Control4 & Plumbing (i.e. shower or bath)?

[andy.cytexone]

OK, so I've been dreaming about this for some time. I would love to have my shower turn on to the perfect temperature 15 mins after I wake up in the morning.

I was thinking about it and I haven't much plumbing background to make something like this come alive.

First question first - has anyone integrated a shower with a digital temperature gauge and auto-turn-on?

Second- if we wanted to offer this option to a customer (while they have the walls open) which pieces do you think would work best?

Here are some pieces and website that I've seen that might be able to be put to use to make this dream come alive:

http://www.aqualisa.co.uk/80256D50003105DE/(httpProducts_Customer_Services)/C8E9DDC3EC472D3480256F6A004F6EE8?OpenDocument

http://us.gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/gift-digital-faucets-make-water-extra-happy-144182.php

http://www.letsautomate.com/10488.cfm?

http://www.assuredautomation.com/

Looking forward to all your thoughts.

[andy.cytexone]

Here's another cool shower company

http://www.mirashowers.com/magnaflash/magna.htm

[andy.cytexone]

OK - so this is a bit off-topic and as I continue my search I had to post this. I know someone is going to face a customer that would love to tan and shower at the same time. Well, here it is for them...

http://www.idrolux.com/e_idrolux00.html

...or you can give them, thermotherapy, luminotherapy, and aromatherapy in another shower

http://www.bainultra.com/better_way_to_live/temazcal.html

[andy.cytexone]

While I'm at it, here's a great article for regarding equipment that is designed to be retrofitted in a bathroom

http://www.electronichouse.com/article/1362.html

[andy.cytexone]

So I'm guessing I'm living in a dreamworld judging by the lack of response?

[Kirill]

i am guessing you should look at irrigation control to find a valve that you can open close from C4.

[Kirill]

OK - so this is a bit off-topic and as I continue my search I had to post this. I know someone is going to face a customer that would love to tan and shower at the same time. Well, here it is for them...

http://www.idrolux.com/e_idrolux00.html

I think you required to wear sunglass when you use indoor tanning bed. Have to use sunglasses to take shower = not cool.

[Kirill]

I am thinking about building an ultimate shower myself. I don't like plastic cabins. I want stone.

Here some nice products:

http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/detail.jsp?from=thumb&frm=&module=Bodyspa+Systems&item=8094602&prod_num=1002-H2&section=2&category=11 - waterfall.

http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/detail.jsp?from=thumb&frm=&module=Steam&item=5816102&prod_num=1663&section=2&category=11 - steam

http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/detail.jsp?from=thumb&frm=&module=Bodyspa+Systems&item=8094502&prod_num=1000-H2&section=2&category=11 - tower with jets

[andy.cytexone]

The quest continues...

Aqualisa does not sell outside of the UK, so even if it did work, it would be a pain to obtain. Pity. I found another contender, Interbath's Ondine Shower System. Seems totally cool and might possibly be a bit more advanced of a shower system that any other's I've found. I'm going to try and call them tomorrow to see if I can integrate it into a Control4 system

Overview - http://www.interbath.com/ondine/electronics_overview100.html

Technical Videos - http://www.interbath.com/ondine/techtalk.html

If anyone has used this, I'd love to hear comments, naturally.

[jamman]

aslezak,

if you talk to someone regarding integration possibilities, I would be interested in finding out what they say. That looks like a very cool product.

Imaging you wake up every morning to soft music and lights ramping on, and then the shower starts at 98 just the way you like it, fav music in bathroom, weather/news on Display......cool....

The wake up agent including shower control would be a very cool 'wow factor' and a practical option.

Jamman

[andy.cytexone]

Ugh - got off the phone with a an Ondine Tech. Here's the situation....

The main brain is $3600 and does not support external interfacing. They have a second remote that can extend 65 ft (say, the night table in the master bedroom, etc.), and that's not obviously controllable via Control4. I asked if we can perhaps integrate with Control4 with our own methods and I was told that was you modify the unit, it's no longer warrantied. *Sigh*

...I think I have to go back to the drawing board.

[jamman]

Man, you would think that a product like that would be a shoe in for integration. I guess some manufacturers have a limited vision.

