220VAC Outlets

[beerygaz]

I live in South Africa, where we 220V and fat, round 3-pin plugs, although 2-pin Euro-style plugs are also commonplace.

I'd like to automate some power outlets for some lamps and other applicances (dimmers would be nice, but not essential) and am soliciting advice on what to use.

I could wire the standard outlet back to my Clipsal C-Bus relays in the main power distribution board, but realy channels are very expensive and it would require rewiring the points.

I refuse to go X-10, it's a toy, not a HA product. I've tried and it's just too flaky.

I'd prefer something that was a single, outlet unit, that I could replace the exiting outlet with, or something that went in the same enclosure as the existing outlet.

I've seen some Zigbee devices (http://www.simplehomenet.com/ for example) but from what I can see that's going to require me to write a plugin, and .NET and I are merely passing acquiantences rather than bosom-buddies.

Z-Wave outlets would be great, but I can't find any in 220V, the plug-in European modules are not bad, but really chunky by the time I've added 3-pin to Euro adapters too.

Am I the only sucker in the 220V world trying to do this? What else is out there that I'm missing?

[mrhappy]

Theres lots of us stuck in the land of anywhere between 200V and 250V, for all I moan we have probably got it better than some places but saying that I am happy on X10 for the moment.

I did happen to see some nice Aeon Labs ZWave micro modules the other day, would they not be an option and could be built behind the socket outlets? That is me believing that 1) they will work in SA 2) they are approved for use in SA and 3) they will work embedded in a wall (metal back boxes + RF?)

Then you might have current issues to think about - I take it the round pin plugs are 15A (they are still in use in theatres here, in 15 & 5A variations...although the latter getting rarer now) and those modules state 10A so you would have to consider the possibility of plugging something in that would exceed the current limit.

[LeoS]

Hi there, I'm pretty much in the same boat, being in 220v/50hz country.

I'm using the chinese successor to X10 called PLCBUS. The speed, accuracy and reliability is considerably better than X10, though it's not perfect. They have a computer controller (get the RS-232 version and use your own USB-serial converter) with HomeSeer plugin. You might want to look that up.

On top of PLCBUS (mostly for light control), I still use z-wave for door locks and some environmental sensors. Planning to add DSC system to it soon for motion control, door sensor and smoke sensors.

[Pete]

Someone mentioned that now (or will be in the near future) DIN rail 220V powerline modules available. Not sure which protocal though. I am guessing though these PIM's would sit near the source of power and have some means of serial communications whether that be RS-232 or USB.

I just purchased a UPB 15 AMP relay to drive numerous 120V/220VAC to 12VDC DIN mounted transformers. HAI does make a 30AMP 220V UPB relay.

But that's UPB and not PLCBUS or Zigbee or ZWave.

http://www.smarthome.com/110742/HAI-...71A00-1/p.aspx

Think HS had a heavy duty Z-Wave Intermatic 30 AMP "Pool Pump" relay. Not sure though if it was 220VAC.

Some folks are also going the XAP route. There are a few XAP applications out there and you can talk XAP with Homeseer which would eliminate the need for a unique powerline protocal plugin.

[mrhappy]

Idratek are doing DIN rail stuff http://www.idratek.com/products/catalogue/qld-001/ but it looks to be very much a closed system and it would probably take some work to get it talking with HS. CBUS is also DIN rail (from what I have seen), also PLCBUS has some DIN modules http://www.plcbus.com.cn/Html/news/1513.html, so does X10 (LD11 etc).

I often wonder whether US 220V modules would work due to the AC frequency difference - with powerline comms in any case.

[b_weijenberg]

The RFXCOM plug-in supports the RFXmitter which can control:
www.homeeasy.eu
www.chacon.be
www.klikaanklikuit.nl
www.nexa.se

These brands use 230V/50Hz and are almost identical. They differ sometimes in the type of outlet connection used. There are also modules available to mount behind a normal wall switch http://www.klikaanklikuit.nl/shop/producten/?type=75

[beerygaz]

Yup, C-Bus do some great DIN rail kit, I'm using it for all of my lighting and some other load switching. However, there are two inhibitors for using it for my plug points. It's expensive ($100 per channel), there is no local override and I'd have to rewire each plug point back to the DIN rail. If I was building from scratch I'd go that route, but I'm looking to retrofit.

