anyone here have automated/remote controlled lighting in their home?

[purbeast0]

as i'm working on my home theater area, i've started to look into possibly having a way to control the recessed lighting in there from a tablet.

quick backstory - i plan on using some sort of tablet and running an application like iRule or RooomieRemote to control my home theater as far as projector, receiver, cable box, consoles, etc. they both also have built in options to control certain lighting as well.

now the way my ht is setup currently, there are 12 recessed lights. the 6 on one side are controlled via a dimmer switch at the top of the stairs, and the 6 on the other side are controlled via a dimmer switch at the bottom of the stairs.

what i've just started to research is if there is a way i can get new dimmer switches that will allow me to control the lighting from the switch as well as through a tablet when i do eventually get it setup. from my short research so far i've come across the company Insteon and their Smarthome products.

here is the "controller" that i've come across so far.

http://www.smarthome.com/2412N/SmartLinc-INSTEON-Central-Controller/p.aspx

and there here are some of the switches that seem to work with it.

http://www.smarthome.com/2477D/SwitchLinc-INSTEON-Remote-Control-Dimmer-Dual-Band-White/p.aspx

so what i'm wondering is, is it really as simple as buying that controller, wiring it up to my network, installing the 2 new dimmer switches, then running the software to control it? it does not seem very clear from just looking at those pages and reading the manuals on the pages.

additionally, there are quite a few different light switches on that site that look similar. but me knowing nothing about light switches, i'm not sure of the differences.

so has anyone set something like this up in their home before who could give me some insght?

 

[Soundmanred]

I use a 2GIG alarm system in my home and it has home automation features that control lighting, HVAC, etc.
I can control it all from my PC (or any PC) or my phone, and can turn lights on/off, dim, turn my heat or AC up or down, etc.

 

[DesiPower]

something like X10 modules?

 

[Savij]

http://www.control4.com/residential/products/

 

[Soundmanred]

something like X10 modules?

There's much better (and cheaper) stuff out there these days.

 

[Red Squirrel]

No, but if I was to rewire my whole house, or build a house, I'd do it. I'd probably have pretty much every light and even most electrical outlets connect directly to a panel with DIN rails. Each switch would also connect to this panel. I'd use an arduino board or two connected to a PC with custom software as the controller. When I turn on a light switch, it would actually be activating a digital input of the arduino, the program would have that linked to a specific relay for that specific light. But if I wanted to I could on the fly program anything into the system to do anything I want.

I'd probably also throw in a photocell so certain lights would automatically turn on at night. All outside outlets would also be individually programmed. For example, one for Christmas lights, one for the car block heater (only really needs to run like an hour or so before you start the car). Everything would be programmable.

When I go on vacation I'd have a vacation mode that randomizes certain lights around the house to simulate someone there. Even throw in a late night bathroom session into that simulation. Bedroom light on, hallway light on, bathroom light on, 5-10 minute delay, bathroom light off, hallway light off, then bedroom light off. So many possibilities.

I already have a basic idea of this system for my furnace. I can control my furnace from my PC or tablet, and I can also set complex schedules. I work shifts, so typical programmable thermostats don't have enough program points for me.

Would be a fun project to do this for way more control/sensor points. When I do my basement I might do it for there. I'd just have to make sure doing this would not violate any electrical codes, but I'm pretty sure DIN rails and such would be acceptable in a proper enclosure designed for it, properly grounded, etc... This box would sit next to the electrical panel and just have a large conduit going to it and the 15 amp feeders, neutrals and grounds would come through and go off individually to each circuit.

The downside of a complex system like that is if the controller fails you have no lighting. So you'd probably want a bypass switch.

 

[mrrman]

There's much better (and cheaper) stuff out there these days.

Do you have any suggestions? Id be interested in this to.


OP...let us know what you come across...I am curious about this.

 

[RossMAN]

I plan on buying this if it ever becomes available for pre-order, I'm getting impatient!

http://www.securifi.com/almondplus

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/08/almond-plus-wifi-router/

 

[BoomerD]

something like X10 modules?

ROFL! I have a box full of X-10 stuff left over from the 90's...

 

[purbeast0]

No, but if I was to rewire my whole house, or build a house, I'd do it. I'd probably have pretty much every light and even most electrical outlets connect directly to a panel with DIN rails. Each switch would also connect to this panel. I'd use an arduino board or two connected to a PC with custom software as the controller. When I turn on a light switch, it would actually be activating a digital input of the arduino, the program would have that linked to a specific relay for that specific light. But if I wanted to I could on the fly program anything into the system to do anything I want.

I'd probably also throw in a photocell so certain lights would automatically turn on at night. All outside outlets would also be individually programmed. For example, one for Christmas lights, one for the car block heater (only really needs to run like an hour or so before you start the car). Everything would be programmable.

When I go on vacation I'd have a vacation mode that randomizes certain lights around the house to simulate someone there. Even throw in a late night bathroom session into that simulation. Bedroom light on, hallway light on, bathroom light on, 5-10 minute delay, bathroom light off, hallway light off, then bedroom light off. So many possibilities.

I already have a basic idea of this system for my furnace. I can control my furnace from my PC or tablet, and I can also set complex schedules. I work shifts, so typical programmable thermostats don't have enough program points for me.

Would be a fun project to do this for way more control/sensor points. When I do my basement I might do it for there. I'd just have to make sure doing this would not violate any electrical codes, but I'm pretty sure DIN rails and such would be acceptable in a proper enclosure designed for it, properly grounded, etc... This box would sit next to the electrical panel and just have a large conduit going to it and the 15 amp feeders, neutrals and grounds would come through and go off individually to each circuit.

The downside of a complex system like that is if the controller fails you have no lighting. So you'd probably want a bypass switch.

you don't really have to rewire anything though. the one i linked in the op, you plug the controller in and get it on your network, and you can then control like 10+ devices. they have a $300 controller that does a lot more stuff, however i only want to be able to remotely turn lights on/off. pretty sure you can do timer stuff with the $100 one i linked to but not 100% sure.

like when i start a movie i want it to cut off the lights, then turn them back on when i'm done, from the seating area.