[clug] Home automation interest

[Neil Pickford]

Hi Paul
I am monitoring a Solahart system (have been for about 6 years) using 
Linux, One wire sensors, OWFS, Cron, RRDtool & Shell Scripts.  The One 
wire interface into Linux machine is via a standard RS232 serial port 
from a Onewire converter or master hub.

See <http://happy.emu.id.au:8430/>

I am using Dallas One Wire DS18B20 temperature sensors,
One wire counters (wind & rain [future water/gas]), and
a One Wire A/D converter card (wind direction).  The A/D board has 
inputs & outputs on it too that could control your contractor.

Most of the One wire infrastructure (Master Hub, Counters, A/D 
converter, Relay board) is available from Hobby Boards. 
<http://www.hobby-boards.com/>

My system is just monitoring and pretty agricultural in the shells 
scripting, However if you can figure out how to process numbers in shell 
or another language you could easily program some automation of the 
Bypass relay.

Happy to share scripting and system setup info.

The location to place your key temperature sensors is:
a) on the anode of the Solahart tank. (Mid tank temp)
<http://happy.emu.id.au:8430/temps/Last_Week_tankanode.png>
b) on the hot water pipe feeding your house (mine is at the inlet to the 
solar tempering valve).
This gives a good indication when hot water is being used.  See spikey 
brown curve.
<http://happy.emu.id.au:8430/temps/Last_24_Hours_roofspacehw.png>

Or you can look at all the temperatures together :)
<http://happy.emu.id.au:8430/temps/Last_2_Days_temps.png>

There is a thread on CLUG about this in Feb/March 2010 " [clug] Linux 
compatible external Thermometer via OWFS"

Cheers Neil VK1NP.


On 11/11/2015 5:56 PM, Paul wrote:
>
> I've done a bit of research but just an update on my Home automation 
> project.
>
> I spoke to SolarHart about my booster switch and looks feasible.
> I need to get a relay (contactor) installed on the booster circuit and 
> then I can put a automation switch to control that.
> So now just need to check out Linux Home automation s/w thats 
> compatible with the modules and scripting I want to use..
>
> Paul
>
> On 05-Nov-15 1:13 PM, Paul Wilson wrote:
>> John,
>>   I don't have a Off-Peak meter, but would be an interesting 
>> excercise to figure out if
>> its better to leave booster on vs switching on 1-2 hours prior.
>> Also I would like a bit more remote control than a basic timer, ie 
>> for Winter I probably
>> would need to adjust it vs' summer.
>>
>> Ideally I would like to monitor my tanks temp but I don't know how to 
>> do this .
>>
>> Paul
>>
>> On Thu, Nov 5, 2015 at 10:17 AM, Bryan Kilgallin <bryan at netspeed.com.au
>> <mailto:bryan at netspeed.com.au>> wrote:
>>
>>     Paul:
>>
>>         The project I'm wanting to get started on.. Is to automate 
>> my  solar hot
>>         water booster. I currently have to manually switch this on if 
>> we get a
>>         couple of days of cloudy days.
>>
>>
>>     I look at weather forecast. For example Zehr-enhanced infrared 
>> satellite view. I think
>>     that will be more useful.
>>
>>     --
>>     www.netspeed.com.au/bryan/ <http://www.netspeed.com.au/bryan/>
>>     ==========================
>>
>>
>>
>>     --
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>>
>>
>
>