31–40 of 42 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think you're right about home automation. There is also potential for home analytics/intelligence as well. For example, water sub-meters on each water faucet could help conscientious water users conserve.
What I'd really want is a low-cost non-intrusive means of monitoring natural gas flow, that's where the bulk of my energy costs are.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
What I'd really want is a low-cost non-intrusive means of monitoring natural gas flow, that's where the bulk of my energy costs are.
How far do you get by monitoring whether the blower for your furnace is operating?
Kind of obvious once you mention it - as all the best ideas are!
Earlier quoted context omitted.
How far do you get by monitoring whether the blower for your furnace is operating?
Now that's a good idea! I could tell whether our central heating boiler is running by its electricity consumption (which will either be on/off) and measure what it actually consumes when it is on. Kind of obvious once you mention it - as all the best ideas are!
Oh, hai :) After thinking about home automation on an on-and-off basis for several years, I have concluded that the only thing that's needed is automation of electrical sockets. Being able to flip a physical switch and/or check its current state from an iPhone covers good 90% of automation needs. The 9.9% is a thermostat, a temperature sensor and a flood sensor for basement. The remaining 0.1% is exotic stuff to meas…
Getting an SMS if one of my doors opened during the day might be nice. Drop in on light switches would be huge... But how do you manage drop in? If the consumer has to actually replace the switch with a "smart" switch, that's DOA (requires wiring, messing with the breaker box, etc).
Oh, hai :) After thinking about home automation on an on-and-off basis for several years, I have concluded that the only thing that's needed is automation of electrical sockets. Being able to flip a physical switch and/or check its current state from an iPhone covers good 90% of automation needs. The 9.9% is a thermostat, a temperature sensor and a flood sensor for basement. The remaining 0.1% is exotic stuff to meas…
It seems to be surprisingly difficult to find a way to automate a power outlet without having to deal with mains wiring.
There's this http://www.powerswitchtail.com/Pages/default.aspx but it rarely seems to be in stock and doesn't offer a non-kit 240V version (which I want being outside the US).
I recently discovered this http://www.pwrusb.com/powerUSB-digitaI0.html and apparently it supports standalone operation but is considerably more expensive--although it also offers more controllable sockets. I've not played with one yet but it looks like a possibility. (Apparently also supports 240V operation with connector adapters...)
In the past I've rewired the remote control of RF-controlled sockets but the signal's not very reliable.
I mean this hardly is an exotic problem and you'd be wise to use standards.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think you're right about home automation. There is also potential for home analytics/intelligence as well. For example, water sub-meters on each water faucet could help conscientious water users conserve.
What I'd really want is a low-cost non-intrusive means of monitoring natural gas flow, that's where the bulk of my energy costs are.
Is there no communication between all the individuals working on the 'internet of things' ? I mean this hardly is an exotic problem and you'd be wise to use standards.
As someone already mentioned here, these guys are just reselling someone else's sensor .. I know this because I'm building something as well with the exact same one! Here's a pic of mine and theirs side by side: http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg37/scaled.php?server=37&...
"We also have our board designs complete, and have already been through several initial board revisions. Once funded we'll submit our boards to production..." They claim to have some board designs of their own (I guess in addition to the off the shelf sensors). They should emphasize what they're bringing to the table that's new and exciting and not spend quite so much time describing the hardware you can already buy…
Although you can go purchase the Monnit sensors themselves, our IP is in the multiprotocol sensor/control gateway/router technology, and eliminating the need for software developers to understand the lower levels of hardware operation.
How are these sensors different from these ones on this site: http://www.monnit.com/products/ I think is the same amount of money and I can get them faster.
As for the ship date, Kickstarter is working hard to ensure that we give dates (that we are pushing to beat) that are realistic and do not slip like some projects have.