Thanks for the additional feedback. I'll have to investigate the camera
situation extensively. Communications port selection is mostly beyond
my knowledge. I don't have or want a smartphone but maybe I'll replace
my Kindle Fire with the new Google 7" tablet to get access to Android
apps. At least I assume that will work.
Your comments about future use of solar/wind/whatever reminded me that
one needs to be careful amongst the sheisters. Check this roof mounted
wind turbine just reviewed by Consumer Reports:
<http://news.consumerreports.org/home/2012/08/results-of-consumer-reports-wind-turbine-tests.html>
My own plan for dealing with future home energy costs is to make sure
wherever I live has access to natural gas.
Chuck Norcutt
On 8/10/2012 9:00 PM, Scott Gomez wrote:
> You're most welcome, Chuck. You might write to the ISY folks and the
> smarthome folks regarding camera integration; I don't know the limits or
> capabilities on either at present. Of course another, less integrated
> approach would be to buy a camera system like some of the self-contained
> security camera systems widely available for not much money. Most now have
> an interface to the web, and there's an Androi app (for instance) that
> knows how to connect to and display output from many of those, as well as
> from inexpensive stand-alone IP cameras. Since the ISY, for example, allows
> one to set the communications port desired for http or https, one could set
> that to an alternate port, and save the "standard" ports for devices
> perhaps not as smart. Its how I was (until a router software update from
> the Mexican telco seems to have screwed things up) handling having both my
> ISY and a cheap ip camera on-line simultaneously. Perhaps I'll have an
> opportunity to clear up that little glitch on my trip down there this
> coming week.
>
> In my particular case, I intend on using the current house in San Felipe
> (very small) and the one here in the US (larger--but still not at all
> large) for proving grounds to drive construction (eventually) of a new
> house in San Felipe. So the (now two) ISYs are worth the investment. It's
> my hope to accomplish a number of things, such as:
>
> 1) Simplified wiring, not requiring 2 and 3 way switches (in fact, it's
> already possible to have switches that don't have any wiring... and use the
> RF to trigger devices on and off).
>
> 2) Automation and control of as much energy savings as I can figure out how
> to drive. I'd rather not spend my retirement paying ever-increasing energy
> costs. Many of the passive systems become, to my way of thinking, far more
> viable if one hasn't got to spend a significant amount of time tending them.
>
> 3) Integration of solar/wind/whatever that allows local generation and
> staying off the grid as much as practical.
>
> Most of those things are moving along and I expect that when the time comes
> to build, I'll have enough handle on the programming and operation of the
> various controls to be able to design accordingly. While I'm quite
> impressed with many of the energy-saving systems I've seen, what seems to
> me lacking is a more integrated approach; house as system rather than house
> containing systems and sometimes a lack of understanding just how much we
> all tend to desire our creature comforts, also.
>
> What I'm hoping also to find along the way is an interested architect or
> architecture student that looks at something like this--and other ideas I
> have (I'm sure not all of them good... and perhaps even not advisable)--as
> an "interesting project" in a climate as harsh as Baja, and with a client
> who'd be more than willing to be a bit of a Guinea pig for new ideas.
> Frankly, I don't think I've a hope of learning enough regarding building
> design before I want to get going on actual construction (still a few years
> away) not to need some expert advice from time to time.
>
> ---
> Scott Gomez
>
> On Fri, Aug 10, 2012 at 6:28 AM, Chuck Norcutt <
> chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> Thanks for the good feedback. I'll have to do a lot more thinking but
>> right now I think I can get by with a Smartlinc. As an ex-programmer I
>> like the idea of user-defined variables or having an offset applied to
>> sunrise/sunset but think I can do without. For the first lights on
>> event in the morning I would have that based on time of day rather than
>> sunrise. The corresponding off event can also be based on time of day.
>> The second lights on event should be based on sunset and perhaps some
>> offset but I think I can handle that by lying to the device about my
>> longtitude. The second lights off events would also be based on time of
>> day. Time of day will, of course, change with daylight savings time but
>> I can handle that as long as I have remote access over the net.
