Re: CBUS in general (quite long!)

["Frank Mc Alinden" <fmcalind@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Paul

> Is the Clipsal course still the best way to get started?

Cant comment on this as i havent done the course , although if not a
sparkie
and you can afford it i would do it ,as i believe you also get some cbus
kit thown in........

> 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

Bus couplers are supposed to be within 1metre  of the switch.....if long
runs then use aux inputs....
others may comment if used bus couplers on runs longer than a metre...

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?

If you have wired all lights back to x10 dim modules then there should be
no
problem just dropping in a cbus dimmer module...............

If you have locations where you havent rewired back to din modules then
when
available you can install the wireless Saturns ;-))...these had 1 or
dimmers
built in rated at 2amps and you can have 2 ,4,6 gang.......The wirelss
Saturns just replace the existing switch no neutral required....Also you
can
then purchase the wireless Gateway and that allows you to be able to
control
kit from the cbus wired network to the cbus wirless network and vice versa
;-))..........Also Paul you can get wireless plugin  appliance modules and
plugin dimmer modules ...and the rf remote is Sexy ;-))

> 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!

If using xAP then Kevins Cbus module springs to mind...........and of
course
Comfort can talk cbus i believe ???

> 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.

Anything wired back to x10 dimmers  can go onto dimmers Im assuming here
all
your lights are also on one circuit ...???...The stuff thats not wired back
then as mentioned above wireless might be an option here......


HTH
Frank



----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Gordon" <paul@xxxxxxx>
To: <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2004 7:28 AM
Subject: RE: [ukha_d] CBUS in general (quite long!)


>
> 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.... ;-)
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>