Smart Home Automation Systems with x10 controllers

Archive for the ‘Smart Home Product Descriptions’ Category

Smart Homes Automation Suggestions

Google is the basic requirement in every purchase in this internet world. You will also find many suggestions and views on internet. You also can contact your peer group who can check for the usability of the product.

The basic concept of Smart Homes is given here. Here are we telling the basic concept behind Smart Homes. Everyone knows about this revolutionary Smart Home product.

Smart homes are among the hottest things in the market. Earlier the concept of the Smart Homes Automation is famous among the higher societies. Now a day it is becoming popular among middle class family. Major issue considered these days is security only.

Everyone wishes their beautiful home to be a smart home. Buying a new home is never enough even if it is a simple one or a luxurious one. As making your home is a completion of your dream. Its security is the primary point too.

Many people have wrong knowledge on these smart homes. So they start running for cheapest smart home. But, in actual, it is better to implement a costly home automation than a cheap home automation. A smart home will control your home’s climate too.

Everyone wants to live tension free in a secure way. Inflation has caused people to increase security of things they possess, as things are made with lot of effort and also by saving money. The smallest thing at your home is equally secure if you have a x10 home automation system installed. Thus this tension free life will reduce the risk of heart attack too.

Your home Audio Video System is beautifully placed in the corner of the living room. Electrical wires, and also the television cable wire are nicely build in the wall. All looks good. Except what about another Audio Video System in the recreation room. Suddenly another Satellite box has to be ordered, another DVR has to be bought, another audio system has to be on the list for the next Christmas. And what about the new wiring, cables rerouted through the house. The simple desire of having a relaxed time in the recreation room, suddenly exploded in a cost and time consuming project.

The solution, an Audio Video Sender / Receiver system.  This little apparatus, the Sender, is able to transmit the signal from your cable box, your television, your VCR, your DVR, your DVD player, your TiVo, your satellite TV, basically from any audio video system with an RCA output and send it out. The signal will go through doors, walls, and floors. From the basement to the kids rooms upstairs, the signal will penetrate every single room in your house for a crisp and clear Audio Video experience.

An Audio Video Receiver will be hooked up to the receiving system, the new system in the recreation room.  The Receiver should be positioned within 100 feet of the Sender, to be able to pick up the signal of the Sender.

And thats it. Home Entertainment throughout the house, with no extra wiring and for just a low cost. Systems on the market at the moment range from $350 to as low as 50$.

Something to note when looking for the perfect system for your house:

Systems come with and without the possibility to transmit an Audio signal. Shop around for the best available system, suiting your needs.

The audio signal can be transmitted in Mono or Stereo. Only when you are on a low budget, the Mono Audio system would be something to consider. Otherwise, Stereo it is.

Some systems come with a remote control included in the price, and by simply pointing at the Receiver, the Audio Video System in the living room can be controlled. It is just not feasible to walk up every time to the other room to change a channel. Look for the extra components coming with the system.

Some systems can be easily expanded by adding an extra Receiver.  Because why only installing a extra Audio Video System in the recreation room, while there can also be easily an other Television installed in the bedroom.

Most systems are easy plug and play installments. It will only takes 5 minutes to set up your new system. No drilling needed, no new cabling, no contractor hassle, no nothing.

The simplest way to start Home Automation is to start controlling lights. Here 3 light switches discussed.

X10 PLW01 In-Wall Light Switch
The switch can carry loads ranging from 60 Watts to 500 Watts. Take care, because this switch can only handle incandescent bulbs.

The switch can be controlled directly at the panel by simply pushing the button. This will cause the connected light to turn On or Off. The trick sits behind the panel, where 2 dials are located. Here the home code and unit code of the switch is set, to allow the X10 controller access to the dimmer. Be aware, the dimming function can only be controlled via the X10 controller, and not directly at the panel. Below the main button a small button is located for direct total power turn off, for save bulb replacement.

X10 PLW02 Three Way Master and Slave Switch Set
This is a so called Three-Way system. A term used for a light that can be controlled by 2 separate switches. These systems are most commonly used to control a hallway light which is connected by stairs to another level. To replace the Three-Way system with a Home Automation Three-Way switch set, a master and a slave switch has to be installed. The master switch is the unit where the home code and unit code can be set. The slave switch doesn’t need a code, as it follows the master code. More than one slave switches can be connected to one system.

