Questions tagged [home-automation]

Home automation is using electronic systems to control appliances and other electrical systems within a house. Examples include automatic switching of lights, air conditioning, security locks and cooking / entertainment appliances.

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42 votes
9 answers
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What sensor to choose to track human presence indoors?

This is a hobby project about home automation. The idea is that of distributed system of cheap microcontrollers that take measurements, communicate, output data and control appliances. One important ...
Vorac's user avatar
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17 votes
5 answers
25k views

Are relays reliable for long time use?

I am developing a home automation project in which I'm using relays to control appliances. I need to control devices with 220V and 6A rating. Should I use relays to control these appliances as a ...
Suraj Bhawal's user avatar
14 votes
1 answer
15k views

Any obvious problems with this DIY home automation?

I'd like to know if anyone can spot any serious electrical issues in what I'm trying to do from an electrical viewpoint. Youtube Demo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmsdXMbd2vo Short version: I ...
vlad b.'s user avatar
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12 votes
4 answers
24k views

Wireless Home Automation 2.4GHz versus 433MHz [closed]

Project specifications - This is an **Arduino** project - This is supposed to be internationally applicable I am working on a home automation project which might go into smaller production. The ...
Roberto Anić Banić's user avatar
10 votes
6 answers
16k views

Arduino Home Light Dimming

The drywall is just starting to go up in my family’s basement project. I’ve been looking into residential light control systems. Some of the ones I’ve seen have been an upwards of $2,000. I’m thinking ...
Kevin Mark's user avatar
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8 votes
5 answers
6k views

Water level detection, where water is somewhat polluted and has significant dissolved salts

Found this excellent QnA here which provides several options for measuring or detection water-level. For my case, it is enough to differentiate 4 levels of water (very low, low, middle, full), of the ...
bdutta74's user avatar
  • 3,524
8 votes
2 answers
6k views

1-wire verses CAN-bus for home sensing network?

I'm trying to put together a home automation solution for my newly built house. I'm very new to this, specifically for hardware matters and asking this question to verify if my understanding of what I'...
abolotnov's user avatar
  • 183
8 votes
4 answers
1k views

Home automation protocols in Europe

Which protocols are used in Europe? I'm more interested in "higher layer" protocols (e.g. light bulb control) than with the physical layer, but those will be welcome too. Does the KNX standard have ...
rnunes's user avatar
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6 votes
3 answers
9k views

Using electric motor to adjust blinds?

So I'm trying to do some insane home DIY with my room blinds. I'm trying to make them adjust (go up and down) automatically. Now for this, obviously, I will need a motor. The blinds I'm working ...
user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
16k views

direct ZigBee communication with Philips Hue smart light bulbs

Philips Hue light bulbs use a Bridge(transmitter) to connect between your network and their smart lights via a ZigBee protocol called Light Link. Can you control the lights directly with your own ...
hydronics's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
868 views

Home automation Controller/server needed

I'm looking for a device that allows me to supervise an existing BTicino home alarm system. The system can communicate via RS-232 (or USB) interface using an open protocol, Openwebnet. I need to be ...
maoZZ's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
1k views

What does the circuit look like to switch two lights using two switches into four different states?

At my workplace there's a room with two entrances, each featuring a push button light switch, A and B. There are two ceiling mounted lights, 1 and 2. Switch A switches both lights on/off. Funny ...
Tim's user avatar
  • 43
4 votes
4 answers
5k views

What is the best wired protocol choice for home automation?

I know the X-10 protocol. X-10 is a good choice or is there better?
Daniel Grillo's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
374 views

Relay contact insulation doesn't seem to be enough

I'm working with an ESP32 and a 4 relay module. The problem seems to be that the insulation of contacts in the relay is not enough. Relays close perfectly and my lights turn on, but when they open, a ...
Mariano Franceschetti's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
3k views

Home Automation using Arduino and Android

I have been doing home automation for my home using Arduino and Android. I have been able to control the device through WiFi successfully. Here is the scenario. Since all the appliance that I ...
Spark's user avatar
  • 41
4 votes
7 answers
16k views

How to design an AC current detection switch?

