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Softub energy efficiency
Have you ever wondered how energy efficient a Softub is, or how long it takes to warm the water up? Unlike most hot tubs, Softub has no dedicated heating element. Instead, it uses waste heat from the pump motor to warm the water, which is in a sense very clever design. On the other hand,
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Connecting your gas meter to Loxone
I always planned to integrate utility meters into the smart home system. In my case this would mean to connect the electricity, gas and water meters. For all these I did the cabling preparation while I was building the house, so I was literally ready to go. But as usual, there were things higher on Read more
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Starting new lawn from seed
At some point of the house construction, or quickly after, there is a moment when the focus moves to the garden area all around the house. Usually this happens after the winter, when the snow melts and you’ll suddenly see all the work that needs to be done in order to get to a state Read more
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Motorized door locks
Multi-point motorized door locks If you have read my article about finger print scanner integration this is the right follow-up for you. To enjoy the full experience of the keyless access system, motorized lock is what allows you to enter your home when you’re authorized and secures your door after closure. I have found two different approaches providing similar Read more
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Finger scanner integration
I am sure you know the situation when you lock yourself out while your keys were left inside. Or when your kids told you they lost the keys. With bio-metric door access you don’t have to worry about this. This is definitely my family favorite feature. Accessing your home using your finger as a key For key-less Read more
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Motion sensors for Loxone
PIR sensors suitable for 24VDC Quite often I have been asked for any recommendations for motion sensors that could be used in SmartHome installations. Obviously, there is a wide range of products on the market these days, however there are two important attributes people mostly care about. Motion sensor must be totally silent I am Read more
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Soil moisture sensor
Measuring soil humidity to control the garden irrigation I have ordered Vegetronix VH400 – Moisture Sensor Probe. This is very interesting device. It is amazing in particular by the speed of measurement and immediate reaction to the moisture level change. Its power consumption is less than 13mA. However, the supply voltage has to be between 3.5V and 20 VDC which in Read more