Smart/apps for houses

Knuckles · Nov 30, 2013

Couldn't think of a title but, is there anything on the market which is almost plug and play which can allow you to control things from an ipad/iphone?

I know there are plug adapters which plug in between the plug and the socket but I'm wondering if there's anything that could be more inconspicuous, OEM for lack of a better word.

Something which could control a fire, plug sockets (which in turn would power anything plugged into them), heating, lights etc etc

cheers

Jaff. · Nov 30, 2013

Yes

but they're not cheap

danward · Nov 30, 2013

Not quite what you're after, but very cool: http://www.firebox.com/product/6068/iKettle

jesus · Nov 30, 2013

Don't be lazy.

J333EVO · Nov 30, 2013

You can control your gas central heating with British Gas from your iphone/pad or andriod device. Costs £199 http://www.britishgas.co.uk/products-and-services/hive-active-heating.html

Knuckles · Dec 1, 2013

J333EVO said:
You can control your gas central heating with British Gas from your iphone/pad or andriod device. Costs £199 http://www.britishgas.co.uk/products-and-services/hive-active-heating.html

danward said:
Not quite what you're after, but very cool: http://www.firebox.com/product/6068/iKettle

That's the kind of thing I'm after, I wonder how long before they're affordable

Snakey · Dec 1, 2013

Wasn't there a thread a while back about systems in the house which were rigged to control 'everything'... Lights, TV, heating etc... (Home automation?)

Emma. · Dec 1, 2013

I so want one of those iKettles. Had that page bookmarked for ages, they just keep putting the available date back

M26 · Dec 1, 2013

Maplin do some.

Light switches that you can control using your smart phone etc.

bill · Dec 1, 2013

i like the kettle idea!

Knuckles · Dec 1, 2013

Emma. said:
I so want one of those iKettles. Had that page bookmarked for ages, they just keep putting the available date back

Would you honestly pay £100 for a kettle?

theres a £30ish adapter you plug in between your appliance and socket which you can control via an app if you're serious lol

Knuckles · Dec 1, 2013

M26 said:
Maplin do some.

Light switches that you can control using your smart phone etc.

Cheers

AdDaMan · Dec 1, 2013

My kettle was £100 and it doesnt have wifi lol

Knuckles · Dec 1, 2013

AdDaMan said:
My kettle was £100 and it doesnt have wifi lol

Really?! Why?

AdDaMan · Dec 1, 2013

Because its a decent one...

Why else?

Knuckles · Dec 1, 2013

AdDaMan said:
Because its a decent one...

Why else?

Lol I was just a bit shocked, I couldn't fathom a kettle costing more than £50, and I think that's mad for a kettle lol

Herr Flick · Dec 1, 2013

AdDaMan said:
My kettle was £100 and it doesnt have wifi lol

Haha, ours was circa £70 and I would have happily paid £30 more to have a wifi kettle. May buy one as a christmas present.

AdDaMan · Dec 1, 2013

Knuckles said:
Lol I was just a bit shocked, I couldn't fathom a kettle costing more than £50, and I think that's mad for a kettle lol

Depends if you just want something to boil water or something that also looks good in the kitchen.

Knuckles · Dec 1, 2013

AdDaMan said:
Depends if you just want something to boil water or something that also looks good in the kitchen.

fair dos, we bought ours before we got our house so we just bought a nice looking normal one

Herr Flick · Dec 1, 2013

Our one lights up when it boils don't you know.

Knuckles · Dec 1, 2013

Rich said:
Our one lights up when it boils don't you know.

Posh, mine just lights up when it's on

Scrooge · Dec 1, 2013

If you want to do it do it properly. Z wave only.

Pikeys go for lightwave.

Scrooge · Dec 1, 2013

As I'm doing up the house at the moment I thought I'd bung some smart lighting in, I'll probably grab the av stuff after Christmas. Love z wave stuff.

[video]http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o61/chimphitter/A9FCDDE8-7DBC-4A72-99AA-99659648462B_zpsvx0fpjrh.mp4[/video]

AdDaMan · Dec 1, 2013

Nice.

Im heading to there site now...

The Fatty · Dec 2, 2013

I made my own. Its dead easy really. basic implementation is a pic based device>Server>Webservice/webinterface. Allows me to control *anything* in the house and cost under £100. Hardly ever use it though so a waste of time imo.

Knuckles · Dec 2, 2013

Scrooge said:
If you want to do it do it properly. Z wave only.

Pikeys go for lightwave.

that is exactly what I was after, a little module to fit behind appliances.

