"Most people try and go the easy way by using the off the shelf crap that is out there but the truth is that home automation has hardly begun because the real power tools are being largely ignored by the less than technically courageous types that typically do home automation."
Design Time is very expensive, and off the shelf products tend to be very cost effective due to mass production. You can install a network of dimmers that will communicate with each other without a need for a central brain easily, provided that you have a neutral at the switch box. HAI http://www.homeauto.com/, uses UPB, which allows its dimmers to communicate using a carrier wave signal over the house's neutral. It is an improved version of the old X-10, which many of you are probably familiar with. Unlike X-10, it is not as finnicky and susceptible to harmnonic noise, which is very prevalent in most modern homes. You can have basic automated lighting with programmed scenes for about $60 a dimmer, and they all talk to each other, so unless you want more than basic lighting control, there is no need for a central "brain".
X10 is old, and buggy. Use UPB based HAI products instead. Made in New Orleans, they HAI is an industry leader in affordable home automation. They are about 1/5th of the cost of higher end systems that have the same capabilities and you can integrate an Omni Pro II board with your multi room sound multi source sound, via a touchscreen, which is very nice. Its similar to X10, but will not pass through a transformer, and will not be as susceptible to harmonic noise. http://www.homeauto.com/
I recommend running cat5e to all thermostats, appliances, etc.. for future proofing, in addition there should be at least two cat5e outlets per room. If you are going to do a lot of VOIP then spring for cat6. I would also recommend having a demarcation point somewhere in the home, where all of the cable, satelite, phone services will come into the house. Run at least three coaxes from the exterior of the house to the interior, and make sure that the demarcation point has a conduit run to the attic so that you can drop new services in as they become available. I would also recommend using #12 gauge wire instead of #14 if budget is not an issue. If you want automated lighting and security use HAI http://homeauto.com/, which is a New Orleans based manufacturer. Their products make use of UPB, which is a newer, open version of the old X10 protocol. It is superior to X10 in that it will not pass through a transformer, and has a higher voltage which is less susceptible to harmonic noise. Fluorescent and low voltage lighting can still be an issue so you will want to make sure your lighting is line voltage, or else has magnetic transformers. Also, put in occupancy sensors with relay outputs and run those back to the HAI panel so that you can use them in your conditionally programming of the system. You can also integrate it with Russound home audio to get a multi room multi source audio system. You can also control the blinds, heating and irrigation with HAI. They almost got wiped out by hurricane katrina, but they stuck around and kept their operations, and employees. A great opportunity for you to support a local manufacturer, and employer.
HAI, which is fittingly a New Orleans based manufacturer of home automation products is the way to go if you want a cost effective automated home. It employs UPB technology, which is basically an improved version of X10, a carrier wave based protocol that can minimize the need for excessive rewiring. The main thing is that you have a neutral at the switch. Their system integrates security, lighting control, heat, etc.. The system is very flexible, and can be programmed with a laptop very easily; without a laptop it takes a bit more time. They have touchscreens, thermostats, dimmers, relays etc..and if you want fancy looking devices you can integrate an HAI system with a higher end system to yield roughly the same capabilities. Check out their website http://homeauto.com/
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"Most people try and go the easy way by using the off the shelf crap that is out there but the truth is that home automation has hardly begun because the real power tools are being largely ignored by the less than technically courageous types that typically do home automation." Design Time is very expensive, and off the shelf products tend to be very cost effective due to mass production. You can install a network of dimmers that will communicate with each other without a need for a central brain easily, provided that you have a neutral at the switch box. HAI http://www.homeauto.com/, uses UPB, which allows its dimmers to communicate using a carrier wave signal over the house's neutral. It is an improved version of the old X-10, which many of you are probably familiar with. Unlike X-10, it is not as finnicky and susceptible to harmnonic noise, which is very prevalent in most modern homes. You can have basic automated lighting with programmed scenes for about $60 a dimmer, and they all talk to each other, so unless you want more than basic lighting control, there is no need for a central "brain".
X10 is old, and buggy. Use UPB based HAI products instead. Made in New Orleans, they HAI is an industry leader in affordable home automation. They are about 1/5th of the cost of higher end systems that have the same capabilities and you can integrate an Omni Pro II board with your multi room sound multi source sound, via a touchscreen, which is very nice. Its similar to X10, but will not pass through a transformer, and will not be as susceptible to harmonic noise. http://www.homeauto.com/
I recommend running cat5e to all thermostats, appliances, etc.. for future proofing, in addition there should be at least two cat5e outlets per room. If you are going to do a lot of VOIP then spring for cat6. I would also recommend having a demarcation point somewhere in the home, where all of the cable, satelite, phone services will come into the house. Run at least three coaxes from the exterior of the house to the interior, and make sure that the demarcation point has a conduit run to the attic so that you can drop new services in as they become available. I would also recommend using #12 gauge wire instead of #14 if budget is not an issue. If you want automated lighting and security use HAI http://homeauto.com/, which is a New Orleans based manufacturer. Their products make use of UPB, which is a newer, open version of the old X10 protocol. It is superior to X10 in that it will not pass through a transformer, and has a higher voltage which is less susceptible to harmonic noise. Fluorescent and low voltage lighting can still be an issue so you will want to make sure your lighting is line voltage, or else has magnetic transformers. Also, put in occupancy sensors with relay outputs and run those back to the HAI panel so that you can use them in your conditionally programming of the system. You can also integrate it with Russound home audio to get a multi room multi source audio system. You can also control the blinds, heating and irrigation with HAI. They almost got wiped out by hurricane katrina, but they stuck around and kept their operations, and employees. A great opportunity for you to support a local manufacturer, and employer.
HAI, which is fittingly a New Orleans based manufacturer of home automation products is the way to go if you want a cost effective automated home. It employs UPB technology, which is basically an improved version of X10, a carrier wave based protocol that can minimize the need for excessive rewiring. The main thing is that you have a neutral at the switch. Their system integrates security, lighting control, heat, etc.. The system is very flexible, and can be programmed with a laptop very easily; without a laptop it takes a bit more time. They have touchscreens, thermostats, dimmers, relays etc..and if you want fancy looking devices you can integrate an HAI system with a higher end system to yield roughly the same capabilities. Check out their website http://homeauto.com/