Re: Contemplating house rewiring - advice?

["Alan Middleton" <yahoo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I thought most HA lighting systems required a neutral which isn't the
norm in UK lighting. If that is true (and I'm not 100% sure) I'd concider
rewiring with one present.

----- Start Original Message -----
Sent: Sat, 24 Nov 2012 14:06:24 +0000
From: James Reed <james@xxxxxxx>
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ukha_d] Contemplating house rewiring - advice?

> Thanks Paul, this is very helpful.
>
> I can see that the star wiring may be problematic, particulary trying
to
> explain it all to SWMBO when there will be higher costs etc.
>
> I will pursue the pink CAT5 idea as you suggest. So far as topology
> goes, I guess the idea would be to terminate as much as possible of it
> in a single place, but again thinking about aesthetics could you have
> nodes at each floor with links between them? I read the Idratek wiring
> guidance which seemed to suggest such a thing might be possible. Again
I
> want to try and put it in a way which makes it easy for the sparks to
> follow as I imagine they won't have much experience of this sort of
thing.
>
> James
>
> On 24/11/2012 1:11 pm, Paul Gordon wrote:
> >
> > Yup, you've answered your own question pretty well James...
> >
> > To give yourself the utmost flexibility in your future selection
of what
> > system to go for, if you both star-wire the mains cable *and* run
some
> > control cable into each backbox as well, I think you've pretty
much
> > allowed
> > for any possibility.. and even if you end up not using one or
other cable,
> > at least you have not limited your options in any way, and cable
is -
> > comparatively - cheap.. (compared the HA modules you will
eventually
> > connect
> > to them!)
> >
> > Couple of thoughts..
> >
> > Star wiring the mains isn't the "norm" in the UK, so
your sparkies may be
> > resistant to the idea... it will increase cable costs - both in
that you
> > will use more of it - the ring main topology was thought up to
> > minimise the
> > quantity of cable required I believe, - and I think you have to
uprate the
> > mains cable you use... - your sparks should know about that
assuming they
> > know their onions...
> >
> > For control cable, even though you seem to have rejected CBUS for
now, you
> > would still get benefit from using CBUS's pink CAT5 cable as your
control
> > wiring.. - it's not specific to CBUS - it's just bog standard
CAT5
> > cable on
> > the inside, - but the pink outer sheath is certified mains rated,
so
> > you are
> > allowed within the UK wiring regs to bring that cable into the
same
> > enclosure where mains is present... - that is not permitted with
> > "ordinary"
> > computer CAT5 cable - which can be obtained quite a bit
cheaper...
> >
> > CAT5 cable at each socket and switch backbox shoud cate for just
about any
> > wired HA system, although I believe there are a few options
available that
> > require the use of their own proprietary control cable..
personally I
> > wouldn't give consideration to any HA system that imposes that
demand, but
> > that's just me... - for me, if CAT5 isn't good enough, then I'm
not giving
> > that system my money...
> >
> > Paul G.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx <mailto:ukha_d%40yahoogroups.com>
> > [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx <mailto:ukha_d%40yahoogroups.com>]
On
> > Behalf Of
> > James Reed
> > Sent: 23 November 2012 20:00
> > To: UKHA_D Group
> > Subject: [ukha_d] Contemplating house rewiring - advice?
> >
> > Hi
> >
> > I've just moved in to a largish victorian terrace. The wiring is
not
> > in good
> > condition, and as we are planning to stay for some time I'm
contemplating
> > having the whole house rewired.
> >
> > I'm keen on home automation but haven't really got the money (or
the
> > permission from HQ!) to install all the modules etc now. I'm
> > interested in a
> > wired system such as Idratek (have looked at Cbus but seems too
> > expensive by
> > comparison).
> >
> > I've got some electricians coming round, and basically what I am
asking is
> > what sort of wiring would I need to give me options in the future
to
> > add kit
> > bit by bit? I was thinking that I would need control wires run
along with
> > the mains cabling for the lights at least - any suggestions how?
> >
> > ALso should I be considering 'star wiring' of the lighting
circuits?
> >
> > What I'm trying to balance up is making the most of the
opportunities
> > presented by a rewiring whilst keeping costs as low as I can. I'm
going to
> > have a number of years of leisure to install modules etc, but
> > (hopefully!) only one shot at the rewiring.
> >
> > I'd be really interested to hear views / opinions
> >
> > James
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

----- End Original Message -----


------------------------------------

<*> Join the Automated Home Forums
http://www.automatedhome.co.uk/vbulletin/