Smart Home & Home Automation discussion thread

[ControlD]

Has anyone here played with openHAB http://www.openhab.org/ at all? I have been thinking about playing around with some simple home automation tasks and this looks interesting to me. There is an unRAID docker for openHAB, so all I would need to do is add a zwave stick to my box and I should be up and running.

I originally thought about going with a PLC to handle my automation/monitoring as I am very comfortable in that world, but maybe learning something new could be fun as well.

 

[Kaido]

Has anyone here played with openHAB http://www.openhab.org/ at all? I have been thinking about playing around with some simple home automation tasks and this looks interesting to me. There is an unRAID docker for openHAB, so all I would need to do is add a zwave stick to my box and I should be up and running.

I originally thought about going with a PLC to handle my automation/monitoring as I am very comfortable in that world, but maybe learning something new could be fun as well.

Yeah, I forgot who but someone here has a full setup with it, maybe they can chime in.

Just thinking long-term, do some thinking about what you want to manage over time. I've played with most stuff on the market & have more or less settled on Wink for now. I like it because it's all off-the-shelf equipment...Zwave door lock, Caseta lights, Honeywell thermostat API integration through Wifi, etc. I never really have to think about it because the system manages it for me - I just use it.

If you are looking into it from the hobby side for fun & learning, also check out MisterHouse, Raspberry Pi, and Arduino - people do a lot of crazy stuff with that tech!

 

[ControlD]

Yeah, I forgot who but someone here has a full setup with it, maybe they can chime in.

Just thinking long-term, do some thinking about what you want to manage over time. I've played with most stuff on the market & have more or less settled on Wink for now. I like it because it's all off-the-shelf equipment...Zwave door lock, Caseta lights, Honeywell thermostat API integration through Wifi, etc. I never really have to think about it because the system manages it for me - I just use it.

If you are looking into it from the hobby side for fun & learning, also check out MisterHouse, Raspberry Pi, and Arduino - people do a lot of crazy stuff with that tech!

I should go back and re-read this thread (it has been awhile).

So Wink supports z-wave? Does Wink require a proprietary controller or can I get a "Wink stick" and make my own?

I was looking into the R-Pi route, but since I already have an unRAID server running 24/7 that seems like a no-brainer. My wants are pretty simple. I would like to monitor my sump pump, maybe do some Hue lighting, some automatic lighting (walk in a room and have the lights come on) and capture security camera footage. I have a heat pump system so I'm not sure I can use a Nest. Plus, my wife and I work opposite schedules so I would never really change the temperature much.

** edit **

Checked the Wink website and see it supports a variety of protocols.

 

[Kaido]

I should go back and re-read this thread (it has been awhile).

So Wink supports z-wave? Does Wink require a proprietary controller or can I get a "Wink stick" and make my own?

I was looking into the R-Pi route, but since I already have an unRAID server running 24/7 that seems like a no-brainer. My wants are pretty simple. I would like to monitor my sump pump, maybe do some Hue lighting, some automatic lighting (walk in a room and have the lights come on) and capture security camera footage. I have a heat pump system so I'm not sure I can use a Nest. Plus, my wife and I work opposite schedules so I would never really change the temperature much.

** edit **

Checked the Wink website and see it supports a variety of protocols.

Wink is kinda weird, it prefers Wink Certified equipment. So yeah, some unsupported Zwave devices work, but not everything. More or less, you want to stick with Wink Certified hardware in order for everything to play nice. You might want to check out SmartThings v2 for more tinkering abilities:

https://www.smartthings.com/

Then again, if OpenHAB does everything you want, then you'll be in business! Q&A time:

1. What do you want to monitor on your sump pump? Leaks?
2. What kind of cameras do you have, or what are you looking at?

Hue is pretty straightforward (plus you can do some neat stuff with LED light strips & Zwave ballasts) & automatic lighting is usually controlled by motion sensors (not too pricey).

 

[ControlD]

I would like to monitor the water level as well as run time. I actually have a camera pointed at the sump right now, a Foscam FI9810W, that I use to make sure the basement isn't flooding while I am away but I obviously have to make a point to check it. It would be nice to have something that would send me a text or email alert if a problem is detected. I would like to monitor run time in case the sump pump has a switch failure and gets stuck in an always on situation.

The only camera I have right now is the above-mentioned Foscam. I would like to add some cameras to the front and back door areas of the house as well that could capture images and/or video when motion is detected. I have not actually priced anything out yet but would probably be looking at something POE for ease of installation.

