Lighting automation for several buildings on a farm

[GeekDrew]

I posted this on a home automation forum, but figured it wouldn't hurt to post it here also:

I've been reading about home automation for quite some time, but am just now ready to get started.

My first project is to automate the outdoor lighting on several buildings on a farm. There is a barn and a shed sitting on one side of a driveway, and a house on the other side. I need the ability to simultaneously turn on outside lights on all three buildings, from multiple locations (from two different locations in the house and from vehicles (I assume a keyfob or something along those lines)). Electric from the utility meter runs directly into one box with a transfer switch, and there are separate runs from that box to each building. The buildings themselves are not directly connected in any other electrical/data way.

Where I'm asking for advice is in choosing the products to do this. I'd like to control the outdoor lighting circuits in each building by replacing existing light switches. Beyond that, I don't really have any direction when it comes to what products can do this, or which would be best for my situation. Are there some that could carry the signals across the power line in my scenario? Or should I rely on wireless between the buildings? The buildings aren't that far apart... perhaps a hundred feet or so.

Any advice? Thanks in advance.

 

[thepd7]

Budget?

 

[GeekDrew]

Budget?

Undefined. I'd rather not spend any more money than I need to, but I'm willing to spend whatever necessary. Preferably < $500, but that's not a hard limit. I'd need 6 relays/switches/whatever (that replace existing light switches).

 

[TruePaige]

I was going to say something but...

I think I'll just wait for Rubycon on this one. She is a light master.

 

[DrPizza]

Is what you're doing as simple as turning on outdoor lights at night? Just put a sensor on them that detects when its dark.

 

[keird]

You can start searching here, but SmartHome is expensive

 

[GeekDrew]

Is what you're doing as simple as turning on outdoor lights at night? Just put a sensor on them that detects when its dark.

While I might be interested in having some lights turned on / off by a light sensor, I can't use that for all of the lights. These lights make the area nearly as bright as mid-day... I don't need or want them all running full-time after dark. I only want them on when we're working outside.

 

[keird]

All the farm hands will now need PDAs

 

[Savij]

There was some interesting work on just this kind of stuff with ZigBee wireless tech. before the bankers shot our economy to hell. I know that Control4 and I think Centralite were doing some good work but they were focusing more on high-end systems. You could probably get a few good leads here:http://www.zigbee.org/Products/CertifiedProducts/ZigBeeHomeAutomation/tabid/455/Default.aspx

I'm not sure who else made it through the credit crisis since a lot of those companies were in the startup phase as the investment companies were realizing they forgot where they put everyone's money.

 

[GeekDrew]

You can start searching here, but SmartHome is expensive

Yeah, I've bought some things from them before. I read up on home automation a while back -- at least several years ago -- but I've forgotten most of what I've read, and I also don't know which products would work best in my situation.

 

[GeekDrew]

All the farm hands will now need PDAs

No.

 

[GeekDrew]

There was some interesting work on just this kind of stuff with ZigBee wireless tech. before the bankers shot our economy to hell. I know that Control4 and I think Centralite were doing some good work but they were focusing more on high-end systems. You could probably get a few good leads here:http://www.zigbee.org/Products/CertifiedProducts/ZigBeeHomeAutomation/tabid/455/Default.aspx

I'm not sure who else made it through the credit crisis since a lot of those companies were in the startup phase as the investment companies were realizing they forgot where they put everyone's money.

I've read several places that ZigBee is rather unreliable. If the lights don't turn on the first time I ask them to, I can press the button to turn them on again... it's obviously not life and death. But if we have something that's gone terribly wrong (after dark), and someone hits the on switch, they'd better damned well come on. I'll probably eventually automate more than just this, once I've selected a protocol / manufacturer / etc.

 

[Savij]

I've read several places that ZigBee is rather unreliable. If the lights don't turn on the first time I ask them to, I can press the button to turn them on again... it's obviously not life and death. But if we have something that's gone terribly wrong (after dark), and someone hits the on switch, they'd better damned well come on. I'll probably eventually automate more than just this, once I've selected a protocol / manufacturer / etc.

Disclaimer: I worked with and still am involved with ZigBee so I'm obviously biased .

ZigBee itself is pretty new and only really got stable in the last year or so. The products based on it were going through some growing pains. I would check how recent those reviews were...not that they couldn't have problems even now, just that they were working out some bugs.

If you plan to expand then I think ZigBee is a good option since it's a standard and not just one manufacturer's tech. You've got companies from TI and Netgear to little startups jumping in. If you were in California, I would say it's a no-brainer to go with it since the utils are probably going that way anyway (both the ones having huge problems and the ones that are having quiet success). I don't know what's going on in OH, but I'm guessing they'll follow suit eventually.

 

[Rubycon]

You need a proven, robust solution in an agricultural environment. It's quite harsh and the range is beyond what most home automation stuff was made for - especially stuff that uses wiring to send signals.

You want AM.

More information here:

http://www.controlsupply.com/wire1.htm

Not cheap but will work and not give you a hint of trouble as long as the hardware is properly installed and protected against lightning strikes.

 

[GeekDrew]

You need a proven, robust solution in an agricultural environment. It's quite harsh and the range is beyond what most home automation stuff was made for - especially stuff that uses wiring to send signals.

You want AM.

Even tho the buildings are only about 100 ft apart?

 

[Rubycon]

Even tho the buildings are only about 100 ft apart?

Well you won't need external antennae.

 

[GeekDrew]

Well you won't need external antennae.

OK, thanks

 

[Rubycon]

How handy are you with electronics?
It's not hard to make your own controllers an interface them to a lighting contactor.
Of course there's issues with transmitting (FCC) and electrical code (NEC) that you have to make sure it's safe and within the limits of the regulations, etc.

 

[GeekDrew]

How handy are you with electronics?
It's not hard to make your own controllers an interface them to a lighting contactor.
Of course there's issues with transmitting (FCC) and electrical code (NEC) that you have to make sure it's safe and within the limits of the regulations, etc.

I could definitely do it, with the appropriate research, but I don't have the time for that right now.