Re: Re: Whole House Rennovation Automation Plans - Have I got it right?

[Kevin Hawkins <yahoogroupskh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The Comfort integration with C-Bus is ideal for synching lighting
activity with alarm activity and also (IIRC) scheduling of lighting but
beyond that I feel you would benefit from a more user friendly
controller.   HA standalone controllers are good at handling basic forms
of data (on/off/levels and limited text/serial) and the HA PC
applications are better capable of handling richer data like emails, TV
listings, weather etc .  I enlist a PC based application (HouseBot) for
example to get Sonos linked in to my system, and several people link
Comfort in via HomeSeer for example.

Yes - I still have gateways.   Just at the moment I am going through an
approvals process to get the necessary C-Bus Enabled logo status.  Until
that time I can't provide gateways with onboard C-Bus interfaces - you
will instead have to attach your C-Bus RS232 PCI  (PC interface) module
to my gateway via a supplied serial cable which provides the same
functionality. .  Once (if) I get the approval from Clisal/Schneider I
will then be able to supply the C-Bus SIM modules that just plug onto my
board which tidies things up a little.

I am particularly fond of HV as it has served me well for many years. I
know a lot of UKHA'ers would agree. Although it's been around a while it
hasn't really been displaced by anything.  If others have other
suggestions I too would be interested ..

For using HV with C-Bus you can achieve this with just software (using
macros) although it's a limited solution. Possibly a starting point
though.  The gateway just offloads all the C-Bus processing from HV ,
communicating only the changes and handles synchronisation. Very
usefully it also allows you to trigger HV macros when a C-Bus light
changes state (ONOFF). This is normally only an X10 function. All C-Bus
lights appear within HV macros as named devices and their states can be
tested accordingly. You will need a second serial port for HV as well to
attach to C-Bus ,  HV Pro has extra ports inbuilt.    Although you might
associate my gateway with xAP it's not using xAP in this configuration
(although you can add it should you wish).   Frank also has an IR
distribution system for HV (FirM).