 

[Kaido]

I would like to monitor the water level as well as run time. I actually have a camera pointed at the sump right now, a Foscam FI9810W, that I use to make sure the basement isn't flooding while I am away but I obviously have to make a point to check it. It would be nice to have something that would send me a text or email alert if a problem is detected. I would like to monitor run time in case the sump pump has a switch failure and gets stuck in an always on situation.

The only camera I have right now is the above-mentioned Foscam. I would like to add some cameras to the front and back door areas of the house as well that could capture images and/or video when motion is detected. I have not actually priced anything out yet but would probably be looking at something POE for ease of installation.

There's an interesting related project here:

https://lowpowerlab.com/forum/index.php?topic=887.0

Also check out these sump pumps, if you're doing a full install:

http://www.radonseal.com/pumps/water-powered-pumps.htm

 

[ControlD]

There's an interesting related project here:

https://lowpowerlab.com/forum/index.php?topic=887.0

Also check out these sump pumps, if you're doing a full install:

http://www.radonseal.com/pumps/water-powered-pumps.htm

I actually have one of these already:

http://www.tanecorp.com/MG22_water-powered_backup_sump_pump.html

From what I can see from your link they look to operate on similar principles.

 

[Kaido]

Hack Attack commercial by Geico:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdDe0ObBBkU

 

[priest66]

Have you ever tried universal software for commercial and home automation - iridiummobile.net

 

[ControlD]

Does anyone here use the Samsung SmartThings V2 hub?

All of the reviews for this seem to be quite favorable, but user reviews are all over the place. I was planning on rolling my own solution using OpenHab, but if the Samsung works well it seems like an easy choice at $79. I don't really have too much automation that I want to setup, but I would like to have some monitoring functions. I would like to to have networked smoke alarms, a couple of cameras, a water sensor or two and maybe some other miscellaneous sensors.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Does anyone here use the Samsung SmartThings V2 hub?

All of the reviews for this seem to be quite favorable, but user reviews are all over the place. I was planning on rolling my own solution using OpenHab, but if the Samsung works well it seems like an easy choice at $79. I don't really have too much automation that I want to setup, but I would like to have some monitoring functions. I would like to to have networked smoke alarms, a couple of cameras, a water sensor or two and maybe some other miscellaneous sensors.

I have the SmartThings hub and for me, it does work pretty well. I don't think you can go wrong for $79, though I thought you could actually get them for $69 with some additional coupons. Anyway, as I was saying, it does work well for me but that doesn't mean it doesn't have issues (Smart Home Monitor has been problematic for many), but it has a really strong developer community which releases new device handlers very frequently. For example, when the new Lowes Iris devices were released, community developers had device handlers for them within days.

I mainly use mine for sensors and its integration with the Logitech Harmony hubs. I don't have much in the way of rules or logic in it yet, but I may add that eventually. If you have additional questions about it, please feel free to post or PM me. I have both Wink and ST and can compare and contrast them.

For cameras, I am using the Blink HD cameras. I haven't integrated them into SmartThings just yet, but one community developer has created an impressive integration for them which I'll eventually use.

 

[KentState]

Does anyone here use the Samsung SmartThings V2 hub?

All of the reviews for this seem to be quite favorable, but user reviews are all over the place. I was planning on rolling my own solution using OpenHab, but if the Samsung works well it seems like an easy choice at $79. I don't really have too much automation that I want to setup, but I would like to have some monitoring functions. I would like to to have networked smoke alarms, a couple of cameras, a water sensor or two and maybe some other miscellaneous sensors.

While I haven't full taken the time to set everything up, I do like it so far. I have about 30 devices hooked up to ranging from SmartThing ZigBee devices to a variety of Z-Wave ones. Some take a little more work to get connected, but the majority are easy to get going.

Personally, I like being able to automate things like turning on basement lights when coming down the stairs or alerting if the garage door hasn't been shut. I also installed smoke/C02 sensors and have the lights configured to turn on, unlock the doors, open the garage door and stop circulating air for a fire alarm. Also have routines setup to turn on lights when we are out late or are coming home.

There are so many devices and the option to write your own SmartApps is very appealing. I was able to branch prior work and integrate my AV receiver. I see a lot of potential in taking stuff like that further and setting light scenarios when watching movies or listening to music.

The best part is for $70, you can get going with home automation if you get Z-Wave devices and switch over to something else down the road and not have to throw away anything besides the hub.

