Further to: https://tickett.wordpress.com/2012/12/31/a-new-year-a-new-project/ I have discovered quite a few things, and it looks like I’m not going to have to start from scratch (although I may still be designing some form of hardware, it’s hard to tell at this point).
Existing projects/products set out to do something similar:
NPlug- http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/283102/x/2060579
- Consumption measuring (believed to be more accurate than existing devices)
- Remote switching
- WiFi connected (requires no bridge/gateway device)
- Zigbee 802.15.4 for connecting to other devices
- USB option (add 3G dongle, additional RF interface etc)
- SoC running OpenWRT Linux
- Open source
- Lots more…
- £100 (estimate)
This is really meant as a single device and not to be used with every appliance in the home. The device acts like a gateway itself and aims to connect to existing consumption/switching devices such as the IRIS / AlertMe suite.
I have pledged as a sponsor for this project, and hope to get my hands on a prototype- however, the funding has been a bit slow, so please help out :)
AlertMe (IRIS)- https://www.alertme.com/shopping
- Consumption measuring
- Remote switching
- Zigbee
- Requires the SmartEnergy pack as a bridge/gateway to the internet
- £25
Ubiquiti mFi mPower- http://www.ubnt.com/mfi#m-Power
- Consumption measuring
- Remote switching
- WiFi connected (requires no bridge/gateway device)
- Comes in 3 flavours: Single, 3 socket extension cord and 8 socket extension cord
- Only currently available with US / EU plugs
- No EU stock currently available (when it is, I will try one with a UK plug adapter)
Belkin WeMo Switch- http://www.belkin.com/uk/c/WSWH
- Switching only by the look of it
- WiFi connected (requires no bridge/gateway device)
- £40
Meter Polug- http://www.indiegogo.com/meterplug/x/2060579
- Consumption measuring
- Remote switching
- Bluetooth only- so unless you’re within range and carrying a bluetooth equipped device, it’s not much good. This being said, the project has been fully funded, so there is clearly demand for such a device.
- I have asked whether they’ve considered building a gateway device to enable internet connectivity but yet to hear back. Fingers crossed.
Other
- I have purchased a USB Zigbee packet sniffer in the hope that I can make sense of some of the traffic floating around my house from various “smart” gadgets.
- Still waiting on delivery of my EVE Alpha board- http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ciseco/eve-alpha-raspberry-pi-wireless-development-hardwa this should allow me to start doing some cool stuff with a raspberry pi using the gpio pins rather than dozens of USB sticks!
- The guys over at flukso have confirmed that they will be continuing work on their enhanced hexabus plug once they have another project out of the way: https://www.flukso.net/content/hexabus-plug
- I sent some details to a few companies in an attempt to understand costings for PCB design, production and assembly. Just one company has responded to date: http://www.newburyelectronics.co.uk/ – for something like the Hexabus plug they’re suggesting (rough figures): £1,000 PCB design (£500 each of the 2), £80 PCB production (£40 each of the 2), £60 parts (excluding several parts they can’t source), £130 assembly & inspection. Bringing the total in at about £270/device (forgetting PCB design)- ouch!
That’ll likely be my last update for a few weeks, as I’m off to Thailand shortly :)
L