Home control via gsm. Heating in the country: types of heating systems and the choice of coolant. Remote control heating
Controlling a smart home through a smartphone can be amazing. Control system developers offer many solutions that are based on different standards, but have problems that are incompatible with each other and in most cases cause installation and installation difficulties. The practical application of smart technology shows its dullness: after all, it stubbornly follows the established rules and with great difficulty accepts any exceptions to them. Thus, smart home control systems today are intended more for geeks, and not for mass market users.
Every phenomenon has the ability to change. Some start-up companies have recently brought to the market smart home control solutions that not only transcend the boundaries between established standards, but do not forget about user comfort and ease of operation. Now modern approaches such as remote access via the Internet or through a smartphone application have begun to be taken into account. The article on home control systems presents three such solutions: Qivicon and Homee (complete systems for home control), as well as Tado (a narrowly focused solution for controlling home heating). You can’t buy them in Russian online stores yet, but they fully function on the territory of the Russian Federation, unless you have to order them on European resources.
A smart home control system helps to save money almost from the first day, especially if you use it to control the heating of your home, so this fact will serve you at least to be interested in automating the work of equipment in your home.
Qivicon - a system for inexperienced users
Qivicon- this is base system Telekom for smart home. The basis for inclusion in the home network is the Home Base device, which costs about 13,000 rubles, which connects to the router and provides communication between smart home components. Configuration and management is carried out via a web interface (browser on a PC) or via a mobile application for a smartphone. Qivicon relies on open source software, that is, it can theoretically be supported by any manufacturer. At the moment, Telekom has 30 partners, including the classic eQ-3 smart home technology, Miele refrigerators, and controllable LED lamps. In the process of use, it quickly became clear that the system was designed for an inexperienced user. The instructions included with each Home Base guide you step by step through the installation and configuration of the components. By the way, they all communicate with each other via radio, and in most cases, it is enough to use double-sided tape for installation. This will please those who rent or do not install any smart appliances permanently.
Qivicon allows you to control and manage all actuators through a smartphone application, even when the owner is away from home.
The importance of linking the system to the cloud
I note that all settings are saved in the cloud, which can confuse especially cautious users. However, if you choose a truly strong password, it will be perfectly safe. In the event of a system failure, automatic daily backups can quickly restore all configurations. And this is really important: during operation, it will take quite a long time until you manage to program suitable scenarios for the most important situations (working days, weekends, holidays, vacations).
One cannot do without one or another fine-tuning tested in practice, otherwise it will be too cold for someone in the bathroom in the morning, and too hot in the evening in the living room. If you lose such an individual space heating plan, you will have to start the setup from scratch. And that's not all: magnetic contacts that automatically regulate heating when open windows, will also have to be reconfigured, as will the sockets in the living room, which automatically turn off the power supply at night.
The cost of control systems
To enter this world of Qivicon, there are starter packages that include the Home Base module and various actuators. For example, the European energy concern EnBW offers thermostats for heating systems, switchable sockets, etc. Although this is not enough to fully connect the house to the network, it is a good start. Of course, the components can be purchased separately, and if you want to make your whole house smart, then there is nothing else left for you. A wise decision: if components with a special signal standard are included in the package, the operation of the Qivicon Home unit can simply be extended using the dongle supplied with the units.
Difficulties: Apps to control the respective devices are included in the starter package. When purchasing the EnBW package, the EnBW program is included, when purchasing the Telekom kit, the Smart Home application is provided. There is no free download through utility stores, codes are required to activate applications, which are provided only with packages. In other words, the concept of open source software does not apply.
EnBW offers the app for free for a year, after which you have to pay almost €50 per year. Telekom after two years of free subscription requires €30 per year. As a result, all the money saved on energy will go to pay for programs.
Tado - heating control system
Tado has chosen a path that is radically different from Qivicon's solution: instead of controlling individual heaters, the Tado system controls the operation of a central element, i.e. an oil or gas burner or a heat pump. The advantage of this solution is that the control can switch off the burner directly - this avoids the heat loss that inevitably occurs when high temperature flow even though the heaters are switched off. The Tado compatibility list includes a huge number of heating systems, more than a hundred manufacturers and types of expanders and controls.