Now to convince the gf that it's a good idea

Sam · Dec 2, 2013

Knuckles said:
that is exactly what I was after, a little module to fit behind appliances.

Now to convince the gf that it's a good idea

Like The Fatty said. Great idea. Waste of time though.

Youll use it for the first month if your lucky.

Scrooge · Dec 2, 2013

Appliance control of a complete waste of time. Lighting control isn't IMO. A house with billy basic lighting is a bit underwhelming though.

I will ill be putting av control with my lights though so I can go on the app, select films, choose what one I want, drag it to the tv icon which will turn the tv on and initiate a lighting scene I've chosen for film watching.

Knuckles · Dec 2, 2013

Scrooge said:
Appliance control of a complete waste of time. Lighting control isn't IMO. A house with billy basic lighting is a bit underwhelming though.

I will ill be putting av control with my lights though so I can go on the app, select films, choose what one I want, drag it to the tv icon which will turn the tv on and initiate a lighting scene I've chosen for film watching.

That's cool as f**k in theory, but it seems like slightly less work that streaming a film to an Apple TV then dimming the lights lol

cava83 · Dec 2, 2013

I started, got bored.

Also bought some Philips hue lights, great idea, but doesn't really happen.

SC03OTT · Dec 2, 2013

Heating/hot water is all I'd be interested in. I hate having both on when I'm not in.

Tom · Dec 2, 2013

SC03OTT said:
Heating/hot water is all I'd be interested in. I hate having both on when I'm not in.

Timer?

SC03OTT · Dec 2, 2013

Tom said:
Timer?

They are on a timer. It's more for if I'm out for longer than planned by an extra hour lets say. Why have the heating on for that hour I'm not there.

Emma. · Dec 2, 2013

Knuckles said:
Would you honestly pay £100 for a kettle?

theres a £30ish adapter you plug in between your appliance and socket which you can control via an app if you're serious lol

Yes I would. The one I have in there now cost more then that. I'm a bit of a kitchen gadget freak.

Rasclart · Dec 3, 2013

I love this sort of stuff but again wonder as has been said the longetivity of it. I have a Wifi controllable Plug socket you can access externally (Belkin Wemo) so I can turn On/Off my espresso machine so it is heated for me when I return home

The Fatty · Dec 3, 2013

bit off topic, but just seen these and thought they look quite fun! http://www.easybulb.com/easybulb-rgbw-iphone-controlled-led-light-bulb-philips-hue-equivalent/

they are a cheaper alternative to the Phillips hue bulbs that cost over £100!

Scrooge · Dec 3, 2013

Knuckles said:
That's cool as f**k in theory, but it seems like slightly less work that streaming a film to an Apple TV then dimming the lights lol

Mine will be connected to my iTunes account and also when I'm bored of watching it downstairs I can swipe my finger to the upstairs tv and the film will be waiting for me on the upstairs tv on pause. I'll also have my heating on it via a danfoss thermostat.

Knuckles · Dec 3, 2013

Scrooge said:
Mine will be connected to my iTunes account and also when I'm bored of watching it downstairs I can swipe my finger to the upstairs tv and the film will be waiting for me on the upstairs tv on pause. I'll also have my heating on it via a danfoss thermostat.

What is the cost/planning (for lack of a better word) involved?

Or or is it a case of press what you want after the modules are connected to the tv/sockets etc etc? Sorry if that doesn't make sense

Scrooge · Dec 3, 2013

Can't put a real cost on a system tbh, depends on how many lights etc. I don't bother with modules on sockets, will just cat 6 cables to TVs that will be on standby and turned on through the app, heating via the app to danfoss or other wave stats. Anything power wise I have no need to control remotely but if I did I would just use the light modules in my video controlling a contractor for big loads or fused down for smaller loads.

Our systems are standard wiring light and power wise, all cat cables to TV points wired back to one central location so piss easy but will the control of Creston/Lurton/control 4 etc.

Knuckles · Dec 3, 2013

Scrooge said:
Can't put a real cost on a system tbh, depends on how many lights etc. I don't bother with modules on sockets, will just cat 6 cables to TVs that will be on standby and turned on through the app, heating via the app to danfoss or other wave stats. Anything power wise I have no need to control remotely but if I did I would just use the light modules in my video controlling a contractor for big loads or fused down for smaller loads.

Our systems are standard wiring light and power wise, all cat cables to TV points wired back to one central location so piss easy but will the control of Creston/Lurton/control 4 etc.

im very sorry, I tried to follow that, but I can't follow the electric jargon lol and What's a cat cable?

Smart/apps for houses

aka Herman Ze German

aka Herman Ze German

North East

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