ZigBee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth - which technology to bet on? Which brands produce the most practical solutions? Which gateway, sensors to choose and what to look for for those who want to simplify everything?
We asked Vadim Eremin, head of the Gadgets and Innovations department, to talk about his experience in building a smart home. Below is only what has been tested from our own experience. But first, a few words about protocols and standards, and then about manufacturers and specific models.
General information about automation
Automation refers to mechanisms, instruments and devices that operate or control the operation of other components without human intervention. It is used in almost all areas: in enterprises and at home. To increase the reliability and productivity of equipment, it is necessary to eliminate as much as possible the factor of human actions that affects the result of the work. Automation can significantly improve the quality of life by freeing people from routine work.
Automation also makes it possible to prevent accidents in any industry that threaten equipment, life and health of people. The last two reasons for the use of automation tools are very important, since they help ensure a high level of safety in the enterprise. This is very important not only for the employer, but also for the employees.
It is necessary to constantly monitor the operation of electronics, as they may fail. Due to the high efficiency of devices, automation in everyday life has become widespread among craftsmen.
Wireless microphone
To make a microphone at home, you need the following parts:
- microphone head;
- battery (12 V);
- capacitor (1 µF);
- resistor (47 kOhm and 100 Ohm).
- enameled wire (0.5 mm);
- quartz self-oscillator (10 MHz).
For the work of the master, electronic circuits are used.
Resistor R2 is intended to power the head, and R1 is intended for the microcircuit. An antenna consisting of thirty turns is connected to the input of pin 3. Then assembly can begin. This scheme provides for hanging installation.
Execution order:
- The 100 Ohm resistor must be soldered to pin 4 on the chip. Next, you should insulate the contact with a cambric and solder a 47 kOhm resistor.
- The next step is to solder the capacitor while maintaining polarity. After this, you can solder the microphone to the capacitor and resistor and make a common contact using jumpers.
- Next, the battery is soldered through the connector (it will be used as a switch).
- When the circuit is ready, you can start making the antenna: the wire is wound around a drill (it will be used as a frame) and the antenna is soldered according to the circuit.
- The connector is closed with a jumper (this turns on the microphone).
Homemade radio electronics must be tuned to the short radio wave range (10 MHz).
Watch the video:
Garland auto switch
The switch is made using simple DIY instructions. To create homemade products with your own hands, you will need the following materials:
- aluminum cylinder;
- wide tape;
- tin;
- electric motor with gearbox;
- Super glue;
- PVC sheets;
- switch;
- battery (3.7 V).
Master Class:
- First, a cylindrical contact is assembled (a casing from a capacitor will do): it is sanded to completely clean the surface and wrapped with adhesive tape (5 mm left at the edge).
- After this, a template should be cut out of paper, and an insulated cylinder should be placed on it. Tracks are cut out on its surface for connecting electrical garlands: in these places you need to expose the surface of the capacitor.
- Next, the motor pulley is glued to the cylinder. The next step is to glue the body of PVC fins in the shape of the letter “P”. In each rack you need to drill holes for the motor and drum shaft.
- A screw is screwed into the central part of the cylinder opposite the pulley. Here it is necessary to achieve alignment. Afterwards, the drum and engine are secured to the frame.
- The next stage is cutting the sheet metal into narrow strips for rubbing contacts and closing the circuit. Then they are bent and attached to the frame using a plastic jumper. One of the contacts is located on a non-insulated section of the drum.
- Electricians recommend soldering terminals to the contacts. The battery is connected to the motor via a switch. Then the wiring coming from the power cable is connected to the extreme contact, which is constantly in contact with the drum. After this, the remaining contacts are connected. The wires that remain are twisted together.
This way you can make an auto switch yourself. The result will be an interesting alternating flickering of the light bulbs.
Robots
You can make interesting robots from radio components. Using the parts, you can create very cute robots, you can add other parts to make it look very natural.
It is possible to include transistors or filters in the design of robots. You can create robots of different directions, such as biorobots. To do this, you need to use lamps as the body of the robot and its arms.
For the hands you need thin bulbs, for the body - larger ones.
Popular manufacturers
Every year, smart home technologies are gaining more and more fans. The assortment is growing rapidly, and there really is plenty to choose from; you don’t even have to order from abroad. When you start planning the assembly of a smart home, the question usually arises, what manufacturers are on the market? Whose decision to choose? How is one different from the other?
Xiaomi
One of the most popular manufacturers of smart devices is Xiaomi.
Their product range includes almost all household appliances connected to a smart home, as well as specialized IP cameras, sockets and light bulbs, various sensors (temperature, humidity, CO2) and many other devices. Xiaomi does not use any one wireless technology for its devices, but chooses the optimal one for each type. For example, ZigBee is used to control lighting, sockets and curtains, and to connect them you definitely need a hub from Xiaomi that supports this protocol. TVs, vacuum cleaners and IP cameras are connected via Wi-Fi through a router, because not everyone needs a full-fledged smart home, but almost everyone has Wi-Fi.
Temperature, humidity, air quality sensors and locks work via Bluetooth. Such devices can be connected directly to the phone and only view the readings, or they can be connected to a Xiaomi hub with Bluetooth support, then it becomes possible to use the sensor in climate control scenarios.
It would seem that a smart home from Xiaomi is an excellent solution, because the company offers many good devices for creating a smart home and convenient automation settings. But the Xiaomi hub does not allow you to set up complex automation and use scripts. Only ZigBee devices can be controlled from a phone without the Internet (via a hub), but Wi-Fi lamps and sockets work only via the Internet. ZigBe hubs from other manufacturers allow you to remove these restrictions.
Apple
Apple doesn't make smart home devices, but it created the HomeKit protocol that other manufacturers use to create compatible devices. HomeKit devices operate using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi protocols. Locks, thermostats, lighting controls, RGBW lamps, cameras and many sensors are produced with HomeKit support. In addition to devices, there are also gateways that convert commands from ZigBee and Z-Wave devices into HomeKit commands. Xiaomi, Ikea, Philips and many others have such gateways. Thanks to this, Apple's range of smart home devices is expanding. So far, Apple's automation capabilities are very modest and do not allow creating a completely arbitrary scenario. However, the big advantage is the integration of HomeKit with the Siri voice assistant. Also, HomeKit, for obvious reasons, is not suitable for Android users.
Fibaro
Fibaro is the manufacturer of the most popular Z-Wave devices and home automation centers. All Fibaro devices have many settings and additional functions. The line of equipment includes opening, motion, leakage, smoke sensors, micro-relay modules, dimmers, rgbw, etc. The Home Center 2 home automation controller has a pleasant and intuitive user interface and allows you to configure scenarios of any complexity. Because Since the Z-Wave protocol provides compatibility between devices from different manufacturers, Fibaro can work with any other Z-Wave devices.
