RE: Re: Bathroom project - Cbus style lighting system....1 room only though!!

["Paul Gordon" <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
> noel_pilot
> Sent: 29 September 2008 19:45
> To: UKHA Group
> Subject: [ukha_d] Re: Bathroom project - Cbus style lighting
system....1
> room only though!!
> From a very old cbus catalogue I had it seemed to show a two button
> saturn switch, I assume the less buttons the cheaper they are?
>=20

Yes, - but not massively, the higher button count models are better value
i=
n terms of price per button...


> Paul's right, I wasn't actually planning for individual control of any
> of the downlights to be honest, more likely to be keeping the spare
> channels for doing one of the bedrooms, how are the channels rated
> again?! my memory is shocking!!  I assume there's a power or current
> limit that then converts into the max power per channel for total of
> bulbs??
>=20

The dimmer module that would probably be the best fit for you, (the
L5504D2=
A) is rated for 2A per channel, i.e. good for about 480 Watts of lighting,
=
or max 80W per bulb if you have 6 fittings. - That's maximum of course,
and=
I presume you'd probably have no more than 6 x 50W fittings at most (that =
will be pretty bright in a small bathroom!) which, at 300W is well within
t=
he rated capacity of 1 channel.


> So a pac is the thing to do the programming?! Is that the one that
> links to a network and I can then program from a pc (or mac???) then
> the dimmer is the main power pack obviously that I need to run a beefy
> mains cable too (sorry have run not run myself!!) the rest is
obvious!!
> Is the pac required once the system is setup? Assuming I resisted the
> HA urge to tinker?!?
>

Yes, the L5504D2A mentioned above includes a CBUS power supply, and will
pr=
ovide the power to the CBUS network. The PAC doesn't (from memory) have a
n=
etwork interface, - I think you're thinking of the E5500CN computer
network=
interface, which you would need if you wanted to connect the toolkit commi=
ssioning software to the CBUS network over your LAN (including remotely
ove=
r the 'net). - However, the considerably cheaper 5500PC Interface (PCI)
can=
do exactly the same job via a serial connection to the PC. These two modul=
es are not the same as the PAC, - those are primarily for doing the
initial=
commissioning programming of the modules, and do not include the logic eng=
ine which you need for doing the smart "if/then" type conditional
responses=
. The PAC however, does have the logic engine, *AND* it is capable of
opera=
ting the same way as the PCI, so in essence the PAC is the only module
you'=
d need for both commissioning & intelligent logic, >provided< you
don't nee=
d the LAN connectivity... The PAC can't be both a PCI and a logic engine
at=
the same time, - when being used as a PCI for commissioning CBUS modules e=
tc. it temporarily stops running the logic engine, so your fancy
programmed=
responses don't run when you have it in this mode. Fortunately, you only n=
eed to use it for commissioning infrequently - like when you add new
module=
s to the network for instance, so most of the time it can be left sitting
t=
here doing its logic functions, and it *IS* required to be running the
logi=
c engine 24/7 in order for its programming to be active. It also contains
t=
he realtime clock so that you can have timed responses etc.


=20

>=20
> Next question, my consumer unit is in the kitchen, adjacent to an
> external wall to the front of the house.  I'll need a high capacity
> cable to the loft to the dimmer pack.....can these be run externally
> i.e. up the outside wall of the house or must they be run internally??
>=20
>=20

I am not an electrician!... However, there most certainly are external
main=
s cables available... would you actually need to do that though? - I would
=
have thought that you'd have plenty of access to the upstairs lighting
ring=
from within the loft... It should be a fairly simple matter to rewire the =
bathroom lights & switch entirely from the loft space? - that is what I
did=
in my installation.



> Cheers in advance,
>=20
> and can anyone recommend a good priced cbus shop online that I can
> browse the products??
>=20
> Thanks
>=20
> Noel
>=20
> --- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "ben addison" <ben@...> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Noel,
> >
> >
> >
> > You could install a c-bus system for around =A31000.00 plus
labour.
> >
> >
> >
> > You would need;
> >
> > New B&W touch screen in logic =A3670.00
> >
> > 8 channel dimmer                     =A3420.00
> >
> > PIR                                          =A390.00
> >
> > 6 gang Saturn                           =A3140.00
> >
> > PAC                                        =A3360.00
> >
> >
> >
> > If you use the touch screen with logic, you will gain an extra
> switch and
> > will not need the PAC
> >
> >
> >
> > Cost then will be =A31320.00
> >
> >
> >
> > HTH
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Ben Addison
> >
> > Ben Addison Ltd (electrical Contractors)
> >
> > 07889845712
> >
> > www.benaddison.com
> >
> >   _____
> >
> > From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On
> Behalf Of
> > noel_pilot
> > Sent: 28 September 2008 12:24
> > To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> > Subject: [ukha_d] Bathroom project - Cbus style lighting
system....1
> room
> > only though!!
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I've just started an intermediate DIY course at the local college
> > (wanted to know how to plaster so I can start chasing cables etc)
and
> > I'm planning my first big project...my bathroom.
> >
> > Plan to completely redo and obviously HA has to play a part.
> >
> > I'm in a 2 bed mid terraced new build (2001) house so I'm not
about to
> > put in thousands of =A3's worth of lighting for such a small
house but =
I
> > would like to see what I can do at reasonable (!!) cost.
> >
> > I remember reading way back about someone who had a lighting
setup
> > whereby they have occupancy detection so lights come on
automatically
> > but with intelligence, i.e. if its 0200 only turn the
landing/bathroom
> > lights on to 15% or so so as not to blind you in your sleepy
state!!
> >
> > I love this idea and would love to be able to replicate it for
this
> > project.
> >
> > I can't remember who or what system that was (feel free to pipe
up :)
> > ) but could this be achieved through cbus alone without requiring
> > other systems to be on 24/7 controlling the logic?
> >
> > For such a small scale is there anything else out there that
could do
> > this? all I have upstairs is two bedrooms and the bathroom, one
> > bedroom is for a lodger and i'm not overly fussed by lighting
> > automation in my room, altho motion activated lights when I walk
in
> > would be quite cool!!
> >
> > I have a large loft above so could put power packs etc up there
> > without too many issues although I'm obviously going to need to
have a
> > new electric supply run to the loft.
> >
> > Being a bathroom I'm aware I'm running into Part P, am I correct
in
> > understanding that work can be done by anyone but it has to be
signed
> > off by a Part P electrician?
> >
> > Lighting plan is for six small downlight/spots in the ceiling, at
> > present its just a normal bathroom, single central ceiling light
on a
> > string pull switch that also turns on the extractor fan.
> >
> > Plan to retain the fan albeit a different bezel and also add
heated
> > mirror pads to prevent steaming of the mirror.
> >
> > A 'cool' switch/touchpad/screen to activate the lights probably
> > located outside of the bathroom would also be a bonus!!
> >
> > I'm in the very early thought stages of this and more posts will
I'm
> > sure come over the coming months (I will of course take pics when
I do
> > the job) but any thoughts re the lighting would be greatfully
> > appreciated at this point.
> >
> > For those far more experienced in cbus could anyone just give me
a
> > guide price of what I'd need to put in the dimmer packs needed
and say
> > a saturn switch for just the bathroom maybe with expansion
capability
> > to cover one bedroom?
> >
> > Cheers all and sorry for the long post!!
> >
> > Noel
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>=20
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