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phil13
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Joined: December 19 2004
Location: France
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Posts: 60
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| Posted: January 10 2005 at 08:33 | IP Logged
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Hi,
i'd like to buy an alarm system and connect it with powerhome.
To do that, i need a system with rs232 interface and a detailled protocol.
Is someone as a suggestion of system ?
I've read about DSC and caddx but it seams the protocol is not easy to obtain ...
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seattlechris
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Joined: June 29 2002
Location: United States
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Posts: 49
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| Posted: January 10 2005 at 22:53 | IP Logged
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My approach was to use a cheapo x10 wireless system, and take advantage of powerhome's ability to intercept x10 security signals ("extended RF"). Powerhome can then infer the status of the alarm, but if you want to take it further, you can put a light receiver on top of the alarm's ARM led to see that it's in the correct state (super kludge, I know, but works for me).
Such an approach requires a bunch of macros programming, but consider the possibilities:
1) Powerhome can send you emails, phone text messages, or pages when your alarm is armed, disarmed, or alarming.
2) Powerhome can supplement your alarm by reading sensors that are too flakey and therefore not used for the main alarm-- in my case I have indoor motion sensors all over the house. The cat trips them once in a great while, but unless several go off I know it's not trouble. Note that this provides a useful "second vote" for your alarm system, if it is prone to false alarms (which is bad and the root cause should be fixed of course). ...so there I was at work one day, and someone asked me what my pager was going off for, and I explained that my cat was climbing on the kitchen table again; fortunately they knew me better than to ask.
3) Powerhome can turn off lights (or set random patterns for an occupied look) when you're away
4) If you have outdoor motion sensors, powerhome can use them to notify you of activity in your yard while you're away (useful not just for security, but for knowing when that your fed-ex package arrived!).
5) If powerhome controls your thermostat, it can intelligently do a setback while you're away
6) If you use powerhome to control video surveillance, it can take the alarm state into account.
Just a thought-- it's worked well for me.
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dhoward
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Joined: June 29 2001
Location: United States
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| Posted: January 11 2005 at 10:41 | IP Logged
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My approach is similar to Chris except I don't even have the X-10 alarm system. I use PowerHome entirely. I have some of the X-10 door/window sensors and motion sensors and use the W800RF32A to receive these signals. Like Chris suggested, I can have PowerHome snap pictures using the cameras in the house and then email them to my main email. I also have PowerHome send an SMS message to my cellphone.
I also have the alarm automatically set itself so I don't even have to remember to do so. I do this by having a motion sensor right next to the front door (in a hallway) and it is basically only triggered when someone goes in or out the front door. I then have triggers and macros that check this motion sensor vs other motion sensors in the house. If no motion has been detected on any (internal) motion sensor for 15 minutes and the last motion detected was on this door sensor, then PowerHome knows that Ive left the house and no one else is in the house so arm the alarm.
I also have a bidirectional X10 thermostat. With the door/window sensors, if the alarm is not armed and a window is opened, then I'll have PowerHome automatically turn off the air conditioning.
You also have all the other benefits that Chris spoke about.
Although I havent done it yet, I could place some critical programming within my Ocelot (such as basic alarm functions) as well as a "PowerHome watchdog" so in case PowerHome or the PC it's on is locked up, I could still be protected.
The biggest problem with this type of solution of course is that it does require macros, triggers, etc. to be setup within PowerHome. But I get a lot more flexibility this way.
Dave.
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phil13
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Joined: December 19 2004
Location: France
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Posts: 60
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| Posted: January 11 2005 at 12:40 | IP Logged
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In fact, today i have connected (with the help of dave) powerhome to a made self alarm system based on a pic18f452.
i've made a "K8000 like card" with a brain inside and a rs232 port. This card is programmed with C language.
This system run in stand alone and can be manage by powerhome through rs232 commands (arm, desarm, ask status, ...).
All works fine but i'd like to have a more professionnal system. My current card is full of wire and i'm afraid not reliable in time ...
I've searched for an alarm system but i've not found anything interesting with open rs232 protocol.
So i think i going to buy a professionnal card (http://www.mikroelektronika.co.yu/english/product/tools/picplc.htm)to put my program (with modification ..)inside.
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Topic: alarm system
