Overview:

Our current home automation system is based on the CM11A home automation controller. The CM11A is an intelligent X-10 based 2-way interface. It runs "events" which do basic IF this THEN do_some_action type of logic. It programs offline from a Personal Computer. I have decided not to use the limited offline programming capabilities of the CM11A, but let the PC control the execution of the home automation programs. The PC is running HomeSeer and is connected to the CM11A through the serial port.

System Description

On the X10 side, the system currently controls the floor lamps in our living room and family room, the ceiling lamp in the foyer, our bedroom ceiling and nightstand lights, our bathroom lights, and the outside porch light, and a set of flood lights with motion detector by the driveway. The system listens to X10 signals from either wireless remotes or in-wall switches or wireless switches in the master bedroom, master bathroom, studio, living room and entry areas, and responds according to the program written into HomeSeer. The system also listens to an outside motion detector by the driveway, and will turn on the outside floodlight if it is after dark, the event will also be logged and when we are out of town it sends a message to my cell-phone to inform me of the situation. I used to have an X10 chime module in the kitchen that would sound when a visitor was approaching the house, but my wife suggested the benefits of removing it (listen to the chime if you want to understand why).

Scheduled Events:
We have scheduled events occurring at set times each day turning lights on and off. The outside lights and the master bedroom nightstand lights on-times are based on sunset, so they always come on a few minutes before it gets dark (HomeSeer calculates sunrise and sunset times based on latitude and longitude). The lights go off at a specific time every night. My sprinkler system is connected to a programmable timer, but is not interfaced with the X-10 system: I want my lawn watered even if the PC is down! In any case, it also has a rain sensor that cuts the watering if it starts raining.

Security System:
Our security system is a DCS classic system with 6 zones, two keypads, and no automation features. It can be armed by a keyswitch input, and it provides relay outputs indicating the current state (Armed or Disarmed) and condition (Alarm or OK). I’m planning to allow monitoring and alerts by sensing the status with an X-10 interface (read how in New Projects).