What is a smart home: principle of operation and device + project creation and assembly tips

Installation and safety requirements

In this paragraph, we will consider how to conduct water heating with our own hands.

Step 1: Project

First, select the appropriate scheme and display it on paper. Consider the areas of the rooms, the position of radiators, pipelines, their dimensions, etc. Such a sketch will help you correctly calculate the amount of consumables. Special programs will greatly simplify all calculations.

Step 2: Accessories

Let's briefly consider what a boiler, batteries and pipes can be.Types of heating units, depending on the fuel used, are gas, electric, solid fuel and combined. The favorite among these options can rightly be called gas devices. Water boilers come with a pump (for a forced heating scheme for a private house) or without it (natural circulation), and both types can be installed with your own hands. The double-circuit unit has proven itself well, providing not only heat in the house, but also hot water.

Steel batteries will please with the price, but at the same time they are subject to corrosion, and if you plan to drain the coolant, then the service life will be significantly reduced. Cast iron, on the contrary, can be said to be an eternal material. It heats up for a long time, but also keeps warm for a long time. But the heavy weight, not too attractive appearance and high cost have significantly reduced the popularity of this material. Cast iron batteries have been replaced by aluminum ones. Their appearance is very attractive, they heat up quickly and are resistant to corrosion. However, aluminum does not tolerate sudden changes in pressure. Bimetallic resistors are famous for their excellent heat dissipation, however, the anti-corrosion properties remain the same as those of aluminum.

The steel pipeline has lost its former glory due to the short operating life. It was replaced by modern polypropylene. Easy installation, the ability to create a "one-piece" design, reasonable cost and reliability - all these are undeniable advantages. Copper pipes also have good characteristics, but not everyone can afford their cost.

Step 3: Boiler

Water heating in a private house is built in such a way that the carrier is heated by a boiler. This scheme is the most optimal in the absence of a centralized supply.Therefore, when choosing a place where to install the boiler, one should take into account the location of the gas pipeline inlet or the presence of electrical wiring. If we are talking about a solid fuel unit, then you need to make an additional installation of the chimney. If you prefer the natural circulation of the coolant, then position the heating unit so that the return line is as low as possible. In this case, the basement is ideal.

Step 4: Mounting the Heatsinks

Batteries are placed under windows or near doorways. The mounting design depends on the material of the resistors and the number of sections. The heavier they are, the more reliable fixation they need. A gap of at least 10 cm should be left between the batteries and window sills, and more than 6 cm should be left to the floor. By installing shut-off valves on each element, you can regulate the amount of coolant in the batteries, and the air valve will help avoid unwanted traffic jams.

Step 5: Wiring

The boiler will be the starting point for the installation of the pipeline. In this case, you should adhere to the scheme chosen and sketched on paper. If the pipes are visible, then we are talking about open wiring. On the one hand, the aesthetic side suffers, and on the other hand, any leak will remain in sight, and in order to replace the damaged element, you do not need to disassemble the box. The pipeline can also be hidden, bricked up in the wall, made of plasterboard, etc. At this stage, batteries, additional equipment (pump, filters, safety unit, expansion tank, etc.) are connected.

Ready-made solutions and do-it-yourself assembly

How to make a "Smart Home" yourself? At the moment, there is a wide choice of options for building a system - various large companies release new products and offer their solutions and devices. Consider several options for implementing this concept.

Google Home

Google has been developing the idea of ​​a smart home for many years and has a family of products on the basis of which the control system is built.

Google Home column

The set of functions performed by the column is very wide: with its help you can make a plan for the day, listen to the news, use a search engine or play games. It manages music, radio, alarms, timers and reminders, allows you to send messages to all network devices. But you will have to Russify it yourself, instructions can be found on the Internet. Google Home also supports IFTTT, which allows you to link different devices into the system.

Home Hub device

Control Center, which is a column for communicating with the Assistant voice assistant, supplemented by a screen. The device is not equipped with a camera in order to enhance the user's sense of comfort and safety. There is a night mode - the device can transmit commands that lower the brightness of the light, the temperature in the house and close the locks. It is possible to control functions remotely through the Google Home app.

Smart home based on ZigBee

Self-adjustment of the Smart Home system can also be done using ZigBee. This is a wireless communication standard through which all devices in a house or apartment interact. ZigBee produces many devices: smart sockets, light bulbs, dimmers, motion sensors, various control sensors.The leader among manufacturers of devices that support the ZigBee standard is the Chinese company Xiaomi.

The operation of the ZigBee system is carried out using the following types of devices:

• Coordinators who manage system activities and ensure process security.
• Routers that work constantly and are responsible for the operation of devices in sleep mode. They are also responsible for recovery in case of failures. They connect to the coordinator, routers, as well as peripheral devices and equipment for information transfer.
• End devices responsible for sending and receiving data. They connect to the coordinator and routers, and are also connected to sensors and mechanisms responsible for executing commands.

