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Home automation and control systems - heatling, lighting, alarms etc

fclauson

Hi all
wanted to start a new thread on control systems for houses - to give you my background back in 1984 I implemented a whole plant automation system for a water and sewage treatment plant - about 5000 inputs and outputs ranging from temperature, pressure, flow etc etc

Wanted to know what systems people are using - to maximise the various systems one might now install it makes sense to have a single central panel for the lot (and some back up capability in case that system goes down)

What are people using to do this?

Francis

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krissovo

I use an Iphone to control, various X10 and apple airports.

This gives me lights, alarm, multi room audio and simple heating controls.

A very cheap but very functional setup

murphyep

krissovo wrote: »

I use an Iphone to control, various X10 and apple airports.

This gives me lights, alarm, multi room audio and simple heating controls.

A very cheap but very functional setup

Hi ,
Can you send me details on how you implemented this please?
Or who installed it.

Thanks,
Eddie

Leadership

I installed everything myself, I installed x10 light switches, plugs and swicthes for the heating. The iphone app is x10 commander.

Basically this blog has all the details:

http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/information/iphone-x10-home-remote-control/

For the audio I have Air port express and Itunes.
http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/

The PC that controls the x10 also is the music server for the Air port express

knx

Hi Francis,

I have some experience with plant BMS myself. Didn't implement one now but looked after one for a number of years. Probably not on the scale your talking of but couple of thousand sensors and relays nonetheless.

I have since moved on and am now specialising in KNX technology. It is an open standard in control and is widely used on the continent in both residential and commercial installations. It is a bus system and all devices have a physical address and communicate via group addressess. There are thousands of devices available from hundreds of manufacturers and as long as they are knx certified they will all talk to each other. There is a huge range of push buttons and room controllers available in any amount of designs and finishes as well as environmental sensors. Presence, movement, temperature, humidity, weather conditions etc. There are also a wide range of interfaces for just about everything.

On the subject of backup, one of the advantages of knx is that it is not needed as every device has it's own memory and is in effect a little computer in itself. All programming associated with the device is contained within the device so if you did have a server controlling the system and it went down the system would continue to function regardless. You just wouldn't be getting your visualisations or feedback or whatever you were using it for. In the event of one of the devices malfunctioning the rest of the installation is unaffected. You can also parameterise the behaviour of the devices in the event of power failure. On/off unchanged or whatever.

I have looked at a lot of systems at this stage and in my opinion nothing comes close in terms of function. Obviously there are a lot of systems out there that turn stuff on and off and dim up and down etc. But if it's exacting control your after for say a combined underfloor and heat recovery system plus lighting and curtains/blinds where logic may be needed or external conditions have to be taken into account I don't think many would compare.

Anyway here are some of the manufacturers (too many to provide links so google)

Jung Gira Merten Zennio ABB Siemens BuschJaeger Theben Arcus Berker Basalte Hager

tails_naf

Has anyone any experience with the Q-bus system?
Saw this at a trade show and was very impressed, but I don't know how well it compares to other systems in terms of cost, features, etc.

the fact KNX is open source, and well supported is certainly a plus, as far as I can tell q-bus is closed source, one supplier only. If they go bang, so does your support....

clint_eastman

tails_naf wrote: »

Has anyone any experience with the Q-bus system?
Saw this at a trade show and was very impressed, but I don't know how well it compares to other systems in terms of cost, features, etc.

the fact KNX is open source, and well supported is certainly a plus, as far as I can tell q-bus is closed source, one supplier only. If they go bang, so does your support....

I'm calling a Q-bus guy today to start the ball rolling on getting a quotation, I'll let you know how it goes over the next week or so.

fclauson

I am investigating a monitoring system using 1-wire devices. V cheap to implement (say about €250 basic) - there a are a number of offerings out there but they are still a bit focused on the geek market - would really like to find something which the common man can implement

Francis

knx

fclauson wrote: »

I am investigating a monitoring system using 1-wire devices. V cheap to implement (say about €250 basic) - there a are a number of offerings out there but they are still a bit focused on the geek market - would really like to find something which the common man can implement

What have you looked at so far. Just wanna get an idea of what you're talking about..

fclauson

Sir

wanted to put about 10 to 15 temp probes around the house - around the Heat recovery system, Boiler, solarpanels, h/w tank etc and graph what is going on

and then longer term to put in place some form of logic associated with that to try and optimise the system to maximise performance

KNX devices would be too expensive for what I am looking to do

Ferocious

clint_eastman wrote: »

I'm calling a Q-bus guy today to start the ball rolling on getting a quotation, I'll let you know how it goes over the next week or so.

How did it gowith the Q-bus guy?

clint_eastman

Ferocious wrote: »

How did it gowith the Q-bus guy?

The guy I rang was actually an installer who previously suggested q-bus. When I met him he ws pushing me towards Legrand as being a cheaper alternative with all of the same quality and functionality. I'm waiting for him to send me a quote, hopefully over the next day or so. I also met a guy who installs Control 4, he should also be sending me a quote this week. I'll post details once I get them.

tails_naf

Clint,
can you pm me details of who you met with?
My understanding was there is only one crowd doing q-bus, and didn't know they were now pushing legrand - as that option was not mentioned to me...

soldsold

Hi Clint Eastman,

Did you get any update on the quotes? I would really appreciate a PM if you cant post detaile here...

Thanks!!

Steve

millriver

hi Guys

I am at that stage in the build also and can go with X10. Otherwise my electrics will be the same as if I was building 40 years ago.

Has anyone seen x10 in really a killer application or usage in a domestic home? If so what and how.

I am smitten by this 35 year old technology but am bleeding to find a real and tested application.

Cheers

M

rob_

millriver wrote: »

hi Guys

I am at that stage in the build also and can go with X10. Otherwise my electrics will be the same as if I was building 40 years ago.

Has anyone seen x10 in really a killer application or usage in a domestic home? If so what and how.

I am smitten by this 35 year old technology but am bleeding to find a real and tested application.

Cheers

M

Hi Mill,
being quite frank, x10 is pretty rough technology considering what is out there at the moment. Over the last 5 years things have moved on quite signifigantly in the home control side of things.
The wiring infrastructure is the key, it is vital to consult a professional to ensure you get covered for the upcoming technologies(HD baseT etc.).
X10 really is okay for a retro fit situation, as it uses the existing power lines to send the control signal.
Of the new technologies the leader is probably Control4, they have just received investment from Cisco, and have more partners(Sony, Samsung etc) than any other company out there.
Of course it all comes down to budget, but again with the right professional advice you should be able to plan for the initial install and add to it down the line.
Google home automation companies in your area, and you should get some good advice.