What is a smart home, and how this system works, readers often ask. It will be difficult to answer this question unambiguously. But still, we can say that here we are talking about the introduction of the latest technologies that have found application in everyday life. Today, many have heard or read about the smart home system, but not everyone can even imagine what level of comfort and security can be achieved with its help.
1. Lighting, television, as well as all other electrical equipment in the house will be fully automated. It can work both according to programmed parameters, and in manual remote control mode via mobile communications or the Internet.
2. The "smart home" complex perfectly copes with the security function, and protects not only from external intrusions, but also from internal fires, gas or water leaks.
Wouldn't it be nice for the owner of the house, driving up to the garage, to see how the smart home system itself opens the gate? And for this you do not need to get out of the car or use the remote control.
Who wouldn't want to live in such a smart home where you don't have to worry about forgetting to turn off the lights in a room or the TV while leaving for work? The system itself will take care of this problem. Dozens of great and other types of smart home equipment are now available, which until recently were quite expensive. Therefore, only very rich people could afford such a luxury. But now even middle-income people can boast of a smart home.
Americans first heard about such a system as a smart home. This happened back in the 70s of the last century. Then, at the Washington Intellectual University, they were able to develop a system on how to make living in a residential building easier, what modern technologies can be adapted for this. True, today no one will call such an innovation a smart home. But at the time it was a major breakthrough.
Back in 1987, a description appeared in the Soviet magazine "Technical Aesthetics" created by domestic engineers. In countries former USSR the invention, which was called "smart home", appeared only in the late 90s. But then it did not find much demand among the population. The problem was not only that the equipment for the smart home system was very expensive. It turned out that it was very difficult to install and operate. One could even say that this system was primitive, but very expensive. And since energy resources cost a penny, few people were interested in such an innovation.
And only since the beginning of the new millennium, they started talking about a smart home in the post-Soviet space again. There were several reasons for this:
And now it’s worth figuring out what the smart home has both advantages and disadvantages. First, let's talk about the disadvantages. They are still available in this system. For example, equipment for a smart home system is still expensive. But this is the case if it is offered from well-known European manufacturers. So why not think about Xiaomi smart home or other companies that produce relatively inexpensive, but very high-quality gadgets?
But it must be borne in mind that everything is not so simple here. For example, there is one small difficulty with the Xiaomi smart home. The fact is that Europeans are poorly versed in it, since the user needs to know Chinese. Therefore, to install and configure the Xiaomi smart home, you may need the help of a specialist. After all, here even the fork has a special design. A good master will be able to set up functional modules for a customer’s smartphone or tablet.
As for the advantages of such a system, they are much more. Who used to do all the work in noble houses? These were butlers, housekeepers, servants, etc. They aired the rooms, opened the curtains on the windows, looked after the comfort in the rooms. Today, such work can be performed by a smart home system, and for it this is not a problem.
Among its advantages, several very important points can be indicated:
"were used in the last century. Like some other technical innovations in household use, they passed from military competence, where they were actively used in secret bunkers and military bases.
Smart House- an automated coordinator of the operation of all technical devices that your home is equipped with.
For a long time, housing with technically advanced control systems remained an incredibly expensive whim of the elite. And only in last decade in fact, concepts that were previously known to us only from science fiction films are being realized and become available.
The capabilities of a smart home, like the functions of a conductor, ensure the coordinated work of all the constituent elements and allow the owners to conveniently control the "orchestra".
They are really technically advanced - microprocessor controllers provide information processing and control of specific elements. Uninterrupted power supply is provided by power supplies and UPS, information is transmitted via IR transceivers, relay models turn on and off Appliances, dimming modules regulate the smoothness of the lighting control.
Such panels exist in the form of stationary and portable models. Portable video panels are the most convenient to use due to their mobility and the ability to visually control the necessary processes. The control panel function can also be performed by a computer, Internet tablet, smartphone, and similar devices.
With the help of a microprocessor controller, the owners of the apartment can program the execution of the tasks (scenarios) they need.
Scenarios can be simple - turn on the air conditioner when a certain air temperature is reached, or complex - turn on the TV while closing the curtains and adjusting the local lighting.
A smart home is divided into separate subsystems, the main of which are lighting, home theater, multiroom, climate control, and security.
Let's consider each in more detail.
