Lightning/climate/security

[airboy]

So i plan to make my home "inteligent". But i am a beginner with linux, and i haven't any experiences with home automation. I am sure that home entertainment or telecom system is quite easy with linuxMCE, but i need help with hardware to control the lightning, climate and home security. Can anyone post a link to a shop with hardware, which will work with European 230V/50 Hz, and will be compatible with linuxMCE? I think the communication with the core server will be done through the power wires. Thank you very much!

[Kooma]

Hi, I'm in a pretty much same situation with you. Recently started learning and playing with LinuxMCE. I went with the Zwave as the major automation system since it seems to be reliable and generally the choice for retrofitting. There are others available, too c.f. http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Automation.

Also, in wiki you'll find a list of suppliers for various hw at http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Where_to_Buy

[totallymaxed]

So i plan to make my home "inteligent". But i am a beginner with linux, and i haven't any experiences with home automation. I am sure that home entertainment or telecom system is quite easy with linuxMCE, but i need help with hardware to control the lightning, climate and home security. Can anyone post a link to a shop with hardware, which will work with European 230V/50 Hz, and will be compatible with linuxMCE? I think the communication with the core server will be done through the power wires. Thank you very much!

Hi airboy,

I would agree with Kooma that ZWave is a good way to go - and especially so for a retrofit. We like the following companies for ZWave peripherals;

- Zwave4u http://www.zwave4u.com/
- MertenShop http://mertenshop.co.uk/catalog/Catalog.aspx

also see this Wiki page for a wide range of other ZWave suppliers; http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Where_to_Buy

Checkout this wiki page for more Zwave info http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Z-Wave

All the best


Andrew

[bongowongo]

PLCBus

Two way communication.
Fairly Cheap
Works over your electricicty wires, if you are not a fan of wireless

Wiki
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/PLCBUS

Price / Products (NL)
http://www.elekhomica.nl/index.php?cPath=137&osCsid=hq3u2fudb30pu1h93pv55lv487

[airboy]

I am planning a major reconstruction of an older house - this house has a really thick walls, about 70 cm, therefore i think wireless technology isn't usable there. A wired solution is better for me because the devices can be also powered from the wires. Thank you for the answers, this PLCBus looks good, is it fully compatible with LMCE?

[jbr]

I am planning a major reconstruction of an older house...

In this case, I would look at KNX.

/jbr

[bongowongo]

It is compatible with LinuxMCE, I installed it in my brothers old house when he was reconstructing it
And it works quite well.

There are also competitors, (like KNX) but to my knowledge they are more expensive, but that is something
for the consumer (you) to decide). I have no experience with other protocols/systems.

[airboy]

I think this KNX is actually what i need. But i found only lights switches. I need also a heating automation - with thermostat units, and devices controlling the flow through the pipes and home security system - motion detectors, maybe a smoke detector, door/window detectors. Can this be done with KNX or i need another system for this?

And for the lightning: If i understood it correct, all what i need is a controller which is connected to the core, and some switches for the lights. Then the whole system can be controlled with the orbiters. Is that correct? Thank you

Any idea or help is useful, i plan also a short documentary movie which can help other users settle their automatic house

[bongowongo]

And for the lightning: If i understood it correct, all what i need is a controller which is connected to the core, and some switches for the lights. Then the whole system can be controlled with the orbiters. Is that correct? Thank you

You are correct.

[totallymaxed]

I am planning a major reconstruction of an older house - this house has a really thick walls, about 70 cm, therefore i think wireless technology isn't usable there. A wired solution is better for me because the devices can be also powered from the wires. Thank you for the answers, this PLCBus looks good, is it fully compatible with LinuxMCE?

Hi again,

Well I still would not rule out ZWave. The in-wall load controllers (on/off, dimmers, blind control etc) are in most cases available in mains powered versions with the ZWave capability being used for carrying the control/status etc commands. With ZWave the more modules you use the more resilient the mesh based network architecture becomes. With thick walls you might hit problems but we have seen installations with similar construction which did not pose any problems because of the location/density of the modules.

On the other hand you could look at KNX/EIB (as others have suggested) this is a bus based system - all the control commands etc are sent down a bus cable that must pass by every device where you need control/sensors etc. In fact we often mix ZWave with KNX/EIB as LinuxMCE and Dianemo will allow you to mix the two together easily - in this case we'd use for example KNX/EIB for all the load controllers (ie where an electrical load needs to be switch on/off/dimmed) and for most of the sensors (ie PIR's, window/door, temperature, light level etc) and we might use wireless ZWave light switches as these are battery powered and can be surfaced mounted on any surface (these switches are used to send control commands via the Core to a KNX/EIB device that is actually controlling the electrical load).

The above sounds complex but it isn't if you take the time to learn the system and buy a few components to experiment/learn with.

All the best


Andrew

[bongowongo]

I  know that there a lot of Z-wave believers here, but try to avoid "wireless" at all time.

[airboy]

Yes, if there is a possibility of wiring, then wireless should be avoided, i think. Wireless sounds progressive and modern, but i have an existing power wiring, so all what i need is to replace the current manual switches to something that can be controlled with LinuxMCE. The actual wiring goes through the actual switches, so the fact hat they need to be connected to a wires does not matter. I think a wired solution is more stable and reliable. With wireless technology there is a potential risk of bad transmission, which can be avoided with wired technology. And wired will be cheaper, cause the switches are simply. They don't have additional wireless transmitters.

For the lights looks the best the PLCbus

But still have no idea with the home security and climate. Can this be controlled with PLCbus or i need something additional?

[bongowongo]

Home security like cams , I would advise IP Cams.
With control panels, I think they can be hooked up to the linuxmce directly through com-ports or maybe IP
the same for heating.
I have no "best practice" for that yet.

[airboy]

thank you.

[totallymaxed]

I  know that there a lot of Z-wave believers here, but try to avoid "wireless" at all time.

Well we have a lot of experience installing ZWave directly for customers and now increasingly with our installer partners worldwide - its our business. Its not a matter of 'belief' at all...we actually have hands on experience with ZWave technology in real installations.

There are situations where ZWave is not suitable or the right choice but in most its worth looking at for its flexbility and lower cost.

All the best


Andrew