Wirenboard SmartHome (two-bedroom Apartment)

In this tutorial We'll explain how to do your own Smart Home project.

WB6 -is a Raspberry Pi compatible computer. It has specially designed I/O interfaces to link sensors, relays and other equipment.

Lets take this two-bedroom apartment as an example to show how to automate lights, electrical outlets, heating and ventilation systems. Also in this lesson you'll learn how to automate electrical curtains and safety system.

To make it more convenient our smart home system can be operated by HomeKit, Google Home, Home Assistant, Iridium and others.

Supplies

Wirenboard controller WB6

Step 1: Lighting Control

In step one we have to find what type of lighting we are going to use and in what places.
There are three lighting types we can define in our two bedroom apartment (pic. "Lamps and Switches Plan"):

• Common lights.
• Dimming lights.
• LED strips.

Common lights (group)

Common lights are the lights which can be used by using a lightswitch. To control this group we use “Relay module 6-channel WB-MR6”. Based on our plan (pic. "Lamps and Switches Plan") we have fifteen lights this type. We need three modules WB-MR6 (eighteen channels total). Three channels we are going to keep in reserve.

Dimmable lights (group)

Dimmable lights are light which can change their level of brightness. Based on our plan (pic. "Lamps and Switches Plan") there are six lights of this type. To control this group use “LED and incandescent lamps dimmer WB-MDM3” module. We need two of these modules to control six lights.

LED Strips

LED strip light is a flexible circuit board that is populated with LEDs that you can stick almost anywhere you want to add powerful lighting in a variety of colors. We don’t have this type of lighting on our plan but the module “LED Dimmer WB-MRGBW-D” can be used to control it.

All modules above have the option to connect to compatible wall light switches. They can work with most push button switches. This button can toggle the on and off state of the light.

Dimmers have a wide range of control commands to allow you fine tune lighting schedules for day and night and adjust brightness to 50%.

Step 2: Heating Control

In this step we need to specify what modules we have to use to control heating equipment as wall, floor and water heaters.

Wall electric heaters

By looking at “Heating Equipment Plan” we’ll notice there are two wall heaters at 1.5kWt each. To control it we can use "Relay 3-channel WB-MRWL3" module. This module has three output channels and we’re going to use only two of them.

In-floor electric heaters

There is one in-floor heater at “Heating Equipment Plan” in the bathroom (room #8). To control it we’re going to use the last (third) available output channel from ‘’Relay WB-MRWL3” module.

Control of ‘’Relay WB-MRWL3” can be implemented through input ports but for this project we choose to control the module programmatically.

Heating radiators

The rest of heating equipment are centrtal heating radiators, connected to water pipes with servo.

To control servo use "I/O module WBIO-DO-R10A-8". It side connected to controller and can switch low currents, but it's enough to operate servo.

Step 3: Room Ventilation Control

Let's find out which modules we should use to automate control of the ventilation system.

Bathroom exhaust fans

On our project's “Ventilation Equipment” plan there are two rooms equipped with exhaust fans for better ventilation. To control it we’re going to use "WBIO-DO-R10A-8" module.

Air Conditioning

Air conditioning system in our project consists of a single exterior and two interior components. To control them we need two “Multisensor WB-MSW v3” modules. We’re going to use one module per interior component. Interior blocks can be controlled over the IR channel.

Step 4: Electrical Outlet Control

On this step we’re going to use our project’s “Electrical Outlets” plan to select outlets we want to make switchable.

• To provide a good level of safety we select all outlets in the kids room to be switchable.
• Four outlets for the washer, water heater, air conditioner and induction stove rarely need to be off. Only in case when owners leave the house for a long period of time.
• Three outlets are always on since they’re used for the fridge, internet router and intercom system.
• Other outlets can be switched off when no one is home.

For low power outlets we can use the “Relay 3-channel WB-MRWL3” module to switch them off.
With the high power outlets used to connect electric stoves or air conditioners we’re going to use the “I/O WBIO-DO-R10A-8” module in combination with powerful connectors.

Step 5: Sensors

Let’s look at our project’s “Sensors” plan. There are five types of sensors and one water meter counter.

Lets go and discuss each of these sensors in more detail.

Multisensor WB-MSW v.3

Multisensor should be installed on the wall approximately 60 inches (150 cm) from the floor. It can measure:

• Temperature Humidity
• CO2 concentration
• Air quality
• Noise level
• Light Intensity

Also the sensor has audio and visual alarm capabilities. It has led light and a speaker and can communicate with other devices via IR port.

Temperature sensor

For temperature control we’re going to use the "WB-M1W2" module with 1-wire ds18b20 sensor. The ds18b20 sensor can measure room or floor temperature. To measure floor temperature it should be placed inside a special tube embedded within the heated floor.

Motion Sensor

A motion detector is an electrical device that utilizes a sensor to detect nearby motion. Such a device is often integrated as a component in a security system that alerts a user of motion in an area. It connects to "WBIO-DI-WD-14" input. Signal from the motion sensor gets to the controller where it triggers a command to switch lights on in the corresponding room.

Door contact sensor

A door or window contact sensor is a peripheral security sensor that lets an alarm system know whether a door or window is opened or closed. When a door is opened, the sensor will activate and let the system know about the situation. In our project, we are going to use an open door sensor signal as an event to switch on house lights to welcome the owner. Light gets turned off after. It can be connected to the “WBIO-DI-WD-14" module.

Water leak sensor

This type of sensor will be explained in details on step 6.

Step 6: Leakage Prevention

Water leak detection.

For water leak detection and preventing water spillage we are going to use"WB-MWAC" module. It has three separated inputs for water leak sensor connection. We use a “Dry Contact” sensor type in this case. "WB-MWAC" has specially designed outputs to connect compatible electrical shutter valves for shutting down the main water line. If extra current needed for water leak sensors 14V DC output can be used.

Below is recommended placement of water leak sensors:

Under the sink

Washer room

Close to the dish washer machine

Near the shower

Under the bath

Water meter

Another advantage of using WB-MWAC it has two inputs to connect up to two water meter devices. Only water meters with pulsating current output are supported. In order to store meter values when power is out WB-MWAC has built in energy independent memory EEPROM and it has an internal battery.

Step 7: In Future Courses…

We will learn how to connect these modules and controllers in one system, upgrade the main breaker panel, write programs for our modules and how to integrate our system with Apple Home. We have a working system installed to share with you real life examples.