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Arduino Home automation

by simon72post on April 29, 2009

Table of Contents

Arduino Home automation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro: Arduino Home automation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1: Parts needed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 2: Basic principle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 3: Building the board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 4: Modifying the remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 5: The software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Step 6: Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Step 7: Final Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Step 8: Controlling remotely from the internet method 1 and 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Step 9: Controlling from the internet method 3 (using a script)(even from my phone) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Step 10: Updates and upgrades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Step 11: Future upgrades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Home-automation/
Intro: Arduino Home automation
This is a relatively simple controller for controlling equipment in your home.

At the moment I control my central heating, security and lighting.

By sending commands from my home computer.

My homeeasy central heating controller hack.

http://www.instructables.com/id/BampQ_homeeasy_home_automation_central_heating_c/

I am also able to login remotely from the internet to control the equipment at home connected to this controller.

This project is built around an Arduino board.

http://www.arduino.cc/

The arduino board is a hardware interface allowing you to control and monitor hardware devices with your computer.

And the homeeasy home automation controllers available from B&Q.

http://www.homeeasy.eu/home.php

These are basically plug-in module which allows you to switch devices on and off using a remote control.

The idea behind this project was. I wanted to be able to login to my home computer and send commands that would allow me to turn lights on remotely.
Or have the computer do it automatically at a set time or when it gets dark.

Image Notes
1. digital pins needed
2. usb
3. power pins if used

Step 1: Parts needed

1 arduino board.
1 homeeasy controller - part number HE300
1 prototype board - Vero board
10 resistors - 47 ohm
10 led's
4 opto isolators - RS part 308-613
Some ribbon cable.
a strip of pins to connect to the headers on the arduino board.
1 box - to put it all in.
some HE302S - remote control socket

Tools

Soldering iron
Solder
Cutters

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Home-automation/
 Image Notes
1. digital pins needed
2. usb
3. power pins if used

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Home-automation/
 Image Notes
1. the left hand buttons switch the modules on the right hand buttons switch the
modules off

Image Notes
1. the remote controlled modules

Step 2: Basic principle

Hardware

Basically the arduino board when programmed will switch the digital outputs high.
Which will send 5 volts through the resistor and light the led's.
Which will activate the opto isolator which will connect the contacts on the remote control.
which will send the comand to the remote control sockets
And turn on or off the lights, heating or anything you want.

this circuit shown is for the first on and off switches.

just repeat the circuit for the following channels

software

I programed the software so when I pressed (H) in the terminal the arduino board will send a 1 second pulse to my remote control and switch my heating on.
when I press(h) the board will send a 1 second pulse my heating switches off.
(S) for security on
(s) for security off
(G) garden lights on
(g) garden lights off

and so on this can be changed to any button you want

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Home-automation/
 Image Notes
1. the arduion board
2. the resistors to limit the current and the led's to show which channel is being driven
3. the opto isolator to activate the remote control and also to keep the remote control isolated from the circuit board
4. the remote control the left hand rail is for all on switches. the right hand rail is for all off switches. and the center common terminals for buttons 1 to 4

Step 3: Building the board

The board I built on some prototype project board available from most electronic stores.

It was just a matter of soldering on the components as show in the circuit diagram.
And making sure there were no short circuits.

the first led connects to pin 1 on the opto isolator, led 2 connects to pin 4 on the opto isolator.
pins 2 and 3 are then connected to ground. which is next to digital pin 13 on the arduino board.

opto isolator pins 6 and 7 are connected together and go to the center contact on the remote control for the first on off buttons.
opto isolator pin 8 goes to the left track on the remote.
pin 5 goes to the right track on the remote.

and then it's just a matter of repeating the circuit for the other channels.

Image Notes Image Notes

1. this connector connects to the arduino board 1. connector from the arduino boards digital outputs. to the PCB
2. the bank of 47 ohm resistors and led's 2. power for the remote
3. opto isolator for channels 1 and 2
4. opto for 3 and 4
5. opto for 5 and 6
6. opto for 7 and 8
7. connector for the remote

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Home-automation/
Step 4: Modifying the remote control
I unscrewed the screw under the rear label. And carefully prised open the case.

