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Home Automation Made Easy: Do It Yourself Know How Using UPB, Insteon, X10 and Z-Wave

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Home Automation Made Easy: Do It Yourself Know How Using UPB, Insteon, X10 and Z-Wave

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Description

  • Copyright 2014
  • Edition: 1st
  • Book
  • ISBN-10: 0-7897-5124-0
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-7897-5124-9

Absolutely no experience needed!

Make your home smarter, safer, and more fun—and save money, too!

Home automation is finally practical, useful, and easy! Now, you can control your home exactly the way you want to, without paying monthly fees. This book shows how to do it all yourself, with today’s simpler, more reliable, less expensive technologies.

Dennis C. Brewer first makes sure you’re comfortable with wiring basics and safety, and then guides you through installing, setting up, and using today’s best home automation software. Next, he walks you through several great DIY projects you can complete in just hours.

Before you know it, you’ll be controlling appliances, lighting, devices, home security, energy consumption, heating/cooling, and even your home entertainment center. Brewer covers phone interfaces, opportunities to expand, and even offerings from your phone and Internet service providers. When it comes to home automation, the future is here—and it works!

·          Pick the right products and services, without overspending

·          Control your home from anywhere, with Android, iPhone, iPad, or your computer

·          Go green, save energy, all year long

·          Make your home safer, more secure, and more comfortable

·          Overcome personal mobility challenges

·          Get more fun out of your TV and music system

Sample Content

Online Sample Chapter

Home Automation Made Easy: Introduction to Control Protocols and Automation Process

Sample Pages

Download the sample pages (includes Chapter 3 and Index)