>>
>> So, I think the Smartlinc will handle the lights OK and I haven't had an
>> irrigation system for the past 5 years. But can you think of any
>> significant differences with respect to cameras? If I could get 3-5
>> cameras to take a snapshot at least once/day and send me an email with
>> photo attached I think that would suffice. I think I'd assign one of
>> them to just watch the thermostat. Of course, triggering a camera based
>> on a loud sound or other event would be even better.
>>
>> As to watching the thermostat there is also a freeze sensor available
>> for use with an Insteon IO Linc but I've been unable to decipher how to
>> drive the sending of an email message using that signal like the cameras
>> supposedly do.
>>
>> Chuck Norcutt
>>
>>
>> On 8/10/2012 12:52 AM, Scott Gomez wrote:
>>> Perhaps you shouldn't. The major difference between the two, as far as I
>>> could see, is in the programming flexibility and capacity. More money:
>> more
>>> flexibility and capacity. I might have started with a smartlinc had it
>> been
>>> available a few years ago when I first got interested in this stuff.
>>>
>>> ISY has some features I don't believe you'll find at all in the
>> smartlinc.
>>> 1) User-defined variables 2) the ability to base actions on time before
>> or
>>> after sunrise/sunset 3) the ability to "re-use" programs: one program can
>>> call another in the ISY 4) many more conditions available for use in
>>> programming. 5) Full integration with ELK security systems. 6)
>> Downloadable
>>> add-on modules (extra cost) that add capabilities.
>>>
>>> A simple example: my ISY at the house in Mexico turns on porch lights
>> based
>>> on "sunset + 15 minutes" rather than simply "at sunset". More complex:
>> The
>>> sprinklers for the plantings there turn on for a frequency and duration
>>> using different programs that I enable/disable based on time of year, and
>>> whether the sprinklers are in front of the house (shaded, cool, eastern
>>> exposure) or the back (very sunny, hot, western exposure).
>>>
>>> If you don't feel you'll need those sorts of capabilities then the
>>> smartlinc may well be sufficient. Its manual is on line at smarthome.com
>> ,
>>> I'd suggest looking through it to see if it'll meet your needs. It's a
>> heck
>>> of a lot less expensive. You'll find the manual for the 99i/994i series
>> on
>>> line at universal-devices.com.
>>>
>>> By the way, the folks at UD have proved to be extremely patient, helpful,
>>> friendly and quite responsive over the contacts I've had with them. For
>> me,
>>> that's been a big plus, as initially I had quite a lot of questions, and
>> a
>>> few years back, there wasn't that much on-line about this stuff. Can't
>> say
>>> one way or the other with the smarthome support folks, as I've never had
>> to
>>> use them, since all I've done is purchase devices there.
>>>
>>> Phases: You'll need probably a minimum of two dual-band devices to handle
>>> the phases in the house... depending on how many Insteon devices you plan
>>> to employ. Quite easily handled now, as so many devices include dual-band
>>> capability. Or bridge the phases as Moose mentioned.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, Aug 9, 2012 at 7:58 PM, Chuck Norcutt <
>> chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> First question is why should I spend $300 for an ISY controller rather
>>>> than $100 for a simple Smartlink controller?
>>>>
>>>> Chuck Norcut
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 8/9/2012 9:05 PM, Scott Gomez wrote:
>>>>> Funny you should ask this now. I've just received my new ISY-994i,
>>>> Insteon
>>>>> thermostat, and PowerLinc Modem in the mail 2 days ago. Now working on
>>>>> programming to accomplish what I want, which is, here in sunny
>>>>> too-hot-at-the-moment southern California, using inputs from the "flex
>>>> you
>>>>> power" alerts that the ISY is capable of reading to tell the thermostat
>>>> to
>>>>> turn off the air conditioning when a "reduce use" alert is called. Thus
>>>>> saving me the per hour double-cost billing now possible thanks to smart
>>>>> meters.
