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Would people buy this?
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MikeQ:

--- Quote from: cholin on January 21, 2006, 11:34:42 am ---The Home Domination is software only and it runs at 30 bucks USD.  This would come with web software and the board for just a bit more...  and X10 modules are really quite pricey!  The MyHouseOnline software from X10 is *only* 69.99, regular 169.99!

Now tell me about it :)

Wireless light switches will need to be replaced with your old switches and will definately cost more than the 5 dollar regular 3-way light switches that you use with my board...  Ive seen some wireless light switches and they run at about 60 bucks canadian each for a decent one that actually functions as a switch and works wirelessly, but then you need a controller and some software.....

Its a great price, I looked into it for sure :)

There's a difference though, X10's plug into your socket, mine are controlled from a board so theyre not wireless... its fine for most applications since you only have to run a simple set of stereo wires or something thinner such as 2 wires out of an ethernet cable...

It would be amazing for arcacde machines though....  and general purpose ideas.  Controlling your AC is a snap with these, and it works well in cars too.

--- End quote ---

How exactly will you control a normal 3 way light switch from your board?  I'm going to have to have a wire running from my switch to your board?
Tahnok:
Wait, I'm confused. What exactly does your board do? Does it act as a switch or does it act as a reader (or both)? Kind of reminds me of a little board I was playing with back before halloween, the Parrallax Prop-1 controller. It's fairly cheap, but requires a little bit of programming knowledge.

If you could make something similar, I would definitely be interested. How many of these things could be hooked-up at once?
rdagger:
I think what you want to build is called a USB I/O relay.  I actually was considering building one for another project, because they are expensive to buy.  Would you use HID or a custom driver?  What controller are you going to use Cypress, Atmel or PIC?
cholin:

--- Quote ---How exactly will you control a normal 3 way light switch from your board?  I'm going to have to have a wire running from my switch to your board?
--- End quote ---

You bet you are!  Seriously, its not that bad... the wires inside an ethernet cable are so small you can run them practically anywhere without them being seen...


--- Quote ---Wait, I'm confused. What exactly does your board do? Does it act as a switch or does it act as a reader (or both)?
--- End quote ---

The board is just a chip with a few terminal strips and some extra crap.  The chip is programmed to read ports or write them, depending on what the software tells the chip to do.  If you want terminals 1-5 to be inputs, 6-8 to be analog inputs, and 9-18 to be digital outputs, then so be it!  You just tell the software what you want, it sets up your chip, and youre done.


--- Quote ---How many of these things could be hooked-up at once?
--- End quote ---
Well, according to USB specs, 127.  Thing is, I dont think the software would be able to respond to more than one board because as soon as a board is plugged in with the vendor number and product number, it will set off a signal.  I could set it to check if a board's already plugged in and verify it against a serial number, but that would mean each chip would need a seperate HEX file and I would constantly need to increment the serial number, therefore Id have to compile a new file for every single chip.  If youre willing to pay for the functionality, then sure why not, but otherwise, you can only really hook up one.

On the other hand, there may be a version coming out later on that will have like 30 IO pins rather than the 18 I supply now.  Those will be in the future and only if this origional project turns out well.


--- Quote ---Would you use HID or a custom driver?
--- End quote ---
HID because its already there and it works.  Why would I write a driver for something as simple as IO controlling...  I think the HID is really cool because of the way it works like this.


--- Quote ---What controller are you going to use Cypress, Atmel or PIC?
--- End quote ---
Well, Im using the PIC controller for sure because im more comfortable with them and I think they're better.  I got a few sample ones that Ill be using at first (I have 6 of the 18 pin IO, and 3 of the 30 pin IO) but I wont end up using the ones that can supply like 30 IO for a long time.  The first 6 boards will be *really* cheap to build though for me, so that's good!  I bought some parts today, enough to make maybe 10 boards... just to see how this will work out.  Ill try to sell these off on a cheap protoboard or something, or just offer it in a kit form to save on costs and make some money to buy more parts :)
MikeQ:

--- Quote from: cholin on January 22, 2006, 02:46:05 am ---
--- Quote ---How exactly will you control a normal 3 way light switch from your board?  I'm going to have to have a wire running from my switch to your board?
--- End quote ---

You bet you are!  Seriously, its not that bad... the wires inside an ethernet cable are so small you can run them practically anywhere without them being seen...


--- End quote ---

I still don't see how ethernet wires are going to switch a normal wall switch.  Ethernet wires can't carry 120v and a normal wall switch doesn't have a relay to be switched with +5 usb.  Also, if I want to automate my house, I'm not going to want to have Ethernet wires running all over the place.  I'll stick with X10, RadioRF or any of the other professional solutions not matter what the cost.

The ability to switch outputs on a USB card is a tiny part of the entire Home Automation system.  Having a cheap solution to do this really isn't a product.  You need to provide all the other components too.


Something else to think about too.  If your device is to be used for Home Automation purposes, it will need to adhere to the National Electric Code.  It should probably be U.L. listed as well and you'll want to carry a nice chunk of Liability insurance so when your device burns a house down, your insurance will cover the lawsuit.
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