Re: What would you do differently if you were to automate a new home from scratch?

[Marc_F_Hult <MFHult@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 14 Aug 2006 00:27:18 -0700, "Konnexman" <beirao.nuno@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in
message  <1155540438.784758.211150@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:

>
>Hi Mark!
>Software for home automation in KNX:
>Elvis - http://www.it-gmbh.de/indexe.htm
>Ipas - http://www.ipas-products.com/ex/s_ovr.php
>NETxAutomation - http://netxautomation.com/ENGLISH/
>IQhome from eibmarkt -
>http://www.eibmarkt.de/IQHOME_Website_EN/iqhomestart.html
>...there are many others.
>If you want to go for mechanisms, then have a look at:
>http://www.eibmarkt.com/cgi-bin/eibmarkt.storefront/44e022b9000b74c8274450f3362b0672/Product/View/e163_3_WE
>This one doesn't costs around 800, but look at his functionalities:
>http://www.eibmarkt.com/cgi-bin/eibmarkt.storefront/44e022b9000b74c8274450f3362b0672/Product/View/N169500
>
>If you want a low price instalation, go for the "universal interface"
>of devices as inputs - if you don't find them, just do a search with
>that expression:) :
>http://www.eibmarkt.com/cgi-bin/eibmarkt.storefront/44e022b9000b74c8274450f3362b0672/Product/View/N370519
>Search also for these: 75342001
>
>In the end, the prices for these articles are not as low as x10, but,
>like AMX or Creston, this is not bricolage!
>
>Cheers!

We started the conversation with the Carlos, the original poster, with
questions and answers so that we would better understand his needs and
constraints. From what I surmise, he is in the Western Hemisphere, and his
house therefore probably uses 110VAC for lighting.

The solutions you suggest are Euro-centric (220VAC, CE) and not used widely
used in US, Canada (110VAC, UL), Mexico, and Central and South America (if
at all) partly because this region of the world generally uses 110VAC (not
220VAC). The konnex.org site does not list any partners, installers, or
national sites in US, Mexico or Central America and few if any active groups
in South America.

http://www.konnex.org/knx-partners/knxeib-partners/
http://www.konnex.org/national-sites/

Also, the topology for EIB/Konnex dimmed lighting generally requires both AC
wiring home-runned to a DIN rack and low-voltage control. If that wiring
configuration is in fact practical for Carlos, there are 110VAC choices that
cost 1/2- 1/3 as much with comparable quality that also have North American
regulatory approvals (which as far as I know, EIB/Konnex does not).

So while EIB/Konnex may be a standard in Europe, it is essentially
irrelevant to discussion of the original question in my opinion.

... Marc
Marc_F_Hult
www.ECOntrol.org