Request: Home Automation

[Jakob77]

Eadwine Rose

No, nothing dramatic. A few hundred journalists from the world press should be enough.



CharlesV

You are so right but the problem is I don't know anything that works the way I want it to yet.
I mostly hope if any reader has anything they won't hold it back.

But I can see a switch in itself doesn't have to be very expensive in Denmark.
For instance this one for less than 15$:

Wi-Fi stikkontakt 109,00 kr
https://www.harald-nyborg.dk/tp-link-smart-stikkontakt

[CharlesV]

CharlesV

You are so right but the problem is I don't know anything that works the way I want it to yet.
I mostly hope if any reader has anything they won't hold it back.

But I can see a switch in itself doesn't have to be very expensive in Denmark.
For instance this one for less than 15$:

Wi-Fi stikkontakt 109,00 kr
https://www.harald-nyborg.dk/tp-link-smart-stikkontakt

SO, a great method of finding what you MAY want, is to do some research with as many reviews / people on those as possible. (here on the forum is limited, obviously, so bringing a specific device or asking about a specific device might be better. )

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=tp-sma ... 9-1&ia=web

And, I would advocate doing those *first* and then once you have some products you like, ask here.

or

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=smart+outlet+ ... 9-1&ia=web

can provide some good reading and then narrow searching adding linux into that. Another method head for the device list in that post Home Automation link. The had a good list of devices that work with their software - and THAT is perfect to start with, then cross reference user reviews.

EDIT: code to links

[Jakob77]

After a loooong while.... Thank you for the inspiration. :-)



I hope I with this subject also have started some MX brain work.
My brain is puzzling a little with it almost every day.

Beside that I haven't done much yet.
Mostly because I am afraid to waste work, do wrong and end up with a not satisfying solution or a stone dead end.

I don't know if any of the developers are working on it.
For all I know we can be several 100 users who work on Home Automation in 100 different directions and we all end up frustrated with dead ends because we didn't coordinate the work.

I think we have to organize it somehow, and I believe we also might need users with small coding skills but bigger internet- and writing skills for finding stuff and making applications and so on.

If you might want to help sometime you can just post it here so it is easy to find you if someone wants to ask you later. :-)







If someone knows something about laws for 27 Mhz (walkie talkie band and maybe 35 and 40Mhz) on a global level, perhaps he can help determine if that is a dead end for Home Automation.?
If it is not against the law maybe we ought to think about that also. There is missing some hardware but if we can make it work we can bypass most of the wifi trouble, and the range can be many times longer without any repeater.

[dolphin_oracle]

I don't know if any of the developers are working on it.

for the record we are not.

[Jakob77]

I don't know if any of the developers are working on it.

for the record we are not.

Thank you for the information. In a way you just did because then I don't have to fear that my work for it will collide with the developers.


I will now begin to write to some hardware dealers and ask for a switch that is compatible with Linux. Not necessarily a fancy interface, just so it can be turned on and off by a Terminal command.

[Jakob77]

And, I would advocate doing those *first* and then once you have some products you like, ask here.

If you have time for it sometime I have some new questions for you. :-)



Track 1:


Can you tell me a bit about what this is supposed to be capable of:

MX-23.1 Rasbperry Pi OS respin, beta released.
viewtopic.php?t=78272

In order to take a closer look I have been trying to install it but I can't find the respin ".iso" file I expected, and I can't find a MX-tool or other tools to handle ".img" files either. Maybe you can help me with that.?

I also would like to know a little about the options before I dig in.

As I understand it you can make a card or a USB-stick to boot on for one of those small computers you can buy f.i.:
https://raspberrypi.dk/produkt/raspberry-pi-5-8-gb/

Does it have to be a Raspberry Pi or can you use an ordinary computer for it as well instead.?






Track 2:


I have found a different switch. :-)

Linux USB Relay Controller
http://scotttactical.com/linux-usb-relay-controller/

So I have ordered this exiting toy for me for Christmas:

USB Relay Controller - Four Channel - PCB
https://www.kmtronic.com/usb-relays.html?product_id=53

It is four switches in one, and the most important things I want to controle are located in the same room small enough to overcome the wireing.
So my plan is to make just one MX computer run that show.

It is supposed to be turned on all the time and once a day it connects to the Internet and downloads a list with the electricity prices on hourly basis. From the list it will find the lowest prices and turn on some switches according to that.

It sounds easy, and I have a strong feeling it is possible.
But there are some small and big things that has to fall into place first.

I have to find a stable page from where I am allowed to download the list.
These guys won't have it:
https://www.nordpoolgroup.com/en/Market ... view=table
So I will have to ask the company that sells me the electricity, and I assume they are willing to help but I don't know that for sure yet.

And then there is the scripting which is a puzzle where I am missing some pieces.

I don't know the best way to handle it but I will be looking for a some small scripts.
For instance:

1) A small script that can download a homepage and convert it into a text file.

2) A small script that can find the lowest numbers from a list in a text file and send commands to the relays when it is time.. (oh boy.. this will be difficult lol)

3) A small script that can send an email with the content from a text file.

4) A small script that can convert an email to a text file.


As you understand it is all still far from urgent and not fully thought through yet, but if you or others has some inspiration or advice about how I can find the missing pieces I will be grateful. :-)

[Eadwine Rose]

I thought this was dead and buried..

[AK-47]

He might be if he's wiring the relays into mains power without understanding what he's doing. Professional installs of this sort use contactors and purpose-designed relays for this reason, not some cheap how-ya-doin hobbyist relays.

I am also aware of the irony of using a computer that consumes 50-100 watts at idle that is on 24/7 to switch on and off things based on electricity prices. Downloading the list would also use up some bandwidth/data so charges from the ISP may apply too.

Plus, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO7RuBTYqaw

[MikeR]

In many homes the most obvious thing to control is one or more electric water heaters in the summer time. But if the price is high only in prime time the same time every day a switch in a watch can do the job as well. Just please understand if it is not a weak cable system but actually the wind and sun that sets the price you can't do that anymore.

@Jakob77
Where I am the major use of electrical power is cooling in Summer. OTOH a major saver of power, especially in summer is solar water heating (here it is mandatory in all new residential building)
Is that a possibility in your location?

[Be OK]

@AK-47 if you use a raspberry pi its around 5 watts.
And my 2ct,s is the ways all want you to use the internet and a phone to control things, I use node-red and nobody else. That is why i have always trouble to find things that work independent of the net and google..