What is Home Automation?
We’ve all heard about the internet fridge that knows
when it’s broken and kindly rings the service engineer to arrange a repair,
but who really wants their fridge to make telephone calls behind their back?
I’ve owned fridges for the past thirty years and they never seem to break down
anyway.
So what are the real benefits
of home automation?
The term 'home automation' is now acknowledged as covering
most I.T., automation, communication and wiring aspects of our homes. Most of
these functions can be installed independently of each other, but the real benefits
of the automated home are realised when these different aspects communicate
with each other. For example, having two PC’s networked together in the home,
giving both users access to the internet may seem like the forefront of technology,
but imagine if they were tied into our house wiring and could turn lights and
appliances on and off automatically when we are away from home, even via the
internet. Imagine that the PC was networked into our security system and could
display images from our home security cameras onto our computer screen at work.
Imagine that your security system was tied into your telephone and could ring
your mobile in the event of a burglary, you could even talk to visitors to your
door from anywhere in the world.
All of the above and much more are available today.
Let’s have an explanation of the individual areas and see more of how they can
be networked together.
Automation
Broadly speaking, automation is the process of automatically
performing everyday functions around the home to save you time, energy, money
and at the same time offering improved security.
The ‘automation’ is performed by a central controller.
This can be either a standalone unit or a piece of software on a PC. Both options
have their advantages. The controller can carry out a number of functions:
-
Send signals to switch
lights and appliances on or off.
-
Open and close contacts
to operate high and low voltage devices.
-
Schedule and initiate
events, such as watering the garden
-
Issue and accept infra
red commands
-
Display controls on
a TV screen
-
Interface with other
systems, i.e. X 10, telephone, computer, heating
etc.
Most controllers will offer all of the above plus more.
When you use controllers connected in the appropriate fashion, you can realise
all sorts of benefits, limited primarily by your imagination.
For example:-
-
When on holiday or working late, have the lights
come on automatically and draw
the curtains.
-
Set room moods, i.e.
one button push to switch off the main light, dim the perimeter lights and
switch the surround sound system on ready to play a movie.
-
At dusk, check that
the garage door is closed, if not issue a warning over the audio system.
-
Ring your mobile if
your security alarm is triggered.
-
Switch on the electric
blanket whilst you're sitting on your sofa.
The controller can be either standalone
or combined into a security system to give additional benefits.
PRODUCTS: COMFORT,
X10
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Security
There are real benefits to having your automation controller
and security system combined in one unit. You have the advantage of infra red
detectors from the alarm system being available to perform/trigger automation
tasks. You can also benefit from the alarm system knowing whether you’re
at home or not (i.e. whether the alarm is set or not). This can give numerous
benefits, for example we could set the system so that if no movement is detected
in the home for a given period, say 16 hours, then it rings a mobile telephone
and conveys a message to the recipient. This can be particularly relevant when
you have concerns about ailing relatives having accidents around the home etc.
Needless to say, if the alarm system forms the basis
of our automation system, then it needs to be of a particularly high standard,
able to expand to suit all requirements. You should be able to connect smoke
detectors in to the system and when triggered, automatically switch on lights
to illuminate the exit route whilst at the same time dialling the fire brigade
with a pre recorded message. For further information, see details of our Comfort
System.
PRODUCTS: COMFORT
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PC
Networking
Who remembers the time when having our own PC in the
home seemed like a dream that could never happen?
Who sees a future when PC’s have a function in most
rooms in our home?
Many families already have more than one PC in the home,
the kids want one each, dad has one for business use, but they only have one
printer and one internet access line. What do they do?
Network!
Networking involves tying all of your computers together
so that you can pass information easily between them, and also share devices
such as printers and internet access. This is traditionally done with interface
cards and cable although several manufacturers now offer a wireless solution.
Systems offering network connections via the existing in house power lines are
now starting to emerge. Using cable gives higher data transfer rates and greater
reliability at a more affordable price, but wireless solutions are neater and
easier to install especially where running cables would prove difficult or messy.
Tying your PC into your automation system generally requires installing a serial
cable between the two.
PRODUCTS: NETWORKING
RANGE
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Whole
House Audio/Video
Traditionally, if you wanted to listen to music or watch
video in more than one room, then you had to have more than one hi-fi or video
system. This had a number of disadvantages:-
-
As new types of equipment
were introduced (CD, DAT, DVD etc.) you had to buy
one for each system.
-
CD’s, tapes, DVD’s
etc. had to be moved between individual rooms
proving inconvenient and increasing the chances of misplacing them.
-
Two rooms couldn’t play
the same CD/video (unless you had two copies) at the same time. Enter whole
house audio and video systems.
Basically, a whole house system allows you to have one
set of equipment (Tuner, CD, DVD, Video, Satellite etc.), and distribute its
output to as many rooms in the house as is required. This involves having a
set of speakers in each room and a method of controlling the source equipment.
The distribution system is specified by both the number of input components
it can handle (i.e. CD, tuner etc.) and the number of zones or rooms to which
it can play. Most multi zone systems will offer 4/8 sources to 4/8 zones. A
method of modulating video signals is required, i.e. sending video, terrestrial,
satellite, DVD signals down one cable at the same time. Modulators are fairly
commonplace now, although selecting the right one for the job requires a certain
amount of know-how. Added benefits of this type of distribution system mean
you can for example, tannoy the kids when there tea is ready or play a chime
over the speakers when the doorbell is rung etc.
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