Home Automation with EventGhost

[dt1000]

Hello.

I am thinking of setting up a home automation system to turn the lights in my house on and off.
I'd like to control it via EventGhost.

Does anyone have any recommendations as to hardware that works well with EG?

Many thanks,
Dan

[krambriw]

Hi,

I'm using and have used many different hardware devices during the years for exactly this purpose to control lights and other power consuming devices in my house

What devices to use is both an issue if they are supported by EG and also if they are available in your country

To start, you need some receivers that control all your power consumers (like lamps). There are X10 devices (common in US & UK), you have the FS20 (common in Germany) and a lot of cheaper variants you normally can find in electronic superstores (package of 3 with an included remote)

I personally use a brand named NEXA and they are X10 compatible. I also have some Intertechno devices and some really cheap "no name". All are working

To control those devices from the computer software, e.g. EG, you need a transmitter, Here are also several types available. The best I have found is from RFXCOM, ready made, not the cheapest but very reliable and supports many products. I have the USB connected variant. Another option is to build one yourself. There is a thread in here that describes how to. In this case you can build a unit which is even better and cheaper but you have to spend your own time and effort

If you consider receiving rf signals from rf devices like remote controls, infra red sensors, magnetic door contacts etc, a receiver is needed. Also here I have one from RFXCOM that works really good. If you order them in pair, you will get them interconnected so that receiving/transmission gets synchronized (no need to receive what you sent out yourself)
Also here there is an option how to build your own receiver in the same thread as mentioned above

Here where I live (in Sweden) there is also another alternative available called Tellstick, a small USB dongle that works as transmitter. The company behind is currently working on a combined device, a transceiver called Tellstick Duo that will be released later

Depending what you decide, check in this forum if you find a plugin that supports your devices (transmitter/receiver). For the RFXCOM there is a plugin available and also for the home made variants. For X10, Tellstick and FS20 as well.

Best regards, Walter

[Livin]

EG is not a home automation app... I would recommend getting an app, or hardware, designed with HA as the core. Depending on how much you want to get into it i recommend this...

only a few lights/devices and basic control (on/off/dim) without status, etc = X10
more devices/lights and more control = Zwave (1st) or Insteon if you get a smoke'n deal
a lot of devices and more control = UPB, or other more advanced systems

[krambriw]

Livin is correct, the definition of Home Automation (or Building Automation) is something else then what EG is targeting or able to do

I would like to correct myself and say that what I have accomplished using EG, with some plugins, is to get a more advanced remote control for X10 and similar devices, nothing more, nothing else

EG servicing as such gives you some functionality normally not provided by the remotes themselves like
- wider coverage using better transmitters
- wider (unlimited) address coverage (cover more devices with various address settings)
- multiple brand coverage (supporting devices with different coding systems)
- scheduling
- control due to sunrise/sunset
- receiving of signals (using transmission devices and receivers of various kind for rf/ir etc)
- condition based controls (events that can be used in macros to control devices)

Best regards, Walter

[Livin]

EG could be turned into a powerful HA app given the right plugins and changes in methodology in the macros... which Brett is working on the latter already. Though, we will need more devs to adopt it to help Brett.

I have been using Homeseer for 8 years and it works pretty well - IMO not worth the price now (homeseer nickle & dimes you to death). There are much better apps out there for the same or less $.

Do web searches and a lot of reading. You have not defined, at all, what you are really looking to do so maybe you only have 3 lights to control... I have 36 devices & 40 events.