RE: CBUS in general (quite long!)

["Paul Gordon" <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This thread has reminded me that I am supposed to be sorting out an
upgrade to CBUS at my place too...

It's something that was always at the back of my mind, and I have
planned for it by providing CAT5 cable to all my lightswitch
backboxes....

Having had yet another recent annoying failure with X10 (my bedroom fan
has stopped responding to my bedside MT10 controller), I'm becoming more
motivated to pull my finger out and start actually doing some of the
upgrades that I always planned for....

So, in essence, I want to get up to speed with the latest info...

Is the Clipsal course still the best way to get started?
Do they still run it? - If so, where and how often, and who should I
phone up to arrange it with?
I want to upgrade piecemeal, - probably do a room at a time, starting
with the master bedroom, then the lounge. I already have Clipsal
momentary switches in these locations, wired back to X10 DIN modules, so
I guess I'd be happy to keep these switches & use bus couplers
initially. However, I *really* want to get some of those Saturn switches
before long... - SEX ON A STICK!! - would it be as simple as swapping
out the X10 DIN modules, and dropping in some CBUS DIN modules in their
place? - at least from the mains POV?

Obviously I need a way of controlling/programming the CBUS network, I
already have Comfort and Homeseer (with the xAP plugin) and these two
are talking via a UCM & Patrick's Comfort-Homeseer plugin. Additionally
I have various other bits of HA kit including an Ocelot, a VIOM, and
various X10 controllers about the place. I imagine there are numerous
combinations of control possibilities available with that lot!

I've also no objection to buying additional dedicated CBUS hardware for
control purposes if I need to, but I just can't decide/figure out how I
want to approach it!!! (kid in a sweetshop kind of thing...)

So I want you guys to tell me what I want!!!

Starting in the bedroom (ooh-err) I have 4 loads; 3 lights, and 1
ceiling fan. All these are wired to X10 modules mounted in the loft just
above the bedroom. There is a single gang wallswitch with 2xmomentary
switches wired back to the X10 modules for the ceiling light and ceiling
fan. The other two lights are bedside lights, which currently have X10
control *only*, - there is no wiring for local switches for these two.
On my bedside I have an MT10 which (when it works) controls all 4 loads.
SWMBO's side has a 3-way Leviton switch mounted into a cut-out in an
adjacent piece of furniture.

There is a CAT5 cable run to the main lightswitch position on the wall,
and there is also a 4-outlet CAT5 faceplate behind the bedhead, all home
run back to N0. (But not all punched down yet). I also have CAT5 cable
runs between the loft (where the X10 modules for the bedroom are
located), and N0, (which is down in the cellar).

I also have a Comfort PIR in the room, and a Comfort keypad mounted on
my headboard, so I could use comfort keypad buttons for control if
that's an option.

I definitely want the existing local control via the
"conventional"
switch just inside the door to continue to provide simple on/off control
as it does currently. This is essential for WAF. There must also be
simple on/off/dim control from both bedside positions as current. -
retaining the existing Leviton switch on SWMBO's side may be a plus
point so long as it didn't introduce additional delays due to traversing
networks, - although having said that, the aim is actually to eradicate
the unreliability of the X10 components, so perhaps that's not such a
plus after all... The leviton is mounted in a j-box sized cut-out in a
box headboard, so *something* has to go there, or there will be a big
ugly hole... - aren't the Saturn's J-box sized? - SWMBO would definitely
be impressed (read high WAF) to be the recipient of the very first
Saturn switch in the house!!!

Decisions, decisions....

Come on chaps, give me some clarity here...

TIA

Paul G.


Oh, one last thing, a couple of the earlier posts mentioned a 25%
integrator discount. - I've not heard of this before, - what is
necessary to qualify?

Very last thing - promise... - I'll just chuck in the fact that I'm also
prepared to PAY for some consultancy to design my system (gasp) if it
can be proven to be worthwhile.... ;-)