Questions about RF controlled outlets for household appliances

[Michael Z]

People, I am new to this group and glad to find an activey forum for
hacking.

I am currently planning to do some smart household appliance project.
Is there any existing RF controlled outlets (on/off controlled by RF)
for 220V usage? Better that the RF controller itself can be controlled
by PCs.

If there is no such device at present, what would be the most
effective way to build one from scratch?

Thanks a lot!

[夏青]

Maybe you can try xbee and use relay to control switch .

发自我的 iPad

[Kirk Lau]

Back then, there was the X10 module that runs on 110V, can be controlled by PC.
(and its communication is actually "encoded" in the power line.)

in china, from what I see, most of the "remote control outlet" are
running on the 433MHz or 315MHz RF module.
which are often also used by RF door lock opener, garage doors, etc.
(it is a rather common RF module based on the 2262/2272 IC)
just search for '遥控插座" on taobao and you will see a lot.
and these should be able to modify into PC communicable fairly easily
with a few connection to the serial port or something.

-Kirk

[hao jiang]

I was interested in household appliance control some time ago too.

How about come over to xinchejian tonight and have a short discussion on that!

I would not go with RF personally as it is less reliable, has a very limited range, consumes more energy and in order to use them you will have to turn them on all the time. Signal over power line was my choice but didn't really had a time to go any deeper than theories.

In fact there were already several standards created as early as in the 70's, but none of them took off.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X10_(industry_standard)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_powerline_bus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LonTalk

Regards

Edward

[Kirk Lau]

just to add to that,
the PT2262/PT2272 ICs (TX and RX) are VERY cheap.
so lot of device in China is already using it. It is a very cost
effective design if you want to keep thing simple.
However what that also means is .. you might cross trigger some other
stuff if you don't do any extra encoding. (which mean you might need
an extra small MCU to decode, in order to stay cost effective, this
might kind of work against it)

another alternative is the NRF24L01RF modules.
they are a bit more expensive the PT22**, but it has better range and
more stable. (and it is running at 2.4G, and alot more encoding scheme
can be implement on it)
I've seen a few in the XCJ before. David showed that to me I think.

BR

[plantpark]

Programming Your Home: Automate with Arduino, Android, and Your Computer 

推荐你看看那这本书，可以自己做些小项目

http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Your-Home-Pragmatic-Programmers/dp/1934356905/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333549640&sr=1-1

 

 

------------------ Original ------------------

From:  "hao jiang"<edwa...@gmail.com>;

Date:  Wed, May 9, 2012 09:44 AM

To:  "xinchejian"<xinch...@googlegroups.com>;

Subject:  Re: Questions about RF controlled outlets for household appliances

 

I was interested in household appliance control some time ago too.

How about come over to xinchejian tonight and have a short discussion on that!

I would not go with RF personally as it is less reliable, has a very limited range, consumes more energy and in order to use them you will have to turn them on all the time. Signal over power line was my choice but didn't really had a time to go any deeper than theories.

In fact there were already several standards created as early as in the 70's, but none of them took off.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X10_(industry_standard)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_powerline_bus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LonTalk

Regards

Edward

On Wed, May 9, 2012 at 9:34 AM, 夏青 <rocke...@gmail.com> wrote:

Maybe you can try xbee and use relay to control switch .

发自我的 iPad

在 2012-5-9，上午9:20，Michael Z <zhouy...@gmail.com> 写道：

[萨克森气势]

I know such devices from germany but they all are manufactured in China anyway ;-) 

I think you could find them in Taobao or any local market. No need to build them from scratch if you just buy one and hack it for your needs.

Sorry, can't provide a taobao link because i don't have access right now but can provide an ebay link for your reference: 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RF-Wireless-Remote-Control-AC-Power-Switch-Socket-Plug-/260512643882?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ca7c37b2a

~Lutz

2012/5/9 Michael Z <zhouy...@gmail.com>

[周韫文(Michael Zhou)]

Thanks for your inputs, Hao Jiang.

 

I’d like to come to Xinchejian but my wife's got a broken leg so cannot really go out after work in 1-2 months.

 

Actually, that is why I am thinking about making something at home :)

[周韫文(Michael Zhou)]

Thanks, Kirk.

 

Will there be coding work needed if I choose NRF24L01RF  and try to us PC to control?

[周韫文(Michael Zhou)]

This looks interesting. J

 

Is this book available in China?

[plantpark.net]

http://www.amazon.cn/Programming-Your-Home-Automate-with-Arduino-Android-and-Your-Computer-Riley-Mike/dp/1934356905/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1330866824&sr=8-11

缺货ing，将近三百RMB。你也可以到国外的BT站找找这本书，有原版的电子书。

 

---

 

发件人： 周韫文(Michael Zhou)

发送时间： 2012-05-09 10:07

收件人： xinchejian

主题： Re: Questions about RF controlled outlets for household appliances

[周韫文(Michael Zhou)]

Did a Taobao search. Found two types of Remote Control Outlet:

 

1. One with a normal remote controller (probably using the same RF module like RF door opener). Questions: What should be the ideal controlling signal sending device that can connect to serial port on PC for such type of outlets?

 

2. There is one called GSM remote controlling outlet. A little expensive but seems to be just plug and play since I have a small SMS sending device/app already done by myself :P

 

(Of course still want to go for Option 1 or using something like 2.4GHz band devices if it isn't gonna take a lot work to build)

 

On Wed, May 9, 2012 at 9:39 AM, Kirk Lau <kirk...@gmail.com> wrote:

[周韫文(Michael Zhou)]

Thanks, PlantPark!

