How-To
Updated April 23, 2007 08:00 PDST
Z-Wave Rock Star Contest Winner
Z-Wave Home Control Makes an Impact
The Z-Wave Rock Star contest has come to a close. As
we read through all the entries we were struck by how many
DIY enthusiasts have put a home control stake in the ground
using Z-Wave-enabled products. We'd like to thank all the
readers who participated. Although it was a difficult choice,
we had to pick a winner. The lucky DIYer is Vivek (IVB)
Bhargava from California. He may feel more like a symphony
conductor, but Vivek's Z-Wave enabled home is one rock star
worthy setup. Here's his story.
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In January 2006, I started setting up what I now consider
to be a pretty robust home automation setup using Intermatic
Z-Wave products to control my lighting. I've fully integrated
it so I can control my lights both manually through the
use of various devices, as well as in an automated sense
through my home automation software package (CQC)
and my Elk
security system, which controls the rest of my house. The
CQC is the backbone to my entire home automation system.
It connects to all the various devices I have (Intermatic
USB stick, audio receivers, DVD megachanger, and much more).
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Figure 1
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Let's start with the outside of the house and walk through
the setup. Some older houses in Northern California have
mudrooms, which are typically located just inside an outer
front door. There, I come in and remove my shoes, then unlock
the actual front door and enter the house. The downside
is that if it's dark already, I either have to waste electricity
and leave the lights on until I come home, or install one
of those huge motion sensor lights. It's also not a very
secure place. To solve this, I installed the Elk system,
which detects motion in that room. It tells CQC, which will
tell the Intermatic Z-Wave USB controller to turn on the
light (see figure 1). This extra light also helps the covert
security camera inside the motion sensor record what's going
on. The light won't stay on if no one is in there. After
a minute of no motion, CQC will automatically tell the Intermatic
stick to turn off the entry light.
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Figure 2
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Inside the house, if I want to turn off the light right
away, I can turn the light on and off using my security
system's keypad. Using the same concept as above, I press
a button on my Elk security system that tells CQC to have
the Intermatic stick toggle the light (see figure 2).
When I sit down to check my e-mail, I use a floor lamp
next to my desk. However, I often forget to turn it off
at night. Rather than use the lamp's on/off switch directly,
I plug it into a Z-Wave appliance switch. Now, all I have
to do is press the pushbutton mounted under the desk, and
it will have the Elk tell CQC to turn off that Z-Wave light
(see figure 3). That way if I forget to turn it off, CQC
and the Intermatic USB stick can take care of it for me
automatically.
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Figure 3
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In the kitchen, I usually want to be able to turn other
lights on or off, control the whole house audio system,
and often arm the magnetic lock that I have on the outer
front door. Using a wall-mounted Fujitsu Tablet PC, I can
view a CQC screen where I can get an overview of the house
status and turn lights on or off at will (see figure 4).
In the bedroom, a door sensor in the floor detects that
I've opened the closet and tells the Elk panel to have CQC
turn on the Z-Wave light. Once I close the door, the sensor
instructs the Elk to tell CQC to turn off that light. I
have a tendency to walk away from the closet and forget
that I turned the light on. So, CQC will turn off the Z-Wave
light automatically after 15 minutes.
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Figure 4
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In addition, if I've already decided to head to bed, but
I realize that I've forgotten to turn off all the various
stereos and lights, turn down the heat, or arm the security
system, I don't want to have to walk downstairs. Not to
worry, home automation to the rescue. I simply take the
wi-fi Fujitsu tablet on the nightstand out of its dock,
and select whatever I want to adjust from the CQC UI (see
figure 5). Sure, it might look a little intimidating at
first glance, but if you stop to look it over it's quite
easy. Plus there's that nice big button at the bottom that
says "put house to sleep."
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Figure 5
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Figure 6
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Now for most homes, that would be the end of the story.
Not in my house. Sometimes I run out of the house to get
something but I forget to turn off one or all of the lights.
Not to worry, I simply take out my cell phone, pull up the
CQC UI (see figure 6), and turn on or off any lights I want.
While I'm at it, I usually can check on the motion detection
and if anyone has called while I was out.
What's next? In my dream world, I'd add voice recognition
so that I don't even need to use to use the keypads or switches
to make things happen.
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Share your Z-Wave story! Just installed a motion sensor?
A Z-Wave light switch? Tell us how it's changed your life.
Send your story to catherine@zwaveworld.com.
