ddubbs103
Member
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- Massachusetts
I'm new to this so I was wondering if anyone has been involved in this and could maybe give there thoughts on different companies I should stay away from etc? Thanks Donny
Home Automation, does anyone do this
- Thread starter ddubbs103
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TOOL_5150
Senior Member
- Location
- bay area, ca
ddubbs103 said:
Yes I have done it. STAY AWAY FROM X10 equipment. Go with leviton. it costs more, but it will last more than a month. Just some insight... I got out of it as soon as I got into it. Its a nice idea, but can cause you some big headaches. Check out smarthome.com and take a look at their Insteon stuff. Seems to be the most dependable.
~Matt
e57
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco, CA
Depending on what you call automation???? What are you looking to do?
Lighting and shade controls - Lutron is the most sucessfull - at least where I am.
And they have a few grades +/or versions to choose from. Homeworks and their other dimming controls, and RadioRA all intergrate well. RadioRA is darned reliable for a RF control - and a caveman (with a lot of patience) could program it. With contact closures you can do a number of other things as well. And a number of shade/skylight manufacturers are in the game too.
They also intergrate into some other systems like Crestron as well - but that is another league above.
Lighting and shade controls - Lutron is the most sucessfull - at least where I am.
And they have a few grades +/or versions to choose from. Homeworks and their other dimming controls, and RadioRA all intergrate well. RadioRA is darned reliable for a RF control - and a caveman (with a lot of patience) could program it. With contact closures you can do a number of other things as well. And a number of shade/skylight manufacturers are in the game too.
They also intergrate into some other systems like Crestron as well - but that is another league above.
Rampage_Rick
Senior Member
- Location
- British Columbia, Canada
I've seen a fair share of Lutron RadioRA in high-end houses up here. I'm partial to Grafik Eye myself. (I could have sworn that I saw a similar multi-gang style controller from Leviton at the last BCEA tradeshow)
stickboy1375
Senior Member
- Location
- Litchfield, CT
TOOL_5150 said:
Lets clear this up a little, X10 is a technology, and Leviton's X10 devices are a better grade then let's say Radio Shack's X10 devices...
I myself will only sell Leviton brand X10, but there are alot of other companies using this technology....
ItsHot
Senior Member
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- A little piece of heaven!
timer switch
timer switch
Does a Intermatic time switch classify as home automation? I guess if it was a digital it may? This reminds me of all the motion light switches that were put in back in the late 70s. I have demoed a ton of those. Anyone have any links to the next generation of home automation? Thanks!!
timer switch
Does a Intermatic time switch classify as home automation? I guess if it was a digital it may? This reminds me of all the motion light switches that were put in back in the late 70s. I have demoed a ton of those. Anyone have any links to the next generation of home automation? Thanks!!
stickboy1375
Senior Member
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- Litchfield, CT
brantmacga
Señor Member
- Location
- Georgia
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- Former Child
lutron & leviton are what i recommend. lutron has some really nice controls; i especially like those door jamb control pads. w/ leviton, you can get something that matches all of your devices. leviton has the DHC (x-10 type) and vizia RF (z-wave).
yes its been around for awhile.
it works a little differently from the grafik eye though. this is the actual system programmer and can control everything.
yes its been around for awhile.
it works a little differently from the grafik eye though. this is the actual system programmer and can control everything.
e57
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco, CA
I think the industry has hit a dead end. Really there has not been much in the way of inovation in it for some time IMO. Most of the companies that make the stuff have gotten comfortable with keeping things proprietary. And making it really expensive to tie it all together. And most of the consumers of it have realized that a cheap programable thermostat does the job just as well. And many more have realized that there is a lot less effort, and satisfaction in turning on, or dimming the lights themselves. And lowering the drapes when need be. Besides "Hal" didn't materialize, and most people don't want, or can't justify having that type of tech at home.
But on the other hand - if you can program their universal remote that controls the TV to dimm the lights people are estatic. And you CAN do that... And people are willing to pay for it - don't ask me why.... Those same people are willing to pay for automated shades for the same purposes. I'm not one of them but I am happy to take their money...
But on the other hand - if you can program their universal remote that controls the TV to dimm the lights people are estatic. And you CAN do that... And people are willing to pay for it - don't ask me why.... Those same people are willing to pay for automated shades for the same purposes. I'm not one of them but I am happy to take their money...
stickboy1375
Senior Member
- Location
- Litchfield, CT
The only somewhat automation I have at my house is my tv remote can dim the lights in my home theater, which my wife really likes since she doesn't have to get up anymore once the movie starts.... :grin:
e57
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco, CA
Rampage_Rick said:
A number of dimmer manufacturers have something simular - so does Crestron, etc.
e57
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco, CA
stickboy1375 said:
I have a Graffik Eye 6-zone that I 'demo'ed' from a job years ago that controls my rear yard landscape lighting. And a few universal remotes for the stereo in my attic as "Whole House Audio". When my daughter is older - I may have to invest in a TV....
I have already wired for another Graffik in the living room... Waiting for another good demo job....
