Home Automation Question..... Looking for a USB controlled..

[Xzin]

This is a related area to multiboxing. Home automation.

What I am looking for is a device that can control AC power (through a relay most likely) using a USB device.

As in, press button on screen and lava lamp turns on. Yes I have a Lava Lamp and yes it rocks.

I should also be able to turn on the device on a set schedule (Turn on daily at 10 am). I need to have real time control - not something preprogrammed. I need to press a button on screen or some combination of keys to have it activate. Maybe activate for a period of time or activate until turned off... I need to be able to modify things. A slick GUI would be a plus as well. Be able to drag and drop different items on screen... which is why I am thinking home automation can do this. Maybe.

These two products can KIND of do this:

http://www.smarthome.com/2414u.html

http://cache.smarthome.com/images/2414u.jpg

But this is more of a "program it" device. I think. Plus it is Windows only :(

http://www.dataprobe.com/products/power/iboot/index.html

http://www.dataprobe.com/images/iboot_diagram_500.gif

This is an on/off/heartbeat device. I have one. It is expensive and is really only for remote rebooting and very little else.

What I need is something that is ideally multiplatform (whererulinuxsupport?) and is not statically programmed or turns on or off only.

Then there is this thing:

http://store.makezine.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MKCONTRLLR&Show=TechSpecs
http://makezine.com/controller/

http://makezine.com/images/06/intefacecontroller1.jpg

But it seems to require a TON of programming to get it working. It, like linux, seems flexible as anything you have ever seen... but well - I want a simple timer / on / off device. USB/eth controlled.

How hard is this to find? I KNOW something like this is out there.... maybe keep looking at the Zigbee/Z-Wave stuff?

There has GOT to be a simple USB to relay board out there SOMEWHERE with some software that can do the logic of timers and remote turn on/off.

Further research pulls up:

http://phidgets.com/

http://phidgets.com/images/1018.jpg

But these are more for sensing... not really what I am looking for.

So.... rather than continue to search and not really find what I am looking for..

Anybody out there able to point me in the right direction?

[Stealthy]

http://www.specpower.com/ac_dc.asp

Check these guys out...they do custom systems, which sounds like what your looking for.

Cheers,
Stealthy

[keyclone]

how about 1-wire devices? you should be able to get all sorts of switches.
here is a usb 1-wire adaptor

http://www.hobby-boards.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1503

http://www.hobby-boards.com/catalog/howto_adaptors.php?referer=product_info.php?produc ts_id=1503

[Xzin]

I don't think either of those is going to work. Custom is $$$$ and 1 wire is more for detecting a login or button press, not controlling AC. Any other ideas?

[keyclone]

you can do a bit more with 1-wire stuff. temperature guages, pressure plates, on/off switches. depends on how deep you want to get.

dallas semiconductor has oodles of 1-wire stuff. try googling '1wire switch'

here's a cool little 1wire project:
http://www.rentron.com/PicBasic/one-wire2.htm

from the page:

The switch status displays will alternate from ON - OFF, and the LEDs' will blink for visual status indication of each switch output. The temperatures will change when you touch individual DS18B20's. This project would be easy to modify, and have the switches close or open based on temperature readings for zoned damper controls, and more.

[Morganti]

Ever looked at the X10 stuff? I have a coworker that uses a bunch of it. He has the lights in his and one of the other sysadmin's offices automatically switch off when it's time to go home.

[Xzin]

I have looked at the X-10 stuff.
It is closed source and I did not get the impression that it could do what I wanted to do. I will give it another look over and see though.

The 1 wire stuff is flexible sure but not exactly easy to program. You have to literally program it. I just want something that can plug and play with minimal amounts of fuss.

[Xzin]

Looked more at the X10 stuff.

Man their advertising is ... in your face.

http://www.x10.com/activehomepro/macrodesigner.html

http://graphics.x10.com/images_ahp/235.gif

I like this concept - but it is more for offline macro building that stores the macros. I like the drag and drop macro building - makes things easy and intuitive. But it seems to lack the real time control I am looking for.

I want a computer controlled central "command" that is able to talk in real time to every module and control events. I want to click "turn on" and it turns on. I want to use the same program to program a macro to have it turn on when it becomes dark out as an example. The devices need no logic at all - as long as the computer controls the commands. Sure the devices can store the data - some of the products out there support this - but I still want to be able to override and control them in real time.

There HAS to be something like this out there.

Maybe I am missing something - I will delve back into the home automation products a bit more and see if any can do this.

[Morganti]

I'm pretty sure X10 will do this. My boss had links to turn his lights on and off from his webpage at one point using X10. Not that I'm pimping them or anything (never used it myself), but I think it'll do what you're wanting.

[Tealuin]

Xzin:

I tossed your RFI at my dad and this was his reply ...


Here is a company that builds some interface devices, probably spendy for what your friend wants.
http://www.digitalnetworks.net/device_servers.asp?source=google&ref=serdevserv

Here are some resources for home automation:
http://mail.google.com/mail/?ik=fcfb0ec4f4&view=rl&rlk=Home%20Automation%20IR&rll=en&zx=lyx2be-pkj4qk

Google on "Building Automation Systems" and you will find a wealth of information and providers of equipment. Locally, look up Building Automation or environmental controls and you will find local resources.

Now, what your friend may really be looking for: go to http://www.digikey.com This company publishes an electronic catalog for low cost electronic components. They used to sell a line of microprocessor based controllers that could be programed through a pc. It is also an excellent source of cables, connectors, adapters etc. They cover the field from computer technology, communications, batteries, audio, video, etc. They are a component level provider, not much in the way of hardware. They have an on-line catalog as well. I used to buy a large part of my electronic components from them when I worked in broadcast.

I wish I could remember the name of the manufacturer, (Johnson Controlls is a similar company, but more expensive, i think) but I installed a Building Automation System at Parkland - our church in Clovis. The software resided in my desk-top and communicated to the main controller via Ethernet which communicated to all the little controller cards scattered around the building on RS-422 (I think. - single twisted pair) which controlled furnaces, air conditioners, lights, etc. The software was a GUI which gave pictorial representation of system status, etc. and provided user input to the software. Schedules could be easily built and edited. For a small home system built from this hardware, the software becomes the most expensive part: I think it was around $500. The individual interface modules that provided 4 outputs (TRIAC) and included analog and digital inputs ran around $150. Several different modules for different applications were available.

[Xzin]

I know about digikey... that is a bit too technical for me. I would prefer this to cost $200 or less if possible. A fairly simple USB to AC controller. The software is more important than the hardware really.

I may have to spend some time learning all about home automation and seeing what I can pull from that.

[Xzin]

I still got nothin... Maybe X10 stuff but I haven't the time to explore it fully yet.