Re: Home automation methods ...Cbus, X10, Zwave....

["mark_harrison_uk2" <mph@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "noel_pilot" <HA@a...> wrote:
> Being an X10 newbie, an enthusiastic one tho!! I'm dabbling to see its
> potential before going large scale whole house over the next few years
> or so.

A wise course of action. I think that most of the "old timers" on
the
list did exactly that. An even wiser course of action now Part P of
the building regs is in place. (If you aren't a competent electrician
in the terms of Part P, you need to have one inspect and certify your
installation before it goes live, which adds to the cost of even a DIY
install.)

> I've read a bit about x10's downfalls, black spots, slight time delays
> etc but are these really that bad?

Yes and no. The ability of X10 do to scenes quickly is really what's
missing.

> Have seen comments pointing people towards cbus but having had a quick
> look its big big bucks!

CBus is one of a number of alternatives at about that price point. If
you're looking to do a lot of lighting design stuff, then I think that
Flexidim's controller software is much nicer that CBus'.
Alternatively, if you're looking at a wired system, IPHaus has a lot
going for it.

> Dont know much about zwave just that it exists!!

It does, and there's a lot of people behind it. Alternative wireless
products are the CBus wireless ranges, and the spectre of Zigbee
(massive American consortium still getting tied up in standards knots)
hangs over the whole market... like it has been for the last 2 years.

> So what options are there and are there any real reasons why x10
> cannot be used effectively in a whole house system for lighting and
> appliance control.  Lighting wise im looking for scene lighting
> which with x10 appears more than doable with dimmming etc etc

The big issue for me with X10 is the latency on scenes. If you have
lots of different lights going to different levels, then it takes a
while, and it's visually obvious that the commands are being sent
serially. If you've got multiple lights going to the SAME level, then
there are some tricks you can play with pre-set dim and partial codes
which will synchronise lights better, but it can be a hair-pulling
experience getting all that working.

It's fair to say that a HUGE number of people are installing X10, both
on a DIY basis, and professionally.

The big advantage of X10 (apart from the price) is the flexibility. If
you decide, one week after your refit, that you need an extra light
_there_, it's a cheap and easy matter to buy an extra plugin module.
If you've missed an extra lighting point with C-Bus, it's back to the
electrician, and the plasterer, and the decorator.

"Full disclosure" time now. I'm a Director of Simply Automate,
and
would love you to buy from us :-)

Mark Harrison