Home Automation

When I started dabbling with home automation back in 1999 there were virtually no devices or ‘gadgets' in my price range. I found myself restricted to buying a HomeVision (HV) unit and a few X-10 modules. Buying HV involved a lot of soul searching and saving but I can now say it has been one of my best investments to date. I would also like to say that support from Craig Chadwick (the designer and builder) is second to none via the HV mailing list. This is not a busy list but well worth subscribing to (free) for the information and help available there. Finally, when Homebase decided to stop selling X-10 products I picked up more Appliance and Lamp modules at a better price but still nothing 'very' interesting. There are some other nice gadgets about now like the TX-15 X-10 thermostat but these are still expensive. One of the most interesting gadgets in recent times has been the KAT5 AV units built by Keith Doxey. Read all about them at http://www.kat5.tv/, they come highly recommended by everyone who has used them to date.

One of the many strengths of HV is its I/O ports. These can be used for communicating with the outside world via switches and many other devices. I use them for things like beam breaks, door entry systems, light sensors to name but a few.

Naturally most of these 'devices' either do not exist in a form I can use, are horrendously expensive or have some problems when added to the system. I intend to detail some of the devices I have made, what their problems were and how I got round them. If I build circuits etc. to help me with this then I will show how I did it and where possible make a circuit board available. There are lots of resources on the web but I found my lack of electronics knowledge and no PCB making ability severely limited what I could achieve. Now, a couple of years later I am much better equipped and hopefully I can pass some of this knowledge and experience on to others.

This page last updated 30^th May 2008