A warm welcome
I’d like to share with my fellow forum members my vision for the installation of an integrated building system (IB) and home automation in my flat. I also have a few questions and concerns.
When I bought the flat, I decided to incorporate certain solutions that would make it more convenient to live in, improve security and help save energy.
What has already been done:
The flat is 45m² plus a 150m garden. When I started thinking about smart home solutions after taking possession of the flat (in a developer’s shell condition), I ran 16mm conduits to every socket and light switch, which run down to the floor level (in my ‘vision’, all control cables will be concealed in the skirting boards, and where there are doors in the floor, I chiselled out and cemented in two 24mm conduits each). Everything runs down to the point where the distribution board is located.
What I want to achieve:
1* Light control (manually via a switch and remotely via a web interface)
2* Ability to switch power sockets on/off (e.g. if I leave the iron switched on and go to work, saving electricity – ‘red lights on the TV’)
3* IR control (TV, DVD, music, and other devices that can be controlled via IR, e.g. RGB LEDs with an IR remote control)
4* electric thermostatic radiator valves
5* Presence detection in rooms (motion sensors) for lighting control and, when no one is present, as part of the alarm system.
6* Indoor and outdoor temperature sensors, and a soil temperature sensor.
7* Lawn watering control (depending on soil temperature and moisture levels)
8* Cameras (for the garden and one inside the living room + kitchen area)
9* Control of curtains/net curtains (not external roller blinds) – usually just net curtains on a curtain rail (I’m thinking a stepper motor or a standard motor, plus a timer or limit switches)
10* Forwarding the intercom to a mobile phone whilst away
11* solenoid valves for hot and cold water in the bath (otherwise usually manual)
12* voice control
I’ve listed everything in order from what’s a must-have to what would be a nice bit of extra. It all depends on the budget
As I’m an IT specialist, I have a ‘basic+’ understanding of electronics and an ‘average-’ understanding of electrical work, so I’ve decided that I can implement most of these things myself for a fraction of the cost. Alternatively, with the help of a friendly electrician.
I’ve read through this forum a bit, visited the manufacturers’ websites, looked at a few quotes, and I reckon you can put together smart home solutions yourself for a fifth of the price charged by smart home companies.
To keep costs down, here’s my plan:
A PC that will handle the ‘intelligent’ part (i.e. schedules, scenes, scenarios) and also act as a web server running my own GUI. Via the web, I can control the system from a tablet – whether Apple or Android – and practically any mobile phone with a web browser, or from another computer. To control relays, inputs, outputs and sensors, I’m considering something along these lines Link or / and STERBOX.
Having read reviews about STERBOX, I know it has limitations (e.g. a small number of timers, a small number of logic gates, etc.), but I’ll sort out these shortcomings using a computer (I have an unlimited number of timers and the ability to configure the logic exactly as I want)
If you’ve read this far, thank you for your patience; I now have a few questions, which are probably a bit ‘layman’s’
1* From what I’ve read, to control the lighting from the wall and via, for example, the web, I’ll need ‘staircase’ or ‘doorbell’ switches; for this, in the STERBOX, I’ll have to use a relay output or a digital output and a relay 230V in the junction box? If I’m not mistaken, the second option is better because I’ll be running twisted-pair cable through those conduits, and running 230V through twisted-pair cable isn’t a good idea. The only question is, how will the control box know that I’ve switched the light off manually?
2* As for the power, I use a digital output in the control box to control a relay in the socket.
3* For IR control, I’d base it on a device capable of learning IR signals – for example, from a TV remote – and sending them directly from the PC. In other words, a universal remote control for the PC. Has anyone heard of such a solution? Is there anything like this available on the market? This is an important issue for me, as it would also allow me to control RGB LEDs very cheaply and without cables Link
4* As this is a flat and I don’t have a central heating boiler. And as I want to keep costs down, I’ve decided it would be more convenient to set up an autonomous control system based on ready-made Danfoss or Schlosser thermostatic heads (they offer very decent programming options and have predefined modes to save energy) I’m worried that just a solenoid valve plus wires won’t be as efficient, as I might struggle to write a proper script for when to heat and when not to, etc. Maybe I’m wrong, or perhaps there’s something I haven’t found online – what would you suggest? Alternatively, Danfoss thermostatic heads that operate independently but have three buttons (+ and -); I could simply connect the wires by soldering them into the ‘buttons’. The cost of the thermostat at the moment is around 80 zloty
5* As far as I understand, these sensors usually output a 1 when someone is moving and a 0 when they aren’t (so, in my understanding, they close the circuit when someone is moving and open it when it’s quiet). I’d connect this to the Sterbox’s OC digital input
6* The Sterbox doesn’t support 1-Wire, but I’d like to use these temperature sensors, so I’ll need to use a device such as To
Points 7–12 – I think I’ll worry about those once I get to step 6
So far, the cost is low: PC (around 200 zł), Sterbox (800 zł), radiator thermostatic heads (3 x 80 zł); I’ve got the twisted-pair cable for free because, as I mentioned, I work in IT. And we’ve got lighting and power control, plus smart radiators, for less than 1,500 zł
Later today, I’ll post some photos of the installation and a diagram showing the layout of the points and how many there are, so I know how many inputs and outputs I’ll need on the control box.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions and comments on my idea
I’d like to share with my fellow forum members my vision for the installation of an integrated building system (IB) and home automation in my flat. I also have a few questions and concerns.
