Re: Good Home Automation Guide for New Constructions?

["Robert L Bass" <no-sales-spam@bassburglaralarms>]

"mildog" <mildog@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:1170191960.777266.197400@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> I've been trying to find a good guide on the internet for putting home
> automation into a new construction.  Specifically, I'm trying to
> figure out:
>
> - Whether I should wire for home automation (specifically surveillance
> and security), or use wireless products

Absolutely wire during construction for anything you forsee using.  It's cheaper, easier and often more reliable than RF.

> - What wired/wireless products are "good".  I'm not looking to spend a
> fortune, but I'd like to be able to expand and replace as time goes
> on.

"Bug" all perimeter doors and moveable windows.  Don't forget to wire the overhead garage doors as well as the garage interior door
to the house.  Wire for motion detectors in hallways, near the stairwells and in places with high value items, such as the master
bedroom, den/office, hoome theater area, etc.

Wire for moisture sensors near major appliances, under sinks and in kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

Wire for temperature sensors in each room or at least in each major area of the home.  Some newer temp sensors are flush mount so
there's practically nothing to see.

Run CAT5 cable for HA system keypads near the primary exit door as well as in the master bedroom.

> -Is there one "good" brand for thermostat, lighting, security,
> surveillance, etc...

No.  There are several good brands of each but no one company has a corner on it.  This is going to be a learning journey
discovering what is best suited to your application.  Here are a few questions you'll need to answer for yourself at the outset.

1. Do you want to include "structured" wiring in the project.  Simply stated, structured wiring involves running cables for PCs,
entertainment, video surveillance, security and fire alarm from each room or area back to a central location -- the "wiring closet."

Structured wiring is one of the most popular HA-related features and it should be given serious consideration on any new home.
WIthin a few years iy's likely to be as common as telephone wiring is today and the next buyer of the home will expect it.

2. Do you want the HA system to act as an alarm system as well.  Since the wiring and most of the sensors used in HA are also used
for alarms, most popular HA control panels also provide some security features.  The type and extent of security desired will affect
the selection of the HA system.

3.  Fire alarm.  Builders routinely install 110VAV smoke detectors in new homes.  Your HA system can monitor low voltage smokes.
You can wire for these instead of the standard 110VAC smokes or, if they're already in, add a few "system" type smoke detectors in
strategic locations so you can be notified if a fire is developing while you're out.

4. Lighting.  Most HA systems include some level of lighting control.  You can use X10 (the cheapest and sometimes the greatest
PITA).  You can also use any of a wide number of wired, wireless of PLC (power line carrier) lighting controls.

5. HVAC.  You can use your HA system to control your heat and air conditioning systems by selecting communicating thermostats
instead of the conventional ones the builder specifies.

6. Other stuff.  Your HA system can control incidental things like your swimming pool, hot tub, lawn sprinklers, etc.  Most of these
things can also be operated by stand-alone timers.  I want my system to control the sprinklers because water is scarce here at times
and I'd like to use it more efficiently.  I want to set the pool lights, jaccuzzi pumps and temperature as part of an HA "scene" for
parties (we throw lots of big ones:)) but other times the pool automation system can run on its own.

> Every website I've found is trying to sell x10 or
> insteon, but it's hard to tell if they are any
> good, or if a wired solution would be better.

Insteon is better than plain old X10 in that it has a second, *usually* more reliable control signal.  There are still problems with
it though.  I sell some competing products -- UPB and (soon) Z-Wave -- so I'm a little biased.  Then again, so is everyone else.
:^)

With the walls open if the electrician has not yet done his wiring you might want to consider hard-wired options like CentraLite.
Another possibility is ALC which uses conventional wiring but send signals to switches via CAT5 cable.  Spend a little time looking
at UPB and Z-Wave too, even though the house is not dry walled yet.  Both are reasonably priced and capable options.

> I'm really not trying to get the people in
> this group to do my legwork for me...

No problem.  The purpose of this newsgroup is to share information about HA.  When it's functioning properly we all learn something.

> I'd just like some general nudging to a
> good site that isn't trying to push me
> toward their products.

I try to answer questions without "pushing" my wares.  When the subject covers things I sell I make certain that I mention that I
have an axe to grind.  Fair enough?

As to HA controllers, have a look at HAI's Omni series and ELK Products' M1G (Gold) systems.  Both are competent and well-supported
online and through brick and mortar dealers (in case you ever want someone else to work on your system).  I sell mostly ELK and can
answer specific questions about it if you like.  Others can give you more help with HAI and it is worth considering.

ELK and HAI are dedicated controller type HA systems.  Some folks prefer PC-centric systems such as Charmed Quark (a product
developed by one of the regulars who posts here) and HomeSeer.  Both of those are competent, powerful HA software packages.  CQC
gets better press here partly because the maker has managed so far to avoid certain growing pains issues and partly because the
developer, Dean Roddey, is here to respond to questions and concerns.  He's a good guy and his product deserves consideration.

A third possibility is to implement a controller-based system such as the ELK or HAI products I mentioned and tie that into a PC
running HS, CQC or one of the other software apps.  People often do that in order to obtain the stability of a dedicated controller
and the additional power / flexibility of a PC-centric system.

There's a lot to consider.  I hope some of the above helps.  It isn't intended to be a comprehensive treatise -- just enough to get
you thinking.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

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