Also this switch can carry loads from 40 Watts up to 500 Watts and also here only incandescent bulbs can be connected. Both the master and the slave unit have a single button for turning the connected light On or Off. The dimming function is also here only possible by the X10 controller. The master switch has a second local total power off button, to be able to replace the connected bulb.

X10 XPD03 Decorated Dimmer Switch
The switch can carry a load up to 500 Watts and as low as 40 Watts. Connecting the switch to a lower load then 40 Watts, a flickering light might be the result. Take care, because this switch can only handle incandescent bulbs.

By setting the home code and unit code, located behind the panel, the Dimmer Switch can be controlled via the X10 controller. But for the quick dimming, the switch can also be controlled directly and that is different from the PLW01 In-Wall Light Switch. A short paddle stroke will turn the connected light On in 3 seconds, in which it fades up from Off to On. Another short paddle stroke fades the light Off in again 3 seconds. By holding the paddle down and releasing it at the desired fading/dimming mode, the light is set to an intermediate light level. The switch has a second button for a total power Off mode, to be able to replace the connected light bulb safely.

The whole Home Automation System is based around one main apparatus, the central controller. Via this system all the Smart Home devices are controlled. Most controllers use about 10W of power under normal operation, that is only 0.24 kWh for a full day of operation. This amount will be easily saved by the energy saving capabilities of the Home Automation System. Installation is only a matter of plug-and-play and can be done by any of us. It is important to do some research before buying this important central device. It will determine your whole system and all the features and benefits it can supply you with.

If you are building a new house, this is the time to think of your Home Automation System. Where to install your build in control panels, where to mount your build in smart outlets. Make drawings and discuss them with your contractor and explain your desires.

When you already have a house, it is still not a bad idea to make a plan. What are the features you want? Which rooms will be involved? Which systems do you want to be automated? What is your budget? This will help you to make your research for the right components a bit more structured.

To following items are some things you want to concern in your research:

1. Do you want a standalone controller or do you want to control your system via your computer?

2. Check if the controller communicates via the slow RS-232 protocol or the much faster USB protocol.

3. Do you want only local control for your Home Automation System (from within the house) or also remote control (via a smart phone, iPad or remote computer)?

4. Do you want your system to communicate via Wi-Fi to all your automated devices, via the electrical network or both?

5. What are the features you want now and in the future to be automated? Is the brand you choose able to provide all the hardware you need?

6. Think of an extra touch screen to control your Home Automation System by every member of your household. A single push of a button can be even taught to the youngest among us. There are build-in units or table top units available on the market.

Some companies include a touch screen interface with their controller. Check for deals.

7. Check for starter packages, this will help to ease you into the whole automation process a bit more relaxed.

Home Automation can get very exciting, don’t get over confident though. It can get quickly very overwhelming also. Do your research, take your time, make a plan, stick to it, and start simple. Automated lights are the easiest to start with and give you immediately that big energy saving and comfort level you were looking for. Soon you will get confident with the system and can add more features. And before you know, your house is turned into a full automated home.

The three major home automation technologies that are in the top of the ranks are Insteon, X10 and Z-Wave. The difference between them is worth pondering over when it comes to the decision which Home Automation System to use.

The X10 technology
It is the oldest system and is the pioneer when it comes to home automation. Originally started with Sears to automate their facilities, now the major player in home applications. The X10 technology is based on existing electrical wires and doesn’t interfere with other radio frequency system in a house. It is the most widespread and mature  system, but its reliability is not always the best.

The Z-Wave technology
The company Zensys, in the need for speed and range, developed the Z-Wave RF radiation technology. It has proven a worth while technology that is faster than the X10 technology. Its is a very new technology and the amount of modules is still limited.

The Insteon technology
The Insteon system takes advantage of both the power line controller (PLC) and RF radiation method in controlling all the equipments in the home. The system is backwards compatible with the X10 technology, meaning that Insteon and X10 modules can coexist on the same power line network and Insteon modules can be setup to respond and transmit X10 as well as Insteon commands. Still developing, but this system might be the future.