Jeff, not interested in getting into a disagreement with you, just showing a different point of view. Think the technology is interesting. Where I feel we differ is budget. You are blessed to be in the 1 to 5% of this forum where budgeting this level of expense for this technology isn't a consideration. For most of us, cost versus benefit or advantage over the existing system is a real consideration. While having all the technology and required equipment to know whether there is an available washing machine in the marina is cool, for my situation, spending the money on a new dual range radar antenna was more beneficial. Btw, knowing the use status of a washing machine at the marina does me no good if I can't reserve it. My luck has me walking into the laundry room as someone else is loading that previously available machine.
Ted
I did do a horrible job of explaining my point, budget was the issue. The automation parts (SmartThings,IoT, ifttt) are extremely inexpensive and some of it saved thousands. The PLC was just the same. Also....key here is there are manual switches in case everything goes wrong. Not arguing against any of you that say "you would never" as I agree you probably would never, however trying to help future readers understand my reasoning and experience with this project.
First (addressing a few other comments), the touch screen is industrial, it is robust, and it is not "new fangled technology". It has been around for 20+ years. Including much of the touch functionality. It will be running many years from now. The system runs many yachts, trains, planes, and other incredible harsh industrial equipment. And....... it was way less expensive than installing a 2k based system, much less, with a lot more benefits.
Second, want to turn old (25 years old to be exact) wipers into intermittent wiper, a. I of code on the system that controls your wipers with a digital switch. Want to turn your horn into a a uscg signaling device with pre programmed settings. Some code changes there.
The touch screen switches.
Same deal here, I won't own this boat for ever. I was/am refitting it, and making a 1992 boat that looks 20 years newer on the exterior, look 25 years newer on the interior adds to its value. (Insert lines here about boats are not investment and nobody makes money on a boat.). I have, probably won't, but also won't loose much more than my maintenance and usages cost were.
Now to the SmartThings piece. I have this first because of expense and second because of its pretty freakin' cool for a Tech guy. For base of 200$ I have a system that allows me to setup security on my boat. Want to add a control to monitor if your hatch/window/door gets opened. 30$. Yep 30$x. No wiring, just 30$ and replace a small battery once a year or two. Want to add something to monitor a water level, 40$. That's it, owner installed in 10minutes. No wires. Want to add temperature, humility, motion detection, and light monitoring for maybe your engine room. 45$. Did I mention you get alerts, emails, SMS included with all this.
Now, for you live aboards, you say, you don't need it. I argue you still might want to consider it. Why? It's a cheap piece of mind. We have a dock mate that is a live aboard who had someone come on his boat after they broke into the docks. Want to turn a light on and play a loud siren to alarm when this happens...90-100$ for both items. Setup time 15m. Wiring time, ZERO.
Again, as a boat owner who is far from a 1%er, but working hard to maybe achieve that one day, much of what I do is have an open mind that leverages technology when I can to modernize systems, mostly to save money and appeal to potential buyers down the road, and sometimes because it's cool. I have a beautiful 1992 boat with a analog engine (Luggers) monitoring that has been modernize to look/act like a brand new engine. I have taken this a hodgepodge of 30 switches and modernize it to a industrial system. With the help of an incredible marine electrician. Saved a time of money and have a system that can be expanded to do almost anything for my convenience and piece of mind.
It's not for everyone, but there was a time where I had people throw computers at me (true story) while a put one in their arc melting furnace building and tell me nobody needs them or the internet. Well times have changed now. This is not a case of just because you can...this is a case of, if you open your minds to the possibilities and are doing a change like mine, you might be able to provide redundancy, modernization, and some cool ****, at a fraction of the cost.
Hope my setup and experience helps some of you here or future people looking around.
