Good resources to get started with a project?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Good resources to get started with a project?

dothack

79 posts

Master Geek

#90024 13-Sep-2011 16:24

Hi anyone know any good sites or resources to get started on some home automation projects? Anything would be great controlling lights using your phone or using a computer to monitor temperatures in different rooms maybe? anything would be a great idea, pretty interesting in turning my home into a smart home.
So post any links or idea you may have?

gzt

15200 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#520592 13-Sep-2011 18:37

If you are looking for a packaged modular system, ZWave supports those options, including energy monitoring.

Links wise this guy has implemented a ton of different monitoring and control devices and tied them together.

Signature goes here.

Mighty Ape

Shop Mighty Ape for electronics, games, computers books and more (affiliate link).

KShips

153 posts

Master Geek

#522769 18-Sep-2011 21:40

Check out LinuxMCE wiki.linuxmce.org great open-source solution for fully integrated automation solution. Huge upside of the project as it allows various technologies to talk to each other.

I've been using it for around 2 years now and while only touched on the automation side (been using HTPC features + controlling toshiba heatpump so far) I've got plans to get z-wave for security and lighting over the next few months as well as rain8 for irrigation. I also have some 1-wire gear that I need to add which will monitor temperatures.

Very active development and one of the big additions coming soon is a rewritten UI engine.

Fully controllable from phones, web, remote controls etc etc.

dothack

79 posts

Master Geek

#523548 20-Sep-2011 14:40

Hey guys thanks for the tips and links. Diggits home is intense but its a good showcase for all the stuff you can automate. Zware looks like best bet to start something :-)

Fibaro

11 posts

Geek

#529127 4-Oct-2011 16:43

I don't really know how to get this across without breaking the self promotion rules. We are not selling here yet so I am hoping the moderators will accept this as "Information Only" until we are on the market.

This system is having NZ and Australia frequency chips prepared for us as we speak. We are expecting the product to arrive before Christmas and will have an operational showroom by Feb 1 2012. As far as we are aware it is the simplest and most complete system available. Can be retro fitted and built in stages. Very accessible to the middle market.

We have spent the last 2 weeks in Europe finalising the arrangements for the production of NZ/Aus compatible units and compliance is underway now.

As I am new to this forum I am unable to post links but if you search for Fibaro you will find what you are looking for

gzt

15200 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#529155 4-Oct-2011 17:26

Excellent. Will energy monitoring modules be available ?

I did not find an NZ site by the way, but did find the English & Polish sites.

Signature goes here.

Fibaro

11 posts

Geek

#529165 4-Oct-2011 17:38

There was talk of smart meter compatibility but this product has only been on the market for 3 weeks in Poland.

As things are being developed (at a ridiculous rate) we are having similar systems built around our local requirements. The next phase of development in Europe is a module which will record energy usage and send data to providers to avoid estimated billing cycles etc.

All climate information is fed directly to the control unit which will assist in reducing energy consumption. Information such as varying sunset/sunrise times are automatically sent to the system so standard timers are replaced by a more effective alternative. Similar features will include the current weather conditions which will assist in reducing water usage etc (i.e you can setup irrigation or sprinkler systems which will not turn on if it is raining or there is rain in the forecast)

There will be dedicated NZ and Australian sites by the end of next week

Antzzz

190 posts

Master Geek

#529813 5-Oct-2011 22:03

Fibaro - sounds good! Good to see people coming up with stuff for the NZ/AU markets.

How will it compare with the Z-Wave stuff these guys are doing - Aussie based but they ship to NZ and are (in my opinion at least) a wee bit pricey:

http://www.smarthome.com.au/zseries/

HamishAhern

8 posts

Wannabe Geek
Inactive user

#539063 29-Oct-2011 18:11

I can get Zwave 240V AC devices for $18 for the single plugs, and $22 for the dual switches.

KShips

153 posts

Master Geek

#543471 10-Nov-2011 09:05

Fibaro: There was talk of smart meter compatibility but this product has only been on the market for 3 weeks in Poland.

As things are being developed (at a ridiculous rate) we are having similar systems built around our local requirements. The next phase of development in Europe is a module which will record energy usage and send data to providers to avoid estimated billing cycles etc.

All climate information is fed directly to the control unit which will assist in reducing energy consumption. Information such as varying sunset/sunrise times are automatically sent to the system so standard timers are replaced by a more effective alternative. Similar features will include the current weather conditions which will assist in reducing water usage etc (i.e you can setup irrigation or sprinkler systems which will not turn on if it is raining or there is rain in the forecast)

There will be dedicated NZ and Australian sites by the end of next week

Any update on this?

Fibaro

11 posts

Geek

#546553 17-Nov-2011 15:37

We are expecting test stock in 3 weeks... Compliance through RSM has been completed and we require physical models for the final stages of Energy Safety compliance.

Due to the 2nd Generation interface and control units being so close to completion, we chose to wait for these rather than quickly obtain the current versions and have obsolete products within a month or so.

We will be inviting people to check out the system in action before christmas. We will be on the market in full force by the end of January 2012.

Any enquiries can be sent to info@fibaro.co.nz

richms

26402 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#546559 17-Nov-2011 15:47

Fibaro: We are expecting test stock in 3 weeks... Compliance through RSM has been completed and we require physical models for the final stages of Energy Safety compliance.

Due to the 2nd Generation interface and control units being so close to completion, we chose to wait for these rather than quickly obtain the current versions and have obsolete products within a month or so.

We will be inviting people to check out the system in action before christmas. We will be on the market in full force by the end of January 2012.

Any enquiries can be sent to info@fibaro.co.nz

Sounds good. Nice to see someone actually bothering to get things compliant before selling them, unlike 90% of trademe ;)

Once they are available will there be any retailers/showrooms to have an actual play with the gear?

Richard rich.ms

Fibaro

11 posts

Geek

#546560 17-Nov-2011 15:55

The Energy Safety compliance is fairly serious as it covers the build quality of the devices, Radio Spectrum Management is also quite important unless you would like a radio interference audit on your doorstep! The devices can be installed and removed as you see fit... We would prefer that the removal was not a forced action!!

There will be a dedicated retail office in Auckland and a handful of showhomes around the country within 6 months..

Watch this space and www.fibaro.co.nz for more details.

Fibaro

11 posts

Geek

#622170 9-May-2012 12:42

Hi Everyone,

We have (finally) completed the required processes for NZ Compliance but unfortunately Australia is still taking place. The initial plan was to go straight through the Australian Regulators which would have in turn given us compliance in NZ but this would have taken too long.

We are also in the process of putting a showroom together with our "verified compatible" device partners so that there is a living breathing FIBARO display available to tinker with while deciding on which solutions you may wish to start with. We are also providing consultations in the Auckland area.

Feel free to fire through an enquiry via the NZ website or via my Geekzone profile. We have Automation Starter kits available and will be running installer training once we have notified the pre-registered installers and scheduled dates

KShips

153 posts

Master Geek

#622173 9-May-2012 12:45

Can you let us know what the prices contents are for starter kits?

Fibaro

11 posts

Geek

#622184 9-May-2012 13:02

$1999.99 (incl GST) will get you a FIBARO HC2 Controller and any combination of 5 of the following devices:

Dimmer
Roller Shutter
1 x 3kw Relay
2 x 1.5kw Relay