Controls individual luminaires and their groups, sets desired mode work, adjusts the degree of illumination. Using the remote control, you can turn off currently unused light sources and, conversely, turn them on in the right places. Remotely, you can create the illusion that the owners are in the house by setting the scenario for turning on the lights in some rooms.
The system controls devices intended for air conditioning, heating, purification, humidification, and air ventilation. Coordinated operation of all devices in a given mode is ensured. Provides remote control of the climate in the apartment, for example, the possibility of establishing a comfortable temperature for the arrival of the owners.
The system controls devices for playing video and audio signals (TVs, Blu-ray players), as well as related equipment: blinds, curtains, lighting in the viewing room, creating a special comfort when watching movies.
The multiroom system is responsible for the condition of all audio and video equipment in the entire apartment. With its help, you can watch TV shows and movies, listen to music and radio channels anywhere in the house, equipped with the necessary set of equipment.
A multifunctional system that promptly responds to all "alarm signals" in the house, provides remote control over the events taking place in the house, turns on the alarm system, controls fire safety, as well as security in the field of communal house systems.
Installing a complex smart home system is not an easy task. It is necessary to start solving it as early as possible, preferably at the stage of designing a future home. Thinking through the future system must be done in cooperation with the owners of the architect, designer and designer of the smart home system. It is very important to think over in advance the necessary functions to be automated.
Main manufacturers:
The equipment can be used as wired (reliable, safe, expensive, pre-installed) and wireless (less reliable, the possibility of signal distortion and interception, installation after repair).
When purchasing equipment, you need to pay attention to the manufacturer and quality, which largely depends on the assembly. Luxury equipment is much more expensive, but differs in specialized programming, individual design, convenient and functional control panel.
Joint work with the installer of the smart home system will not end after its installation. In the future, it is quite possible that you will want to upgrade it with new products.
Since the installation of the smart home system is carried out on initial stage overhaul, it is very important that all work is done accurately, efficiently and on time. It is this high-class work that you are guaranteed in the construction company "TopDom".
Materials on the topic of the article
Films often show a living space that seems to take on a life of its own. Light bulbs light up at the wave of a hand, curtains open, after a certain word music plays. All this equipment is an intelligent home system, and we propose to consider how to make a smart home with your own hands, what is needed for this, and also what is the scheme of such a system.
A smart home is home automation, which is a residential extension of building automation. Home automation can include centralized control of lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), home appliances, unlock gates, doors, GSM and other systems to provide improved convenience, comfort, energy efficiency and security. It should be noted that for some categories of the population (the elderly, the disabled) this event may become necessary.
Photo - Smart home distribution ideas
Photo - Simple smart home With the latest introduction of SMART technologies into our lives, many no longer imagine their lives without automatic installations, software equipment, we need wireless internet, household appliances.
Home automation refers to the use of computer and information technology to control household appliances and their functions. It can range from simple remote lighting control to complex computer/micro-controller based networks with varying degrees of intelligence and automation. Home automation should preferably be as simple as possible.
Photo - Smart door lock Benefits of using a smart home in an apartment based on PIC or WAVE:
Smart home can provide interface-access to household appliances or automation to provide control and monitoring on your smartphone, via a server, mini Smart for iPhone, iPod touch, as well as using a laptop computer (requires special software: AVR Studio).
Photo - Home control through a tablet Video: Schneider Electric smart home system
Home automation elements include sensors (such as temperature, daylight or motion detection), controllers, and actuators such as motorized valves, switches, motors, and others.
Photo - House control scheme These are heating, ventilation and air conditioning, HVAC can control temperature and humidity, for example, the Internet control thermostat allows the homeowner to remotely control the heating and air conditioning systems of the building, the system can automatically open and close windows, turn on radiators and boilers, and underfloor heating.
Lighting
These lighting control mechanisms can be used to control household light appliances. Also here can be attributed the system of natural lighting, the work of blinds or curtains.
Photo - Scheme of a smart home Audio visual
You can make an intelligent system with your own hands, the most a budget option- This is a setting to control the lighting in the house or turn on the computer.
Photo - Smart home control option To make a lamp that will “light up” by itself, you will need to connect special equipment to it. There are several options for solving this problem:
The easiest way to work with the sensor. Its sale is carried out in any online store, you can buy a channel device, you can develop your own according to your own parameters. The only remark is that you cannot install an incandescent lamp with such a device, it may not withstand the load and explode, it is better to work with LED.