I am working on a home automation system and I need to detect if an appliance is getting power or not. I need a AC current detection switch which can be mounted on a power line and send a DC voltage ...
Ankit Kumar's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
23k views

Jumper Setting Modes in PIR motion sensor

I was going through the data sheet of the PIR motion sensor when i saw this: So what i couldn't understand was the H and L trigger and how to change from H to L or L to H (like to do we have to ...
Newbie_Programmer's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
38k views

Control the lights both with wall switch and arduino

I am starting to build new house and want to add some home automation features, for now, turning lights and sockets on and off. i bought arduino mega, ethernet shield, current sensors to see if the ...
ajdede's user avatar
  • 41
4 votes
1 answer
568 views

Android Home Automation

I'm trying to do home automation using android app and arduino teleduino. Basically, I'll be doing lights and power plugs. I still cant post images so here' the link to the diagram I saw and will be ...
yhunz_19's user avatar
  • 199
4 votes
1 answer
123 views

Linearizing multi-star network for home automation

I'm designing a communication network for private home automation. My design goals are: Local wrt network changes. That is, changing one part of the network should not require modification of the ...
Petr's user avatar
  • 751
4 votes
1 answer
292 views

Home automation protocols to use for wifi

I am trying to zero in on which home automation protocol to use for my embedded device. I have a wireless module which connects to a router. So the protocol has to operate over wifi. I know I will not ...
user2578666's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
3k views

Reverse engeneering a home automation RF 315Mhz transimtter

I have this remote control and transmitter and I want to reverse engineer the 2 RF signals sent by the transmitter. This is the board. The board says "ak-rk01se". I can also open up the transmitter ...
GuySoft's user avatar
  • 133
3 votes
2 answers
343 views

How to dynamically simulate an EV plug disconnection in order to automate charging power setup

I bought a well-made Chinese charger for our Zoe ZE50 R110 electric vehicle. It can be set to various charging levels (8,10,12,16A at 220V), but as a safety (I guess), the procedure requires me to ...
MoonCactus's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
4k views

Controlling Niko Home Control

I would like to know if anyone has been able to take control over 'Niko Home Control' with a PC or microcontroller (arduino)? I Googled, but can't find much on this topic. Is it even possible? I ...
Think Graphical's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

Thermostat Connections with Arduino

I want to control my home thermostat using an Arduino microcontroller. From what I've heard, it is pretty straightforward as the Arduino can be powered through the 24V that is coming to the thermostat ...
tabchas's user avatar
  • 259
3 votes
1 answer
5k views

12V relay circuit, converted to 5V relay, under uC control

Few questions about a little Home-Automation project I am trying. Below is the schematic which I found in an article, slightly modified to suit the parts I have in hand -- Original had, ...
bdutta74's user avatar
  • 3,524
3 votes
1 answer
22k views

How to set up a PLC for hobby home automation project? [closed]

I want to use PLC to do security, temperature and light controls. I took case in PLC, but I don't have real world experience to set up a PLC system. Since I do not want to spend too much (less than ...
Superhero's user avatar
  • 797
3 votes
1 answer
7k views

How to hack a body scale to be used as digital weight measure

I am looking for help with hacking a typical digital (body) weighing scale to use in a custom application. Is there some internal digital or analog output in body scales to directly get the measured ...
Jakob's user avatar
  • 333
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

Simple AC line state detection for digital controller input

Last year I moved into a house that has an old ('50s-'70s vintage) GE low voltage lighting control system. It uses 24VAC momentary wall switches to toggle solenoid/latch relays that feed 12 main ...
Peter's user avatar
  • 131
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

arduino rf communication: beginner

I would like to implement a home-automation system on my arduino. For this project I would like to communicate with the different devices by radio frequency. So that would be different 433 mhz ...
Rps's user avatar
  • 33
3 votes
3 answers
3k views

How do Wi-Fi controlled light switches feed themselves?

There are smart light switches in the market that are Wi-Fi controlled like Plumlife (formerly ube) and Belkin WeMo. I wonder how they control the electricity that they operate on. When I unplug my ...
Ekrem Doğan's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

ISO Example Home HVAC Control Schematics and Circuit Design Info

I am currently interested in determining how a home thermostat controls a home HVAC unit. I have run into plenty of schematics that can control a HVAC window unit, walk in freezer, water temperature, ...
ThaKidd KG5ORD's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
11k views

Choosing relay to operate water pump

Based on my research so far, I've concluded that a relatively low-cost, yet reasonably reliable way to control operation (on/off) a motorized water pump, is a well spec'd EM-relay with flyback diode. ...
bdutta74's user avatar
  • 3,524
2 votes
3 answers
2k views

How to automatically turn off a Fan after a fixed amount of time?

I have an exhaust fan in my bathroom (used for removing the steam generated by a hot bath). Currently, it can be turned on and off by a regular switch. My goal: Exhaust fan should automatically turn-...
Anuj Manoj Shah's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
5k views

How can I control a 120v, 1amp fan with a Nest thermostat?

