Home automation - Dirk-Jan's log

MQTT and openHAB adventure

Some people asked me to share my MQTT setup in regard to openHAB and I agreed to do so. In this blog post I will explain and describe in more detail my current setup primarily on the heating subject. But first some background info. A long time ago I installed

Home automation

Fixing runaway setpoint value

It’s not really a fix. It’s better to speak of a workaround to correct the setpoint of the household thermostat which slowly shifts over time (see the graph above). I lack knowledge to fix the source, which is most probably the OTGW software. So I have created a

Home automation

Opentherm Gateway for the win

At the end of last year the central heating system (including hot water) at home started to fail. Luckily it was not directly broken, but it slowly gave less and less heat, which was most noticeable while taking a shower, brrr. I was not totally unhappy then the maintenance guy

Home automation

Home heating setup using openHAB

Three weeks ago I finished my home build thermostat and heater control using openHAB and MySensors and I am really pleased with the result so far. The set-up consists of two Arduino Pro Mini’s, one 3.3v for the battery powered MySensors temperature sensor in the living and one

Home automation

Homematic dimmer and LED light bulbs

The last two weeks I’m replacing frequently used lights in and around the house with LED lights. This is a relatively easy job, but I had some issues with the Homematic dimmers. Those dimmers do a good job with standard light bulbs, but when using LED lights my experience

Home automation

Multiroom audio experiment

Today I have setup my second squeezebox emulator (squeezelite) on the new Raspberry Pi B+. The objective is to setup synchronization between the two players and second create a energy en cost efficient player. This player will mainly be used for streaming internet radio, that’s why I went for

Easyclick

Wireless home automation with EnOcean

A year ago I installed a wireless switch in the kitchen to switch on the kitchen spots. I chose the Easyclick system by PEHA which works without batteries and it performs very well. This Easyclick system uses the EnOcean energy harvesting wireless technology. Based on this experience and my recent