Re: was: Re: Idratek - Serious Contender? Now: Alternative to clipsal switches in C-Bus Install

[Lehane Kellett <lehane@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Using Netiom's (4 in fact) is part of the solution I'm currently putting=20
together for our new build. They are extremely versatile and the tests=20
so far using Cat5e shows you can drive the inputs over quite long=20
lengths. Not only are they being used for lighting (as inputs - DMX is=20
the output) but they also control the bathroom fans, the heating=20
actuators (one per room on manifold) and other bits and pieces.

Pics of how two of them are in use are at=20
http://honeycottage.mm-wave.com/node1.htm

Lehane


Nigel Giddings wrote:
> Kevin,
>
> It's my understanding that the AUX units can also provide the scene
trigg=
ers, dim, etc... I agree I will be losing the indicators which is a
definit=
e downside.
>
> The reason for using the C-Bus Aux units is that they are 'Clipsal'
units=
.
>
> I have used the VIOM before and I am very impressed, not tried the
NETIOM=
yet but it is high on my list of adaptable solutions, I have it in mind fo=
r the gate at the end of the drive. By using a NETIOM (and a PC) the
lighti=
ng system would become a little too non standard.
>
> I would be interested in using the solution you suggest 'on top of'
the C=
-Bus system to add additional intelligence. That is to say 'nice to have'
f=
eatures rather than 'must have'. By that I mean light switches need to be
9=
9.99% reliable, adding a PC to the mix could reduce this figure somewhat...
>
> Regards
>
> Nigel
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kevin Hawkins [mailto:lists@xxxxxxx]=20
> Sent: 01 February 2006 14:08
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [ukha_d] was: Re: Idratek - Serious Contender? Now:
Alternat=
ive to clipsal switches in C-Bus Install
>
>
> Nigel Giddings wrote:
>=20=20=20
>> The main driver for this is cost, secondly, as much as I like the
clipsa=
l C-Bus switches they are only switches ...
>>=20=20=20=20=20
> Actually they are quite a bit more in practice. Aside from simple
ONOFF=
=20
> they can easily be set up for many actions including dimming,
ramps,=20
> timers, scene triggers etc, and they have multi state feedback=20
> indicators.  Some switches have IR receivers too.  Most importantly=20
> depending on the model of switch they can also store and manage
scenes=20
> on C-Bus.   C-Bus is also very intelligent with regard to any=20
> discrepancies it comes across (for example 2 switches think a light
is=20
> ON but another switch and a dimmer thinks it's OFF, perhaps caused by
a=20
> glitch, or a network interruption).  There is an involved
arbitration=20
> system that will resolve such inconsistencies that C-Bus switches=20
> participate in.  Also although it is fairly simple to send a
"Group XX=20
> to Level YY" onto C-Bus say via the PCI - something on C-Bus has
to=20
> maintain the group level and report it periodically , you can't
create=20
> 'phantom' groups on C-Bus that are maintained like true C-Bus
groups=20
> (arbitration/reporting/status etc) .  This means that some C-Bus=20
> hardware device has to have the group defined.
>
> One of the things I am doing is using xAP to control C-Bus - hence
any=20
> switch that can generate a xAP command can control a C-Bus load. 
The=20
> xAP Netiom for example has 16 inputs (which are debounced) and thus
can=20
> attach to 16 switches - for =A370+VAT - also you get 16 outputs as
well. =
-=20
> usable for relays with C-Bus control.=20
> http://www.phaedrusltd.com/pages/html/netiom-xap.html
> What I don't know just yet is how immune these are to long distance
runs=
=20
> for the switches. If you can run the wires not alongside any mains
that=20
> would help of course.   For say 4 x 4 way switches in one room this=20
> might be worth considering. There are a couple of other things like
how=20
> to get dimming working based on momentary actions and how to map xAP
to=20
> C-Bus groups but all achievable (currently needs a PC application
helper)=
.
>
> Kevin
>
>
>
>=20=20
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>=20=20
>
>
>
>
> ------oooo0oooo-------
> 1/2/2006
>
>
>
>=20=20
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>=20=20
>
>
>
>
>=20=20=20



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