I have a fan (hot, neutral, ground) that requires 120V and uses 1amp max. I'd like to be able to control this with a thermostat so that the fan turns on when the temperature is above a certain set ...
ensnare's user avatar
  • 241
2 votes
2 answers
787 views

Can I use a standard latching relay to switch AC for a power socket?

I'd like to remotely control a power socket. I'd like to create a circuit that opens and closes a relay, effectively turning the socket on and off. I can handle the logic and the DC, but I'm less ...
Robear's user avatar
  • 147
2 votes
1 answer
340 views

Is this caused by inductive kickback?

I have a remote controlled switch that's connected to a bathroom fan (220v AC, 50Hz). The switch turns the fan on without issues every time. However, when instructed to turn it off, it immediately ...
Khash's user avatar
  • 123
2 votes
1 answer
3k views

How to modify a 433.92 MHz signal to a 434 MHz signal?

I have these remote controlled wall outlets (Brennenstuhl Funkschalt-Set RCS 2044 N Comfort). And I'm trying to make an arduino circuit with an RF transmitter so I can switch them on and off without ...
piet_lu's user avatar
  • 21
2 votes
4 answers
406 views

Best way to detect when I'm home

I'm working on a home automation setup and I'm trying to find the best way for the system to know when I'm home. A motion sensor won't work because my wife or my dogs may be home when I'm not. The two ...
pgcudahy's user avatar
  • 147
2 votes
2 answers
114 views

Can I connect ten RS485 modbus kWh meters to one RJ45 modbus server? [closed]

If I have a fusebox with about ten/fifteen eastron sdm630 and Orno OR-WE-515 kWh meters with RS485 modbus, can I daisy chain ...
Tim's user avatar
  • 173
2 votes
2 answers
9k views

Auto turn off switch during power outage

In my area power outages are a daily routine. And power surges, which occur when the electricity comes back, makes it even worse. To avoid damage of the electronic devices we try to unplug them ...
Mohamed Ouda's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
519 views

Hardware for IP Camera Project

I intend building a custom IP camera for home use, project goals are: Videos are stored remotely in real time (storage somewhere else in home or cloud server) Live steaming from internet Video data ...
user1712263's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
1k views

How does this electronic wall switch work with only a 2 wire circuit.

This is an RF wall switch but it uses only LIVE + LOAD1 cables like in the wall lamp switch (2 wires wall switch, load and live) If you short LIVE and LOAD the lamp turns on LIVE 220V------[SWITCH]-...
itai's user avatar
  • 149
2 votes
1 answer
858 views

How do external circuits in light switching units (such as Lightwave RF) use the mains wiring for power?

LightwaveRF is a simple switching unit that contains additional circuitry to enable automatic wireless switching. The additional circuit is powered by the mains light switching circuit. This is my ...
user avatar
2 votes
5 answers
521 views

How do I read the state of AC switch, through a microcrontroller?

I wanted to read the state of an AC switch using a microcontroller. S1 is an SPST switch and cannot be changed. What circuit will be required for doing this? I'm using this for my home automation ...
Rohitsam's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
153 views

Home Automation

I'm thinking about automating the lighting system in my bathroom. I made up a 5V and 12V power supply from a transformer I salvaged from some old circuits. I need to turn on the lights when I'm going ...
Padmal's user avatar
  • 352
2 votes
3 answers
1k views

Occupancy Sensor for Arduino

I working on a home (rather room) automation system using a Raspberry Pi as 'brain' and an Arduino as sensor board. I find it quite difficult to come up with a solution to reliably track if a person ...
Benjoyo's user avatar
  • 353
2 votes
2 answers
1k views

Websockets for Embedded Application

I need to clear out my doubts regarding my Home Automation project. I am working on project based on IoT Home Automation project. There are three entities in this project: Web Server Embedded Client ...
isoln's user avatar
  • 69
2 votes
2 answers
9k views

Can a home security system be built with an arduino? (40 sensors maximum, usb interface to pc)

Considering these requirements: 40 modules or sensors (one movement/presence sensor or one windows/door open/closed sensor) read state (boolean, or 0/1) of all modules as fast as possible (once per ...
vlad b.'s user avatar
  • 323
2 votes
1 answer
63 views

Running digital ground at AC line potential (not neutral)

I've run across an interesting WiFi dimmer module known as a Shelly dimmer. This bright green module is designed to be used inside an electrical box. Most of it's user interface is over line-...
Burt_Harris's user avatar