Needless to say, that started me down a path and our new townhouse will never be the same! There are many, many more modules on the way and I've already purchased the IBM Home Director Starter Kit. which has a two way computer interface, lamp module, 6 in 1 Remote, a RF transceiver, and the Home Director software. Worthington Distribution is clearing them out for $10. They also have IBM Appliance modules for $5. Get 'em while they're available!
Of course, I already wanted to do things beyond the design of that software, so I use HomeSeer. It's a fantastic little program which offers voice control and has more options than I'll ever use. (Then again, maybe not.) It's very easy to use and has a less cluttered interface than X-10 Active Home or IBM Home Director.
I made a template for the PalmPad so it will look nice and neat. Currently, it is only offered in an Excel Workbook format. Other forms may follow. If you would like a copy, send email and I'll get it out to you, toot sweet. Be sure to leave the Subject exactly as PalmPad Template Request so the Autoresponder will send it out.
More information about HomeSeer and to download a trial version. Be sure to order using the button below!
The answer? X-10 Powerhouse home automation
Simple. Affordable. What more can you wish for? X-10 uses the electrical wiring in your house to communicate with lamps, appliances, wall outlets, various other modules and control them.
It all started when I was bitten by the X-10 bug recently when moving into my new apartment. The folks at www.x10.com finally offered a package which I could not refuse (free, with $6 s/h) for a Firecracker RF computer interface, a transceiver/appliance module, a lamp module, and a PalmPad remote control. This immediately presented itself as an easy way to replace my custom (pronounced...kludgey) lighting control circuit and keep my wife happy.
The lamp module could control the heat lamp. The appliance module could control the daylight lamp. An additional lamp module would run the nightlight. The computer could turn them all on and off automatically via the Firecracker interface. Perfect!
Of course, these gadgets were not enough, so I ordered an expansion kit and now have a house full of pushbutton convenience. One of the gadgets in the "Ultimate Firecracker Expansion Kit" is a Hawkeye II motion sensor. The Hawkeye can control any module to turn it on when motion or dark is sensed and then turn it off after a preset, user changable amount of time. After installing one to turn on the light in the garage when we walk out with a basket of laundry, the similarity between "us in the garage" and "the lizards in the cage" struck me in a blinding flash of inspiration.
A quick test with another Hawkeye II and a few pieces of tape proved that it would work. One sensor can cover almost the entire cage floor and can detect uromastyx-sized movement. By placing the sensor on the wall at the end of their burrow, any emerging lizard turns on the UV-B lamp. I set the OFF delay time to four minutes.
They knew I was up to something. After some fiddling around, I turned the flourescent light off via the PalmPad remote. A few minutes later, my male emerged and the light sprang to life after the *click* of the appliance module's relay. Convinced that the perimeter of the cage was thoroughly secured after a thorough "tramping around session", he climbed back into bed. A few minutes later the light turned off.
One concern about turning the "white" light off during the day is whether the uros trigger off of that to know that it is daytime. A few hours later they allayed my worry by happily presenting themselves for lunch with only the light from the heatlamp and the ambient room light present. If there are some uros which just insist that it's not daytime unless they see that bright light, a second flourescent lamp with a cheap bulb could provide that visual cue while saving the UV-B phosphors in the daylight lamp.
The Firecracker PC interface lets you send radio frequency control signals to transceivers which repeat the commands onto the house wiring. It is one-way only and cannot tell the computer which commands are being issued from any handheld remotes. I found the Firecracker software too limiting. It did not have built in macros nor scheduling.(They've since released those features at an additional cost.) After a brief Deja.com search, I found the third party HomeSeer software which was far more powerful, but still limited by the hardware. Being the gadget freak that I am, it wasn't long before I ordered a kit with a two-way computer interface.
To quote Tweety bird, "The possibiwities are mind boggwing!"
Among HomeSeer's features are the ability to run Events (Macros) based on X-10 commands received and to trigger VisualBasic scripts. It won't take much to write a script which will log the lizards' daily activity and keep track of *exactly* how long the lamp is on. The Hawkeye sees motion, turns on the lamp, triggers a timer on the computer.
Imagine the lamp savings: An average of 12 hours lamp use per day equals 4380 hours per year. If the lizards are active for two hours per day (a HIGH estimate with my two), that total drops to 730, thereby greatly extending the lamp life. Of course, I don't yet know exactly how much they are out during the day, but I soon will.
The computer interface is not required, it's just a toy, really. Bare bones cost to set up one cage on a basic system is $6 for the Firecracker kit and $20 or under for the Hawkeye II Motion Sensor. www.x10.com is notorious for running "Hurry, offer ends at midnight" specials, free gifts, and percents off orders over $25, so actual prices may be less. They setup the prices of expansion kits so it makes sense to spend $20 more than the lower level to get a lot more modules or remotes. I've seen the motion sensors three for $20 when you find the right link.
Either way, if anyone is interested visit here to order the Firecracker Starter Kit. DISCLAIMER: If one person orders the kit from the above link, I'll get the Macro Recorder software upgrade for free. If three people order it, I get the FUSE "timed event" software. I could not care less about these upgrades, since HomeSeer does so much more. That said, I will donate the software (if legally possible) to the winner of a random drawing of those who bought the kit and are interested. Just send me a private email if you wish to be included.
visitors since July 29, 1999.
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