I had a look at the Idratek stuff, but as mrhappy says, it's quite closed.

I did happen to see some nice Aeon Labs ZWave micro modules the other day, would they not be an option and could be built behind the socket outlets? That is me believing that 1) they will work in SA 2) they are approved for use in SA and 3) they will work embedded in a wall (metal back boxes + RF?)

The Aeon Labs Z-Wave micro modules look the business - there's good Z-Wave support for HS, it's wireless and they mesh together - but I can't see anyone selling them anywhere yet.

mrhappy: do you know of an online outlet for these? I'd be prepared to have a test and see if the metal enclosures present a problem. As for "approved" - well let's just say electrical codes are pretty lax over here, so there's some wiggle room for experimentation.

LeoS - PLCBUS has merit - but again, finding plug outlets is tricky and finding a supplier of their range seems tough too, it doesn't look like you can buy direct from China.

Bert, I'm going through your links - the kilkaanklikuit stuff looks good but "my Nederlands is nie so goed nie" so I've mailed them asking if they have an English catalog. My other worry is that all my outlets would need to be in range of a RFXMitter - probably not an option in my setup. What are my options for repeaters/mesh with this type of kit?

[mrhappy]

I saw them here http://www.letsautomate.com/index.cfm?&Nav=ZWave&

[Pete]

Here while playing with the DIN power supplies I am looking to put a small DIN power meter (pulsed) on the same rail to get some measurements on the draw of the multiple DIN Power supplies as an experiment.

Any of you guys doing similiar or adding additional power meters to get some measurements directly versus indirectly via measure amperage flow? (clamp style).

[b_weijenberg]

There is a repeater available for KAKU. KAKU is identical to HomeEasy except the plug version. If you need assistance for KAKU (KlikAanKlikuit) you can contact me by email.
You can use up to 4 RFXCOM USB/LAN transmitters in the RFXCOM plug-in.

[Pete]

Personally I still have X10 online and utilize it with about 40% of the lighting in the house in the midwest.

In Florida 10 years after a tear down and new build I decided to use X10 for the initial powerline lighting about 3-4 years ago. I haven't had any issues to date. The lighting schedules and events all work fine.

That said what are the most utilized "powerline" / "wireless" automation utilized protocals today in the EU/UK?

What is available today which will be around in 5 to 10 years?

[b_weijenberg]

In Europe we have several cheap RF automation brands:
EU wide HomeEasy EU
UK HomeEasy
NL KlikAanKlikUit
FR,BE Chacon
N-EU NEXA
Germany Intertechno
and some more...

These products are almost half the price of Z-Wave modules.
The RFXCOM transmitter has an anti-collision option so that the risk that a command is not received by the module is very low. I use a lot of KlikAanKlikUit and HomeEasy modules in my Homeseer configuration and they operate very reliable. All these modules use one-way communication so there is no feedback from the module.
If you need a feedback than X10 or Z-Wave is preferred. For normal use to control lighting the cheap modules are the best choice IMO.

[Pete]

Thanks Bert!

I was curious what was available and what standards are being developed relating to automated lighting.

[rsa]

I live in South Africa, where we 220V and fat, round 3-pin plugs, although 2-pin Euro-style plugs are also commonplace.

I'd like to automate some power outlets for some lamps and other applicances (dimmers would be nice, but not essential) and am soliciting advice on what to use.

Hi BeeryGaz,

We do stock Z-Wave devices in our online shop in South Africa, www.zasmarthomes.com.

Currently we only have the Aeon-Labs Micro Smart Energy Illuminators (the dimming modules), but should have the Micro Switch modules soon in stock.

You can also look at the Fibaro relay modules.

I personally use the Micro switch modules behind my outlets, but you need to make sure that your electricity current don't go over 10A or 8A with the Fibaro 2 x 1.5 KW.

[beerygaz]

We do stock Z-Wave devices in our online shop in South Africa, www.zasmarthomes.com.

Awesome - please let me know when you get your mico modules in place to put behind my outlets. These are for bedside lamps and mood lighting, so no worries with current over 10A