We often get asked if a certain Z-Wave device is compatible with the Samsung Smarthings controller. As with all controllers software needs to be available to get the best functionality out of the device. Currently the choose of products within the Z-Wave range is fairly limited. Below are the items which are known to be compatible as published by Samsung on 3/6/16: Continue reading “Smarthings compatibility with Z-Wave devices”
Author: Craig Atkins
Managing Director of UK Automation. Keen home automation enthusiast, always on the look out for new technology. Not the world's best writer, but I'm a trier!
What is HomeWizard / Smartwares automation?
HomeWizard from Smartwares is a new, wireless home automation system which has been designed to provide excellent home automation capabilities at an affordable cost.
The system works using wireless communications between the modules. You can program a remote control or sensor to switch a single receiver or multiple receivers together.
Using the HomeWizard controller, you can make the system much smarter. The controller will allow you to create lighting scenes, automate devices based on logic conditions, switch devices and lights on remotely via the web or a smartphone app and much more. Continue reading “What is HomeWizard / Smartwares automation?”
Using X10 for lighting control
Update - Sept 2015: When we wrote this blog post a few years ago, X10 was still the simplest and cheapest way to control your home lighting. If you’re looking for a reliable entry-level control of home lighting, we recommend SmartWares for a basic single room control, or Z-Wave for multi-room/whole house control. However, X10 is still useful and has a place - plus is widely installed, so we’ve kept this article live for your benefit!
Using X10 for lighting control
X10 is a very simple way to add advanced automation to your home lighting.
There are numerous modules and products available to control different types of lighting, and the X10 system gives you the ability to control these lights via a computer, a remote control, another X10 module/sensor or a switch.
To get started, you need to understand how X10 works - with regards to the way it switches devices by encoding a signal into your home powerline. If you don’t know about that, please see our starter article here:
Using X10 for Home Automation
To add X10 control to your lights, you need to look at what type of lights you have and buy the appropriate modules.
For plug-in desk/table lamps & uplighters
With plug in lamps, you can control them with a plug-in lamp module!
We offer 2 varieties, the original X10 designed module and a 2nd generation module. The 2nd generation module offers better response to low X10 signals - so is ideal if you have a larger house or are having problems with your current X10 modules not always switching.
Links:
X10 Lamp module
X10 2G Lamp module
For ceiling lamps or wired-in lighting
For ceiling lamps, you have the choice of either changing the wall switch itself, using a hidden ‘micro module’ behind the existing switch, or using a wired-in lamp module.
For wall switches, you can use a dimming wall switch to give you dimming & X10 control of any connected lights.
See:
X10 2 button wall dimmer switch
Note: if you have a non-dimmable lamp, such as a standard energy saving bulb then you can’t use a dimmer switch.
To use a micro-module, or a wired in module, please see our range of modules here:
X10 lighting control - micro/inline modules
For a comparison table that explains what type of loads each module can switch, plus whether they can switch dimmable lamps or not, please see:
Marmitek X10 micro module compatibility
Of course, if you have any questions on X10 lighting control then please call us on 0845 094 0089 or drop us an email via the contact page.
How to control X10 with an iPhone, iPod, iPad or Android device
What is X10?
X10 home automation can be used to control basically any electrical equipment you have in your home. From creating lighting scenes to switching on your coffee machine in the morning before you get up, the possibilities are limitless. Continue reading “How to control X10 with an iPhone, iPod, iPad or Android device”
What is Z-Wave Plus? (5th Generation)
Z-Wave Plus™ also known as 5th Generation is an improved standard for Z-Wave devices which brings improved performance and reliability to the user. Devices using Z-Wave plus technology are based on a new series of chip and are fully backwards compatible with other Z-Wave products. The benefits and features you can expect are as follows:
- 50% improvement in battery life
- 67% improvement in range
- 250% more bandwidth
- Three RF channels for improved noise immunity and higher bandwidth
- New Plug-n-Play Network-wide Inclusion feature
- Improved self-healing and fault tolerance with Explorer Frame feature
- Standardized method for Over the Air firmware updates (OTA)
- Improved product information capture for product certification database
Using X10 for Home Automation
Disclaimer
This article has been modified from it’s original form by UK Automation with permission from Kevin Boone. We have provided links to relevant products in our shop where they are mentioned by Kevin Boone.
Kevin Boone does not in any way endorse or recommend our products.
To view the article in it’s original form, please visit: http://www.kevinboone.com/x10.html
The article was originally modified in 2009, and since then there have been changes in the X10 range, with new products and products removed from sale. As such, this is still a useful reference guide but you may find some of the items mentioned below are no longer available. For the latest X10 products, please visit: http://www.uk-automation.co.uk/x10-home-automation/
Getting Started with Home Automation
So, you’re thinking about home automation?
Well, it’s a pretty daunting subject when you’re just getting started. We’re sure you have a few questions, so we’ve tried to answer the common ones below. Continue reading “Getting Started with Home Automation”
Return of HAL or an Echo of the past
Being smart is part of today’s trend. Technology these days makes it easier for us to perform some tasks. Smartphones and other gadgets make our life much simple and no doubt add some experience to it. However, your home also needs some attention and Home automation can provide that much needed modernisation. It can include a number of things like the control of lighting & appliances, more adaptive heating control, added security and other systems which enable you to have all the comfort and security whilst improving the energy efficiency of your home.
There is nothing new about home automation, X10 was developed back in 1975 by Pico Electronics in Scotland. The technology has been improved and is still useful for home automation projects today. Increasingly the demand is for affordable products which are reliable and easy to use. These devices can be controlled using your smartphones as well as tablets and computers. What else could you want.? Well, one of these home automation devices you may of heard about is the Amazon Echo.
Amazon Echo is a small and cylindrical in shape with a 9-inch speaker and 7 piece Microphone array. It’s basically a command device that as the name shows is from amazon.com. This device contains many functions like answering questions, music playing, providing news, weather, traffic and sports reports, as well as controlling other smart devices using voice commands. However at the moment this is limited to Wink, WeMo and Phillips Hue devices.
The device gets started as soon as it notices the wake word. When in default mode, the device initiates and responds to the name “Alexa”, nonetheless, this can be changed once the user knows how to operate it. Though till now there are only two options, one Alexa and other Amazon.
This device is an interesting choice for those interested in home automation for their home, however you have to wonder if this is another way for Amazon to sell product, as another feature is the ability to purchase products from them.
Voice command has been available for some time now with varying degrees of success and has not previously been taken up in a big way. For the serious Home automation user you may want to look at Homey a far more versatile device than Echo, providing control of a vast range of devices like Z-wave, Zigbee, X10, 433Mhz modules, Infrared and more.
We may not be at the stage of HAL from 2001: A space Odyssey but technology is moving in that direction!
Home Automation Trends Part 2 of 7 – Image and House Sales
Home Automation Trends Part 2 of 7 – Image and House Sales
A study carried out by Better Houses and Gardens Real Estate found that 42 percent of individuals asked “would be more likely to boast to a friend regarding a residence automation system over a newly-renovated kitchen area.” There is an expanding technology trend of integrating automation into houses and making the procedure a lot more obtainable. Continue reading “Home Automation Trends Part 2 of 7 – Image and House Sales”
Home Automation Trends 2013, Part 1 of 7 - Getting Started
Most people now make use of modern technology which would have been science fiction until a couple of years back - carrying the entire world around in our pockets then grumbling bitterly on Twitter when we can not see a film as a result of way too much buffering because we don’t have a strong wireless signal. Continue reading “Home Automation Trends 2013, Part 1 of 7 - Getting Started”