RE: Re: NEW HA PROJECT

["Paul Gale" <groups2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

There are a number of suppliers of the HA kit - just do a search and
you'll find some but to give you a few starters:

http://www.automatedhome.co.uk/
http://www.automatedhome.co.uk/Automated-Home-Links.html

I'd recommend going for a HomeVision controller:
http://www.csi3.com/homevis2.htm
But there are lots of other options too.

Comfort is good for a slightly less capable HA controller but an
excellent alarm system:
http://www.comfort.org.uk/index1.html

My main advice is don't rush - there are sooooo many options and you
need to do a lot of research to see which fits your needs best. You need
to draw up a list of exactly what you want to achieve and also how much
you're willing to spend. It will start to become less confusing! HA can
take in so many different areas, each area can be a major topic of study
in it's own right but with a bit of research and asking lots of
questions here, will become more obvious over time.

-----Original Message-----
From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of c8les
Sent: 19 January 2008 21:44
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: [ukha_d] Re: NEW HA PROJECT

Thanks Paul, and everyone else who replied.

I'm still very new to all this, and still very confused!
I went to the Home Automation Show last year, and many of the
manufacturers want an installer to do the work.

I'm currently thinking of using an industrial PLC (programmable
logic controller) to carry out the tasks/control, as its something I
have used before.

My main concern is I've never had to integrate CCTV and A.V. into
something designed for industry?? Also will I regret it in the
future?

Can you, or anyone, post some web links to useful info and or
suppliers of the items you mentioned.

My starting point is what should I install to carry out the hard
control (inputs and outputs).

regards, Aaron


--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Paul Gale" <groups2@...> 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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