Popular sensors for Arduino

Arduino is a programmable microcontroller board with which you can easily create automation or robotics tools. Consider the most popular sensors connected to it.

obstacle sensor

It consists of a photodiode and an LED emitting and receiving signals in the infrared spectrum.

Distance sensor

The HC SR04 sensor consists of a receiver and emitter of ultrasonic waves.

Atmospheric pressure sensors

Common sensors BMP180, BMP280, BME280 can be used in electronic barometers.

Motion Sensor

The most common is the HC SR501 module, which features the ability to adjust the response speed and response delay time.

Light sensor.

Popular for its simplicity and reliability.

Leak sensor

The module consists of a sensor and a comparator. The comparator board has a resistor that controls the sensitivity of the sensor.

Humidity sensor

Consists of electrodes and comparator. Can be used to determine soil moisture in automatic irrigation systems.

March 31 - Package from Wiren Board

Finally, the package arrived with all the smart pieces of iron that I will use. Here is the list:

What is a smart home controller?

A smart home controller is a device that manages all consumers, appliances, and also sends a report to the owner about the state of these consumers. It is guided by temperature, air, light sensors to control lighting, heating, air conditioning systems. Can be programmed to perform various actions over time, according to a time schedule. In addition to the offline mode, the controller can be contacted through a special interface (computer network, mobile operator or radio network), and control the devices manually.

Appliances controlled by the smart home system controller

It is necessary to select the controller depending on how you want to build the architecture of the control system.For example, there are two types of governance system: centralized and decentralized. At the heart of the centralized control system is a single high-performance central controller that manages all consumers (devices) and utilities in the house.

In the case of decentralized control, the smart home intelligent system consists of several simpler controllers, each of which has the functions of controlling a specific area - a room and all appliances in it, separate lighting groups throughout the house, a certain purpose of household appliances, etc. ( regional controllers).

The central controller for a modern smart home system is a computer enclosed in a small plastic case with its own OS (operating system), RAM and many electronic components for switching (controlling) signals: electronic relays, terristor keys, etc.

One of the configurations of the central home controller of the smart home system (on-board wireless transmission module, USB, COM, Ethernet ports)

Also, depending on the configuration, there may be a built-in GSM module for remote control via a mobile phone, a Wi-Fi transmitter for controlling the system from anywhere in the house and a graphical touch or button interface (LCD screen). In addition, connectors for connecting to a computer and / or network equipment: Ethernet, USB.

Such a controller is able to control intelligent equipment such as refrigerators, microwave ovens, utilities, etc.(if such a function is provided in the technique itself), even reporting to the owner such data as the temperature in the refrigerator, input-output telephone line calls, and much more.

A regional controller, a discrete input-output modulator, is a low-power logical electronic control unit that implements smart home technology (in comparison, the frequency of the microprocessor CK is about 500 MHz, the RK is about 50 MHz), as a rule, it does not have an operating system and is customizable systemically. It can be configured for any elementary scenarios by time or by signals from certain sensors.

Programmable controller of the smart home system with an interface (connector for connecting to the network) Ethernet

He manages elementary tasks and events. For example, a light sensor connected to it gives a signal (when it gets dark); the controller sends a signal to the executive relay or group for lighting control. It also notifies the owner of each action. In other words, a discrete I/O modulator is a kind of intelligent programmable electronic relay.

Such a device also consists of electronic components for network switching and an intelligent part: a microprocessor with memory. It (depending on the manufacturer and configuration) may have USB, an Ethernet interface and other ports for control, programming and reporting to the owner.

Smart Heating System Strategy

There is no need to talk again about how ambiguous the issue of heating residential premises is.It is directly related to the cost of energy consumption and these costs significantly burden the family budget.

Therefore, the strategy of "smart" heating is a really important and worthwhile topic not only to consider it, but also to try to implement it.

It is enough to set the temperature parameter on a separate thermostat and "smart" heating will do all the necessary work to provide the owner of the apartment (private house) with comfortable conditions

If you apply the smart home strategy to the heating system in its entirety, there is every chance of significantly reducing costs. Precise control of consumption and rational distribution of the heat resource will contribute to savings.

The smart home strategy in relation to the heating system has been calculated and tested in practice. The result promises mass character of such approach.

Smart home heating scheme and control systems, photo and video

A smart building under itself implies a resource-efficient office or retail building, which practically and correctly consumes all the sources of life improvement used. Smart home - heat supply, electrical energy and more, as well as a moderate impact on the external environment.

In other words, a building of this type is distinguished by the ideal production, storage and management of energy in a domestic project. Today, resource-efficient houses can be not only country houses, houses outside the city or equipped summer cottages, but also traditional apartments.

