Home automation ideas.

[Electro]

Hi all.

Looking for ideas for home automation. Ideally controlled through a tablet/smartphone or similar.The usual lighting control, plug socket control, possible heating control too. Anyone got this stuff running?

Cheers, Electro.

[L3nny]

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view1/4740243/wallace-gromit-breakfast-shirt-on-o.gif

[Brettus]

When I was looking into it recently lightwave seemed to be some of the better stuff, it has a decent range of stuff (not quite great yet but most stuff covered) and all ties together. Otherwise you end up fragmenting your system using different suppliers.

X10 seems too US oriented to me somehow, Belkins wemo kit seemed OK but only has a couple of applications so far.

Lightwave seems to be a little more open than I first realised too as I think some of the sockets are made by Siemens.

I'd be interested to see what you do in the end so keep updating if you can, I've not taken the plunge yet but would really like to.

[Electro]

Looks like the lightwave rf is the way I'll be going. Going to have a tablet that will be in the house to do the normal controls, lights and sockets on and off, boiler control and there's even trv valves that can be fitted to radiators. I want the washer/dryer and dishwasher time controlled, lounge and dining rm lights and sockets controlled. While I'm at it I'll throw a couple of outside lights up on sensors that can be controlled too. Not looks at the whole range tt to see what else there is yet.

[Bibio]

i have kids.. all works via voice control :-)

[Brettus]

i have kids.. all works via voice control :-)


Well yeah but that's top of the line expense right there, not to mention you've got intermittent service during the teenage years :-)

[Bibio]

yes it is a bit intermittent as they are now teens. but the threat of no internet access soon puts them back in line.

[tigersaw]

I had x10 in my previous house, before tablets and wireless, but it did have a universal remote. In the end I could not really see the point of it all and it fell into neglect and some went to ebay, some to the bin.