Smart is for everyone:
Smart home is more and more becoming a phrase heard almost everywhere. It is sure to convenience us in some respects and if you are wary of letting it get too smart then just hold the reigns tight.There are varying degrees of smart, best thing is to stick at the level that you are comfortable.
I will make some posts about smartening up your home, all are more or less DIY-able, you don't need to be a genius, just some tech savvy and common sense will do.
The devices I have used are:
4 Channel relay switch, this is a smart switch that can be used to switch or connect anything be it a 12v light, a 220v light, motor or a dry contact like a door buzzer. Its a bank of 1, 2, 4 relays that can be pulsed (latched) or switched on/off. This is what I am using to remote switch my modified ET Remote. I have also used this to wire up a watering system, the relays simply connect to the valves for each watering zone. (not that we can use it now)
Smart switch, this is a single 220v switch that you put in line with a light or appliance. The switch can be accessed via the smart phone app but you can also setup a scheduled timer on the app that will e.g turn on a light at 8 pm and off again at 8 am or switch on a pool pump for 2 hours every day or other day.
4 Channel Smart switch, this is the exact same thing as the above switch, just a bank of 4, this comes with DIN rail clips so it can be mounted din the DB. This only switches 220 volts.
30 Amp Smart Switch, once again this is the same as the single smart switch, just 30 Amps load capable, so you can stick it in line with you geyser. Useful for a timer function.
Smart light switch, these are glass panel light switches that work on touch. Its the exact same functions as the smart switches in that you can add a timer or schedule, the glass face is very nice looking. They come in a standard 2x4 size and a irritating 3x3 size. If you have a 4x4 light switch then you need to do a modification to a blanking plate to make it work.
There are a host of other units that will allow you to interface almost anything with a smart switch, all the units will allow you to turn devices on/off with Amazon Alexa or Goggle Home. The above few are the ones that I have personally installed, as I add more smart devices I will put them into the blog.
Firstly let me do the 4 Channel Relay with the ET Remote:
Now there are probably many ways to do this and I am sure there will be a stack of people with other advice, that's great. Below is what works for me..
I needed to be able to (1) open my gate from anywhere, (2) open the garage door from anywhere and (3) arm my remote from anywhere.
The alarm was easy since mine is already connected via a phone app but having a second option is always a good idea.
The Garage and gate are a small challenge since they don't have communication modules. Yes, I could run a wire to my alarm and create a zone that can be triggered by a code on the keypad, but that's too much trouble.
There is a simpler way, since the Gate, Garage and Alarm all work off the same 4 button ET remote so I am halfway there.
I bought a "smart relay switch" and added it to my home wifi, it comes with a phone app (eWeLink) that allows me to trigger each relay independently. I can configure the module for a "latching" mode, this means its not just on / off but rather like a quick pulse.
Here is a screen shot of the eWeLink application
I then took a ET Remote and opened it up, using some tech skills I cut off the 4 switches that make the buttons and replaced them with 2 wires to each switch, I soldered the wires to the connecting pads on the PC Board. These wires I then took into the smart relay. The relay then will act as the switch and "latch" the two wires together when I press the switch on the application.
End result is that from the Phone App I can then press whatever button I assigned to the ET remote button to perform that function. As long as my phone is connected a network be it 3G or WiFi the functions will work.
I put the remote in a central place in the house so any interference from outside is negated by the walls and roof.
Costs:
I already had an ET remote so I did not need that, all I needed was a smart switch. Best place to get the is China but since it takes too long we need to pay the local premium.
Communica is a good option, Netram is also an option but its about R 100.00 more.
Just for interest sake, you can pick these up for about 20 USD in China. Below is a one button option, so if you wanted to wire up a single button remote then the is your device.
Here is a photo from the user manual..
Here is the complete unit without the covers on.
Here is a pic from the "hacked" remote.
If your soldering sucks... I could be persuaded to do it for a bottle of red wine... if you need the whole solution it may take a case, if the case is given first, it may take a while to complete...
