Re: Re: Advice for newbie - CBus

[Doogie Brodie <ukhad@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

nick@xxxxxxx wrote:

> I have just spent some time downloading all the Clipsal brochures
> and technical guides.  I have convinced myself that when my wife and
> I self-build our next house (assuming I get my way!), that CBus is
> definitely the only way to go.

That's my opinion too ;)

> Then I looked at Laser's site (only UK supplier I think?).  Four

Laser are a distributor of C-Bus. There are several C-Bus integrators on
the list (myself included) who can arrange the design, supply,
programming, fitting and support of C-Bus hardware. Alternatively, you
could look at doing one or more of the C-Bus training courses yourself,
or just buying the hardware from Laser and making it up as you go along!
(probably not the best idea to do that though!)

> hundred and fifty quid for a four way dimmer!!!!!  How many lights
> would I want to dim throughout the house!?!?!?   Ouch!

The dimmers come in 2 configurations - 4 x 2A or 8 x 1A. In most
scenarios you will be able to use the 8 channel dimmer packs, which are
slightly cheaper than the 4s. (8 channel dimmers work out at £53.85 per
channel at Laser's price, and for comparison, an X10 LD11 is £35 a channel)

> What is the group's feeling --- will the price come down as it
> starts to catch on??

I honestly don't know where prices will go; I don't really imagine them
going in a dramatic downward fashion - as mentioned above, while the
pricing is higher than X10, it is not *that* much more expensive for a
high quality reliable, professional system which is a million miles away
>from
remained pretty static over a long period.

Cheers
--
Doogie