www.moby58.com

Located in Thornlie, Western Australia

Well, just to keep myself amused, I have started adding home automation to the house. As it is simple, and relatively inexpensive (compared to other systems), I am using the x10 devices.

Basically, x10 devices send and receive control instructions via your house wiring. There is a multitude of stuff available. Some is simple plug in equipment, and some is wired in equipment.

The main (and that can read ONLY) distributor of the equipment in Australia is EON3. The only places that I have found in Western Australia that sell some of the stuff are Dick Smith Electronics and Tandys.

I have looked at importing stuff from overseas. The equipment is substantially cheaper in United States. However, they use 110v at 60 Hz, we use 240v at 50 hz. The equipment is incompatible, and not approved by Australian power companies. Also, the plugs are different. As well as that, we use 433Mhz for the radio transmitters, and they use around 350Mhz in US. United Kingdom operate 240v at 50 Hz. Unfortunately, the price of their equipment is about the same as here BEFORE you pay shipping.

The automation stuff is controlled by hand held remote, voice, computer or via the net.

Want to see what I can control? go here and use guest as the username and password. You wont be able to change anything, but you will see what is on and off.

Future expansion will see most lights on the system, as well as the air conditioning. Sue or I will be able to check the house temperature from work. If too hot, we will be able to turn on the air con before heading home, and arrive to a cool house.

Below you will find the history of my system as it expands. The system controls a number of security devices. For obvious reasons their details wont be listed here.

	5-Oct-2004 TV Room Kit Dick Smith $150	I needed a universal remote for the family room, so this looked like a good starter to the system. The remote has built-in codes for TVs, videos, etc, PLUS can also learn commands. It also has a x10 transmitter built in, which allows me to control the various add-in x10 devices the house will have. The kit also includes a transceiver module, that receives the RF x10 signals and 'feeds' them into the line, as well as a dimmable lamp module. This kit is not displayed at EON3, so the link is to an equivalent kit.
	5-Oct-2004 Wireless Wall Switch Dick Smith $50	There is a socket module in the main Family Room light, and a lamp module on the family room TV lamp. This switch is stuck to the wall, and transmits it's signals to the transceiver module, to control both those lights, and the bug killer in the back patio.
	5-Oct-2004 Socket Module Dick Smith $40	These modules are designed to plug into existing light fittings. They are available in bayonet cap and Edison screw. Unplug the light bulb, plug in the module, plug the light back in, and set the module's code. This particular module is for the main Family Room light.
	18-Oct-2004 Computer Kit Dick Smith $180	Decided I wanted to expand what the system can do, and start the real automation of the various functions. It contains the computer module, an appliance module, and a lamp module. The interface is battery backed, and remembers the programming of the equipment that you send it with the supplied Active Home software.

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