When I bought the flat, I decided to incorporate certain solutions that would make it more convenient to live in, improve security and help save energy.
What has already been done:
The flat is 45m² plus a 150m garden. When I started thinking about smart home solutions after taking possession of the flat (in a developer’s shell condition), I ran 16mm conduits to every socket and light switch, which run down to the floor level (in my ‘vision’, all control cables will be concealed in the skirting boards, and where there are doors in the floor, I chiselled out and cemented in two 24mm conduits each). Everything runs down to the point where the distribution board is located.
What I want to achieve:
1* Light control (manually via a switch and remotely via a web interface)
2* Ability to switch power sockets on/off (e.g. if I leave the iron switched on and go to work, saving electricity – ‘red lights on the TV’)
3* IR control (TV, DVD, music, and other devices that can be controlled via IR, e.g. RGB LEDs with an IR remote control)
4* electric thermostatic radiator valves
5* Presence detection in rooms (motion sensors) for lighting control and, when no one is present, as part of the alarm system.
6* Indoor and outdoor temperature sensors, and a soil temperature sensor.
7* Lawn watering control (depending on soil temperature and moisture levels)
8* Cameras (for the garden and one inside the living room + kitchen area)
9* Control of curtains/net curtains (not external roller blinds) – usually just net curtains on a curtain rail (I’m thinking a stepper motor or a standard motor, plus a timer or limit switches)
10* Forwarding the intercom to a mobile phone whilst away
11* solenoid valves for hot and cold water in the bath (otherwise usually manual)
12* voice control
I’ve listed everything in order from what’s a must-have to what would be a nice bit of extra. It all depends on the budget
As I’m an IT specialist, I have a ‘basic+’ understanding of electronics and an ‘average-’ understanding of electrical work, so I’ve decided that I can implement most of these things myself for a fraction of the cost. Alternatively, with the help of a friendly electrician.
I’ve read through this forum a bit, visited the manufacturers’ websites, looked at a few quotes, and I reckon you can put together smart home solutions yourself for a fifth of the price charged by smart home companies.
To keep costs down, here’s my plan:
A PC that will handle the ‘intelligent’ part (i.e. schedules, scenes, scenarios) and also act as a web server running my own GUI. Via the web, I can control the system from a tablet – whether Apple or Android – and practically any mobile phone with a web browser, or from another computer. To control relays, inputs, outputs and sensors, I’m considering something along these lines Link or / and STERBOX.
Having read reviews about STERBOX, I know it has limitations (e.g. a small number of timers, a small number of logic gates, etc.), but I’ll sort out these shortcomings using a computer (I have an unlimited number of timers and the ability to configure the logic exactly as I want)
If you’ve read this far, thank you for your patience; I now have a few questions, which are probably a bit ‘layman’s’
1* From what I’ve read, to control the lighting from the wall and via, for example, the web, I’ll need ‘staircase’ or ‘doorbell’ switches; for this, in the STERBOX, I’ll have to use a relay output or a digital output and a relay 230V in the junction box? If I’m not mistaken, the second option is better because I’ll be running twisted-pair cable through those conduits, and running 230V through twisted-pair cable isn’t a good idea. The only question is, how will the control box know that I’ve switched the light off manually?
2* As for the power, I use a digital output in the control box to control a relay in the socket.
3* For IR control, I’d base it on a device capable of learning IR signals – for example, from a TV remote – and sending them directly from the PC. In other words, a universal remote control for the PC. Has anyone heard of such a solution? Is there anything like this available on the market? This is an important issue for me, as it would also allow me to control RGB LEDs very cheaply and without cables Link
4* As this is a flat and I don’t have a central heating boiler. And as I want to keep costs down, I’ve decided it would be more convenient to set up an autonomous control system based on ready-made Danfoss or Schlosser thermostatic heads (they offer very decent programming options and have predefined modes to save energy) I’m worried that just a solenoid valve plus wires won’t be as efficient, as I might struggle to write a proper script for when to heat and when not to, etc. Maybe I’m wrong, or perhaps there’s something I haven’t found online – what would you suggest? Alternatively, Danfoss thermostatic heads that operate independently but have three buttons (+ and -); I could simply connect the wires by soldering them into the ‘buttons’. The cost of the thermostat at the moment is around 80 zloty
5* As far as I understand, these sensors usually output a 1 when someone is moving and a 0 when they aren’t (so, in my understanding, they close the circuit when someone is moving and open it when it’s quiet). I’d connect this to the Sterbox’s OC digital input
6* The Sterbox doesn’t support 1-Wire, but I’d like to use these temperature sensors, so I’ll need to use a device such as To
Points 7–12 – I think I’ll worry about those once I get to step 6
So far, the cost is low: PC (around 200 zł), Sterbox (800 zł), radiator thermostatic heads (3 x 80 zł); I’ve got the twisted-pair cable for free because, as I mentioned, I work in IT. And we’ve got lighting and power control, plus smart radiators, for less than 1,500 zł
Later today, I’ll post some photos of the installation and a diagram showing the layout of the points and how many there are, so I know how many inputs and outputs I’ll need on the control box.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions and comments on my idea
I’m an IT specialist, so we can agree that this is a low-power machine (here, the cost is mainly the extras on top of the second-hand parts)
