JayNick.com, LLC - Home Control Demonstration

Home Control Demonstration

This demonstration simulates furnace control via a web browser. A lightbulb simulates the furnace generating heat which affects the temperature sensor (i.e. thermostat) used to control it.

A setpoint temperature for turning the furnace (lighbulb) on can be set via a web page. A deadband about the setpoint is also adjustable (half above/half below). A web cam provides visual feedback of your control actions. Give it a try. The page updates dynamic data every 10 seconds.

View Data - Real-Time and Historical

Data Source:

Select the data source. The daily files contain 5 minute interval data from 4 temperature sensors and electrical use (KW) for the whole house. Other data sources contain real-time data. The data is in XML format which allows separating data from presentation.

Presentation:

Select the presentation format. The data is is formatted with an XSL stylesheet. Different stylesheets present the same data in different ways. Real-time data sources are fixed to a single XSL stylesheet - Just click the view Button when disabled.

Click the view button to view the selection.

Hardware and Software

The hardware consists of an Embedded Data Systems HA7E ($40) serial to Dallas Semiconductor 1-wire devices, such as the DS18B20 ($5) temperature sensors and the AAG Electronica 1-Wire Switch ($28). The 1-wire devices are not powered, but get their power from network activity. Using spare telephone wire (yellow and black conductors), temperature sensors are plugged into the existing telephone jacks throughout the house.

The software consists of 2 programs, one to scan the 1-wire temperatures and take appropriate control actions, and the other to average the data on 5 minute intervals and provide the web interface.