Type of smart home system

In conditions of sharp temperature changes throughout the year, the issue of heat supply to residential premises is quite important.Most residents complain that during cold weather, heating batteries provide very little heat, and when the heat comes, they heat to the fullest. In the end, what happens is that people overpay for what they do not need. If your heating system is in order, but you are not familiar with this not very pleasant phenomenon from hearsay, then it will not be out of place for you to learn about how the heating system in a smart home can be equipped.

Specifics of smart heat supply

The very concept of a smart home in relation to heat supply implies a comfortable living of a person in a consistently warm room with low price costs. This means that the heating system should also be designed so that there is no need to pay again for something that you do not use. However, for any arrangement, especially profitable heat supply and resource-efficient, it is just necessary to invest materially - but still it is necessary not to forget that such a decision will very soon be justified in full!

So, the use of automation for the operation of a smart home heating system is the basic principle for creating comfortable living conditions, and also for saving fuel, provided that the automation itself, along with the control components, is correctly selected and used. The same can exist in the case of joint productive activity of a heating boiler with a control center: with the help of a communication interface and boiler safety tools, heat supply is realized.

Heating circuit for a smart home

The system itself changes the temperature of the heat supply, looking at the indicators from specialized sensors in the room.

In particular, this option is suitable for a country house.The optimal solution here is the temperature adjustment of the heating heat carrier.

A promising direction in the organization

On the other hand, there are many other ways to organize heat supply in a smart home. For example, the system may be dependent on the weather outside the window. This approach assumes the presence of not only a sensor designed to measure the temperature specifically in the room, but also a sensor focused on external temperature indicators. To accurately maintain the operation of such heating, it is best to use two external meters.

Control management scheme

The operating principle of the respective controller is considered to be the curve of heat carrier temperature versus weather. In other words, when cold comes outside, the water in the system heats up, and when it is hot from the outside, it freezes. The mark of +20 on the Celsius scale can be taken as a base point for the heat carrier, so that at it the temperature of the system, figuratively speaking, is equal to the outside temperature, and the excess heat output and space heating ends.

To approach the level of comfortable heating in a smart home, it is possible to adjust the heating so that the temperature of the apartment has local characteristics. In other words, in individual places it can be corrected in relation to that set by an external sensor. If there are many people in one of the rooms who, for real reasons, heat the room, the system can calculate the increase in temperature in this zone, compare it with the one set on the weather controller, and then divide the heat around the apartment in relation to adjusting the indicators in this room.

In a similar way, the provided arrangement of the heating system in a smart building can definitely be called a promising direction for creating comfort in your home and also reducing the monetary costs of paying for heat supply.

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The principle of operation of a smart home

The key element of the system is the controller. It collects and analyzes signals from all sensors located in the apartment. His work never stops.

The controller allows you to control all connected gadgets in real time, as well as schedule a delayed launch. It is enough to set the necessary parameters to the system once, and it will constantly support them.

But with all the advantages, such equipment also has a number of disadvantages. Like any technique, it can fail and freeze. Therefore, you may need to reboot it and reconfigure it. Sometimes this requires the involvement of professionals.

According to the type of signal transmission from sensors, the systems are divided into wired and wireless. In the first case, all components are connected to each other by cables. Wired systems are characterized by reliability, high response speed and long service life. In wireless complexes, the signal is transmitted over a dedicated radio channel. This allows you to simplify and speed up the installation of the structure.

Based on the control method, smart homes are divided into:

1. Centralized. All information is collected in one logical module. Its role is often performed by the controller, which has a large number of inputs.A program is written on it, with the help of which the devices are controlled. This design allows you to create complex scenarios for the operation of equipment.

2. Decentralized. Each device is equipped with a separate microprocessor. If one element fails, the rest continue to operate normally. Decentralized systems are reliable and durable.

3. Combined. They consist of one central unit and several decentralized control modules. This design is easily customizable, and therefore today it is preferred by most manufacturers.

Smart homes can also be classified according to the type of protocol: open and closed. A protocol is a language by which all devices communicate with each other. Most manufacturers work with an open protocol. Those companies that want to reduce the cost of their products and implement any non-standard solutions use a closed protocol.

Types of systems

You can make a smart home according to different schemes, depending on the type of equipment and communication protocol. Software and hardware systems for smart homes are conditionally divided into several types.

Wired

Wireless

Centralized Solutions

decentralized

Network with open protocols

Closed protocol equipment

Main elements and sensors:

• main block (may not be in a decentralized scheme);
• water leakage sensors;
• smoke sensors;
• temperature sensors;
• motion and light sensors;
• surveillance cameras;
• smart home ventilation;
• system of remote opening/closing of blinds;
• media management;
• control devices for heating, electricity and water supply;
• there may be transmitters of information from water and electricity meters (such projects are being implemented, for example, by Moscow as part of the introduction of innovations in the housing and communal services sector);
• software or hardware gateway for connection and control from the outside and transmission of alerts to the owner;
• smart sockets and switches;
• alarm.

In a number of schemes, sensors and other elements serve as gateways for transmitting a wireless signal to neighboring network devices.