Ideas for Lighting Automation

[Edward Elhauge]

Hi,

I'm hoping to get some leads on the types of components that might work
to create an automation system for common incandescent building lights.
A set of Googleable keywords would be enough, but more details would be
great.

What I'd like to do is put a relay on most of the lights in my home and
control each relay from a low-cost computer running Linux. The other
criteria is that the system be hard-wired (not be an X10 based system).

So the components I would need are:

Relays -- 100-500 watts,
that have 0 or low draw when not energized,
controllable via a hard wired interface,
as inexpensive as possible,
safe,
meets NEC

IO interface -- control 20 relays or more,
reasonably priced,
isolated from relays (optically ?)

I see a lot of X10 systems that can do this, but since this is going to
be part of a security system, I'd like the control interface to be more
secure than X10 allows.

 

[Fred Bloggs]

I'm hoping to get some leads on the types of components that might work
to create an automation system for common incandescent building lights.
A set of Googleable keywords would be enough, but more details would be
great.

What I'd like to do is put a relay on most of the lights in my home and
control each relay from a low-cost computer running Linux. The other
criteria is that the system be hard-wired (not be an X10 based system).

So the components I would need are:

Relays -- 100-500 watts,
that have 0 or low draw when not energized,
controllable via a hard wired interface,
as inexpensive as possible,
safe,
meets NEC

IO interface -- control 20 relays or more,
reasonably priced,
isolated from relays (optically ?)

I see a lot of X10 systems that can do this, but since this is going to
be part of a security system, I'd like the control interface to be more
secure than X10 allows.

These people rule:
http://www.geindustrial.com/products/applications/tlc/tlclvrc.pdf

 

[Tomi Riipinen]

I see a lot of X10 systems that can do this, but since this is going to
be part of a security system, I'd like the control interface to be more
secure than X10 allows.

Konnex (KNX), LonWorks, INSTEON. Keyword is domotics.

 

[[email protected]]

Hi,

I'm hoping to get some leads on the types of components that might work
to create an automation system for common incandescent building lights.
A set of Googleable keywords would be enough, but more details would be
great.

What I'd like to do is put a relay on most of the lights in my home and
control each relay from a low-cost computer running Linux. The other
criteria is that the system be hard-wired (not be an X10 based system).

So the components I would need are:

Relays -- 100-500 watts,
that have 0 or low draw when not energized,
controllable via a hard wired interface,
as inexpensive as possible,
safe,
meets NEC

2 ways to reduce relay power draw, if you want:

1. reduce coil current to 60-70% after contacts closed.

2. use bistable relay.


NT

 

[Smack'n Rat]

Hi,

I'm hoping to get some leads on the types of components that might work
to create an automation system for common incandescent building lights.
A set of Googleable keywords would be enough, but more details would be
great.

What I'd like to do is put a relay on most of the lights in my home and
control each relay from a low-cost computer running Linux. The other
criteria is that the system be hard-wired (not be an X10 based system).

So the components I would need are:

Relays -- 100-500 watts,
that have 0 or low draw when not energized,
controllable via a hard wired interface,
as inexpensive as possible,
safe,
meets NEC

IO interface -- control 20 relays or more,
reasonably priced,
isolated from relays (optically ?)

I see a lot of X10 systems that can do this, but since this is going to
be part of a security system, I'd like the control interface to be more
secure than X10 allows.

I took apart on of those indoor motion sensor lights that go in place of
a light switch. The device wasn't very maker-friendly, but it wasn't a
great challenge to take apart and look at the circuit or the devices in it.

Anyhow, the they used a triac that was triggered by a PIR IC (on or
off). The TRIAC was in a TO-220 Thermotab config with the tab screwed
into the metal housing. Nice thing is that you should be able to use
them to dim incadescents which was what I was trying to hack into it
(abrupt on and off isn't very elegant).

I guess a triac is technically a solid-state relay(?). Forgive me if I
just stated the obvious or overlooked any industrial or safety issues
you had in mind.

--SR