Energy-Miser
Senior Member
- Location
- Maryland
Control4 ??
Control4 ??
Control4 ??
Have you tried Control4? If so what do you think of them?TOOL_5150 said:
stickboy1375
Senior Member
- Location
- Litchfield, CT
e57 said:I have a Graffik Eye 6-zone that I 'demo'ed' from a job years ago that controls my rear yard landscape lighting. And a few universal remotes for the stereo in my attic as "Whole House Audio". When my daughter is older - I may have to invest in a TV....
I would love to get my hands on a graffik eye for my kitchen/dining room, the room is perfect for scene selections... after I renovate of course...
home automation is still in the linux phase. no good systems except Lutron commercial style stuff.
wall warts and arcane desktop programs to control things are too common. high end stuff is crestron rs 232 controlled, but will kill you with costs.
no home automation system can be called good without feedback and that is still taking place on ancient serial bus stuff with the rs 232
wall warts and arcane desktop programs to control things are too common. high end stuff is crestron rs 232 controlled, but will kill you with costs.
no home automation system can be called good without feedback and that is still taking place on ancient serial bus stuff with the rs 232
Energy-Miser
Senior Member
- Location
- Maryland
When utilities install smart meters and begin to do time of day billing, home automation will be a great asset to piggy back on. With some added infrastructure they will even allow customers to log in remotely over the internet, and fine tune their lighting, A/C, etc. depending on environmental conditions and price of energy. e/m.danickstr said:
There are others out there...
There are others out there...
Yes, Crestron and it's competitor, AMX, http://amx.com are pretty pricey, but are also the most reliable and versatile systems out there.
If you are smart and can shop online at that auction site, you can acquire good, used, equipment to install in your own home for literally pennies on the dollar. I have a full control system for my cinema here at home that cost me less that $1,000.00, including 4-zone lighting control, full A/V control, and a feed to the patio for audio, all controllable by keypads and a wireless touchscreen.
The expensive part is writing the program to control that equipment. And each company uses its own proprietary codes.
I am well versed in writing AMX programs, and do some consulting on them as well.
Not quite true. Both AMX and Crestron use a proprietary control bus (AXlink and Cresnet respectively) Which behaves similar to RS-xxx protocol. But both systems can accept RS-xxx code from outboard devices and also send out RS-xxx strings to control said devices. A screening room I just finished, I used RS-232 to control the video projector and to talk to the Lutron Savoia system for lights and window and door shades.
As others have said though, equipment issues aside, this is a rough trade to be in..if you undertake H.A., be aware of a few pitfalls:
The profit margin can be good with the right client base, but be ready to deal with some headaches and also have a great installer/tech to handle and problems that may arise.
There are others out there...
danickstr said:
Yes, Crestron and it's competitor, AMX, http://amx.com are pretty pricey, but are also the most reliable and versatile systems out there.
If you are smart and can shop online at that auction site, you can acquire good, used, equipment to install in your own home for literally pennies on the dollar. I have a full control system for my cinema here at home that cost me less that $1,000.00, including 4-zone lighting control, full A/V control, and a feed to the patio for audio, all controllable by keypads and a wireless touchscreen.
The expensive part is writing the program to control that equipment.
And each company uses its own proprietary codes. I am well versed in writing AMX programs, and do some consulting on them as well.
Not quite true. Both AMX and Crestron use a proprietary control bus (AXlink and Cresnet respectively) Which behaves similar to RS-xxx protocol. But both systems can accept RS-xxx code from outboard devices and also send out RS-xxx strings to control said devices. A screening room I just finished, I used RS-232 to control the video projector and to talk to the Lutron Savoia system for lights and window and door shades.
As others have said though, equipment issues aside, this is a rough trade to be in..if you undertake H.A., be aware of a few pitfalls:
- The expense of the equiment;
- issues of design and planning for future expansion (usually easy with AMX and Crestron);
- Issues of matching kepads and touchscreens to the decor;
- Programming expense of AMX and Crestron;
- Be able to get a crystal clear idea of what the client wants from the automation system;
- And be ready to deal with a lot of last-minute add-ons and changes.
The profit margin can be good with the right client base, but be ready to deal with some headaches and also have a great installer/tech to handle and problems that may arise.
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- Massachusetts
The company I work for wants to send me to 'Creston school' but it is not as easy as just paying the tuition. Creston must decide if they want us to be involved with us.
The boss said the interview was like a collage admittance interview.:roll:
The boss said the interview was like a collage admittance interview.:roll:
Energy-Miser
Senior Member
- Location
- Maryland
Where would you put the "Smart Homes" product? Recently we wired a pretty pricy house, and worked along with the "Smart Home" contractor that was in charge of H.A. there. e/m.mxslick said:
e57
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco, CA
Energy-Miser said:
That type of tech is currently available for commercial applications...
Not trying to pick a bone, IMO the people who can afford for their home - such are not worried about the price of energy, just the availablity to as much as they can. Even install solar just to keep up with the Jone's - if it won't even make a dent in the pool heating costs thats OK.
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