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Updated February 9, 2009 0600am EST
I’ve just started looking at some Z-Wave products. Is it true that a simple wall receptacle costs $99? What in the world makes them cost so much?
You can find Z-Wave receptacles for as low as $79 online and plug-in modules in the $30 range. The cost is high because demand is high relative to other options. The relatively high cost of receptacles is true for all home automation technologies not just Z-Wave. Plug-in modules are the way to go if you need to save money. Just be sure to watch the power ratings some are 15A and others are less than that.
I am looking for a moisture recognition module for my vacation home that would email me if there is a water leak from a burst pipe. Is there a Z-wave module available? Also, is there a Z-Wave compatible home sprinkler available?
Those both sound like great product ideas. Unfortunately, at this time there are no Z-Wave enabled moisture sensors or Z-Wave enabled irrigation systems on the market.
I want to use Z-Wave to transmit music from my audio player to the speakers . Is that possible? If yes, what will be longest distance I can achieve?
Z-Wave is a low- to medium-bandwidth (speed) network designed to run on very low power on very small and inexpensive devices. It does not have the bandwidth necessary to carry music. Most people use WiFI (802.11b or g) to transport music.
How does one interface with (control) Z-Wave products? I want to “roll my own” home automation system.
Control Think has a great Z-Wave PC Software Developers Kit (SDK) for the DIY person that wants to write his or her own interface to a Z-Wave system. There are also many articles on the Internet on how to do this including How-to Get Started with a Z-Wave Lighting System.
Mark Walters, our resident Z-Wave expert, is a home automation consultant and the former vice president of the Z-Wave Alliance. Mark is well versed in numerous home automation technologies including CE Bus, Insteon, X10, Z-Wave, ZigBee, and KNX.
