Home Automation: [ha] My proposed system

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Hello All,
I like your ideas in general but here is my opinion on this.
I'm currently designing my own Home Automation System and I propose two =
use
a few technologies to achieve my final system.
Item 1.
Dallas 1 wire devices such as Inputs, Outputs Temperature sensors, ID
Buttons etc. These may also be expanded on by creating your own devices =
two
hang of the 1 wire bus ie PIC 16F84 for advanced I/O ports or creating =
A/D
or D/A. for those not familiar with the 1 wire products there is 1 =
single 0V
line and a single Data/Power Line (Total of two wires required. My =
design
will have four wires 1 extra for the 0V line and a dedicated supply =
line,
perhaps 12V. By using the 1 wire devices I have a large range of off the
shelf parts at very cheap prices and cheap data cabling ie CAT5.

Item 2.
The 1 Wire devices are good for small I/O point distributed around the
building, pool, greenhouse etc but are not good for faster data =
transfers
for I/O to Displays, Keyboards, IR RX/Tx devices etc. For this I plan on
using a 4 wire system 0V, 12V & RS485 (remaining two wires). With this
interface I can have human interfaces and control of more complex =
devices as
per the Infra red control of my TV, Video and Stereo system. For the =
actual
control devices I will probably use PIC devices or atmel devices with
EEPROMS for easy and cheap programming from PC's.

Item 3.
The crunch. I am basically a hardware man and a soldering iron is my =
best
friend. I like the idea of dedicated controllers ie black box on the =
wall,
overseeing control of each respective area. not to many eggs in the one
basket. Unfortunately this route is not available to the large majority =
of
basement engineers due to the high cost of dedicated controllers,
specialised eprom programmers etc.
For this reason my overseeing controller will be a PC with smaller human
interfaces located around the house as per item 2. The PC will also have =
I/O
directly connected to it for local control.
Using a PC allows me to very quickly change the structure of how the =
system
will work and test new systems.
The proposed system will run on Windows 95.

Please Note
1. I design, manufacture and sell single board computers from home =
using
the Z80 and Z180 processors and hence do not have any fears about =
tackling
such things, it is just easier to test and develop on a PC.
2. I keep saying proposed but in actual fact I have started and have
basic control of the 1 wire via a serial port on the PC and a ruff GUI
interface working.

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Hello All,
I like your ideas in general but here is my opinion = on=20 this.
I'm currently designing my own Home Automation System and I = propose two=20 use
a few technologies to achieve my final system.
Item = 1.
Dallas 1=20 wire devices such as Inputs, Outputs Temperature sensors, ID
Buttons = etc.=20 These may also be expanded on by creating your own devices two
hang = of the 1=20 wire bus ie PIC 16F84 for advanced I/O ports or creating A/D
or D/A. = for=20 those not familiar with the 1 wire products there is 1 single 0V
line = and a=20 single Data/Power Line (Total of two wires required. My design
will = have four=20 wires 1 extra for the 0V line and a dedicated supply line,
perhaps = 12V. By=20 using the 1 wire devices I have a large range of off the
shelf parts = at very=20 cheap prices and cheap data cabling ie CAT5.

Item 2.
The 1 = Wire=20 devices are good for small I/O point distributed around the
building, = pool,=20 greenhouse etc but are not good for faster data transfers
for I/O to=20 Displays, Keyboards, IR RX/Tx devices etc. For this I plan on
using a = 4 wire=20 system 0V, 12V & RS485 (remaining two wires). With this
interface = I can=20 have human interfaces and control of more complex devices as
per the = Infra=20 red control of my TV, Video and Stereo system. For the actual
control = devices=20 I will probably use PIC devices or atmel devices with
EEPROMS for = easy and=20 cheap programming from PC's.

Item 3.
The crunch. I am = basically a=20 hardware man and a soldering iron is my best
friend. I like the idea = of=20 dedicated controllers ie black box on the wall,
overseeing control of = each=20 respective area. not to many eggs in the one
basket. Unfortunately = this route=20 is not available to the large majority of
basement engineers due to = the high=20 cost of dedicated controllers,
specialised eprom programmers = etc.
For this=20 reason my overseeing controller will be a PC with smaller = human
interfaces=20 located around the house as per item 2. The PC will also have = I/O
directly=20 connected to it for local control.
Using a PC allows me to very = quickly=20 change the structure of how the system
will work and test new = systems.
The=20 proposed system will run on Windows 95.

Please=20 Note
1. I design, manufacture and sell single board = computers from home using
the Z80 and Z180 processors and hence do = not have=20 any fears about tackling
such things, it is just easier to test and = develop=20 on a PC.
2. I keep saying proposed but in actual = fact I=20 have started and have
basic control of the 1 wire via a serial port = on the PC=20 and a ruff GUI
interface working.

Well thats all I have to = say.

Thanks
Neil Wrightson

Bye = all.