>>>>>
>>>>> 'Tis my second ISY. The other is in our other home in Mexico, where
>> it's
>>>>> served ably controlling all sorts of goodies.
>>>>>
>>>>> So ask away, Chuck. I don't know a lot yet (my use has been relatively
>>>>> unsophisticated) but I'm learnin'.
>>>>>
>>>>> ---
>>>>> Scott Gomez
>>>>>
>>>>> On Wed, Aug 8, 2012 at 6:53 AM, Chuck Norcutt <
>>>> chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Sorry for breaking the flurry of on-topic OM-D traffic but I have some
>>>>>> home automation/security questions for which I know someone here has
>> the
>>>>>> answers.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I have two (I think modest) goals I'd like to achieve for when I leave
>>>>>> the house in the winter for warmer climes.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 1) Right now I have a simple set of timers that turn a few lights on
>> and
>>>>>> off that simulate the activity in the house when it's occupied. Some
>> of
>>>>>> these timers have a battery backup so they can survive power outages.
>>>>>> However, by the time I return in the spring, sunset and sunrise are
>>>>>> radically different than when I left. Also, daylight savings time has
>>>>>> gone into effect further throwing the timers off. Also, one of the
>>>>>> lights I'd like to control (but don't now) is operated by a wall
>> switch
>>>>>> where control is not amenable to a simple plug-in timer.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I think I can solve these lighting problems with fairly simple
>> Insteon,
>>>>>> Z-Wave (or similar) devices. But I don't know all the ins/outs of
>> these
>>>>>> things and what's best or worse. Nor do I completely understand the
>>>>>> need for or how to completely cover communicating over both phases of
>>>>>> the AC power lines of the house. That leads to a question of should I
>>>>>> use radio transmission devices only?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Whatever the solution here it probably gets complicated (cost wise) by
>>>>>> goal #2...
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 2) When I leave the house for the winter I have the plumbing
>> winterized
>>>>>> with anti-freeze by a plumber right after I leave and de-winterized
>> just
>>>>>> before I return. I also have the town turn my water off outside the
>>>>>> house just in case my own inside shut-off valve should start leaking.
>>>>>> The town turns the water off for free but the
>> winterizing/de-winterizing
>>>>>> costs me $200/year. What I'd like to do is get rid of the
>> precautionary
>>>>>> anti-freeze requirement for the plumbing. But that requires that I
>> keep
>>>>>> a close watch on the temperature of the house in the event the furnace
>>>>>> should fail. Right now I have a simple temperature sensor that turns
>> on
>>>>>> a red light in the window to warn the neighbors if the temperature
>> drops
>>>>>> to 40F. But if they don't notice or don't respond the antifreeze in
>> the
>>>>>> pipes will protect the plumbing. With no anti-freeze in the pipes I
>>>>>> don't dare count on the neighbors noticing that all is not well with
>> the
>>>>>> furnace.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If I want to spend lots of money and use a smartphone (not!) I can get
>>>>>> instant alerts via smartphone on some systems. But I don't want to go
>>>>>> there. I normally have my internet/cable/phone shut off when I'm gone
>>>>>> but can leave internet only communications running for about the same
>>>>>> amount of money that it costs me for winterizing/de-winterizing. That
>>>>>> allows for a freeze/temperature sensor communicate with me via the net
>>>>>> but I don't know exactly how to do that at modest cost. A warning
>>>>>> e-mail would be best but even having to log-on daily for a status
>> check
>>>>>> would be OK if it's the only way to do it cheaply.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> These are the functions I'm after. The questions are how to do it
>>>>>> cheaply but also reliably. If there's no built-in freeze protection
>> the
>>>>>> system has to work. Probably best to take the answers to this
>> off-list.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks much,
>>>>>> Chuck Norcutt
>>>>>> --
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> _________________________________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>>
>> --
>> _________________________________________________________________
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>>
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