When open you will see the PCB.

On the PCB there is one track on the left which when connected to the centre contacts will switch devices on.
And there is a track on the right which when connected to the centre contacts will switch equipment off.

I just attached the contacts to my circuit as shown in my diagram.

and soldered on a link in place of the remote switch.

Next I attached the battery to the 3v output on the arduino board.

You don't have to do this. But I did it so I wouldn't need a battery in the remote control.

Image Notes Image Notes

1. remove this screw 1. antena if you have problems with range. move this outside the enclosure
2. the buttons to switch on and off channels 1 to 4 2. buttons 1 common terminal
3. the switch that will need replacing with a wire link 3. buttons 2 common terminal
4. buttons 3 common terminal
5. buttons 4 common terminal
6. the rail for all on switches
7. the rail for all off switches
8. fit a link across these terminals so only switches 1 to 4 are active
9. battery positive terminal
10. battery negative terminal

Image Notes
1. wires for the led
2. the link to replace the switch
3. the cable to the PCB
4. power cable

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Home-automation/
Step 5: The software
the arduino board is controlled from it's own software this can be downloaded from here.
http://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software

you can then copy and paste this code in to the arduino software and upload it to the board.

char val; // variable to receive data from the serial port

int ledpin = 2; // LED connected to pin 2 (on-board LED)

void setup()
{
pinMode(ledpin = 2, OUTPUT); // pin 2 (on-board LED) as OUTPUT
pinMode(ledpin = 3, OUTPUT); // pin 3 (on-board LED) as OUTPUT
pinMode(ledpin = 4, OUTPUT); // pin 4 (on-board LED) as OUTPUT
pinMode(ledpin = 5, OUTPUT); // pin 5 (on-board LED) as OUTPUT
pinMode(ledpin = 6, OUTPUT); // pin 6 (on-board LED) as OUTPUT
pinMode(ledpin = 7, OUTPUT); // pin 7 (on-board LED) as OUTPUT
pinMode(ledpin = 8, OUTPUT); // pin 8 (on-board LED) as OUTPUT
pinMode(ledpin = 9, OUTPUT); // pin 9 (on-board LED) as OUTPUT
pinMode(ledpin = 10, OUTPUT); // pin 9 (on-board LED) as OUTPUT
pinMode(ledpin = 11, OUTPUT); // pin 9 (on-board LED) as OUTPUT

Serial.begin(9600); // start serial communication at 9600bps

void loop() {
if( Serial.available() ) // if data is available to read
{;}
val = Serial.read(); // read it and store it in 'val'

if( val == 'h' ) // if '2' was received

{
digitalWrite(ledpin = 2, HIGH); // turn ON the LED
delay(1000); // waits for a second
Serial.println("h = Heating off");
digitalWrite(ledpin, LOW); // sets the LED off

}
if( val == 'H' ) // if '3' was received
{
digitalWrite(ledpin = 3, HIGH); // turn ON the LED
delay(1000); // waits for a second
Serial.println("H = Heating on");
digitalWrite(ledpin, LOW); // sets the LED off
}
if( val == 's' ) // if '4' was received
{
digitalWrite(ledpin = 4, HIGH); // turn ON the LED
delay(1000); // waits for a second
Serial.println("s = gate off");
digitalWrite(ledpin, LOW); // sets the LED off
}
if( val == 'S' ) // if '5' was received
{
digitalWrite(ledpin = 5, HIGH); // turn ON the LED
delay(1000); // waits for a second
Serial.println("S = gate on");
digitalWrite(ledpin, LOW); // sets the LED off
}
if( val == 'g' ) // if '6' was received
{
digitalWrite(ledpin = 6, HIGH); // turn ON the LED
delay(1000); // waits for a second
Serial.println("g = Garden lights off");
digitalWrite(ledpin, LOW); // sets the LED off
}
if( val == 'G' ) // if '7' was received
{
digitalWrite(ledpin = 7, HIGH); // turn ON the LED
delay(1000); // waits for a second
Serial.println("G = Garden lights on");
digitalWrite(ledpin, LOW); // sets the LED off
}
if( val == 'b' ) // if '8' was received
{
digitalWrite(ledpin = 8, HIGH); // turn ON the LED
delay(1000); // waits for a second
Serial.println("b = Bedroom light off");
digitalWrite(ledpin, LOW); // sets the LED off
}
if( val == 'B' ) // if '9' was received
{
http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Home-automation/
digitalWrite(ledpin = 9, HIGH); // turn ON the LED
delay(1000); // waits for a second
Serial.println("B = Bedroom light on");
digitalWrite(ledpin, LOW); // sets the LED off
}
if( val == '9' ) // if '9' was received
{
digitalWrite(ledpin = 10, HIGH); // turn ON the LED
delay(1000); // waits for a second
Serial.println("9");
digitalWrite(ledpin, LOW); // sets the LED off
}
if( val == '0' ) // if '9' was received
{
digitalWrite(ledpin = 11, HIGH); // turn ON the LED
delay(1000); // waits for a second
Serial.println("0");
digitalWrite(ledpin, LOW); // sets the LED off
}

