A home where surplus solar power switches on the appliances
This 300 m² home in Ružomberok had a clear brief from the very start: no compromises. Heating and cooling control in every room, nine weather-responsive blinds, solar PV with battery storage, a dedicated weather station and protection against water leaks. Not separate components sitting side by side, but one whole, held together by the TapHome Core control unit.
Green energy stays at home
Energy management lies at the heart of the whole solution. Whenever the solar panels produce more than the house is using at that moment, the surplus is not simply lost to the grid. Instead, the automation starts the energy-hungry appliances first: the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher. That way, the green energy stays at home. And if the grid goes down, the house switches seamlessly to its battery and keeps running, without the household losing any comfort. It is precisely this independence that the owners value most about the system in everyday use.
Heat pump mirrored over the local network
Heating and cooling both come from a 14 kW Vaillant air-to-water heat pump. Stur-Bax did not settle for a quick, superficial connection to TapHome: they built their own Raspberry Pi-based bridge, through which the system mirrors the heat pump’s operating data in real time. As a result, neither heating nor cooling ever runs on a blanket basis. Every room has its own thermostat with a thermal actuator, so the house holds its temperature zone by zone, according to actual demand.
Security and protection for the family home
Property protection forms a layer of its own. When a flood sensor detects leaking water, the system shuts off the supply by itself and immediately sends an alert, so a minor leak never gets the chance to turn into serious damage. It also keeps an eye on the garage door status and controls access to the house. Unobtrusive details that add peace of mind and security to everyday life.
Scene-based shading and lighting
Nine blinds and the terrace awning follow preset scenes. When a strong wind picks up, the shading retracts to a safe position on its own. That call is made by the home’s own weather station, which measures light intensity, wind speed and outdoor temperature. The exterior lighting runs on a time schedule.
Although the owners also have classic switches and wall panels close at hand, the mobile app remains their main control centre. Stur-Bax s.r.o. designed, programmed and installed the entire system so that the individual technologies do not each work in isolation, but as one well-orchestrated whole.