cheers Kevin




Ben McCormack wrote:
> Kevin
>
> I can see your point about Comfort - Is the Alarm system the right
place for HA Control.
>
> So if I took some of the logic out of Comfort I would need to
replicate this in Homevision.
> Are you still producing the CBUS Gateways?
>
> Ben
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, Kevin Hawkins <yahoogroupskh@...> wrote:
>
>> Hi ben,
>>
>> You might also want to consider how you might distribute HDMI
signals
>> and also the matrix switching of the video sources  ?
>>
>> Yes, you will likely need some scheduler / logical  controller...
either
>> standalone or a PC based application.  PaulG has a very similar
setup to
>> your proposal...  I do like the approach you are taking of having
>> standalone systems that work independently - and do what they are
>> intended to do really well (HomeTronic, Comfort, C-Bus, Sonos etc)
- the
>> challenge comes with integrating them all.
>>
>> ATM The HV controller is really good value (half price) .  The
three
>> nice things about HV are that it is very capable but easy to
understand,
>> 100% dependable and of course it runs standalone without a PC so
>> available 24/7.    The restriction for your setup is essentially
that it
>> was designed around an X10 lighting model.  It does now support
'Custom
>> Lighting' which could allow you [ via a C-Bus gateway ;-) ] to
link in
>> with your C-Bus setup.  It wont interact with Comfort too easily
either
>> although you can use inputs and outputs to synch alarm status of
course.
>>
>> Comfort is also of course well capable of 24/7 independent
operation
>> although outiside of the alarm functionality it is a little
'tight' in
>> how you have to code things. By this I mean that you need a bit of
>> experience and it's more programmatic (lower level language) with
>> limited space than say HV.  However you would have tight
alarm/lighting
>> integration. For me it's a bit against the grain to impose too
much HA
>> control within what is essentially your alarm system but it's a
>> dependable and capable system.   I just wouldn't want to be
constantly
>> revising programs in an alarm system I depend on.   You may need
to
>> consider any insurance aspects as well.   I haven't looked at
current
>> functionality of the Comfort/C-Bus connectivity - for example the
>> ability to handle other C-Bus applications apart from
lighting.(??)
>> C-Bus now has many applications in use eg 'trigger' 'sensors'
'heating'
>> 'security' etc etc..   I believe Comfort still links to C-Bus via
their
>> application group levels synched to internal Comfort variables.
>>
>> There are of course the C-Bus automation engines like the PAC
controller
>> , touchscreens and their software applications like HomeGate.  
Depends
>> on how wide a control you want from one system, in terms of the
devices
>> and functionality encompassed.  This is where it gets interesting
-
>> getting many disparate systems talking to each other and all
manageable
>> from one HA controller.  These standalone systems have gained
their
>> reputations as best of breed often because they are somewhat
closed to
>> external integration.
>>
>>     Kevin
>>
>>
>>   Ben McCormack wrote:
>>
>>> All
>>>
>>> I am getting to the final stages of planning a complete house
>>> renovation including full
>>> rewire, as part of this I intend to automate the property and
try and
>>> integrate systems as
>>> much as possible.
>>>
>>> I was hoping to have my plans checked by the knowledge of the
group!
>>>
>>> Audio - 5 Zones
>>> -------------
>>> Sonos running from Mini Mac - 5 Zone Players and 4 Remotes
>>>
>>> Video
>>> -------
>>> Multiple Hacked Apple TVs
>>> KAT5 Units for Limited Tivo Distribution
>>>
>>> Lighting
>>> ----------
>>> CBUS Dimmers with Neo Switches in most rooms
>>>
>>> Alarm
>>> --------
>>> Comfort with CBUS Module
>>> PIR in each room
>>>
>>> Heating Control
>>> -------------
>>> Hometronic with Relay input module to Comfort
>>>
>>> IR
>>> ----
>>> I would like to be able to achieve 2 things
>>> 1. IR Distribution around the house ie for Remote Tivo
>>> 2. Use IR to control some systems ie When PIR in the Kitchen
is
>>> activated then send an IR
>>> command to turn the TV in the kitchen on (Just an example)
>>>
>>> For IR Distribution I will use either Xantech or Keene
>>>
>>> For IR control and intelligence I was planning to use Comfort.
Would
>>> this be the right thing
>>> to use?
>>>
>>> Cabling
>>> -------
>>> Planning multiple CAT5e runs to each room in the house wired
back to
>>> Patch Panels in the
>>> loft where most of the equipment will be located.
>>>
>>> Temperature Monitoring
>>> ---------------------
>>> Independent of the Hometronic system I may want to add
temperature
>>> monitoring to each
>>> room. I am intend to run Cat5 cables to each room so I could
use
>>> 1-Wire sensors.
>>>
>>> System Intelligence
>>> ----------------
>>>
>>> One question that I have is regarding where the intelligence
should sit?
>>> I would like to be able to do things similar to this
>>>
>>> If the time is later than 16:00
>>> AND
>>> Alarm is unset
>>> AND
>>> No lights are on in the lounge
>>> THEN
>>> Turn on Lights A,B and C in the Lounge
>>>
>>> If a specific IR command is sent
>>> AND
>>> Alarm is unset
>>> AND
>>> Time is after 09:00
>>> THEN
>>> Turn Heating on in the Office
>>> AND
>>> Send IR command to switch TV on
>>>
>>> Can Comfort handle this sort of Logic processing? Is there any
other
>>> logic engine I should
>>> be considering? HomeVision?
>>>
>>> System Control
>>> -------------
>>>
>>> Webcontrol of all systems is essential
>>> Ideally I would like to have touchscreen but these will
probably be
>>> too expensive unless
>>> someone has a cheaper alternative?
>>>
>>> CCTV
>>> -----
>>> Not in the current plans. Could use IP Cameras at a later
date.
>>> Considering if a Video door phone integrated into comfort may
be an idea
>>>
>>> So, are these plans any good? Have I missed anything obvious
out?
>>>
>>> Any input will be appreciated
>>>
>>> Ben
>>>
>>>
>>>
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