Too bad, but I wonder if one could hack into a remote keypad and interface it that way. If you can press a button with your finger, can't see why a small relay accross the button contact wouldn't work. This might illiminate the warranty issues with the controller. If it's only a keypad, might not be a big deal. Now if this keypad were sending serial codes in the form of rs485 or RS232, it might make it a much better solution but the keypad hack might just be a decent form of control for now.

Jamman

[andy.cytexone]

Yeah, I think we can tap into the secondary control (i.e. the one that is in the master bedroom) with a relay extender. I don't see why it wouldn't work, although I'd have to see the inside of the second touch controller. I asked if he could tell me via what method the signal is being sent and he wouldn't inform me. I think it's a matter of digging in and testing. It's too close to a great solution to not be able to use it...

[Kirill]

So you want shower to be at some predefined temperature ? There is new valve design that can do it - available at Loewes - you set it to 90 degrees and it's always 90 degrees. Then you two valves controlled by C4 on your hot and cold water pipes - when they open - you have a 90 degree shower, when they closed - you have no shower. May be need to mount a two button key pad to on/off shower. Or do a diverter valve - that will put shower in auto (plumbed via controlled valves) or in manual (controlled normally)

[All Wired Up!]

I would also consider a fail-safe like a motion detector that would turn it back off if not triggered within a specified amount of time.

[Kirill]

I would also consider a fail-safe like a motion detector that would turn it back off if not triggered within a specified amount of time.

And flush the toilet,if somedofy entered a bathroom and exited with out flushing

[DavidJGates]

Another option would be to use a steam shower. I absolutely love mine.

Jacuzzi makes a great all-in-one unit that makes install easy and saves space. Not too bad on the price either.

The steam showers come with a control pad and sensor. There must be a way to hack into the control pad. If you figure how to do this, please let me know. I'd love to do this myself.

Ahhh, waking up to a preheated 120 degree shower...

-DJG

[andy.cytexone]

Another option would be to use a steam shower. I absolutely love mine.

Jacuzzi makes a great all-in-one unit that makes install easy and saves space. Not too bad on the price either.

The steam showers come with a control pad and sensor. There must be a way to hack into the control pad. If you figure how to do this, please let me know. I'd love to do this myself.

Ahhh, waking up to a preheated 120 degree shower...

-DJG

I'm with you, David - Can you point me to a model # please? Thanks. Oh, and what's "not too bad on a price either"? Thanks.

Andy

[DavidJGates]

Just go to Jaccuzi.com and look for Sedona shower. The nice thing is the steam unit is built under the base seat. Normally you'd have to find a place to build something into a wall nook, under the floor, or even in the ceiling (and then give maintenance access to it). They provide list prices on the site.

The other thing to consider in going this route is to build out the surround with something that can handle it. We went with travatine tile with extremely small seams backed with a thick layer of something on the walls.

[Kenr]

I just finished remodeling our bath. I purchased a thermastatic valve. It's very cool as the temp is preset to what ever you want and the valve has a thermastat to control the temp within 1 degree. I put in 3/4" pipes so it takes about 30 seconds to come up to temp. Why not add a auto irrigation value in line with the volume control and operate it with the C4 remote. I wouldn't think it would make much sense to have the valve set to go on with the scheduler because it would be a waste of water.

[jimmy]

I like the kirills idea. The plumbing part you can figure out but the simplest thing is to use the relay output board. I am suprised there is not a 8 or 16 point relay output board. The price per pint for the output board make's it cost prohibitive to do the fun inovativew things away from a mts or htc.

[henniae]

Just my opinion, but it seems dangerous to automate turning on things like water using automation. The possibility of flooding exist. The drain can be clogged or just closed. Just seems too risky.

There are plumbing based solutions to provide instant hot water. This involves a loop of pipe and a pump that circulates the water fro the hot water tank to the faucet. This can be installed at construction time or as a retrofit.

[bsanf3]

Home Heartbeat™

http://www.homeheartbeat.com/HomeHeartBeat/index.htm

has a Water Shut-Off Controller (Zigbee)

http://www.homeheartbeat.com/HomeHeartBeat/Accessories/index.htm#Water_Valve_Shutoff

[wingzz]

Has anyone tried any of the heartbeat products, do they work with C4??

[RyanE]

I believe the Home Heartbeat water shut-off valve is intended to shut off water when a water leak is sensed.

I don't believe it was made to be able to turn on and off frequently, such as you would do for a shower.

Eaton is a Control4 partner, but I don't know if their products can be used in a Control4 system as of yet.

RyanE