RE: Introductory Message and questions

["Hawes,Timothy Edward (GEG)" <haweste@xxxxxxx>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Andy Day
>
> Does anyone know how the Polaron prices compare to Clipsal
> and if there
> are any external controllers Polaron works with.
>
> Cheers
>
> Andy
>

Andy,

This was posted a little while ago by someone else who went on to install a
Polaron system. Note the dimmer packs are 5A per channel. As someone else
has stated, comms is via RS485, but it also has some straight digital
inputs so, for e.g. on burglar alarm activation, all lights go on etc.

HTH,

Tim H.

-----Original Message-----
From: Timothy Morris

I'm meeting with their sales manager (in conjunction with my builder, it is
a long story, but they are a sort of Charles Church, Berkley Homes type
builder, and don't usually work for other people) in the next few days.

I'll find out more about availability to self builders. To give you a clue
their 8 channel dimmer pack (5 Amps per channel) is about the same size as
an alarm panel (enclosure) doesn't have to be mounted at node zero (because
the control is on an RS-485 bus) and retails for 800 quid. It isn't cheap
when you compare it to X10, but it is cheap when you compare it to Lutron.

Their background is in putting lighting into BIG hotel plant rooms. To
quote their sales manager "In a commercial environment we run rings
around Lutron"

Control panels are totally configurable, up to 10 buttons on a single back
box - up to 26 on a double! Available with LCD panels, with and without IR
sensors. Combined lighting/QED systemline panels are available too. Buttons
have status LEDs. He suggested to me, to install 10 button panels
everywhere, and then when I'm happy about the way the system works, remove
any unused buttons, then order switch plates with the right number of
holes, and get them engraved to suit.

It  looks like the proverbial dog's.

I'm not sure whether I'm going to interface to an alarm, or just install
additional occupancy/door detectors - I'll find out more when I meet with
the chaps.

Phil and I were chatting on the phone the other day, as home automators we
often try to interface something or automate it because we can, rather than
because it actually adds some value!

Tim



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