I just purchased additional modules for my home automation system and wow… $756.00 with free shipping. I added 10 modules and that’s an average of $75 per unit, went to eBay, to 2 others ‘discount’ websites and cost is always the same +/- shipping.
I really thing that’s outrageous to charge that much for something that costs no more than $15.00 to produce.
My home automation system is now entirely based on Insteon products fully orchestrated by a VS12000 Cortexa. Both thermostats are modified HAI running through a GE zoning system.
The Cortexa unit is reachable from the internet using DDnS.org services. I can monitor, make changes to any connected devices as well as receive pages and emails in case of issue such as temperature drops. Using macros, I can shut down all lights after 7:30am as no one is home, or put lights on in the girls’ bedrooms at 6am, modify temperatures according outside temperature of if no one is home.
The bottom line is that I save money, 20% on my electricity bill and 30% on my gas bill. That’s about $100 a month or $1,200 a year. The full automation system cost me around $6,000 making 5years to recover my expense. Not really economical but I’ve access to features that make life easier.
Five, six years ago I implemented an X10 network mainly by replacing the existing switches, outlets by X10 ones, adding lamp and appliances modules and installing an X10 software on my computer.
It was a quite easy task even if and because the house was quite old - built in 1957 and expanded in the early 70s. The fuse panel system was quite confusing with a total of 3 in different rooms, a 25amps fuse for a mix of switches and outlets in different rooms etc…
Several problems occurred mainly due to the age of the electrical installation:
Nevertheless, we enjoyed it even if few lights were going on or off just by themselves.
I'm a network engineer, it's my passion!
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