Photo - Smart home concept Another "smart" silent option is a dimmer. Here you will need to touch the lamp, depending on the number of touches, the talking device will change the brightness. It is very convenient to use on the lamp in the bedroom, nursery.
To set up temperature control and regulation, we need a multi-channel system. central scheme temperature and humidity control consists of:
Most modern way is to buy all the components of a smart home, wires, thermostats. After installing the appliances in each room, one thermostat per radiator and one per boiler. You will also need a controlled unit, or the "brain" of the entire system. It is recommended to mount it on the heating inlet pipe.
Photo - Smart home system The easiest way to install a video surveillance and alarm system. Fundamental provisions for the installation of security systems:
Smart home is very convenient way to make your life easier, often the whole system is bought completely (Arduino, KNX, Linux).
The cost of each system is individual. The most popular brands are: beckhoff, gira, lpt, redeye, Smart Switch IOT screen, teleco. We recommend that before you build such housing, consult with experts, they will help you calculate the load level, calculate the power consumption.
Photo - Light control via phone To get ideas, you can scroll through V.N. video instructions, read the advice of famous masters.
There are many original, and sometimes extraordinary solutions aimed at comfortable improvement of living quarters and united within the framework of a single concept of a smart home. The range of such complexes is amazing, while their installation can be carried out independently. Today we will talk about how to “build” a smart home with your own hands, its features and the main stages of installation.
Smart home - a modern residential building, fully automated, organized for comfortable living in it due to high-tech devices. A smart home is understood as a number of systems capable of recognizing specific situations and adequately respond to them, one of these systems can control the functioning of the others in accordance with a predetermined algorithm, and all of them are combined into a single controlled complex.
Smart home control combining the latest technology, simple - just select one of the pre-installed scenarios, according to which the system will select the optimal operating parameters for the required devices. The house will be based on the wishes of the owner and on the existing environmental conditions, both inside and outside the premises.
The smart home system includes the following features:
Well, it's time to figure out how to make a smart home with your own hands at no significant cost. All work is conditionally divided into the following stages:
The price range has significant fluctuations, depending on a large number of factors, the most significant of which is the size of the room where the equipment is planned to be installed, as well as the required equipment.
Below are the prices for the most common ready-made kits:
It should be said that installing a smart home on your own is a doable task, since there is a choice of ready-made “boxed” solutions on the market. The main thing is to choose the equipment and be patient during installation.
High technologies cease to be something inaccessible, belonging only to scientists in their laboratories. They enter the life of a person more and more densely, provide coziness and comfort. One of good examples, previously found only in science fiction novels, is the “smart home” system, which allows you to remove a lot of worries from the owner: automate the management of all communications, reduce heating and electricity costs, and increase the comfort and safety of the home. In reality, this is a computer technology, logical and understandable to everyone who wants to understand its structure, which allows you to create this system with your own hands.
This is a high-tech automation system that controls all systems, utilities or residential devices. Simply put, it is a processor that oversees and coordinates the operation of all devices connected to it.
Most of the problems faced by residents are due to the lack of attention shown to one or another communication node or subsystem. Heating, water supply, Electricity of the net at home - all these groups of equipment periodically fail due to minor faults not detected in time, which gradually grew to the size of a serious problem. The complex also constantly monitors the functioning of communications, warns in time about emerging threats or possible malfunctions.
The structure of the complex is designed for maximum convenience for the user, for example, it is possible to control the entire system using a smartphone
Thanks to this technology, it becomes possible to program the time for turning on or off a particular node, the transition from one mode of operation to another. For example, organize the daily switching on / off of street lighting, increasing or decreasing the temperature in heating system depending on the weather conditions. It becomes possible to control the electronic devices of the whole house with a single remote control, which allows you to turn on the DVD in the living room, but watch it on the TV installed in the kitchen, if it is more convenient for the owner.
The possibilities of such a system are great and depend only on the types and implementation options.