Step 6: Testing
After I had set up the homeeasy module to respond to the remote.
(You can find out how to do this in the instructions for the modules.)

I loaded the software on to the arduino board.

And ran the command (H)

And my heating switches on.

I tested the other commands for the lights and security and they all responded as planned.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Home-automation/
 Image Notes
1. the arduino board you can see the board is connected and powered
2. the PCB you can see led 1 in active.
3. the remote control you can see the remote is transmitting

Step 7: Final Assembly

the last job was to fix all the boards in a plastic box and made a hole for the USB to plug in to the arduino board.

You may find when the boards are in the box the range at which they work is shortened.
If this happens you can mount the remote antenna on the out side of the box as I have done this to solved the problem I had with range. But you will have to keep the
leads short or they will effect the frequency at which the antena transmits at.

Image Notes Image Notes

1. arduino mounted on the lid of the box 1. usb port
2. remote control 2. antena mounted outside the box to keep the range good from the remote control
3. led indecator to show when transmitting

Step 8: Controlling remotely from the internet method 1 and 2

The computer I have connected to the arduino board is running Linux ubuntu.
But this board will work with windows, mac and Linux.

I have 3 ways of remotely controlling the board from the internet at the moment.

The first way will work with any computer. And that is using VNC to remotely login and control the board from the desktop. There are other software alternatives to
remotely login.

Such as windows remote desktop.

And log me in https://secure.logmein.com/home.asp?lang=en

The second way which I use most of the time because of security.

Is to login using the Linux SSH terminal from windows using a program called putty.

you can also you do it this way using a mac.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Home-automation/
When logged in

You can find out which device the arduino board is, by typing this command.

ls /dev/tty*

You should get a screen like this.

My device is USB0 but this can be different.

Then you can send the command.

screen /dev/ttyUSB0 9600

to open the tty terminal.

When the tty terminal is open you can then type the command to turn the device on or off. I.e. G or g for garden lights.

And that is about it.

if you have any problems here are some more usefull commands.
these comands will show you which tty services are running.
ps -lt ttyUSB0
ps ax | grep tty

this command will stop the service running.

kill (job number)

Image Notes
1. the command to open the tty terminal device USB0 baud rate 9600

Image Notes
1. this is a list of tty serial devices. this is the one you are looking for

Step 9: Controlling from the internet method 3 (using a script)(even from my phone)
This is a new update I have just set up to alow me to control the arduino board from any web browser.

I wanted to control my home automation from my phone but this was not very easy using VNC or SSH.

So installed webmin on my server this will give me full control of the machine from within a web browers.

In web min there is a page called command shell that will allow me to run commands from the web browser.

I original tried to run the comands I was using in the SSH terminal. but they didn't work in webmin.

So with help from my brother we wrote a script.

so now all I have to do is send a command like "home_auto h1" and the heating will switch on. or "home_auto h0" to switch the heating off.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Home-automation/
so now it can all be controlled from my phone

here is a copy of the script.

