Links:
WIS Club
Q's Power Line Communication Project
Introduction.
This web page will document my attempts to develop the hardware and software to communicate over power lines and implement some basic home automation. My primary aim is save a bit of energy (money) by making the house a bit smarter. I think I will probably end up making a $2,000 light switch or that's what my wife tells me!!
But as they say it's not about the destination it's about the journey....
I could also say my hovercraft is full of eels but that would be silly... wouldn't it?
Since I started this webpage it's got a bit broader in scope so there's a bit more here than power line communications.
Motivation
to do this project
- High Power bills - courtesy of multiple teenage daughter's inability to turn off lights or any electric appliance for that matter :o)
- An innate desire to bash my head into brick walls (as a result of too much monty python, heavy rock and beer in the 70's).
- Some smurfs I met elsewhere.
Design Problem
The problem that I percieve is the inefficient use of resources in the home, mostly because we are too lazy. While it costs us money in the short term the environment that we are creating for our children and grand children is unacceptable. I can see that my grand children will not have the same life I had because the world has changed for the worse.
I want to create some practical energy saving devices / methods that contribute to my grandchildren's environment, to save some energy and have some fun along the way.
I want the House Operating System (HOS) take some control over the energy using appliances in the house and within guidelines defined in the specifications ensure that energy consumption is safely minimised and therefore costs of running the house are reduced.
Project Status
The project is on hold while I sort the backyard out; a lot of work has been done that hasn't made it here yet. I will update early next year.
Regards
Q
PS; If you want to know why I'm called Q go here.
Page created on 31 March 2007 and