My
Blue Iris and VERA installation are run as independent systems. Any communication between the two has been (so far) limited to one-way - VERA sending BI commands.
I've installed these
mini switches and
dimmers behind the normal wall switch (inside the gang box, tucked behind the switch) for virtually every switch in my home. Ceiling fans are a bit trickier and require their own
special 'fan' version of a switch if speed selection is desired. I also have several
appliance control switches and
dimmers that can be used to control things like window AC units, heaters, table lamps, etc. Finally, I have the Kwikset zwave motorized
deadbolts and
lever locks. VERA can lock/unlock these - and more importantly, VERA knows immediately whether the lock state was changed, and what code was entered.
Because VERA has a huge community support forum, many developers have
created plugins that allow it to communicate with ethernet-enabled devices on the LAN. So my Onkyo receiver, smart TV, wifi thermostat, Harmony hub, my DSC alarm (
using an ethernet module), etc - all devices which don't have internal zwave capability - can actually be controlled by VERA via plugins.
Using a
dry-contact isolated zwave relay, I'm able to send pulses to my garage door to open/close it with VERA. Since my DSC Alarm is LAN aware, VERA has access to all of the wireless door/window sensors on the system. That allows me to use $20 wireless alarm sensors/contact as VERA triggers. So, for example, I put one in my mailbox at the street. When the box is opened, my alarm sees that "zone 26" is opened. Because VERA is tied into the alarm, it immediately recognizes the change in state, and executes a 'scene'. That scene tells
an RGB LED bulb in my house to strobe blue for 1 hour. It also sends an http command to the BI server, triggering a 30-second record even for the camera that is zoomed in on the mail box. When that camera is triggered to record, BI also sends a "push notification" alert to my cell phone (which is running the BI remote app). So my bulb flashes blue in the living room, and my phone makes a unique sound letting me know mail has arrived. Since the zoomed in camera only records with this mailbox opening (and not with motion detection), all of the recorded clips are explicitly of my mail carrier delivering mail, or me pulling it out of the box. Motion detection is nice too, but any car that drives by, shadows that move, or bugs that fly in front of the camera would trigger false alarms.
So how do I use all these switches and things? Here are a few examples:
1) When I enter my code on the keypad of my kwikset deadbolt, it unlocks, and tells VERA what code was entered. Since it was an authorized code, it tells the DSC alarm to disarm. Thus, when I come home, simply by entering my code on the deadbolt, my house unlocks.
2) I've added
DSC wireless alarm sensors to all interior and exterior doors (and windows). When a door is opened to a room, the alarm system tells VERA which door was opened. VERA the turns on the light for that particular room. When the door is closed, the light goes off. I've added timers as well, so the lights shut off after x hours if the door is left open.
3) I've installed a lever lock door knob on my 3yo's room. I've reversed it so the keypad is on the inside. Effectively, I lock him in his room at night. Since locking and unlocking the door sends a signal to VERA, I have VERA turn on his black light and noise maker for 20 minutes when the door is locked. It's funny, because my 3yo now knows that to turn on his black light, he has to lock his room door. Likewise, any room he enters, the lights come on automatically. He doesn't know what it means to turn off a light. That's probably not good for his future wife
4) When the garage door is opened, VERA turns on the utility room light, garage light, and dining room light.
5) At sunset, the lights on the front of my house (all LED) come on at 10% (uses about 5 watts total). It creates nice ambiance, and provides just enough light in the driveway to see where you're walking. When either the front door or the garage door is opened, the lights go to 100%. As soon as they are both closed, the lights dim back to 10%. At sunrise, they go off. VERA is sunrise-time aware and will adjust throughout the year.
6) I've added
a relay to the messenger wire of my existing smoke detectors (they're AC and battery powered, and all tied together so if one goes off, they all do). When one goes off, it trips the relay, which is tied to a DSC alarm sensor. VERA is immediately aware, and sends me a text message within seconds. Same thing happens with the alarm.
7) My side gate has a DSC alarm sensor. When it is opened, VERA tells BI to record the cameras trained on the gate, strobes RED light in my living room, and BI sends a push notification and email with a snapshot and 5 second video of the action at the gate.
8) When my back door or porch door is opened, the DSC alarm sensor tells VERA, and VERA turns on the outside lights for 20 minutes.
I can't tell you the last time I touched a switch
Finally, ALL of these things, from door locks to lights, to stereo, to thermostat - all of them can be controlled via app from anywhere.
Note: all of my links are to Amazon products. While I did buy many of these things from Amazon, some are cheaper on eBay and alternate sources - so don't assume what you see at Amazon is the best price.