There are many varieties of the complex, each with its own pros and cons, which are most conveniently considered in the table.
| Varieties of the system | Peculiarities | Advantages | Difficulties |
| Wired | work directly, transmitting signals from control sensors to the control unit or to actuators via wires laid in the house |
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| Wireless | connection executive mechanisms and control subsystems is carried out via television and radio communications | there is no need for laying wires, which significantly speeds up the installation process, eliminates interference with the structure or violation of the final finish of the house |
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| Centralized complexes | allow full control over the status and operation of all communications at home from a single control unit - a processor with a large number of connectors for connecting equipment and devices | is able to coordinate and combine all the involved elements of the room | a high degree of dependence of work on the capabilities and quality of the program installed in the processor |
| Decentralized complexes | are a set of independent microprocessors | the ability to minimize the consequences of failure of a single node | a large number of individual controls, which sometimes creates confusion and complicates the process of setting up or configuring |
| Equipment with an open protocol | control commands used in the system are used by many manufacturers | allows you to connect devices from different manufacturers that can be recognized by the processor and work under its control | it is possible that the elements may need to be partially adapted to each other |
| Closed protocol kits | control is carried out in its own language, developed by the manufacturer, and allows the use of only appropriate devices or devices | has a high degree of compliance of all nodes and elements | does not allow connection of foreign devices - they will not be recognized by the system and will not be able to work in conjunction with it |
The development of new, improved types of this technology is ongoing. Updated or newly created versions of a software or design solution are constantly appearing, capable of performing more complex and responsible tasks.
"Smart Home" is a complex and multifunctional system that undoubtedly has a number of advantages:
Within the framework of this technology, it is possible to adjust not only the operation of audio and video equipment, but also, for example, the temperature of the water in the pool
However, not the most pleasant moments are associated with it:
Despite the existing difficulties, the installation of this system is becoming more and more popular and widespread.
Before proceeding with the direct installation of the system, it is necessary to carry out some preparatory work:
Some varieties of the system require a computer on which the necessary programs are installed, a home site is created that displays the system diagram and basic controls. The setup and adjustment of such a complex is carried out from a PC, tablet or smartphone.
A similar arrangement of icons, each responsible for its own “section”, makes managing the system much easier.
Performing preparation requires a clear understanding of the principles of operation, configuration, features or device of the selected complex. If knowledge is not enough, you will have to familiarize yourself with the structure of the system and obtain the necessary information, or abandon the idea of organizing such a complex complex, using only your hands and head, and seek help from specialists.
Before starting installation work, it is necessary to draw up a diagram that allows you to determine all mounting points, methods of connection, communication and control of the elements.
The scheme of the complex includes many elements, for example, cameras, a video server, sensors, performers
A schematic representation allows you to visualize the configuration, the principle of operation of the system, to determine its most important nodes and sections. It consists of three main groups of elements:
This will help visualize the configuration, detect errors, and draw up a specification for the composition of the system.
To assemble the system with your own hands, it is best to purchase a ready-made kit that meets the needs and capabilities of a house or apartment. Order installation work detailed in the user manual, which must be carefully read before starting work and constantly checked during practical actions.
The installation process of the complex consists in connecting actuators and sensors to the central processor. The procedure is as follows:
After the installation is completed, a trial run and system configuration are carried out.
For some subsystems, separate small circuits are developed
It is recommended to start with the simplest functions and gradually move on to more complex operations. You should not immediately program multi-stage modes of operation, first you need to adjust, configure the system using elementary actions.
The composition and configuration of the complex is largely tied to the type or size of the premises.
The number of actuators involved in the complex increases with the increase in the autonomy of the dwelling. The less dependence on network or other resources supplied from outside, the greater the fullness of the management complex, the higher its responsibility and significance for the life support of the home.
There are two groups of these elements:
System functions can be controlled from different devices:
Remotes belong to wireless devices and are mainly used on complexes with a closed code. Control panels have a fixed type of installation, usually equipped with a touch screen.
At the request of the customer, a stationary system for adjusting the operation of the complex can be installed
The way of communication with the executive elements is the same for all types of devices, since in the end the commands come to the processor, which transmits them to a certain mechanism.
Installation of the "smart home" system is available to trained people who understand the principles and features of the complex device. Uncertainty in one's abilities, misunderstanding of any points are grounds for contacting specialists. Mistakes made during the installation of this complex complex in a country house or in an apartment can cause serious consequences, so you need to realistically assess your capabilities so that the created system can only bring additional comfort.
