Home Automation

My home automation is built using Phidgets and Xbee radio's. The software is written in c# in .net

From the touchscreen panel I am able to:

1. control the heating or cooling modes on the HVAC system
2. Open and close my garage doors as well as tell the state of the door.
3. See the humidity level of my house
4. Tell the difference between the floor temperatures in my house
5. Determine the overall power consumption by phase and the cost
6. see the outside temp and forecast
7. Shared google calendar
8. Watch the video feeds from my driveway and front door cameras
9. set the home and away temperatures.

I can also control most of these functions from my mobile web interface

Step 1: What You Will Need to Purchase

Items from Phidgets

1. 1018_2 - PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8
2. 3503_0 - i-Snail-VC-100 AC Current Sensor 100Amp QTY:2

3. 1125_0 - Humidity/Temperature Sensor QTY: As many as you wish to monitor

4. 3109_0 - TPK-01G Bead Probe K-type Thermocouple (-50°C to +450°C) QTY: As many as you wish to monitor

5. 1051_2 - PhidgetTemperatureSensor 1-Input QTY: As many as you wish to monitor

6. 3052_1 - SSR Relay Board 2.5A QTY: 3 for HVAC, more to turn on lights etc..

Optional Wireless modules:

1. XBee series 1 configured for IO line passing mode

Computer:

I am using a windows based machine for my software to run, you could use linux or something else since the phidgets products work with pretty much anything.

Step 2: HVAC Details

Since the only thing really consistent to others for this project will be the hardware and HVAC I will focus on that for the how to

You will want to know how to turn on and off your HVAC and in the different modes.

I made sure i could get this working first just using some wire

Turn on Fan:

Bridge : G to Common

Turn on A/C

Bridge : G to Common

Bridge: Y to Common

Important you do not want to join G and Y together just use separate wires down to Common

Turn on Heating:

Bridge : G to Common Bridge: Y to Common Important you do not want to join G and Y together just use separate wires down to Common

Link to wiring details http://wiki.xtronics.com/index.php/Thermostat_sign...

Step 3: Connect Your Outputs

1. Plug all the Phidgets sensors into the interface board.
2. Connect all the relay boards to the digital outputs
   
   1. You will want to connect the + lead to the output and the - lead down to ground
   2. plug the analog sensors into the analog inputs

Step 4: Test You Hardware

Testing is important because its possible to have a bad output or input and drive yourself crazy.

Testing:

1. Plug you phidgets IO board into a PC and install the phidgets drivers

http://www.phidgets.com/docs/Operating_System_Supp...

1. Make sure that the divers install correctly and double click on the phidgets control center icon in the task bar
2. Test the I/O board
3. Go through each of the outputs turning them on and off , measure the output with a volt meter should register around 5v
4. Check the relay board you should have a direct short when the output is on and it should be open when the output is off.
5. Open the temp util and check the temperatures
6. You can get the detailed procedure on everything from the product page of the phidgets site

Step 5: Connecting the HVAC

Turn on Fan:

1. Connect the relay output one end should get connected to the G from your HVAC and the other should be connected to your C or common

Turn on A/C Bridge :

1. Connect the relay output one end should get connected to the Y from your HVAC and the other should be connected to your C or common

Turn on heat:

1. Connect the relay output one end should get connected to the W from your HVAC and the other should be connected to your C or common

Important - You will always need to turn on your fan first then the mode you want to start up

*****Very Important never turn on heating and cooling at the same time.

Link to wiring details http://wiki.xtronics.com/index.php/Thermostat_sig...

Comments

[mathdude02]

Could you please post a download link for the software

[Akin Yildiz]

my dream.!!! this is the first thing i'm going to do when I get me a house. i also want to do the same inside cars, eliminate every button/switch and install just 1 big touchscreen. control even the windows, maybe voice activated as well...

.

we do need step by step instructions tho !

[tklass]

Yes this is my first article so i am getting to that now :)

thanks

[xr3negadex]

This is pretty cool but this is an instructible where you make instructions on how to repeat the process for the people who don't know where to start or just don't know how to do it. please elaborate on this instuctible with further instructions on how to complete this project.