Smart Home Hacks

Chapter 1. A Foot in the Front Door

Hacks 1–24

Getting started with home automation can feel like entering a strange, new world. Familiar things such as light switches and electrical outlets take on new roles and capabilities. You hear about house codes, controllers, and sensors that can tell when someone has entered a dark room. And what in the world is a Powerflash? Before you can create your own smart home, you’ll need to educate yourself.

The hacks in this chapter form the foundation upon which you’ll build your smart home. Start at the beginning and get the basics of what does what, or dive into the middle and discover something surprising. You’ll learn how to turn on lights [Hack #2], take control of your appliances [Hack #3], and find automation equipment that’s masquerading at your local hardware store [Hack #23].

But before you get sucked in too far, it’s a good idea to prepare both your house [Hack #12] and your housemates [Hack #14] for the adventure upon which you’re about to embark. With these hacks in hand, you’re sure to get off on the right foot.

Know the X10 Address

To send commands to X10 devices, you need to know their addresses. Here are the basics of deciding which addresses to use and how to set them.

The X10 protocol works by sending commands—using the power line in your home—to modules that know how to listen for and respond to requests to turn on, turn off, or brighten the lamp or appliance which they’re controlling. A lot of careful timing and engineering are ...