Automating my living room/space

[Stazh]

Introduction

Hi everyone!

I'm new to the forum, and also to the world of electronics since I haven't used my knowledge that I have gained during my high school education (use or loose it )...

I have a range of ideas for automating living in my house.

For now I have in plan to try and make the following (the list will grow ):
1) Automated lighting (with dimming),
2) Universal IR remote for my TV, AC unit, ...

I plan to realize those things using Arduino and my computer as a central command center. I plan to create a Android application and tablet as a universal remote for all those components.

The software side is not the problem, designing the former is

I know I can get ready made components for this, but I do not want to. This will be a pure hobby for me, and way to regain the knowledge that I once possessed (OK, stretching it a bit - to learn something new).

Regarding this project I will have a series of questions and I hope you will be willing to help

 

[Stazh]

And now to the part with the questions

First one would be, how can I detect that the impulse from 220V source has come (through light switch - the stateless one (I do not know the formal name fro that kind of light switch)) and how can I convert it to a digital impulse so that I can relay information to Arduino?

The idea behind this is that I will use the same light switch for more than one purpose other than turning the light on and off.

I plan to use it to notify my software that will be connected to the Arduino that I have come home and then the predefined scenario needs to occur (example: double click the swith to: turn my main computer on + turn on my television set + turn on the AC unit (if it is hot - temperature control will be another topic that I would like to cover) + turn on the light (if needed - luminosity monitoring is also a part of the plan.) + ...

 

[BobK]

Let me see if I understand what you are trying to do. You have an existing mains light switch, and you want to signal your computer when this switch is flipped. Is that correct? Is the switch also still controlling a light?

Bob