Home automation ideas - suggestions?

hi all

background
my plan use bunch of arduinos (say 1 per room) connect number of sensors , actuators in given room. example cheap £1.20 pir in ceiling, vibration/open/close sensors in doors , windows, temperature , humidity sensors in discreet locations. each arduino placed in deep wall back-box, powered mains, , cat6 cabled central server (using mqtt transport protocol).

my questions

• i'm looking smallest, cheapest, fire-safe equivalent wall transformer supplying 5v arduino, can mounted in ceiling void or light switch box. perhaps 12v transformers find powering halogen spots, mounted in ceiling. i'm sure can hack 1 wall-wart, i'd rather little more electrician-friendly. has seen such thing?



• has looked effect of using long cables between arduino , given component? general question , know comes down signal i'm putting down wire, shielding, wire gauge, etc. i'm hoping perhaps initial guidance - maybe has connected ebay pir, humidity sensor, rotary controller, or led arduino on 20m of cat6 (using single pair) , found works perfectly? or powering bog-standard backlit 16x2 displays on 3x bonded cat5 cables? ridiculous idea?



• general architecture. current idea have 1x arduino per room, each room cabled server cupboard. advances on idea? best run cat5 possible, or perhaps rely on wireless?



• interfaces. designed own? i'm talking 4 gang custom made wall plates, made nice, perhaps small display show current track playing, etc. know of uk suppliers or manufacturers can stuff shipped in? i'd avoid modular style of wall-plate, find them ugly!

any other comments appreciated!

quote from: hazymat on jul 17, 2014, 03:34 pm

• i'm looking smallest, cheapest, fire-safe equivalent wall transformer supplying 5v arduino, can mounted in ceiling void or light switch box. perhaps 12v transformers find powering halogen spots, mounted in ceiling. i'm sure can hack 1 wall-wart, i'd rather little more electrician-friendly. has seen such thing?

mains powered devices need enclosed fcc approval.

you can ones screw terminals though:



(search "5v regulated power supply" on ebay idea...)

quote from: hazymat on jul 17, 2014, 03:34 pm

• has looked effect of using long cables between arduino , given component? general question , know comes down signal i'm putting down wire, shielding, wire gauge, etc. i'm hoping perhaps initial guidance - maybe has connected ebay pir, humidity sensor, rotary controller, or led arduino on 20m of cat6 (using single pair) , found works perfectly? or powering bog-standard backlit 16x2 displays on 3x bonded cat5 cables? ridiculous idea?

lots of people have. :-)

for low current it's not massive problem. 20m should ok.

for long distances need thing called rs485.

quote from: hazymat on jul 17, 2014, 03:34 pm

• general architecture. current idea have 1x arduino per room, each room cabled server cupboard. advances on idea? best run cat5 possible, or perhaps rely on wireless?

wired more reliable that's you. you're 1 has install cables.

quote from: hazymat on jul 17, 2014, 03:34 pm

• interfaces. designed own? i'm talking 4 gang custom made wall plates, made nice, perhaps small display show current track playing, etc. know of uk suppliers or manufacturers can stuff shipped in? i'd avoid modular style of wall-plate, find them ugly!

that's down budget, , how time want spend programming

eg. arduino mega large tft touch screen should cover usage scenarios... cost $100 each.

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