Complete set of Tado heating control systemInstructions for all types of heating
It is often not so easy to recognize which heating control is installed in the house (however, if you try, this information can be obtained from the company that services your home). And Tado, in turn, does not have ready-made documentation for any possible combination of devices. If the customer configures a heating system in the web interface for which no instruction has yet been drawn up, it is drawn up by the Tado team. In practice, it took less than eight hours. The finished instructions turned out to be so detailed that even an inexperienced user could easily cope with the installation.
The advanced logic of the Tado system is stored in the cloud. In addition to the set and actual room temperature, the control includes data on the outside temperature (according to the weather service), the weather forecast (especially on the intensity of solar radiation), the location of the residents (it is determined using a smartphone application) and the received information on how the temperature in the apartment quickly decreases and rises again. But one should not expect too much from the logic of Tado: as soon as all residents are 100 km away from the apartment, the system will lower the temperature to about 16 ° C. After that, it can take more than six hours for the house to warm up to a comfortable level of 21 ° C, and when the system detects the approach to the dwelling, temperature regulation may be delayed. Manual intervention through the application will solve this problem. Unless, of course, the user remembers this in time.
In a well-insulated home, the temperature drops 2.5°C overnight, which is hardly a huge savings potential. Both savings and comfort increase only with a long absence of residents in the winter. In any case, it will take several years to recoup the cost of the €350 system. However, in older buildings without insulation, the system works much more efficiently.
Briefly about installing the Tado management system
The Tado system is not limited to the control of individual heaters. To connect Tado components to existing oil, gas or pellet heating systems, there are very detailed instructions, or alternatively, Tado can provide a technician to customers. The technical part of the Tado components is hidden in very elegant and discreet cases. Even the display is integrated discreetly. Connecting the Tado expander to the heating system is accompanied by very detailed and simple instructions. For example, just three wires are enough for a Wolf gas boiler.
Homee: smart home control without the cloud
Homee, like Qivicon, is integrated system for home control. It takes control of individual heaters, switches sockets, monitors doors and windows, moves blinds, and monitors rooms with motion sensors (and the basement and garage with humidity sensors). Everything works via radio and does not require any cable, so the system is perfect for tenants who can take everything with them to their new home when they move. In addition, all configurations are saved locally, and an Internet connection is only required for remote control of the smart home.
Of course, one can argue about the optical representation in the form of multi-colored plastic cubes, but we like it as an alternative to the traditional discreet design of such a technique. However, the very idea of turning competition among standards for the good is undeniably good. Each of the cubes significantly expands the system by one wireless communication protocol: the so-called Brain Cube is a mandatory basis, it is an intermediary between technologies and via WLAN provides a connection to a smartphone or (if you have the necessary remote access) to the router.
System installation from Homee
The solution is installed quite quickly: you need to install the application, insert the Brain Cube, using mobile phone enter the displayed wireless network Homee system, connect to the system, create an account - done! New expansion cubes are simply stacked on top of each other and no special installation steps are required. Connection with actuators distributed throughout the house or apartment is performed without problems. True, mastering the system is not as easy as in the case of Qivicon: here you first need to find in the instructions for the thermostat, motion sensors or switchable sockets how to put the devices into setup mode.
Important: not every product is compatible with Homee, the list of supported ones is on the official website.
The application has not been finalized a bit, as the control does not go quite smoothly as we would like. For example, when creating groups, the added devices are sometimes not displayed at all, sometimes they are displayed with a long delay. But in general, these are shortcomings from which it will be possible to get rid of the update software. With regard to prices, the system adheres to the same framework as competitors. A Brain Cube kit with an expansion cube will cost almost 15,000 rubles, and compatible actuators are in a higher price range than the equipment for Qivicon. However, the higher cost can pay off, because no other system is as reliable in terms of data protection.
The most interesting alternative smart home control systems
HomeMatic. The most inexpensive and voluminous system with its own (and self-developed) wireless communication protocol. Programming and networking components is relatively complex in today's environment.
