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From: tgb@bnu002.world (Tom G. Brusehaver/Consultant Euler Solutions)
Subject: Re: computerizing our homes ! How ?
In-Reply-To: cmcmanis@jurassic.eng.sun.com's message of 17 Jan 1994 22:46:10 GMT
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References: <2hek6s$m60@hermod.uio.no> <mjm59iINN7q2@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM>
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 1994 07:16:42 GMT
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>In article <2hek6s$m60@hermod.uio.no> olava@hedda.uio.no writes:
>> Hi, I m wondering why we dont put microcontrollers in our rooms and
>> objects in our homes. 
>
>Its too expensive, people won't pay for it. 

Expensive is quite relative.  People spend all kinds of money on
convenience. 

>> - Are there companies that produce complete house-controlling systems 
>>   at a moderate price - low cost.
>
>No, there are however companies that produce expensive house controlling
>systems. Check out Home Automation Laboratories (HAL) (Fax line +1-404
>438-2835) they sell home control systems for $300 - $500 after they've 
>been outfitted. Mostly based on X-10. The latest Computer Applications
>Journal (Circuit Cellar Ink) has an article on chips that implement the
>CEBus standard. Still they are expensive.

$300-500 wont buy a whole house system, maybe a couple rooms.
Typically a whole house system will be about $2500 (3br, 2ba, fr, kt).
This will be security, full remote and integrated with entertainment
systems, assuming you already have the audio and video to integrate.

>> - Is it possible to do that yourself with microcontrollers ?
>Yes.

Oh yes, and it will save a bunch.  maybe that $2500 will go to $1500,
and if you already have a computer the functionality goes way up.

>>  Any idea how difficult it is ? 
>Not too hard, especially when you can get X-10 chips from MicroMint
>or some other Manufacturer. The cost is the only inhibitor.

It can be quite complex, depending on what you want.  I want total
integrated audio in the home.  That is, CD, Radio, TV, Telephone,
Intercom, Doorbell all to work off the same set of speakers.  I want
all of this to follow me around the house as I move room to room, and
I don't want to have to carry an ID tag.  

So far I have a couple Suns talking X-10, and miniboard controlling
lights, sprinklers, and someday the furnace  (did ya hear we set a
record tonight?  -30F, cant wait for the gas bill!).  The house is
wired for audio, and phone, and TV, now I just gotta make it all work
together.  

>>  are there how-to-do books or kits or projects for that scope ?
>Here in the US there are magazines devoted to home control. You
>might try finding some of themn on the local newsstands.

"How to Automate Your Home" by  David Gaddis is pretty good.  Circuit
Cellar Ink is the best around.  Electronic House has a buncha articles
mostly for the people selling the stuff.  

There is a huge industry just around the corner waiting to have it
happen.  I think within the next 5 years there will be several of us
quite successfully running our own home automation business.

Tom Brusehaver

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