RE: NEW HA PROJECT

["Paul Gale" <groups2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well, it's not an ultra cheap option like a do-it-yourself kind of
solution -for a largish house  with all the options, you're looking at a
few grand upwards if you have a load of rads you want to include.

Maybe Neil Ball on list here can give a ballpark range of figures? I bought
from Neil who works for Sensible Heat.

Paul.



> -----Original Message-----
> From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On Behalf
> Of Ben McCormack
> Sent: 17 January 2008 12:19
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [ukha_d] NEW HA PROJECT
>
> Paul
>
> Great mail. We are just in the process of purchasing a new house and I
> would like to take HA a little further.
>
> One question. Hometronic, what sort of costs we would be looking at to
> have some control of the boiler and radiators with such a system?
>
> Cheers
> Ben
>
> On 17 Jan 2008, at 08:50, Paul Gale wrote:
>
> > Hi Aaron,
> >
> > I guess one of the big questions that anyone here will ask you is
> > how much you want (or are willing) to spend once you see what
lovely
> > kit is available!?
> >
> > In my situation, I have a CBus lighting system (see latest posts)
> > that is very capable and has some very nice control options
> > including LCD, glass faced DLT controllers - including blue
> > LED's!!!!! - all good gadgets must have at least one blue LED! ;)
> >
> > Heating is now controlled by a Honeywell Hometronic system and
every
> > radiator has a wireless TRV so I now have individual zoning and
> > unlimited setpoints/time programs per day of the week. I'm also
> > nearing completion (at last!) of a largish (and very complex)
loft
> > conversion which has UFH and an inverter air con system. These
are
> > both linked into Hometronic too and work intelligently with each
> > other. I also have 4 x Integra electric Velux windows that will
also
> > be brought into the system to allow automatic and manual remote
> > operation. I have the control interfaces for these but not yet
> > decided exactly which system they will get linked to. Oh, and all
> > the blinds are electric and will be remotely manually and/or
> > automatically controllable. The loft also has a number of zones
of
> > floor RGB LED lights - all controllable to whatever colour is
> > needed. These will be controlled via one of the systems detailed
> > below.
> >
> > TV/DVD/Sat/Music/HD etc etc is also distributed around the house
via
> > several systems - the AV stuff is switched via a couple of matrix
AV
> > switchers. Composite for most SD TV's via an Extron MAV128 and HD
> > via a KeyDigital HD switcher. The outputs of these (in Node 0)
are
> > sent through the whole house Cat5e system via Keith Doxey's Kat5
AV
> > boxes (allows sending of video/audio/digital audio long distances
> > over Cat5 with no loss or interference etc). Various music
sources
> > (mainly satellite radio and huge MP3 collection via a music
server)
> > are played into 12 zones in the house via ceiling speakers and
> > distributed/amplified via 2 x Russound CAV6.6 whole house amps.
> > These can also do composite video switching and routing.
> >
> > Alarm is dealt with via a Comfort alarm panel with second slave
> > panel to deal with all the zones (I put at least one PIR in each
> > room to allow some form of occupancy detection). This also allows
> > remote interrogation via telephone and will dial out on various
> > configurable occurrences.
> >
> > I have a couple of HA controllers - the main hardware HA
controller
> > is the excellent HomeVision Pro unit that does all mission
critical
> > hardware HA control. I also have HomeSeer software controller
> > running on a dedicated HA PC in a 19" rack case (also have 3
other
> > rack unit PC's running other tasks). The Comfort alarm is
directly
> > linked to the HomeVision controller so I have full control and
> > reporting of all alarm features. This means I can "do
stuff" when
> > the alarm is armed to away mode, the alarm goes off, garage door
is
> > opened (also electric and controlled by Comfort) etc etc - very
> > flexible. These hardware systems are also directly linked to
> > HomeSeer so basically everything is controllable by everything
else!
> >
> > I also recently bought on of Kevin's SUPERBLY EXCELLENT (is that
> > enough for another marketing payment Kevin ? ;) )
CBus/HomeVision/
> > xAP hardware gateway units. This allows even more control over
the
> > lighting and integration with many many other HA systems. For
> > example, this allows me to intelligently control bathroom and
toilet
> > fans rather than just have a timer option - e.g. the main
bathroom
> > fan only comes on if the light has been on for 2 minutes or more
and
> > also takes into account the time of day and what mode the alarm
is
> > in etc etc.
> >
> > I have a whole load of other software apps and various other HW
HA
> > gadgets - some of the more notable are James' xAP switchboard.
This
> > allows incoming calls via my 3 telephone lines (home and business
> > lines) to be announced over the whole house audio system via one
of
> > the great TTS voices. Even better, the system can also link to an
> > Outlook contact list, so if you use that, your contact names are
> > spoken rather than a telephone number.
> >
> > I don't yet have touchscreens mounted although I do have a number
of
> > 17" panels and a desktop unit waiting to be commissioned. I
run the
> > touchscreen HA software, MainLobby and would use this on these
once
> > they're in. Up until now, I've been running MainLobby on desktop
> > PC's as a method of controlling and monitoring most of my HA
systems
> > - including CCTV. There are other options although a lot of us on
> > list are still waiting for a truly affordable touchscreen option
> > that neatly fits into a wall.
> >
> > Oh, and I also have a CCTV system run by the very capable and
> > flexible Geovision hardware/software product. This runs on a
> > separate CCTV server PC.
> >
> > I hope this rambling makes some sense and gives you a few
pointers -
> > there are just so many ways to achieve a result - some cheap and
> > others VERY expensive - so it all depends how much you want to
spend
> > and also how much time you want to devote. My systems have been
> > built up over the last 6-7 years and are still very much an
on-going
> > project (especially with my conversion still being built).
> >
> > HTH?
> >
> > Paul.
> >
> >
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On
> >> Behalf
> >> Of c8les
> >> Sent: 17 January 2008 05:52
> >> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> >> Subject: [ukha_d] NEW HA PROJECT
> >>
> >> Hello,
> >>
> >> I am looking to install some Home Automation.
> >>
> >> I have currently re-wired upstairs in a star configuration
with
> >> Cat5e and twin and earth for all power circuits. I've bragged
about
> >> this stuff so much to my wife and its still not working.
Although
> >> most of the lights are 'temporarily' wired, and can be
switched
> >> on/off quite safely, with rubber gloves!!(Hope no one from
IET is
> >> here!)
> >>
> >> Initially, I would like to install the following, but am
looking for
> >> a good quality base system, so that additions can be done
when I
> >> start downstairs;
> >>
> >> Touch Screen in each room (4 off ) and one on landing area to
> >> control the following.
> >>
> >> Control of lights, on-off and dim.
> >> Control of Electric under-floor heating.
> >> Control of Electric Window Blinds.
> >> Able to call up existing CCTV system.
> >>
> >> I would like to install/program all items myself. What I
would like
> >> to know, is what would you experianced people recomend, and
where
> >> can I get the necessary equipment?
> >>
> >> The problem I'm finding is that many manufacturers want
> >> an 'installer' to do the work - One, I cant afford it, and
Two,
> >> Thats money I could be spending on more Home Automation Toys.
> >> Maybe I'm just not speaking to the correct person(s)?????
> >>
> >> Kind regards,
> >>
> >> Aaron Coles
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
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