The Official Smarthome Blog – All Things Home Automation

Entries from January 2008

Automatic Irrigation System Adjusts to Weather and Individual Zone Water Needs

January 30, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Cyber-Rain Automated Irrigation System

Cyber-Rain is a smart sprinkler control system that gives homeowners an easy way to save 30-70 percent on their landscape watering bills by using their personal computer and automatic weather updates from the Internet.

Most sprinkler control systems rely on manually adjusted timers to regulate watering schedules. Cyber-Rain works through your PC to adjust the amount of watering automatically based on weather and seasonal conditions, saving you time, water and plant replacement costs by stopping the sprinkler system on rainy days, automatically decreasing the watering schedule on cold or humid days, and increasing it on hot and dry days.

  • Adjusts water levels for weather, humidity and temperature
  • Controls up to eight customizable zones
  • Save water and prevent over-/under-watering
  • Tracks actual water usage
  • Weather updates sent wirelessly via included USB accesspoint
  • Price: $349.99

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Categories: New Products · Smarthome

Let Your Plants Water Themselves With the Perfect Amount

January 29, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Automatic Waterer with Ceramic Sensor Small

The PlantWatcher automatic plant watering system automatically waters plants using a special new patent-pending sensor that waters the plant only when the plant actually needs the water by drip irrigation.

How it Works
Because root demand turns the PlantWatcher on and off, the plant basically waters itself. The space-age sensor is in contact with the soil, constantly measuring soil moisture. Moisture decreases as the roots suck water out of the soil. Available water in the soil migrates toward the roots and sucks water out of the sensor by capillary action. When water is removed from the sensor, air can flow through the sensor and allow water to slowly drip out of the PlantWatcher. In other words, the sensor is an air control valve.

The PlantWatcher automatic plant watering system is also available in Medium and Large sizes.

  • Sensor detects root demand
  • Cycle allows oxygen to reach roots
  • Up to three weeks of auto-watering
  • Perfect for vacations
  • Price: $7.99

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Categories: New Products · Smarthome

Never Forget to Feed Your Fish or Under-/Over-Feed Again

January 29, 2008 · Leave a Comment

SuperFeeder Auto Auquarium Feeder

Human error and subsequent over- or under-feeding can weaken or even kill fish, so why leave your fish’s health to chance? The Super-Feeder automatic aquarium feeder ensures that fish are fed on a regular schedule with the exact amount needed using the included timer. You can also connect the system to your INSTEON home automation network for easy remote control: Install the Smarthome Manager Essential, Timer USB with the INSTEON ApplianceLinc (3-Pin) (sold separately).

  • Comes with basic timer to regulate feeding times
  • Adjustable output for various tank sizes
  • Works with flakes or pellets
  • Price: $99.99

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Categories: New Products · Smarthome

Remotely Feed & View Your Pets from Anywhere in the World

January 28, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Remote Pet Feeding & Viewing Camera Kit, Large Feeder

Worry about your pets while you’re away? Now you can keep an eye on them while away with the power of Ergo Pet Feeders and INSTEON home control technology. Our pet feeding & viewing kit allows you to both feed your pets & view them from a computer anywhere in the world. You can also automatically have images of your pets at feeding time emailed to you on at scheduled times. Set-up is a snap and kits come with everything you need.

The Remote Pet Feeding kit is also available to be purchased without the camera, with a small feeder and viewing camera, and with a small feeder without the viewing camera.

  • View your pets while you’re away from anywhere in the world
  • Automatic pet feeding provides peace of mind
  • Access and control included camera from any Internet-connected computer in the world
  • Price: $298.99

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Categories: INSTEON · New Products · Smarthome

In-Ceiling Speaker Has the Ability to Image True-to-Life Sound Over a Wide Area

January 28, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Speakercraft AIM Wide One Speaker

The AIM Wide One features a fully pivoting woofer and a unique dual mid-tweeter module that is mounted directly over the woofer with 2-inch dome midrange drivers and 3/4-inch tweeters facing 70 degrees off axis from each other. The result is ultra-wide dispersion with tremendous fidelity.

AIM Wide Three and AIM Wide Five in-ceiling speakers are also available.

  • Unique design with tweeters and midrange speakers mounted 70 degrees off axis
  • Easy-to-install in-ceiling speaker features twist-lock brackets
  • 40Hz – 20kHz frequency response
  • 88dB 1W/1m audio sensitivity
  • 5 – 125 watts power rating (undistorted)
  • Price: $249.50

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Categories: New Products · Smarthome