RWE Smart Home. It is not necessary to be a customer of this energy concern to be able to use the smart home system. Like Qivicon, this system focuses on ease of installation and management at comparable prices.
Netatmo. Not one of the classic home control providers - so far the company has attracted attention with a stylish weather station. New in this offer is a smart thermostat that can be controlled via a smartphone, similar to the Tado system.
Belkin WeMo. A smart home system that communicates with a smartphone via WLAN. It is possible to connect various devices to the network. The main focus of the program is on energy saving and safety.
The idea arose to control our country house 250 km. from Moscow (a little about our village:) and control the inclusion of electricity, the start of a water supply pump, etc. etc. In summer, all this is not so important, but in winter or autumn it is very convenient. I was going to the village for the weekend, but the house is cold and it is generally not known whether there is 220 there or not. And it is enough to make one call and everything is on the phone screen in the form of SMS.
We launched this system almost a year ago, but to this day all our plans have not been implemented, we are still in the creative process. Last winter was quite warm, but the installed equipment came in handy more than once, warming our rooms and illuminating the entrance. For a long time our house was connected to 220 according to a temporary scheme, which made it impossible to install the equipment in the right place and connect everything planned. Last weekend, we finally managed to connect on a permanent basis and the equipment moved to its permanent place.
Previously, all this was mounted in another cabinet and a small mess formed during the transfer, I will polish it on vacation.
Now more about the system
On the market a large number of GSM alarm systems, I constantly come across them by the nature of my work, but they are alarms, many input loops, usually one relay and, at best, a pair of transistor outputs and somewhat limited settings. And we need a system from the series “ Smart House» with a sufficient number of relay outputs, with the ability to connect digital sensors and relays, flexible settings for responding to events, assigning delays, interconnections, generating reports and test SMS, and of course with control zones. After a long search, the choice fell on the GUARDIAN BM8039D, with an acceptable price-quality ratio.
The following has been implemented so far:
- Control 220 reports its shutdown and restoration.
- Switching on 220 in the house.
- Control of the presence of 220 in the house after turning it on in paragraph 2.
- Temperature control in the house and on the street. It is useful to know what awaits you and how the heaters work, because the path to the village is long.
Usage
By simply calling GUARDIAN BM8039D, you can receive a system status report,
and by sending SMS L1=1 to the controller number, start the VSM425-40 contactor and get a report that 220 is entering the house and go with peace of mind, knowing that the house is slowly warming up with heaters pre-set to a certain temperature, by the way, they are now huge selection. We are not going to completely heat the house, there is a stove for this, but it’s also good to stir up the climate in the house, and the light on the porch is a nice bonus, because it’s not surprising to arrive at night with our traffic jams. SMS L1=0 turns off the contactor. L1 is the number of the relay that we control, and =1 or =0, respectively, its state, turn it on or off. You can programmatically set the relay to turn on for the required time, which is useful when controlling the pump. At the same time, the pressure sensor can report the presence of water and the correct operation of the pump ...
Now about the composition of the system:
For ease of management, a universal program was released for Android that can work with various GSM controllers controlled by SMS. Now you can not fool around, remembering the form of the desired SMS message. It is enough to create templates in advance and manage objects through the menu buttons.
To in country house it was cozy, warm and comfortable, you should always control the temperature of the room. Thanks to modern technologies The heating system can be controlled via GSM.
Online store "X-logic" presents a wide range of automated heating systems. Familiarize yourself with the equipment in the catalog on the website.
The remote system performs the following functions:
- Monitoring of temperature and voltage indicators in the room.
- Creation of reporting data in automatic mode.
- Turn off heating and electrical appliances in case of an emergency.
- Temperature maintenance, remote control and remote control.
Components of the heating system
The electronic unit is the main component of the system. The unit has several slots for installing SIM cards or a slot for an Internet cable.
The device is connected to temperature, pressure and fire alarm sensors, as well as to all devices involved in the process of heating the house.
