PC Controled House Lights ...

[b4u]

Hi,

I would like to engage a personal project, and for that I would need some info I currently don't have.

I would like to control the lights of my house with my computer, and provide a web interface for doing it. Cool, isn't it?

Well for start, I just want to connect the light switch from my home office, and as the result gets better, expand it to the rest of my house.

For that, I need some info on how to program ports on the PC, like a connector via USB, and what do I electronically have to do to operate a 220V light switch with the 12V (?) of the PC.

Anyone can point me out? I don't have a degree on electronics ...

I'm also thinking Java, so I can program the port with socket, and achieve a lightweight program code.

Thanks

 

[Kaspian]

220V light switch? :Q What type of light is it? Did you mean 110V?

 

[dighn]

try googling "X10". I think they make some home automation products. I don't recommend you to mess with it yourself if you aren't familiar with electronics.

 

[b4u]

Originally posted by: Kaspian
220V light switch? :Q What type of light is it? Did you mean 110V?

I live in Europe, my electric circuit is 220V ...

 

[Kaspian]

Originally posted by: b4u

Originally posted by: Kaspian
220V light switch? :Q What type of light is it? Did you mean 110V?

I live in Europe, my electric circuit is 220V ...

 

[nimo]

1st I?d like to state that no matter what route you pick it will involve significant electric rewiring & its highly unadvisable to mess with 220V lines unless you know what you are doing!!!

That said I would not recommend going the direct route and connecting ?contactor switches? to USB ports and alike.
Thought technically feasible with modifications it?s more work than you bargain for and you?ll run the risk of frying your pc.

Get a cheap PLC, 8-12 outs should be relatively inexpensive or you could try to get one 2nd hand.
PLC output (total) is usually 2amps (based on personal experience, it will differ from product to product you may get one with 300mAmps or 3Amps) that gets you ~400watts of power to light up the house
(More than enough to begin tinkering or if you have ?gas based? lighting)
If you have ~400watt total you can connect the PLC out directly & bypass the switch

If you have significantly more than ~400watts you?ll need to connect via ?contactor switches? other wise you?ll fry the PLC

2nd advantage of the PLC is that it can be easily programmed and reprogrammed
On the fly (depending on software) and can function with or w/o PC connection
With it connected to a PC web interface shouldn?t be a problem.

Additionally you can connect sensors to it
Say you need to turn on the lights as soon as you open the door, np.
Or turn lights off/on at specific times again np.


Ps: PLC ??programmable logic controller? when searching for actual products try just: ?programmable controller?

 

[AdamSnow]

X10 is by far the easiest way to accomplish this.

 

[nimo]

Originally posted by: AdamSnow
X10 is by far the easiest way to accomplish this.

Sry but the OP is in Europe
X10 don?t seem to be shipping internationally not from x10.com anyways

Plus there are the 120v/60Hz vs. 230v/50Hz compatibility problems

 

[Scarpozzi]

General Electric also made an interface for this, I believe. Basically, all systems work the same. They have a transmitter that goes on your PC and receivers that go in your wall sockets, light sockets, light switches, etc....depending on where you want to add a switch. The downside is that you have to always use your computer to control the lights....because they would always have to be switched on to be able to control them on these systems.

I personally wouldn't try to rewire your whole dwelling based on this project....too much 12/2 wire involved...and that stuff isn't cheap anymore.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I did a little searching.....

GE Smarthome

 

[ouzome]

Homeseer

Check out the discussion boards at Homeseer, it is the only software you will need.
Also check out the new technologies coming out that are better than x-10 at Cocoontech.

 

[effee]

Now this is all cool and nifty...

But whats wrong with switches?

 

[dighn]

Originally posted by: effee
Now this is all cool and nifty...

But whats wrong with switches?

not cool enough, duh

 

[b4u]

I'll be reading that info on the links you provided.

The big problem I see so far, is that I don't want to just connect a controler on the PC and use some software to program the devices ... I want to be able to access some API (for .NET , Java or both), so I can program my own software ... I'm interested in creating a web site where I can check the devices status and command them (for example, simple stuff as showing if any lights are turned on, and be able to command, or program them with web interface).

Also there is nothing wrong with regular switches ... except they are not cool anymore ... not geek enough

It's also difficult to find nice looking wall switches ... which is a must, if I want to successfully convince my wife on spending some money on such a geek hardware, eheh