 

[Kneedragger]

With the new SmartThings V2 hub did they make it so it will still work if not connected to Internet? I think I remember this being a big concern with the first box.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

With the new SmartThings V2 hub did they make it so it will still work it not connected to Internet? I think I remember this being a big concern with the first box.

You still require internet connectivity for most things. "Local control" in SmartThings currently only works with the Smart Lighting app as far as I know, even though SmartThings pledges more support down the road.

 

[ControlD]

Thanks guys. I think I will go ahead and pick one up and start playing with it. I can always move to OpenHab later if this doesn't fit my needs completely.

 

[ControlD]

Personally, I like being able to automate things like turning on basement lights when coming down the stairs or alerting if the garage door hasn't been shut. I also installed smoke/C02 sensors and have the lights configured to turn on, unlock the doors, open the garage door and stop circulating air for a fire alarm. .

Which smoke alarms did you end up going with?

 

[KentState]

I picked up three of these. Pretty simple to add and setup for alerting.

http://smile.amazon.com/First-Alert...ke detector&qid=1459270431&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

Use these for switches and outlets.

http://smile.amazon.com/GE12722-Z-W...C_UL160_SR83,160_&refRID=04T61TXED5TJN08E01PB

 

[Kneedragger]

Thanks guys. I think I will go ahead and pick one up and start playing with it. I can always move to OpenHab later if this doesn't fit my needs completely.

I was also considering this a while ago. Looked on their site and seem a bit overwhelmed. Was looking to see how you can control different wireless technologies but couldn't find how to do that with a computer. All I seen was a list of supported companies if I remember correctly..

 

[Kneedragger]

You still require internet connectivity for most things. "Local control" in SmartThings currently only works with the Smart Lighting app as far as I know, even though SmartThings pledges more support down the road.

Thanks

 

[ControlD]

I was also considering this a while ago. Looked on their site and seem a bit overwhelmed. Was looking to see how you can control different wireless technologies but couldn't find how to do that with a computer. All I seen was a list of supported companies if I remember correctly..

Yeah, it looks like the standard open source type of project. Tons of power and flexibility but light on documentation. I think it could probably be a fun project, but maybe getting something up and running first might be smarter (for me) rather than trying to figure the front and back ends out at the same time. I think once the devices are in place all it would take is the proper USB dongle to start into the OpenHab world.

 

[zoiks]

Wish openhab would support chromecast audio. With Chromecast audio, I could set up a multi-zone amplifier directing audio channels in each zone to each room and theoretically get openhab to control each zone. Sonos gets too expensive if you have multiple rooms.

 

[CAL7]

SmartThings is perfect for me (huge emphasis on the "for me" part). I'm not up to developing code, but I'm willing and able to dive in and leverage (i.e. steal) other people's work to implement solutions that work for me. The caveat is that I do think the average consumer would be overwhelmed - I estimate that I've spent well over a thousand hours reading the community forums and following rabbit trails. To me, that's a hobby I enjoy and consider it an investment in my general knowledge; even if ST goes belly-up, it's been fun and fruitful.

In short, the platform, aided by - and almost totally because of - gracious developers, can do most anything. (Missing: Lutron support) However, it is cloud-based and has back-end issues, so don't expect 100% reliability; or even 95%. Local control, as BaltColtsFan (did I get that right?) said, is largely a myth.

 

[Kneedragger]

Thinking.. Anyone know of any alarm panel that supports Z Wave device at all? I heard the Honeywell Lynx does but on Honeywell devices..

 

[ControlD]

I keep going back and forth on the SmartThings hub. Somehow the lack of local control seems like a big deal, but maybe it isn't. Does this mean that when the ST cloud servers are offline, none of your monitoring / automation works?

It seems that there are quite a few open source HA projects out there. OpenHab is the big one of course, but some others like HomeGenie and Domoticz look really nice as well. The downside is that a basic setup will only support Z-Wave. I'm sure some other hardware can be added for more protocols however.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I keep going back and forth on the SmartThings hub. Somehow the lack of local control seems like a big deal, but maybe it isn't. Does this mean that when the ST cloud servers are offline, none of your monitoring / automation works?

It seems that there are quite a few open source HA projects out there. OpenHab is the big one of course, but some others like HomeGenie and Domoticz look really nice as well. The downside is that a basic setup will only support Z-Wave. I'm sure some other hardware can be added for more protocols however.

Vera products support completely local home automation AFAIK. I've been thinking about also buying the new VeraPlus once it has been long enough for most of the bugs to have been worked out.