastic for decreasing power by having PCs go to standby up until you requirement them.
HAH interfaces overview
Custom scripting – With all these modules in place, there seemed to be a requirement to enable interactions between the modules. e.g. if the temperature on sensor on reviews 25C, send an email alert; if the heater has been on for much more than an hour, turn it off; when input one closes turn off all RF switches. The ‘plugboard’ module, with its simple to utilize scripting language enables all of this kind of thing.
Practical utilize – In practice, everything works extremely well, solid as well as dependable in operation. quite ‘green’ since we reuse an old router that may otherwise be thrown away as well as it only draws 6 Watts of power, so not costly to run. I do keep an eye on temperatures in my basement workshop as well as can turn heating on ahead of showing up home. I can likewise get a tweet if somebody leaves the fridge door open. A dawn/dusk sensor, linked to an input line, enables me to script that illumination be changed on. SWMBO is pleased because the system (with the 1-wire bus connections as well as the other ‘wired’ sensors) sits in the basement. The RF mains sockets imply bit wiring is needed around the house.
What’s next for the HAH – Well, things aren’t so frantic now. Brett as well as I have great deals of day-job commitments. I’m tinkering with a RF receiver subsystem idea. This would utilize the xAP Bridge (which Brett has already coded) to hook as much as the HAH. We’ve tried to file whatever in as much detail as is needed to enable others to comprise their own HAH – difficult to understand if anybody has done this. would be pleased to hear if anybody believes this a worthwhile effort. Messages can be left on the HAH forum or on the AutomatedHome.com comments below.
Home Automation Hub : LiveBox on eBay : xAPAutomation.org
Want More? – Follow us on Twitter, Like us on Facebook, or sign up for our RSS feed. You can even get these news stories delivered through email, directly to your inbox every day
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