#!/bin/bash

_usage () {
echo "gl1 it will run this comand echo G > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 and turn my garden lights on"
echo "gl0 it will run this comand echo g > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 and turn my garden lights off"
echo "s1 it will run this comand echo S > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 and turn my gates on"
echo "s0 it will run this comand echo s > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 and turn my gates off"
echo "h1 it will run this comand echo H > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 and turn my heating on"
echo "h0 it will run this comand echo h > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 and turn my heating off"
echo "b21 it will run this comand echo B > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 and turn my bedroom 2 lights on"
echo "b20 it will run this comand echo b > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 and turn my bedroom 2 lights off"
echo "N it will run this comand echo N > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 and turn next bank of outputs on for 5 seconds"
echo "R it will run this comand echo R > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 and turn the Relay on"
echo "r it will run this comand echo r > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 and turn the Relay off"

case "$1" in

gl1)
#garden lights on
/bin/echo G > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 && echo "Lights On"
;;

gl0)
#garden lights off
/bin/echo g > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 && echo "Lights Off"
;;

s1)
# gates on
/bin/echo S > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 && echo "Gates On"
;;

s0)
# gates off
/bin/echo s > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 && echo "Gates Off"
;;

h1)
#heating on
/bin/echo H > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 && echo "Heating on"
;;

h0)
# heating off
/bin/echo h > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 && echo "Heating Off"
;;

b21)
# bedroom 2 lights on
/bin/echo B > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 && echo "Bedroom 2 Lights On"
;;

b20)
#bedroom 2 lights off
/bin/echo b > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 && echo "Bedroom 2 Lights Off"
;;

N)
#Next Bank on
/bin/echo N > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 && echo "Next Bank on for 5 seconds"
;;

R)
#Relay on
/bin/echo R > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 && echo "Relay on"
;;

r)
#Relay off
/bin/echo r > /dev/ttyUSB0 9600 && echo "Relay off"
;;

*)
#echo $0 ": Not a valid command";
echo "Please retype command";
_usage;
;;

esac

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Home-automation/
Step 10: Updates and upgrades
Update

I have now added the option of switching to the next set of button. It was just a matter of wiring in a spdt relay.

so when the relay is off the first bank of buttons are selected.

and when the relay is energised the second bank of buttons are selected.

I have also added a second relay incase I want to conect anything up in the future.

Step 11: Future upgrades

I am now in the process of connecting light and tempiture sensors to the arduino board.
which can help automate devices.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Home-automation/
Related Instructables

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$10 Smart Home Digital Name
touchpad. by
System by Plate (video) by
Home Web Controlled Computothought Create the
inkwash kunal_djscoe
automation Arduino LED by Arduino driven
server with tamberg LED growbox by
router by mrx23 cpo

Comments
25 comments Add Comment

TOCO says: Sep 3, 2010. 5:57 PM REPLY

Where can I get the block of 10 leds? I have looked for them but I cant find them anywhere. Can you post a link or something?

mman1506 says: Jul 17, 2010. 8:39 PM REPLY

thank you !! i was looking for months to find a alternative to transitors and power hungry relays i never thought of using opto-isolators

Yakumo says: Mar 30, 2010. 2:49 PM REPLY

Thank You for this wonderful idea. I'm using a different remote system but everything works fine thanks to you :)

i seriously need to add some flat cables to my next project...its works but it looks very ugly ^^'

Matrixis says: Mar 7, 2010. 3:33 PM REPLY

Doing a home automation project myself using these sockets and an arduino.

The main differences are that my project uses the ethernet shield and is controllable via some custom software on my mobile phone over the internet
Plus that I use a 433Mhz AM transmitter and a library I created by researching other peoples work that reverse-engineered the protocol.
I can transmit the code for the old simple protocol(sockets have dial on back) and the advanced protocol (socket have small button on front). So i can
actually control millions of sockets all from 1 pin on my arduino.

I have timers for turning on and off electric heating, water and even my electric blanket on my bed , plus I have an output for controlling my electric door lock
so I can actually let in a friend when I'm not there if they call me.

Code is getting rather big now as I keep adding things and might have to upgrade to a mega just for the extra space :p

Who knew such a small device could take up most of my free time. ( I own 2 and probably more soon).

