Home Automation with a Twist

Home automation systems may not yet be able to cook your dinner or do your housework, but you'll be amazed at how creative they can be.

Here's an insight into some of the more inventive applications that US home automation installers have supplied their clients.

A tall order for blind control

The client requested his 35 outdoor electric window blinds to close automatically one-at-a-time when he alarmed his security system. He also wanted the ability to stop some half way while fully closing others.

The home automation installers used 18 relay extenders to communicate when the alarm system gave an 'armed' output message and if the blinds were open. A further nine relay extenders were used to cut the power to each blind.

The blinds were operated via mini touch screens in different locations, with the windows grouped together by rooms.

Ask a stupid question, get an answer

An installer noticed that his clients were often reluctant to contact him in the first few weeks after a home automation installation, for fear of appearing stupid with the questions they were asking.

To encourage his clients to ask for support, the installer programmed a button on one of their six-button keypads to automatically generate an email request to technical support indicating that there is a non-urgent problem that needs a call back within 24 hours. The body of the message includes the client's name, account number, controller name and home phone number. The client also receives a copy as confirmation of the request.

Scaring off burglars

A client was away from home a lot and worried about a break-in even though he had an alarm system that notified him via email and the police whenever there was a security breach.

To alleviate his concern and scare away any would-be-thieves, the home automation installers tweaked the system so that if an alarm is triggered in the home, an audible voice is broadcast over the audio zones alerting the intruder that the police have been notified. The client also receives an email on their phone.

Airconditioning adjustments

During summer, clients sometimes complained that they would come home to find the air conditioner running while the outside temperature was actually lower than what the air conditioner was set to.

The installers solved this by connecting a Card Access contact switch with an external temperature sensor. This means that when the temperature reaches a certain level outside, the thermostat automatically switches off and flashes the lights to signal it's time to open the windows.

A time conditional was also added to not shut off the air after 11:30 pm since no one was up to open the windows.

Controlling plasmas from behind the bar

A golf club needed a simple way to control 10 plasma TVs connected to eight satellite boxes and four cable boxes.

The installers came up with the solution of giving the bartenders one button that would turn on all of the TVs in the bar at the start of the business day, with each TV programmed to flick to a predetermined station.

For normal daily operation, the system was programmed to operate as it would in a home - with each TV seen as a separate 'room' in a 'house'. The bartender simply scrolls through the list of TVs until they find the one they want to operate, then chooses a source for the TV to display.

When you just Gotta Go

Yo need to visit the toilet in the middle of the night but don't want to wake yourself up by turning on and off the lights. A 'gotta go' button on the bedside LCD keypad has proved a favourite with one home installer's clients. Pressing the button allows a dim path to be lit to the master bathroom, which automatically turns off after two minutes.

The Guard Dog refrigerator

When a home automation installer was putting a system into a client's home, the client happened to complain about neighbourhood kids stealing from their refrigerator in the garage. To solve this problem the installer put an indicator in the clients' bedroom that turns red when their garage door is open and green when it is closed.

For additional security, a sensor was installed on the fridge that sends out a text message to the owner anytime it is opened.