Home automation is using electronic systems to control appliances and other electrical systems within a house. Examples include automatic switching of lights, air conditioning, security locks and cooking / entertainment appliances.
Questions tagged [home-automation]
175 questions
42
votes
9 answers
What sensor to choose to track human presence indoors?
This is a hobby project about home automation. The idea is that of distributed system of cheap microcontrollers that take measurements, communicate, output data and control appliances.
One important task that this system should perform is detect at…

Vorac
- 3,091
- 5
- 29
- 52
17
votes
5 answers
Are relays reliable for long time use?
I am developing a home automation project in which I'm using relays to control appliances.
I need to control devices with 220V and 6A rating.
Should I use relays to control these appliances as a long term solution?
Relay I'm using is mechanical and…

Suraj Bhawal
- 571
- 3
- 8
- 25
14
votes
1 answer
Any obvious problems with this DIY home automation?
I'd like to know if anyone can spot any serious electrical issues in what I'm trying to do from an electrical viewpoint.
Youtube Demo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmsdXMbd2vo
Short version:
I have 220V relays in the house, connected to lights…

vlad b.
- 323
- 2
- 4
- 11
12
votes
4 answers
Wireless Home Automation 2.4GHz versus 433MHz
Project specifications
- This is an **Arduino** project
- This is supposed to be internationally applicable
I am working on a home automation project which might go into smaller production. The project is wireless and the connections would be…

Roberto Anić Banić
- 307
- 1
- 3
- 10
10
votes
6 answers
Arduino Home Light Dimming
The drywall is just starting to go up in my family’s basement project. I’ve been looking into residential light control systems. Some of the ones I’ve seen have been an upwards of $2,000. I’m thinking it'd be much more fun (and cost effective!) to…

Kevin Mark
- 1,473
- 1
- 15
- 20
8
votes
5 answers
Water level detection, where water is somewhat polluted and has significant dissolved salts
Found this excellent QnA here which provides several options for measuring or detection water-level. For my case, it is enough to differentiate 4 levels of water (very low, low, middle, full), of the tank.
I need to do the same, but in my case, I am…

bdutta74
- 3,524
- 11
- 46
- 67
8
votes
2 answers
1-wire verses CAN-bus for home sensing network?
I'm trying to put together a home automation solution for my newly built house. I'm very new to this, specifically for hardware matters and asking this question to verify if my understanding of what I've learnt from internet is more of less correct…

abolotnov
- 183
- 1
- 6
8
votes
4 answers
Home automation protocols in Europe
Which protocols are used in Europe? I'm more interested in "higher layer" protocols (e.g. light bulb control) than with the physical layer, but those will be welcome too.
Does the KNX standard have that "high layer" behaviour defined or it's just…

rnunes
- 831
- 2
- 11
- 21
6
votes
3 answers
Using electric motor to adjust blinds?
So I'm trying to do some insane home DIY with my room blinds. I'm trying to make them adjust (go up and down) automatically.
Now for this, obviously, I will need a motor.
The blinds I'm working with don't require much strength to pull down, but a…
user11047
6
votes
2 answers
direct ZigBee communication with Philips Hue smart light bulbs
Philips Hue light bulbs use a Bridge(transmitter) to connect between your network and their smart lights via a ZigBee protocol called Light Link. Can you control the lights directly with your own xBee radio?
I'm most interested in creating my own…

hydronics
- 93
- 1
- 1
- 6
5
votes
3 answers
Home automation Controller/server needed
I'm looking for a device that allows me to supervise an existing BTicino home alarm system. The system can communicate via RS-232 (or USB) interface using an open protocol, Openwebnet.
I need to be able to:
intercept events from the RS-232…

maoZZ
- 51
- 1
4
votes
1 answer
Home automation protocols to use for wifi
I am trying to zero in on which home automation protocol to use for my embedded device. I have a wireless module which connects to a router. So the protocol has to operate over wifi. I know I will not be able to use Zigbee and Zwave since these dont…

user2578666
- 497
- 1
- 5
- 15
4
votes
3 answers
Control the lights both with wall switch and arduino
I am starting to build new house and want to add some home automation features, for now, turning lights and sockets on and off.
i bought arduino mega, ethernet shield, current sensors to see if the light is on, and relays. Can you tell me what is…

ajdede
- 41
- 1
- 1
- 2
4
votes
1 answer
Android Home Automation
I'm trying to do home automation using android app and arduino teleduino.
Basically, I'll be doing lights and power plugs.
I still cant post images so here' the link to the diagram I saw and will be using.
light bulbs OK, but when it comes to the…

yhunz_19
- 199
- 1
- 6
4
votes
2 answers
Relay contact insulation doesn't seem to be enough
I'm working with an ESP32 and a 4 relay module. The problem seems to be that the insulation of contacts in the relay is not enough.
Relays close perfectly and my lights turn on, but when they open, a 20V or less voltage remains between the main…