Messages

1

Users / Re: Integration with Heatmiser or other (UK) heating controllers.

« on: February 04, 2011, 10:26:03 pm »

I have a heatmiser based system (an underfloor heating installation bought from Nu-heat), with a netmonitor (not the current version).  I have a copy of the v2 protocol that heatmiser kindly sent me (as well as answering a few other questions).

It is my intention to integrate this with my home automation syste, although I'm currently some way off - I don't yet have a working linuxmce system that I've settled on.

Hi Trendent,

Are you planning on using the netmonitor as your interface into the LMCE system? Any plans on how you would achieve this? I'm thinking along the lines of  setting up a router connected between the Netmonitor and an additional NIC into the LMCE system that runs the Heatmiser protocol.

Many thanks

2

Users / Re: Integration with Heatmiser or other (UK) heating controllers.

« on: February 04, 2011, 10:19:54 pm »

Hi Coley,

My heating is in place, but most of the pipe work is accessible. The current heating system replaced the original hot air system. Since then, I have replaced the boiler with a combi system. As the central heating system was installed after the property was built, I may run into problems zoning off 1st and 2nd floors. Basically the radiator pipes run upstairs, service upstairs, then run back downstairs. All this pipe work is in 15mm pipe.

I can script a windows system or even write an HTA using VBScript. I understand the majority of VB.NET, C# or even Java. I get a little lost in the OOP side of things. Something I have wanted to do for a long time is write a programme to control a system. I was thinking with starting off with a basic VB program to interface with a motor. lol. I bought a text book and all the bits on the subject a while back but its still in the book shelf :-(. I had a look through their protocol. At the moment it is all double-dutch, so it'll be a steep learning curve.

I am certainly happy to get my hands dirty; just not sure where to start.

Regarding Heatmiser, I think I have worked out what bits I need with some help from Heatmiser. I don't seem to be able to get a definitive answer from them whether I can connect the JARA or the network interfaces to the UH1 wiring centre. Maybe someone can look over the UH1 wiring diagram and confirm? http://www.heatmiser.co.uk/support/admin/attachments/merged_uh1_diagrams.pdf

I've put together a graphical schematic, (link below) detailing the components and their location. I have run Cat5e cable all over the house, so using their 12 volt system should be possible.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/93XcUr2I99c-6pPImLHYuQ?feat=directlink

Nice find on the Google code page. From what I've read, it seems the PC control systems daisy chains the thermostats together, rather than connecting into the UH1, which is what I want. The developer uses the word 'chain', reinforcing this. I did a 'hello world' Perl script several years back, but that's about as far as I went. So how to get it to work with LMCE, I have know idea.

I might purchase the Heatmiser thermostats and the UH1 which is the important first step then move on when I find out more.

Many thanks

3

Users / Re: Integration with Heatmiser or other (UK) heating controllers.

« on: February 04, 2011, 02:49:57 am »

Hi again,

I've been looking into the Heatmiser possible inegration again. I believe by 'interface', you mean a way of connecting the system to a PC. They have three devices that achieve this. Two ethernet and one USB (Jara 2201D). They do their own software, but it is M$ Windows based only :-(.

Not sure if I can post URLS yet. Here is the link to the page. http://www.heatmiser.co.uk/pclink.htm.

And their support page: http://www.heatmiser.co.uk/support/category-2.html

There is also a download for the Jara and Ethernet drivers for Windows. http://www.heatmiser.co.uk/support/category-10.html.

Googling JARA brings up an interesting page in Chinees. Running it through google tranlate http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=zh-CN&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jara.cn%2Fdetail.php%3FID%3D45 reveals it is a USB to RS232/422/485. So maybe another converter exists that does support Linux. All it does it take USB and connect it to Cat5e without the RJ45 connector. Maybe get a USB NIC and rewrite the drivers. Interestingly, they have MAC OS8 & 9 driver.

Heatmiser do publish their product's protocol, so I guess it would be possible to write a 'module' to allow LMCE integration. http://www.heatmiser.co.uk/support/article-6.html

They also do a product called NetMonitor that has it's own web server and connects directly to the router. I guess, as a cheat, there'd be a way of integrating this page into LMCE. Something like IFRAME.

I'm not sure where this is going. I need to be able to interface with their UH1 wiring center. I've asked the question... Documentation leads towards connecting to the thermostats in a daisy chain.

I guess I will have to take a crash course in LMCE development, write my own drivers, bug the hell out of the good peopel here ask newbie questions about developing or just put it on the LMCE wish list.

Thanks

4

Users / Re: Integration with Heatmiser or other (UK) heating controllers.

« on: February 03, 2011, 03:22:20 pm »

Hi Andrew,

They have many devices, but I am not sure what qantifies an external interface.

Hopefully the company will get back to me. Shame they're not as quick as you.

Many thanks. Much apreciated.

W

5

Users / Integration with Heatmiser or other (UK) heating controllers.

« on: February 03, 2011, 02:40:26 pm »

Hi,

One day, I'd like to have almost everything integrated into one system. A/V and automation. I think choice of software is a good place to start and LMCE seems to cover everything nicely.

The first system I'd like to automate is the heating system. I'd like to be able to change the temperature via the web and shutdown the boiler when the required temperature is reached. I believe if the system can interface with LMCE then I get the web enabled part for 'free'.

I am impressed by the system from heatmiser dot co dot uk (Why can't I post links?). It seems to cover all my bases, but it only controls heating. Does anyone have experience of this system and whether it would be possible to integrate it into LMCE.

I am aware of other systems like the Honeywell Hometronic and Conrad systems. Do these or any other (UK compatible) system integrate into LMCE. Preferable from a manufacturer that knows the meaning of aesthetics.  

Any assistance would be gratefully received.

Many thanks

W


P.S. Mod, why can I not post links???