Home automation? Maybe later

Recently I listened in on a discussion about home automation. A home owner who was planning to build a new house expressed his surprise that home construction companies do not propose any serious home automation systems. A plumber/electrician complained that he could not sell or repair such systems because he lacks the skills and the time to take courses and getting an external contractor in would make him too expensive. A teacher was raving about how home automation is the future, that intelligent buildings will help us save enormous amounts of energy and that we all must make our homes more intelligent.

As I was listening I wondered how home automation could make my life better. What would I like my home to do automatically? Know and control the temperature in every room? Automatic lighting? Nah, I am not going to program such a system. A house that cleans itself, that does its own maintenance? Now, that would be great! However, as far as I know, systems capable of doing that do not exist yet. Until their arrival I will continue living in a dumb house.

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Discussion (11 comments)

Steven Manzer 8 years ago

My Home Automation system started with a flood in our house. I put a Raspberry Pi in the basement to watch the pit level and the pump activity. The Pi was not doing very much so I let feature creep in....now it watches the temp in the basment and the freezer with alarms, it watches the garage door and closes it at 10pm if I forget to close it. The lights are on a schedule and I have full control by using a MySQL database/Apache webserver running a custom PHP web page. When in security mode, it emails pictures of people that are in or around the house.

Considering a $20K flood, this is a good investment. I also learned so much it amazed me.

I doubt if my implimentation of Home Automation saves me much on operating costs, it does hoever give me piece of mind, and makes life a bit easier and fun.

Steven Weber 8 years ago

If you are tech savy and want to create your own Tasberry Pi solution more power to you. However if you want someone else to take care of it for you we have a commercially available product that monitors you sump pump for power outage, raising water in the pit and water out side the pit. It wil then notify you via cell signal to your phone that there is problem arising. We can help Liaison Home Automation. LiaisonHomes.com

Anthony Melidy 8 years ago

Steve M, My insurance offered me a savings if I put in a second pump. The battery operated backup ones I found were made in China so instead I put in an inverter with a couple of marine batteries so I could rely on my regular industrial strength pump in the event of power failure. I got the discount but more importantly, I have not had a flood in the basement (from pump failure). I use a GSW sewage pump in my pit. Maybe a little overboard, but worth the peace of mind. I don't know if you can buy GSW anymore. Was you problem a power failure or pump failure?

2 Comment(s)

Anthony Melidy 8 years ago

Steven, I'm in a similar boat. about 10 years ago I had a toilet valve break (serious flood impacting all 3 floors of my house) and the insurance company sent people to fix everything cheap. They caused a lot of problems including mould. The cost is a major issue but the stress of dealing with 2 insurance companies is enough to cause a stroke. For peace of mind, I bought a beaglebone and now when there is nobody at home, the water shuts off. I can turn it on from anywhere in the world if someone wants to water the garden, etc. The software I wrote is quite clever and nothing like a stock thermostat with fixed daily settings. There are inputs for sensors to detect leaks (I am not using them). I have ubuntu with an http server running on the bone. PHP on the server. javascript on the client so any client will work as long as there is a browser. I can run multiple apps that can be downloaded from the internet for other automation features. When I built the system about 3-4 years ago, I went to a company that specializes in control systems hoping they would see the benefit and partner with me. The wanted me to go to consumer shows and find retail customers. I told them, I need contacts in the building industry so that they can be installed in 3000sqft, 3 car garage subdivisions. I have no means to reach this market. These guys wanted to make money off of my system but not do the hard work. I am an engineer and not a sales person. I also went to some "research" group and they told me what I did was old news and they were not interested. The project has just one customer. Me. I would love to revisit the project if someone showed some interest.

ClemensValens 8 years ago

Anthony,
Your project sounds very interesting. Why not publish it (in part or complete) on Elektor.Labs? Then our editors can examine it and decide if it is worth publication in Elektor Magazine. That would get you some publicity and maybe good contacts.

Anthony Melidy 8 years ago

Clemens, I am not familiar with the process you mention. I will investigate Elector.Labs as you mentioned when I get some time. Are there past projects that have been published and become commercially successful as a result of being published in Elector Magazine? Also, if I share my secrets, then I have no protection should I attempt to produce a commercial project. A few retail sales will not make it worth my while. I am not against sharing knowledge but part of me would like to see some profits. I would be flattered if people copied my design, but money is nice too.

2 Comment(s)

Joe Fowler 8 years ago

I too had a flood as a result of a frozen pipe. I had been monitoring the temperature in my house from outside the country via the Internet. I saw somewhat too late that the temperature in my house had dropped to well below freezing. While it would have been nice to know a little earlier about the furnace failure, to my mind the better fix would be to design bathrooms and kitchens (at least) that would allow water to drain off when a failure occurred without causing major damage. I recognize that this may be impractical for many older homes but it should really be mandated before allowing new homes to be built. In fact I'm renovating an old home and that's exactly what I intend to incorporate into each bathroom and kitchen. Of course having the facility to cut off the water supply remotely will also help any new design.

Steven Weber 8 years ago

Joe,
What is already available are not only water sensors but flow sensors that can pick up when there is more water flow then expected and will then shut off your main water valve until someone corrects the problem or someone confirms there was not probelm. We can help. Liaison Home Automation, LiaisonHomes.com

1 Comment(s)

Phil Sydor 8 years ago

How on earth is the IOT and its associated home automation going to work? I have been "in" electronics and computers for many years. Our PCs still cannot sort themselves when a system file breaks so why should IOT processors and their s/w etc. be any different? Imagine the scenario where we have an electronically controlled water valve that fails open and still floods the house, or a failed sensor that indicates that all's well when in fact the temperature has plummeted to well below zero.
Automatic tea/coffee machines still have to be filled with water or tea/coffee and a cup. These things don't just happen by themselves.
The home automation panacea will probably cost as much as it saves when maintenance is taken into account !
PS: I will be installing my own home automation to my design and will maintain it myself, most home owners will not have that luxury.

Anthony Melidy 8 years ago

Phil Software is only as reliable as those who design and write it. They send fighter planes worth $10M+ into combat with sensors and computers and they seldom come crashing down because a sensor failed. Same with satellites and space vehicles. My valve is normally closed; it requires power to stay open. In a power failure, the safe thing to do is to shut the water off (automatic). My solenoid requires 24V which can be provided by batteries. The level of security you get depends on what you are willing to do and spend. Some will not buy an inverter or batteries as backup power; I have. Similarly, you would have redundant sensors if the temperature or whatever you are measuring is critical. Sensors tend not to be that expensive in relation to the damage that can occur. I had about $90K damage done to my house and didn't get that much back from the insurance.

1 Comment(s)

Richard Cooke 8 years ago

For a house to maintain itself, it would have to built itself. So if a wall fell down in an earthquake, it would rebuild itself. The robot that built the house, would have to stay with the house.

0 Comment(s)