Having spent the last couple of weeks helping my parents move house I’ve had quite a lot of free thinking time whilst driving to plan the home automation project.
I’ve drafted up a starting list of features I intend to implement in the project.
General
- Remote access and monitoring via Internet and phone.
Lighting
- Mood/Scene Lighting
- Automated hallway lighting via light-level and PIR sensors. (Possibly other rooms as well depending on how well I can accomodate them)
Climate Control
- Interface with underfloor heating and radiator thermostats and external sensors to compensate for outside conditions.
- System will not heat a room if a window is open.
Security
- Different door chimes when a door is opened for each external door in the house.
- Cameras with automated alerts when alarm in armed state.
- Occupancy Simulation (realistic lighting patterns).
Miscellaneous
- Curtain control linked with lighting. When curtains are closed light turns on. Also curtains should be opened/closed at dawn/dusk.
- “Jumper wearing detection” to fine tune temperature control (OK may be stretching it a bit)
I will also be using Google Sketch-Up to do a very basic plan of the house to start visualising wiring routes and get a feel for the layout of the house, expect this in a later blog entry.
