Comments on: WAP controlled home automation

By: nikola

nikola — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:24:34 +0000

i managed to find it, no need to send anymore. Thanks anyway

By: nikola

nikola — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:55:33 +0000

Hi, I’m trying to build something like your project but I’m terrible at Java. The problem is that I can not access the page anymore so I would be very greatfull if you could send me all Java matterials related to the project.My e-mail is nikola.dusak@vz.t-com.hr
Thanks

By: Josh

Josh — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:18:49 +0000

Ragnar; it’s not completely obvious from the picture, but the lip of the project box actually clamps the cables down when it is screwed shut. I will add your suggestion to the how-to though, thanks.

josh

By: Ragnar

Ragnar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:22:48 +0000

Idea: brilliant!
Execution: do yourself a favor and put at least cable straps tightly around the mains-cables inside, so none could be easily pulled out. Thats the least you should do, even if the whole thing makes me cringe. Don’t fear mains, but respect it.

By: Josh

Josh — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 09:15:05 +0000

Amk; thanks! The system is definately extendible to play around with scheduling systems. From the PHP codebase you could even control switches based on Twitter or RSS feeds!

Reza; my rationale for implementing everything from scratch was to leave it open to extensions and further customization. A ready-made web interface is great for purpose, but the server/listener setup is useful for any web-to-serial project you might want. (I’ve just included the java source, so it can be extended)

There are PIC-to-x10 wireless hacks out there if you want to intergrate x10 into the system.

I used SSRs I love the opto-isolation, and didn’t want to have to step TTL level voltages up to 12v to drive a relay, and deal with mitigating the relay discharge spike.

josh

By: reza naima

reza naima — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 06:34:02 +0000

What’s the advantage to this rather than running X10 switches, an inexpensive pc x10 gateway ($5-$30 depending on flavor), and the same front end? The SSRs are expensive, not to mention the need for the custom board — and what requires that many amps that is to be remote controlled? Microwave, perhaps, but what else?

I’m being critical as I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about this field, and feel that you need to deploy a custom, simple, data over power (ala X10, but not X10) interface to send commands to smaller boards. And a FET + relay is a lot cheaper than an SSR — why the SSR? Anyhow…

Reza

By: amk

amk — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 05:19:24 +0000

Job well done Josh. Although this strikes me as being more of an appliance control system, turn the lamp on and off remotely, that kind of thing. An automated system does things without user interaction.