Velux Integra Roof Windows

[Karam]

IO Home Control appears to be an 868MHz band RF control protocol - looks to have been concocted by Honeywell but not adopted by so many. Honeywell themselves use other protocols. Anyhow it is not a simple protocol of the HomeEasy, Lightwave RF ilk (which operate in the 433MHz band BTW). So I think its going to have to be via the KLF 100 or preferably the simpler looking KLF 050 since the other features in the KLF 100 are probably not needed.

[Nad]

I've looked at both the KLF 100 and the KLF 050. The former is readily available in the UK but the latter seems less so and will probably need to be bought from someone on the continent, which would make them around the same price.

I agree with Karam with regards to the functionality of the KLF 100, total overkill for the requirements but there doesn't seem to be may other options.

Also, I may now have 4 windows of which only 2 will be in a group so I would need to get 3 KLF 100s. Again not the end of the world but I was hoping for something a bit more elegant. It's a good thing these are wireless so they can be hidden away, I don't know how I would have explained these huge ugly boxes to the wife ... lol

[chris_j_hunter]

looks like a KLF100 plus a couple of Idratek relays to provide the potential-free contacts would enable all that's needed, especially given Cortex's v.sophisticated range of control options ...

interesting that HA seems to have caught-on sufficiently for such a mainstream product to have such a set of interfaces readily available ...

[pbj]

I used an older WMG 520 motor (http://www.loftsolutions.co.uk/shop/.../velux-wmg-520) which is a simple 24v switched polarity unit. Works nicely with the Cortex motor object and a pair of change over relays (QRH001 in my case). You'll need the amusingly named "flap bracket" for retrofitting to a standard velux window - an easy 10 minute job

[Nad]

I used an older WMG 520 motor (http://www.loftsolutions.co.uk/shop/.../velux-wmg-520) which is a simple 24v switched polarity unit. Works nicely with the Cortex motor object and a pair of change over relays (QRH001 in my case). You'll need the amusingly named "flap bracket" for retrofitting to a standard velux window - an easy 10 minute job

Thanks pbj! That is a very interesting solution indeed.
Not only does it allow me to connect the opening of the window to Cortex but looking at the size I'm after I can potentially save £170 per window!!

[chris_j_hunter]

a relative of ours lived in a top floor apartment of a converted mill, had Velux windows, and a problem with flies, which seemed to be attracted to them in worrying numbers ...

not sure where they all came from, but opening the windows certainly brought more into the room, and they seemed unable to find the way out - meaning lots on the glass, not many finding the way out via the gap of the open window, at least when normally open ...

no idea if this is a common problem ...

with Cortex, of course, it would be easy to implement an automated flies-release sequence (open wide briefly, in response to some suitable trigger) ...

[Karam]

A rain sensor would also be a good idea unless somehow integral (but how would you then know state of window?) ...

[chris_j_hunter]

with our garage doors (sectional, motorised), we put reed switches at each end of travel - Cortex can then work-out if they are closed, opening, open, or closing, even deduce if they're stuck somewhere between ... maybe a similar approach with the Velux windows would work, too, perhaps with the addition of extra reed switches, one for each intermediate position ...

did look, long ago, for rain sensors - ISTR some were available that could be interfaced to Cortex, but can't recall details (eg: analogue or digital interface) ...

having reed-switches would also allow Cortex to give warnings - eg: if windows left open or open too-much when going out ...

[Nad]

I was either going to go down the reed switch route or alternatively see if i can do anything with the motor module and an analogue input so I can have the exact position of each window. As for the rain sensor, I'm going to look into weather stations but thought I may be able to use/ hack one of these ... http://www.loftsolutions.co.uk/shop/...ux-rain-sensor

[chris_j_hunter]

looks good value, and neat ...

had a look just now for others - found this, which has a 12V option that might work (might need some care with current consumption) :

http://www.rapidonline.com/Electroni...rSearchScope=1

http://www.rapidonline.com/Electroni...rSearchScope=1

we went with a MiniClikII, wired to a nearby digital input - seemed simpler, perhaps more reliable, but not quite so responsive ...

this does freezing, too, if that's useful (!) :

http://www.hunterindustries.com/en-m...rs/rain-cliktm


PS: same company now offers flow sensors, too :

http://www.hunterindustries.com/en-m...ors/flow-syncr