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

    Value Proposition of a Central Home Automation Platform 2

        Solving Place and Time Problems 2

        Maximizing Convenience 2

        The “Wow!” Factor 2

        Neutralize Physical Challenges 2

        Going GREEN (Getting to Reduced Energy Expenditure Now) 3

        Safety and Security 3

    How This Book Brings Automation to Your Home 3

    Free HAL Software Download 4

        About HALBasic 4

Chapter 1 Home Wiring and Electrical Fundamentals 7

    Safety Tips 7

    Terms to Know and Understand 10

        DC (Direct Current) 11

        AC (Alternating Current) 11

        Single-Phase AC Circuits 12

        Three-Phase AC Circuits 12

        Transformer Connections 13

        Delta-Connected Three-Phase Transformers 14

        Wye-Connected Three-Phase Transformers 14

        Ohm’s Law and the Power Formula 15

        Voltage (E) 16

        Resistance (R) 16

        Amperage (I) 16

        Watts (P) 16

        Watt Hours (kWh) 16

        Power Distribution Transformers 17

    Inverters 18

    Converters 19

        Household Electrical Power 19

        Household AC Wiring and Devices 19

        Hot Wire 20

        Neutral Wire 20

        Ground/Bonding Wire 20

        Phone 24

        Cable TV/Satellite 25

        Microphones 25

        Thermostats 25

        Common Legacy Electric Controls 25

        Switches 25

        Dimmers and Dimmer Switches 29

        Timers 29

        Clock Timers 29

        Motion Sensor Switches 30

        Heat Sensor Switches 30

        Alternative and Backup Power Sources 30

        Battery Backup Power Supplies 30

        Backup Generators 30

    Definitive Information Source–NEC 30

    Schematic Diagrams 31

Chapter 2 Using a Windows Computer as Your Home Automation Platform 33

    Details and Choices 34

    First Choice: Shared, Dedicated, or Networked? 35

        Shared Computer Option 35

        Dedicated Computer Option 35

        Networked Computer Option 36

    Second Choice: Buy Preconfigured or Build Your Own 36

        Purchase a Preconfigured Home Automation PC 37

    Have a Home Automation System Professionally Installed 37

        Purchase a New or Used PC 37

    Most Important Characteristics for Your Home Automation Platform 38

        Computer Case 38

        Computer Operating System 38

        Processor (CPU) 39

        Memory 40

        Storage Drive(s) 41

        I/O Ports 41

        Optical Drive 41

        Video Card 41

        Ethernet Port 42

        Monitor 42

        Sound Card 42

        Additional Hardware 43

    Planning the Computer’s Installation Location 43

    Book Prototype Computer 43

    Setting up Your Computer 45

        Updating the Operating System Software 45

        Updating the Security Software 51

        Creating Recovery Media and Diagnostics 56

        Surge Protection and Battery Backup 56

Chapter 3 Introduction to Control Protocols and Automation Process 59

    Control Methods 59

        Reasons for Using Automated Control 60

        Time Based 60

        Need Based 60

        Event Based 61

        Communication Based 61

        Protocols and Standards 61

        Physical-Layer Communication 62

        Imposing Messages on the Physical Media 63

    Automation Processes are Trigged by an Event 67

        Process Actions 67

Chapter 4 Project 1, Installing HALbasic Software on Your PC 69

    Starting Point 70

    Security Software 70

    Beginning the HALbasic Install 71

        Modify OS Security Setting 72

        HALbasic Installation Steps 75

        Activation 82

        Register with HAL 86

        Exploring HALbasic 86

Chapter 5 Project 2, Controlling Appliances, Lights, and Devices 89

    Connecting the Hardware 89

        Connecting the Control Adapter to the PC 90

        Setting up the Control Modules 93

        Setting up Plug-in Control Modules 95

        Setting up Hard-wired Outlet Control Modules 98

    Configuring Control Modules Identities in HALbasic 100

        Control–Time-Based Routines 115

        Control–Voice Commands 122

Chapter 6 Project 3, Controlling Lighting: Indoors and Outdoors 127

    Switching for Indoor and Outdoor Lighting Circuits 128

    Existing Multilocation Switching 129

        Deciphering Existing Home Wiring 131

        Lighting Fixture Switched from a Single Location 131

        Lighting Fixture Switched from Two Locations 132

        Lighting Fixture Switched from Three Locations 133

        Lighting Fixture Switched from Four or More Locations 134

        Existing Home Wiring Adapted for UPB Controls 135

        Single-Location UPB-Controlled Lighting Fixture 135

        Two-Location UPB-Controlled Lighting Fixture 138

        Three-Location UPB-Controlled Lighting Fixture 139

        Making the Wiring Connections 143

        Connecting the UPB Control Adapter to the PC 145

        Setting up the UPB Control Modules 147

        Configuring Control Modules’ Identities in HALbasic 148

        The Remote Wall Switches 156

Chapter 7 Project 4, Linking Video to Your Security System 157

    Linking in HAL Video Capture Features 158

        Surveillance Camera Selection 159

        USB Cameras 159

    Internet Protocol Security Cameras 160

    Deciding How Many Cameras Are Needed 162

    Installing and Locating the Cameras 162

        The One-Web-Camera (USB) Solution 162

        USB Camera Installation 163

        The Multiple-Camera Solution 163

        IP Ethernet Camera Installation 164

        Assigning IP Addresses for Cameras on Your Network 171

        Registering the Cameras in HALdvc Setup 173

    Setting Up Camera Security Actions with HALultra 178

Chapter 8 Project 5, Upgrading the Home Automation Platform to HALultra 183

    Upgrading to HALultra 184

        Administrative Steps 184

        Back Up HALbasic 184

        Installing 186

        Activating 187

        Testing 187

        Explore New Features 189

Chapter 9 Project 6, Installing a Home Automation Voice Portal Modem in Your Computer 191

    Installing the Voice Portal Modem 193

    Connecting the Voice Portal in the Operating System 197

    Voice Portal Installation with the HAL Setup Wizard 199

Chapter 10 Project 7, Getting Green and Managing Your Home’s Climate 207

    Getting Green 207

    Managing Temperature and Energy Consumption 207

    Heating and Cooling System Links 208

        On/Off Devices 208

        Thermostats 208

        Deploying Gauges, “Triggers,” and Sensors 209

        Using Time-Based Heating/Cooling Control 209

    Installing a HALultra-Compatible Thermostat 210

    Installing an In-line Fan/Light Control 216

    Setting up the Interface in HALultra 218

Chapter 11 Project 8, Adding New Controllers and Interfaces: Z-Wave, INSTEON, and More 225

    Additional Interfaces for HALultra 225

        ZigBee 225

        Infrared 226

        HVAC 227

        Security 228

        Input/Output 229

        INSTEON 229

        Z-Wave 229

    Setting up a Z-Wave Network 232

        Using a Laptop with the Leviton RF Installer Tool 233

Chapter 12 Project 9, Automating the Home Entertainment Center’s Music Management 241

    The Changing Landscape of Home Electronics 241

        Select Sound Reproduction Equipment 242

        Digital Sound Reproduction Quality 242

        Digital Music File Formats 243

        Download and Install HALdmc 246

        Setting Up HALdmc 246

        Using HALdmc 250

        Using Voice Commands with the Digital Music Center 254

Chapter 13 Project 10, Connecting and Using the Home Automation Platform over the Internet 257

    Preparing the Internet/Intranet Connection for HALultra 257

        Internet Service 258

        Setup and Tweaks on the Modem-Router-Firewall-Switch 258

        Setting up the HomeNet Server 259

        Enabling the HomeNet Web Server 259

        Logging In to HomeNet 262

        Using HAL on the Internet 262

        Collecting Internet Data 262

        Viewing Internet Data Collected by HAL 268

        Controlling HAL over the Web 270

Chapter 14 Controlling Your Home with iOS and Android 273

    Interactive Device Server Applications 273

        Apple App 274

        Android App 274

    Using Smart Phones and Tablets to Control HAL 274

        Enabling the “Interactive Device Server” 274

        Using HALids with iOS 275

        Using HALids with Android 281

        Checking the IDS Log 285

Chapter 15 Evaluating Broadband and Telecom Home Automation Offerings 287

    Selection Criteria for Monitoring and Managed Service Providers 288

        Market Service Area 288

        Proprietary Technology 288

        PC or Controller Based 289

        Initial Installation Cost 289

        Cost Model 1 290

        Cost Model 2 290

        Cost Model 3 290

        Cost Model 4 290

        Monthly Service Fees 291

        Commitment Term 291

        Level of Ongoing Service Support 291

        Installer Competence and Tech Support Quality 291

        Monitoring/Management Center Location 292

        What Is Being Monitored? 292

        What Is Being Managed Versus Offered? 293

        Miscellaneous Concerns 294

    Expected Future Offerings 294

    Mainstream Companies with HA and Monitoring Systems or Services 294

Chapter 16 Adding Future Self-Designed Home Automation Projects 297

    Design Steps 297

    Popular Home Automation System Add-ons 299

        Growing Your Automation System with Additional UPB Devices 299

        Expanding the Reach of Your Control with INSTEON Controls and Kits 300

        Enlarging the Control Zone with Additional Z-Wave Devices 301

        Remoting with IR 302

        Improving Security Reactions with Interfaces to Home Automation 302

    Setup Correlations 302

    Summation 303

TOC, 9780789751249, 10/11/2013

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