Home automation is the new way of making our homes practically run themselves. From the lighting to an email or text message letting you know your children are home from school automation is the new way of running your home. There are so many things you can set up to run automatically and the benefits are great as well.
How would you like to feel more at ease when it comes to security? Automated security can give you peace of mind when it comes to your family and home. There are alarms that will activate when an intruder tries to breach your home.
The same alarms can turn on all the lights, make the front lighting of your home flash, turn off the air and heating system in case of fire to keep it from spreading. The systems also have cell phone systems in case your house phone is not working due to the line being cut. Surveillance cameras can keep track of the property inside and out. There are cameras that can be set up to monitor every angle of your home so the windows as well as the doors can be covered.
The alarm system can be controlled using your telephone or the internet from another location such as your job. You can even use your PDA to control the system! There are so many new ways of setting you home up to be controlled automatically. What if your home was equipped with touch pads that would allow you to:
- Turn lights on and off in your home
- Turn on your favorite program
- Check on the children
- Adjust the lighting
- Scan your outside security cameras
- Turn your security system on or off
- Adjust the temperature of your home
- Turn sprinklers on or off
The homes of the future will be able to do this and more. Technology is catching up to the point where we will know everything that goes on at home no matter where we are.
One way automated systems work is by using a system such as X10. With X10 the existing wiring in your home is utilised as a communications channel to send messages between X10 devices (the data is made up of an address and a command from the controller to the device being controlled). These devices can be plugged in to a wall outlet or they can be installed in ceiling accessories. X10 has the advantage that no additional cables need to be run however some properties (dependent on how the wiring was installed) are not suited to it and X10 may be unreliable.
Another type is the C-Bus which is a two wire bus that transmits power and data. Although this type is normally used to control your lights it can be adjusted to control many other devices. One C-Bus can control 255 different things. There are also bridges which can be purchased to add to the C-Bus.
When looking for a home automation system there are various different types on the market therefore you should carefully consider your options when making a purchase.
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Home Automation Can Save You Money and Energy
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Homeowners are often on the lookout for ways to save money and many families need dual incomes just to make ends meet. Energy bills are on the rise and with the recent attention to saving the Earth’s environment, saving energy is becoming a priority as well.
A trend that is becoming more popular is automating your home so anything electrical will use energy more efficiently. Not only does this apply to the amount of energy the appliances use but what time of day they run. Sometimes depending on your provider running your washing machine or dishwasher during the peak midday hours will give you a higher electric bill because the rates can be higher during these peak hours.
What Is Home Automation?
The term “home automation” simply means wiring all the electronic aspects of your home in such a way as they can communicate with each other and can be programmed to use energy at certain times of the day. This automation process can be used on individual components of your home, such as new appliances as they are purchased, or an entire network can be installed. Imagine having your computer linked in to your home automaton / security system so you receive a notification and view a webcam image of any suspect events happening in or around your home.
Examples of Home Automation
One of the most common examples of home automation is the programmable thermostats. Setting the heat to start before you come home from work has two benefits: the heat will not run while the house is empty, thus saving you money, yet the temperature can be comfortable by the time you get home from work. The same holds true for the air conditioning.
Window Blinds
The ability to close your window blinds automatically can provide privacy and safety as well as being energy efficient. For instance, they can be programmed to close at dusk so you have automatic privacy when you arrive home from work. They can also be programmed to close when you leave the house and set the security alarm, which makes a burglar’s job more difficult. Or they can be programmed to close after the morning sun hits your home, meaning you do not have to run the air conditioning for so long.
Lighting
Automatic lights provide both safety, more energy savings. No more walking into a darkened home after work or worrying about burglars breaking into your home while you are on vacation. Programmable lights will give the appearance that someone is at home. They can even be linked to your garage door opener so with one push of a button, when you arrive home, your garage door will open and lights will turn on inside.
The Science Behind Home Automation
So, how exactly do all these things seem to communicate to each other? One standard is called X10, which primarily uses power lines and radio frequency to transmit digital information. Everything you want to automate needs to have an X10 module installed and programmed with your specifications.
While professional installation is recommended, keypad controllers allow homeowners to make easy changes to the chosen programs and keychain controllers allow control over devices with just one click of a button.
Although home automation might seem like an idea from a science fiction movie, it is a practical way for homeowners to save money and energy while enhancing their own privacy and security. These are just a few simple ideas of what can be automated in your home. Use your imagination to develop a customized home automation plan that will suit your needs.