RE: Re: [Project] Lights was Foundations are in!

["Keith Doxey" <ukha@xxxxxxx>]

Conventional switches are easy to interface, just a mains rated opto
isolator on the inputs.

1 wire bus would not be immune to interference. RS485 is used in all
commercial lighting and industrial control systems because it is cheap and
extremey robust.

The main connectivity in DMX512, LUTRON, CRESTRON etc is a 2 wire RS485
bus.
Those products have a reputation for 100% reliability. That is what we
should be striving for if we want this to succeed.

Fire Alarm. Many alarm panels have Fire Zones on them already. I dont have
comfort but I'm sure one zone on that could be made to trigger an event to
indicate fire.

Units that would have to respond to fire commands would be ALL LIGHTS ON.
ALL MUSIC OFF except Priority Announcements etc. (Killing the music is a
mandatory requirement in Night Clubs and most good gear has fire inputs
that
kill the music but leave the mic channels operational. For cheap stuff you
kill the power.) Stop any fans that are running so you dont spread smoke
through the house etc.

Pizza sounds good but will have to wait a couple of weeks at least :-(

Keith



> -----Original Message-----
> From: James Hoye [mailto:james.hoye@xxxxxxx]
>
> Even conventional mains light switches could be used - suitable
provision
> could be made on the 'room controller' in the form of mains terminals
(of
> course, there a need for suitable isolation).  This would give
> simple on/off
> control only (as well as remote on/off via HA controller) - which may
in
> some instances be enough (outside security lighting)
>
> > the room would communicate with the room controller via RS485 or
similar
>
> Or a DS 1-wire bus?  Not an expert (yet) on either I'm afraid.
>
> This sounds ideal - a TCP/IP lightswitch in reality is a bit OTT.  Of
> course, a TCP/IP master lighting console is another thing....
> You could use
> it to control multiple 'room controllers' such as all lights on,
> all lights
> off, light halls/landings/corridors...
>
>
> Also to think about for lighting controllers:  a fire alarm input
> which when
> triggered will turn all lights on - I suppose this could be a small
module
> sitting on Ethernet that would broadcast all lights on when signalled.
>
> It really does look as though things are starting to come
> together.  Keith,
> another meeting would be handy (pizza would of course be
> incidental...!), as
> I know we've discussed this sort of thing in the past.
>




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