 

Will try to search for it online.

[Kirk Lau]

NRF24L01 will require programming.
actually it runs on SPI interface. (to send data as well as setup the
chip status.)
so the way i see the structure will be is.

PC (serial/parallel/USB) -> SPI adapter/board -> NRF24L01 (set to TX)

NRF24L01 (set to RX) <-> MCU (to get the command/data from the SPI
bus, as well as doing the initial programming to set the NRF24L01 to
RX states at boot up) -> relay

If you are trying to reduce the amount of programming,
the PT22** might be a better choice.
depends on the module you buy (or your build your own board)
you might have 4-11 address bit, and 1-4 data bit (coming in parallel,
number of bit depends on how your set up the Chip, just google PT2262
and find some PDF, and you will see)
with that setting, you can build all the smart in the TX controller,
before sending the address/data/command to the TX chip.
and the RX will be simply looking for the right address and activate
your appliance.
so it will be something like

PC(Parallel port) -> PT2262
or
PC(serial/USB) -> UART+TTL controller -> PT2262

then

PT2272 -> relay

the down side is, the PT series is not as reliable, and since with the
simple design, there are no MCU on the RX side. and therefore is not
upgradeable. (of course. you can still throw in a MCU there. to do
more fancy decoding to avoid cross trigger)


However, one thing i must say.
all these PT*, NRF24L01, or even xbee, zigbee, are just wireless interface.
So for prototyping (or if you plan to just make one), i would probably
pick something that are easily integrate with whatever embedded
platform you are using.



-K

[周韫文(Michael Zhou)]

Kirk, this is really detailed. :)

 

I am trying to make this work with relatively reasonable workload (as I do not have that good amount of time for coding when taking care of my wife).

 

So my strategy would be go and do some study on the PT2262 model and see if I can make that work in 1-2 months. If it certainly won't work, I will turn to the GSM solution as a shortcut.

 

Thanks, guys!

[周韫文(Michael Zhou)]

Found the book online :)

 

http://ishare.iask.sina.com.cn/f/23705075.html

Downloaded already and let me know if anyone wants that downloaded copy.

On Wed, May 9, 2012 at 9:52 AM, plantpark <plantp...@gmail.com> wrote:

[周韫文(Michael Zhou)]

Found that there is mature commercial solution provider on Taobao...

 

http://laitecn.taobao.com/

The only issue is it does not support SMS control and the controling software is not ready to be invoked by other apps...

[plantpark]

http://www.circuitsathome.com/mcu/interfacing-arduino-to-usb-gprs-modem

http://www.open-electronics.org/arduino-gsm-shield/

arduino连上gsm模块就能实现你想要的短信控制。不过GSM模块费用可高了，一个就两三百呢。

http://www.openremote.org/display/HOME/OpenRemote

开源的智能家居解决方案，界面很不错。

不过呢，如果真的想做好智能家居，只有执行器还不行，还需要众多传感器

http://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Sensors-Cloud-Charalampos-Doukas/dp/143024125X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333818959&sr=8-1

Arduino,Sensors,and the Cloud

当然也少不了网络

http://www.amazon.com/Building-Internet-Things-Arduino-Volume/dp/1470023431/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1333818959&sr=8-3

Building Internet of Things with the Arduino

 

------------------ Original ------------------

From:  "周韫文(Michael Zhou)"<zhouy...@gmail.com>;

Date:  Wed, May 9, 2012 01:07 PM

To:  "xinchejian"<xinch...@googlegroups.com>;

Subject:  Re: Questions about RF controlled outlets for household appliances

simple design, there are no MCU on the RX side.. and therefore is not

[Ken Boak]

Hi All,

Kirk Lau wrote

However what that also means is .. you might cross trigger some other
stuff if you don't do any extra encoding. (which mean you might need
an extra small MCU to decode, in order to stay cost effective, this
might kind of work against it)

I found this to be the case with the cheapest RF switch modules - the protocol used was very poorly coded - and they were easily false triggered by any other 433MHz device  - like a wireless doorbell.

The RF receiver was adequate for my purposes and so I added a PIC16F88 to do a more rigorous protocol. 

I learnt a lot about wireless from hacking wireless doorbells and re-using their receivers - mostly super-regenerative type - which although it is a very simple circuit - the theory of operation is quite hard to master

Later I went on to make a micropower receiver that worked on a single 1.5V battery and used just 50uA -

All of my wireless experiments and findings are here in my blog from a few years ago.

http://sustburbia.blogspot.co.uk/2009_11_01_archive.html

You can learn a lot from these simple wireless devices - for simple applications they are perfectly usable and low power. No need to spend a lot of money on a pair of Xbees when all you want is a simple wireless link for a temperature monitor or simple controller.

I have PIC code and Arduino code - if anyone wishes to follow my work.



Ken from London

[Kirk Lau]

Absolutely agree with Ken here.

another "issue" with these 433MHz module
is that they are using ASK to modulate. (think AM radio in digital form)
it can easily "jammed" if there is a poorly designed TX source nearby
also the channel can easily get congested if there are multiple TX
sources in the area.

-K

[周韫文(Michael Zhou)]

Learnt a lot from this, guys!

 

Will check into Ken's work first (I am still new to Arduino yet) and see if I can follow his work without buying any expensive commercial solution.