Re: Newbie: Wiring for HA

["BruceR" <brNOSPAM@xxxxxxxxxx>]

See www.hometoys.com for some good articles. There are several systems
besides X10 for control both wired and wireless that you'll find
presented there.

From:Arthur
arthur8@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> I'm a relatively newbie in the field of home automation, but have
> looked at Lonworks (now LonTalk?), CEbus, and BACnet on and off.  As
> someone who has pulled quite a bit of CAT-5 in his time, I am
> interested in what is required to wire up a house to support these
> home automation equipemnet and devices.
>
> I have always planned a star topology home run to a wiring closet for
> my home networks.  To my mind, this is the simplest and most flexible
> wirin configuration possible.  A whole industry has built up around
> this wiring strategy.  Even as people transition from CAT-5e to fiber,
> the star topology is still being employed.
>
> Is there an equivalent form of structured wiring for HA?  For maximum
> flexibility, I would imagine that it would be preferable to run a data
> and control line to each light switch, and to each power outlet so
> that it would be possible to control the particular device which is
> then connected. For example, if  the light switch had a CAT-5 line
> attached, the mechanical toggle switch can be replaced with a more
> intelligent switch and sensor which can be programmed to turn on and
> off the light based up number of number of occupants and the current
> light-level.  If an electrical outlet had a CAT-5 line attached, then
> it would be easy to install a web camera by simply plugging into both
> the power and ethernet jacks.  Likewise, installing the controller
> for a sprinkler system can be as simple as plug and play (by plugging
> into 2 jacks).
>
> Perhaps what I have described is overkill and simply too costly to
> implement. However, there must be more structured ways of wiring up a
> smarthouse, even if so many home runs are prohibitively expensive.
> There is already a degree of modularity in electrical wiring.  An
> electrician can install a new light fixture by branching off a
> currently-installed one. Likewise, perhaps a home automation cabler
> can install another automation device adjacent to one currently in
> place by branching off the data line by using a hub or a switch, and
> relying on network protocols to address each device individually.
>
> I've hunted around for good wiring strategies for HA applications, but
> have have found only articles on X-10, which I am not very interested
> in.  Perhaps someone can fill be in though on HA wiring for
> higher-speed and higher-throughput devices.
>
> TIA,
>
> Arthur