Re: What Infrastruture? - conclusions, almost

["Jonathan Shaw" <semi.jon@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks for the responses to my question.  I have collated what I
have=20
learned below - it could become an FAQ with a bit more work (I've=20
indicated my further questions) if UKHA_D does such things.=20
Thanks
Jon

Flexible Smart Home Infrastructure - a first stab
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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Judging by the "newbie" questions on home automation and=20
entertainment internet newsgroups and forums the first time many=20
people (including me) begin thinking about enabling a smart home is=20
when they are about to undertake a major project.  The area is vast=20
and there are many competing smart home products covering=20
entertainment, security and automation each with their own=20
communication standards and wiring requirements.  This means that=20
there is no common infrastructure that offers complete flexibility=20
between various systems.  This note is an attempt to define a cable=20
infrastructure that offers a degree of flexibility and choice of end=20
system.  It is very much work in progress, send me your comments and=20
I will update over time.

Main Systems
++++++++++++
Lighting
--------
Star wire in 1.0mm , 1 cable run per light group/channel.  Run 1 x 3=20
core and earth switch cable from ceiling rose to switch plate this=20
will provide a neutral for the dimmers that need it. Also run a mains-
rated CAT5e cable.=20=20
Use a star feed also for 5A sockets for floor / table lights
Pros:
Allows use of following switching and dimming options: conventional,=20
C-bus, Rako, Idratek, X-10
Cons:
Will require additional consumer unit space, see Locations, below
Questions:
Can low energy halogen-style lights be dimmed?

Appliances
----------
Star wire 1 socket per room for curtain closers or other purpose=20
(e.g. Christmas lights) on 2.5mm
In rooms with TV's star wire AV equipment (not used for recording)=20
and screens / projectors to reduce standby consumption.
Remaining sockets on conventional 2.5mm.
Future appliance switching could use plug in device (X-10, Zwave,=20
Zigbee) or spur from the ring (Idratek, C-bus).
Pros
Covers primary appliance switching and allows future development.=20=20
Plug-in modules allow great flexibility.
Cons
Control of spurs could be tricky.  If need a spur, it will probably=20
require provision of another socket box or two (& subsequent=20
decoration)
Questions:
Is there a limit on spurs from ring?
Do all spurs have to be fused?
If using a fused spur then would need someway of controlling it =96=20
could this be achieved with daisy chained mains-rated CAT5e?

Data & Phone:
-------------
2xCat5e to each room, more to large rooms so termination on each side=20
of room.  These run back to a patch panel so can be used for variety=20
of purposes, even sensors, I/O etc but would result in trailing lead.

TV, Radio
----------

1xCT100 or WR100 to each room from TV amp/splitter location (e.g.=20
Loftbox or similar) Plus additional to sites of Video feed equipment
Use data network for streamed video from e.g. PVR
If using HDMI plan route from Video equipment to screen to ensure=20
cable length <10m

Audio
-----
Run speaker cable (number of strands to suit personal preference)=20
from locations of audio equipment to speaker locations in multiple=20
rooms.  Also feed cable from (a wall plate possibly in) each room to=20
speakers in the same room.
Allows use of multi room amplifier such as Living control, Musica=20
when combined with data cable.
Note in-ceiling speakers can cause significant disturbance in rooms=20
above them.
Pro
Choice of flash multi-room audio or just an amplifier per room
Con
Phono-level distribution not catered for directly but could use a=20
data cable.
Have to make an early choice about speaker location (in ceiling, wall=20
mounted floor standing) if want to avoid trailing cables.

IR
--
Coax used for TV distribution can be used to distribute IR for TV=20
control =96 no further cables needed.  Some systems also have IR=20
control but these tend use a CAT5 cable bus used for other devices=20
that contain an IR receiver.

Question:
Do C-bus, Rako, Comfort, Idratek etc IR devices transmit as well as=20
receive?


Other Cat5e
+++++++++++
Sensors:=20
--------
General Question
Do these need to be star-wired back to Node-0 / patch panel or are=20
they daisy chained or does it depend?
Door bell
Link this to HA system. To allow HA system to trigger events on door=20
bell.

Security / Fire / Presence
--------------------------
PIRs, magnetic reed switches (windows, doors), glass break etc
Most generic device is a PIR, but choice of PIR needs to account for:
=95	Pets (do you want to trigger their presence)?
=95	Heat sources such as radiators, windows
Door mounted magnetic reed switches or beam breaks can be used to=20
supplement this.
PIR location is critical.
Use cat5e cabling for sensors=20
Pro
Do not need to buy another type of cable, there are 4 pairs in a=20
single cable so adequate for proper security-alarm type PIR.  Offers=20
some future flexibility e.g. replace PIR with IP camera.
Con
Cat5 slightly more expensive than 6 core alarm cable

Questions
For security I assume these need to be fed back to an alarm panel?
How are alarm panels connected to HA server? RS232?  Is there a cable=20
length limit for RS232?
Comfort is sold as an alarm panel but it allows remote disarming, so=20
do not think it can be NACOSS approved?

Temperature / Heating
---------------------
Drop cat5 cable to back of heating controller location and heating=20
sensors so these can be picked up by HA system.

CCTV
----
Could use CAT5 or wireless for IP cameras.
Consider
=95	Protection of location, from elements, from oiks
=95	Focal length (how far will subject be from camera)
=95	Lighting (will subject be back lit, in low light, at night)

Question:
How to connect basic cameras? 75 Ohm TV cable e.g. ct-100??


I/O devices
-----------
Consider locations of
=95	Keypads for multi room audio systems
=95	Touch panels
=95	Alarm key pad (Comfort) / Multi function devices (Idratek)

If these will be adjacent to light switch plate then could run=20
multiple Cat5e down to the switch plate and coil surplus for later=20
use.  If conduit or similar used surplus could be in floor void to be=20
pulled through later.

Locations
+++++++++
All data cables need to be returned to a single point (node-0).=20=20
Computers connected to the network can be elsewhere in the home if=20
not enough space in Node-0.
Node-0 could be in a loft but care needed:
=95	Lofts can be filthy, damp places, not ideal for good=20
connections
=95	Lofts can be very hot in summer and cold in winter =96 heat=20
certainly not ideal for computer equipment, fan could be required,=20
ensure vent does not allow ingress of damp.
Under stairs cupboard is a popular location, consider:
=95	Cable route to upper floors (may not be able to conceal=20
within the stairs depending on design)
=95	Ventilation if it will be the home of computer equipment
=95	Fire protection (if home of computer equipment) =96 most houses=20
only have one staircase, if there is a problem with your equipment=20
your fire-escape could be the seat of the fire.  Fit a smoke / heat=20
alarm within the cupboard.

A Master and secondary consumer units can be used to accommodate Star-
wired controllers based on DIN modules.  The secondary consumer units=20
can be distributed to convenient locations e.g. 1 per floor, this=20
will reduce cable required as well as easing wall-congestion in one=20
location.
Multiple consumer units can be used
Question:
Can Din-rail devices be controlled remotely from Node-0 over=20
structured wiring?
How are CAT5 base Bus systems interconnected? I.e. is there a maximum=20
number of devices on each leg of the bus, how are bus-legs connected=20
together?  Should all these sensor cables be run back to the same=20
point as the data/phone/coax?