RE: Re: Lighting Options ....

["Paul Gordon" <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I Was going to suggest much the same thing...

With X10 DIN rail kit, it's fairly likely to be star wired to the loads,
which would be just the right arrangement for CBUS to use. So the mains
parts ought to be able to just drop into the place of the X10 units
fairly simply.

The main difference is of course, the switch... the X10 DIN modules use
240V mains from the dimmer to the momentary switch. Therefore you *might
not* have the required CAT5 cable at the switch position.

Here's an unsupported, - but quite likely to work solution... - use a
CBUS bus coupler in the backbox behind the switch, connected to the
momentary switches, and then make use of the redundant length of mains
T&E to connect it to the CBUS network, instead of proper CAT5. This is
completely unsupported of course, but anecdotal evidence indicates that
the CBUS network is so reliable & resilient, that it would probably
work
over a piece of wet string if it had to... I believe there are people
here who have actually run CBUS over mains T&E instead of CAT5 (Phil?)
-
got to at least be worth a try on the bench if the lack of CAT5 to the
switch would otherwise be the stumbling block for your installation.

Of course, MAKE SURE YOU DON'T MIX MAINS & CBUS!! - Expensive things
will likely go BANG! If you do.. - if you try this, double check, then
triple-check your wiring, and don't come crying if you get it wrong..

:-)

Paul G.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of paul_watkin
> Sent: 16 January 2008 12:31
> To: UKHA Group
> Subject: [ukha_d] Re: Lighting Options ....
>
> Richard
>
> I am not 100% familiar with X10 having gone down the CBUS route from
> the outset but if I understand you correctly you already have the X10
> dimmers etc DIN mounted in the electrical cabinets and I am assuming
> each output goes to the specific load under control.
>
> If that is the case could you not swap the X10 Dimmers for CBUS
> versions and then use a combination of CBUS Wireless (for areas of
> the house that would be difficult to run cat5 to), Bus couplers
> (allow the use of conventional momentary switches to control CBUS
> loads) and hard wired CBUS in order to minimise the ammount of
> retrofit needed.
>
> Admittedley this approach may be more costly than an out and out
> Wired installation but would give lower installation hassle
>
> Paul
>
> --- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Paul Gale" <groups2@...>
wrote:
> >
> > Hi Richard,
> >
> > I did indeed replace the X10 with CBus - but it wasn't a simple
> job. When I installed the X10 system, we did a retro-install and
> changed a lot of the house wiring. We had to modify a fair bit of
> this to accommodate the new CBus install. Running Cat5/CBus cable
> could also be an issue - we used a mix of existing Cat5 (that I'd
> previously run to some light switches and also a lot of new pink CBus
> cable. So unfortunately, it's not a simple swap X10 for CBus install :
> (
> >
> > Ben here on the list did the work for me - took about 5 x 12 hr
> days to do it. The system is not yet fully complete - the loft
> conversion will also be added in shortly - this has 2 x high wire LV
> systems, bathroom LV lights, 6 x 5A dedicated lighting sockets and 3
> x sets of RGB LED stainless steel floor marker lights (controllable
> via DMX).
> >
> > HTH a bit?
> >
> > Paul.
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On
> Behalf
> > > Of rb_ziggy
> > > Sent: 15 January 2008 23:45
> > > To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> > > Subject: [ukha_d] Re: Lighting Options ....
> > >
> > > Paul
> > >
> > > Did you replace the X10 with CBus?  I've an X10 based system
> using DIN
> > >  modules with momentary wall switches and was wondering if
its
> > > possible to switch to X10 without massive rewiring (i.e.
hopefully
> > > switch out the X10 modules for CBus ones in the cabinets.
> > >
> > > I'd be interested in your experiences.
> > >
> > > Richard
> > >
> > > --- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Paul Gale"
<groups2@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I have CBus here too now (for the last 3-4 months) -
reasonably
> big
> > > install (although not quite on the Wembley scale!) as it
does
> every
> > > light in the house plus bedside lamps, fans etc etc. Also
VERY
> good
> > > for automation if you want to go down that route - I have
mine
> talking
> > > to HomeVision HA controller and xAP protocol via one of
Kevin
> Hawkins'
> > > EXCELLENT CBus/xAP/HV gateways :)
> > > >
> > > > I used to have a whole house X10 system using AD10's
and LD11's
> but
> > > decided to replace it with CBus as the X10 was a bit
unreliable at
> > > times.
> > > >
> > > > CBUS = HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! :)
> > > >
> > > > Paul.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx]
> On
> > > Behalf
> > > > > Of Rob Mouser
> > > > > Sent: 14 January 2008 09:42
> > > > > To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> > > > > Subject: RE: [ukha_d] Lighting Options ....
> > > > >
> > > > > I have to echo the comments on C-bus. We have two
houses with
> C-
> > > bus.
> > > > > The
> > > > > oldest install is now more than 5 years old and
has NEVER
> missed a
> > > > > beat.
> > > > > Its simple enough to install and configure
yourself (provided
> your
> > > > > competent with electrics and of course Part P bla
bla bla)
> and is
> > > rock
> > > > > solid.
> > > > > Also once you've had the benefit of PIR, Light
Level sensors
> etc
> > > and
> > > > > also scene's you'll never quite bring yourself to
use a rocker
> > > switch
> > > > > or
> > > > > rotary dimmer <shudder> :-)
> > > > >
> > > > > Rob
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > **** Sponsored By http://www.Berble.com ****
> > > > > ****       Computers You Carry          ****
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > **** Sponsored By http://www.Berble.com ****
> > > ****       Computers You Carry          ****
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>
>
>
> **** Sponsored By http://www.Berble.com ****
> ****       Computers You Carry          ****
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.4/1227 - Release Date:
16/01/2008 01:40
>