Stages of controlling the heating system via GSM
Control via GSM is carried out in the following sequence:
- Primary setting of the parameters of the system functioning.
- When the set parameters are violated, the temperature drops, an SMS is automatically sent to the homeowner's phone number.
- The homeowner can check the status of the sensors at any time convenient for him.
- The owner independently controls the temperature in the house by sending a message to the power supply. And he, in turn, gives the boiler a command to turn on or off.
- The type of boiler does not matter. The automated system can be connected to a boiler with any fuel with a built-in temperature controller.
Consider the following when installing a simple automatic system monitoring and control node:
- Install sensors throughout your home.
- Ensure high quality and constant GSM signal.
- Install your own battery in the device, which can ensure the operation of the unit for at least 3 days.
Benefits of an automated heating system
The benefits of GSM control include:
- Room temperature monitoring.
- Remote power management.
- Daily status report.
- Voice notification of non-standard events.
- Possibility to listen to the message using the microphone.
Weather-compensated heating control
The heating process control is divided into two types:
- Internal. The heating process is regulated inside the room. If a large number of people have gathered in the room, the sensors automatically reduce the temperature, making it comfortable for guests.
- External. The temperature in the house depends on the indicators on the street. The weather-dependent system is installed outside the house, automatically affects the temperature inside the room.
Buy heating system equipment for a country house
In the online store "X-logic" you can buy high-quality automated system control of the heating process in the house, which:
- Convenient to use.
- Increases living comfort.
- Saves money.
- Warns of various emergency situations.
And control via GSM will make your life comfortable, warm and direct even at a distance.
Country houses can be conditionally divided into 2 categories: those in which the owners live at best for a couple of months a year (during the warm season) and capital buildings intended for living, including in winter. If there is no desire to spend a substantial amount on the work of specialists, the question of how to make heating in the country house yourself becomes especially relevant.
Types of heating systems
Heating systems can be classified according to several criteria, for example, by the type of wiring, by the method of circulation of the coolant (natural and using circulation pumps), and also by the method of organizing the system - one- and two-pipe. Each of them has a number of advantages and disadvantages.
Single pipe heating system
It can be considered as a heating system in a small country house. Mentally, it can be imagined as a ring in which a heat source (boiler) and a number of coolant consumers - heating radiators (series connection) are built.
The advantages of this method of organizing heating include:
- low material consumption, respectively, the cost will also be minimal;
- independence from the layout of the house;
- the pipeline can be connected to the "warm floor".
Note!
If you do not plan to use a circulation pump, then a single-pipe system can be considered the best option.
With natural circulation, the hot coolant is supplied to the upper floor and, going down, it sequentially passes through all the radiators.
As for the weaknesses of this option, we can distinguish:
- difficulty in regulation;
Note!
This drawback can be eliminated with the help of a bypass - a jumper that can temporarily turn off the radiator from the system (the coolant will simply go around it).
True, the price of the heating system in this case will increase.
- inability to connect a large number of heating devices, the water will cool down to 45-50 ᵒС by the end of the ring.
Two-pipe heating system
If in a single-pipe system all radiators were connected in series, then in a two-pipe version, the connection is made in parallel, this is the main difference. That is, a separate pipe brings hot coolant to each radiator, and a separate pipe drains the cooled water.
This allows you to achieve:
- more flexibility in temperature control, you can adjust the temperature even in a single radiator;
- make the system more resilient. Even if one radiator fails, the heating will not stop working.
This solution also has a number of disadvantages:
- higher cost, more materials will be required, and the process itself is more laborious;
- Do-it-yourself installation of the system is more difficult than in the case of a single-pipe system.
In relation, it is also necessary to highlight the types of wiring - upper and lower:
- the upper wiring is relevant for heating with natural circulation. Inlet pipeline connected to the top heater, and the outlet - to the bottom. Due to this, the circulation pressure increases;
- the lower wiring provides for the connection of both pipelines to the bottom of the radiator.
The two-pipe system is practically not used in small houses. For example, in country houses it is better to install a one-pipe heating system from a block of containers or do without it at all.
