Could some people post some of the “unconventional” things they are doing with Vera? You know, jerry rigged situations you’ve created using a Frankenstein collaboration of Z-Wave components. Or just plain anything you’re doing that goes beyond turning lights and heat on and off. I know there is potential but I think I/we need some inspiration and ideas.
I have rain water collection, but my storage tanks are up the hill. I have a pool pump to pump the collected water up the hill. That all runs on floats. I also have a line that comes back down to feed the house.
In the House I also have a pump to provide plenty of pressure. It operates from a pressure switch.
What the Vera does for me is to control a valve that allows the high pressure house water to be sent back into the line that goes up the hill to the tank. (i.e. there is a circulation loop).
This is good for the following:
[ol][li]My storage tanks are not stagnant. In about three weeks time I cycle the water through the house filter and the UV sterilization light[/li]
[li]I do not have to worry about freezing pipes[/li][/ol]
Vera allow the loop to run 15min/Hr, 4 times a day. However, if the Google plugin indicates that the temp is below 36 … then I do it every hour. And thank’s to Vera Alert I get notified of potential freezing.
Sounds pretty interesting. I have been thinking about serious rain water collection for a while now. What do you use the water for? What kind of tank do you have? This is all off topic of course.
Pretty cool use of Vera!
Rain water for everything but drinking. Fiberglass Tanks.
I forgot I also have a small internal pump to circulate the hot water in the house.
This is so I do not waste any valuable water down the drain waiting for it to get hot. (We are in a serious drought here in Texas)
Vera detects activity in the Bedrooms or Bath (via the light switch) and I have to cycle the light over the Kitchen sink to starts the pump. It just runs for a fixed amount of time.
I do not have motion detectors yet … mainly because they all appear to be battery based, and the forums are still dealing with the implications and consequences of that design decision.
Can you link me to that tank?