With regards to your own project, great work and if ya want to upgrade your project to using a dedicated 433Mhz transmitter, just give me a shout and can
send you my library with instruction on how to use it.

purpulhaze says: Mar 5, 2010. 11:58 AM REPLY

Can you explain in a lil more detail of how to communicate via SSH. I have freeSSH server running on my windows xp machine. I can connect but none of
the commands are recognized. Am I missing something here?

purpulhaze says: Mar 5, 2010. 1:38 PM REPLY

I think I'm missing something here but I'm not sure. I don't think it can be done without something else.

purpulhaze says: Feb 27, 2010. 9:42 PM REPLY

Kinda new to scripts just want to make sure. I add this script somewhere in my arduino sketch?

flemron says: Oct 28, 2009. 4:12 PM REPLY

if( val == 'B' ) // if '9 ' was received
if( val == '9' ) // if '9 ' was received
if( val == '0' ) // if '9 ' was received

is this correct?

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Home-automation/
 killersquirel11 says: Jan 23, 2010. 8:55 AM REPLY
Technically, no, but it will work since its just the comments that are screwed up. Should read
if( val == 'B' ) // if 'B ' was received
if( val == '9' ) // if '9 ' was received
if( val == '0' ) // if '0 ' was received
but the code will still compile the same either way

rk24 says: Dec 13, 2009. 7:30 PM REPLY

Thanks a lot!!!!!

look this: "instructables.com/id/we-controlled-valentine"

Can you make more digital outputs for that?

T_T please I need a web controlled pcb with 8 outputs...

I've tried but ....fail...

simon72post says: Dec 7, 2009. 12:01 PM REPLY

Hi the server software I used was webmin. www.webmin.com/

rk24 says: Dec 7, 2009. 7:36 AM REPLY

can you post your web server? please

WillTheRescue says: Oct 1, 2009. 2:44 PM REPLY

Why does your Arduino programing interface have a space to input a letter and mine doesn't?

simon72post says: Oct 5, 2009. 4:09 AM REPLY

in the arduino software click the button on the right to open the serial terminal.

get to da parakeet says: May 2, 2009. 3:44 PM REPLY

Hey! i got somthing for you. the cheaper,quicker way is to use relays :P

andrew101 says: Jul 31, 2009. 11:06 PM REPLY

haha, this i would like to see. some guy just randomly re-wiring his house using relays. that is a fire wating to happen. plus the fact this is already
wireless, if you were to use relays you would need to either 1. run wires across your house or 2. find a wireless alternative. if you use wireless, it will
either be cheap and unreliable or really expensive. either way this method here seems like a better choice to me really.

simon72post says: May 5, 2009. 11:25 AM REPLY

Hi I was going to use relays originally. But I had these bits laying around. This is all powered from the arduino board. running relays from the arduino
board could overload it if there are a few on at the same time.

get to da parakeet says: Jun 17, 2009. 9:39 AM REPLY

Well, That REALLY all sepends on where you get them.
in the USA, theres this thing called a hamfest for/and computer show where you can get alot of cheep stuff.

i controll my relays with the dc controller shield found on arduino's website =P

ReCreate says: Sep 18, 2009. 7:53 PM REPLY

Or you can control the relays with another low power relay...

raathi2009 says: May 31, 2009. 8:40 AM REPLY

Sir! I need the detailed schematic. please help me sir. Or any other ways to get it. Raathigesh92@gamil.com

i0scan says: May 4, 2009. 11:46 AM REPLY

Where did you get the project box that you used!?

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Home-automation/
 simon72post says: May 5, 2009. 11:21 AM REPLY
I just used an old box I had laying around. I think it came from maplins originally

i0scan says: May 6, 2009. 1:59 PM REPLY

Thanks!

thrhymes says: May 4, 2009. 3:49 AM REPLY

thank you for the inspiring instructable i will try this....

westfw says: May 3, 2009. 12:21 AM REPLY

I really like the idea of putting the LEDs in series with the optoisolator inputs so you can see what's going on!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Home-automation/