If the issue of cost savings is not acute, then you can use the option of radial lower wiring. With it, 2 pipes go from the collector to each of the radiators, this gives ample opportunities for temperature control, but increases the cost. You can be content with the usual scheme, when inlet and outlet pipelines run along the walls along the room.
Which coolant to choose
Water is most often chosen as a heat carrier, it is harmless to humans and in most cases suitable for heating a house. But recently, country heating on antifreeze has become popular. Such liquids have a higher operating temperature and a lower crystallization temperature, which is especially important if the house is not regularly inhabited in winter.
Features of using antifreeze:
- it is more fluid, therefore, when installing the system, special attention should be paid to the joints;
- in such a solution, rubber increases very slowly in volume, so if you try to pour antifreeze into an old system, a leak may occur;
- the concentrated solution must be diluted with distilled water before pouring into the system.
Note!
Some types of antifreeze are dangerous to humans.
If the concentrate is spilled and evaporated, deterioration is possible general condition person.
Thanks to the use of antifreeze, there is no need to drain the coolant from the system for the winter, as it has to be done when using water. However, in order for the coolant not to freeze in the pipes, you can also use remote control cottage heating.
Antifreeze based on ethylene glycol
A container with such antifreeze can also be distinguished by color - it is produced in bright red. This is due to the fact that ethylene glycol is dangerous to human life. If a leak occurs, the bright color makes the fluid easier to spot.
The instruction for preparing the solution is that you just need to dilute the concentrate from the container with water. Such antifreeze is produced with a freezing point of -65ᵒС and -30ᵒС, the main difference is the concentration of ethylene glycol.
As for the scope, experts do not recommend the use of ethylene glycol antifreeze for two-pipe heating systems. In this case, the risk of leakage increases.
Triethylene glycol antifreeze
Their main difference from other types of antifreezes is the high operating temperature, it can reach 170 - 180ᵒС. The share of water in the composition of the solution is up to 95%, the remaining 5% is triethylene glycol itself and anti-corrosion additives.
Actually, the high operating temperature imposes certain restrictions on the use of such antifreeze. If other types of such liquids can be poured into almost any heating system, then triethylene glycol cannot. The heating system for it must be designed taking into account the higher temperature.
Installation of heating in the country is also carried out with this in mind - more reliable joints will be needed, and not every pipe can withstand such a temperature.
propylene glycol antifreeze
They have been known for more than a year and, among other liquids of this kind, are absolutely safe for humans (painted in green color). Do not freeze at temperatures down to -35ᵒС. Propylene glycol is also used in Food Industry(E1520), so there is no reason to doubt its harmlessness.
Due to its harmlessness, such antifreeze can be considered universal. It is suitable for most regions, with the exception of a harsh climate where temperatures below -35ᵒС can last for several weeks. It can be used in both one- and two-pipe heating systems.
Remote control heating
Its main advantage is that the house starts to warm up as soon as the heating system is turned on. As a result, by the time the owner arrives at the dacha, the temperature in the rooms will already be comfortable.
Remote control of heating in the country will also help in a situation where there was no time to drain the water from the pipes for the winter. Periodic heating of the coolant will not allow it to freeze and break the pipeline.
AT last years systems that can be controlled using a mobile phone have become especially popular. The heart of such a system can be considered a GSM adapter, into which an ordinary SIM card is inserted. The simplest version of the adapter provides remote switching on of heating in the country house by a call to the card inserted into it.
More complex systems offer more functionality:
- you can adjust the temperature in individual rooms;
- set operating modes different time days;
- maintain a stable temperature regime in the whole house.
The disadvantage of such systems can be considered dependence on the quality of the signal on the ground and power supply. However, the problem with electricity can be solved by renting a diesel generator for a summer residence.
Summarizing
Organization of heating country house will require no less attention than the design of a heating system in an ordinary residential building. You have to take into account the seasonality of living in the country. The information in the article will help determine the type of heating system and choose the right coolant for it. As a result, comfort in any weather is guaranteed.
The video in this article shows the principle of operation of one- and two-pipe heating systems.
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