Hi,
We're in the process of having some building work done which involves a new living room ceiling, new light fittings and various bits of replastering - so I thought it was an ideal time to investigate some basic home automation.
So far though, I don't seem to have found an ideal solution for what I think I need - so any advice will be welcome.
The room is an extension with a flat roof, so that means there are limitations in where 'boxes of electronics' such as external dimmers can be mounted.
There will be 4 lights in the room, two ceiling lights, a table lamp and a 'standard lamp' up lighter. The ideal is that a control remains on the wall where the current switch is that has simple on / off switches and dim controls and a couple of buttons to recall preset scenes. Also the ideal is that this double gang unit also houses the two channels of diming for the ceiling lights but can control the other lights plugged into normal sockets via RF or signalling on the mains. I would also like to be able to control the lights from our universal remote (IR) and just for the sake of gadgets would like to be able to link the control to a PC in the future and gradually expand the system.
However I want something that anyone (ie grandparents) can operate without having to learn. Having seen various push on, push off, hold to ramp up and down solutions I'm not keen on these - people end up holding them for a bit longer than a 'push' but not long enough for the lights to fade up noticeably and so can't work out why the lights aren't coming on. I also want something that looks ‘nice’ – some of the X10 switches I’ve seen are just plain ugly!
I'm also paying for all this myself - so want something that I don't think is extortionate. I'm frustrated that you can by a RF controlled plug in dimmer for £10 - but for an integrated system the same dimmer element can be £150.
So I’ve looked at various solutions I’ve found through google:
X10
The question here seems to be how to provide a ‘nice’ light switch. Prices seem sensible, IR interfaces seem to be ugly boxes, but there are quite a few interface units available and the options of both RF and mains signalling.
Lutron Rania IR
This is the kind of interface I’d like for a dual dimmer, it’s a dimmer and switch in one unit and it’s got the IR control – however no expansion to real home automation.
Futronix
2 channel dimmer that fits in a single gang UK box with all sorts of bells and whistles, includes IR remote control – but no expansion options.
SceneStyle
Same as Futronix – no expansion
Get Smart
Inline dimmer option for the table lamp – but I don’t like the idea of having a battery powered switch, I’ve got a problem with where to put the dimmers for the ceiling lights and it doesn’t seem to be expandable to real home automation.
Rako
Has the problem of where to house the dimmers again, plus battery powered controllers – however again there is an inline dimmer option for the table lamp, IR and computer interfaces – including a bi-directional computer interface so it can interrogate the current state. But wow it’s expensive!
Ulti
Looks good, has a dual dimmer with 4 buttons and an inline dimmer for the table lamp. Not cheap. Computer interface is only unidirectional. RF control only, no IR. The worst web site in the world!
C-Bus wireless
Not sure what the difference is between this and Ulti – except they seem to be more expensive for the same 4 button dual dimmer. Computer interfacing seems to be via wireless to wired C-bus gateway plus a computer interface – so double the cost.
Z-Wave
Seems like an attempt at improving on X10 - but setup seems to be over complicated (and you have to buy a dedicated remote to be able to program it) and isn't readily available in the UK.
Domia
I haven't understood the difference between the 10 and Lite ranges. The advantage seems to be a technical improvement on X10 - but as there doesn't seem to be a unit to meet my 'dual dimmer in wall box with local control' requirement is it worth mixing them with other X10 units.
I'm starting to think X10 is going to be the most flexible option, perhaps with a couple of Marmitek micro dimmer modules in the back of the current double gang switch box with a 'nice' looking switch panel on the front.
Any comments?
We're in the process of having some building work done which involves a new living room ceiling, new light fittings and various bits of replastering - so I thought it was an ideal time to investigate some basic home automation.
So far though, I don't seem to have found an ideal solution for what I think I need - so any advice will be welcome.
The room is an extension with a flat roof, so that means there are limitations in where 'boxes of electronics' such as external dimmers can be mounted.
There will be 4 lights in the room, two ceiling lights, a table lamp and a 'standard lamp' up lighter. The ideal is that a control remains on the wall where the current switch is that has simple on / off switches and dim controls and a couple of buttons to recall preset scenes. Also the ideal is that this double gang unit also houses the two channels of diming for the ceiling lights but can control the other lights plugged into normal sockets via RF or signalling on the mains. I would also like to be able to control the lights from our universal remote (IR) and just for the sake of gadgets would like to be able to link the control to a PC in the future and gradually expand the system.
However I want something that anyone (ie grandparents) can operate without having to learn. Having seen various push on, push off, hold to ramp up and down solutions I'm not keen on these - people end up holding them for a bit longer than a 'push' but not long enough for the lights to fade up noticeably and so can't work out why the lights aren't coming on. I also want something that looks ‘nice’ – some of the X10 switches I’ve seen are just plain ugly!
I'm also paying for all this myself - so want something that I don't think is extortionate. I'm frustrated that you can by a RF controlled plug in dimmer for £10 - but for an integrated system the same dimmer element can be £150.
So I’ve looked at various solutions I’ve found through google:
X10
The question here seems to be how to provide a ‘nice’ light switch. Prices seem sensible, IR interfaces seem to be ugly boxes, but there are quite a few interface units available and the options of both RF and mains signalling.
Lutron Rania IR
This is the kind of interface I’d like for a dual dimmer, it’s a dimmer and switch in one unit and it’s got the IR control – however no expansion to real home automation.
Futronix
2 channel dimmer that fits in a single gang UK box with all sorts of bells and whistles, includes IR remote control – but no expansion options.
SceneStyle
Same as Futronix – no expansion
Get Smart
Inline dimmer option for the table lamp – but I don’t like the idea of having a battery powered switch, I’ve got a problem with where to put the dimmers for the ceiling lights and it doesn’t seem to be expandable to real home automation.
Rako
Has the problem of where to house the dimmers again, plus battery powered controllers – however again there is an inline dimmer option for the table lamp, IR and computer interfaces – including a bi-directional computer interface so it can interrogate the current state. But wow it’s expensive!
Ulti
Looks good, has a dual dimmer with 4 buttons and an inline dimmer for the table lamp. Not cheap. Computer interface is only unidirectional. RF control only, no IR. The worst web site in the world!
C-Bus wireless
Not sure what the difference is between this and Ulti – except they seem to be more expensive for the same 4 button dual dimmer. Computer interfacing seems to be via wireless to wired C-bus gateway plus a computer interface – so double the cost.
Z-Wave
Seems like an attempt at improving on X10 - but setup seems to be over complicated (and you have to buy a dedicated remote to be able to program it) and isn't readily available in the UK.
Domia
I haven't understood the difference between the 10 and Lite ranges. The advantage seems to be a technical improvement on X10 - but as there doesn't seem to be a unit to meet my 'dual dimmer in wall box with local control' requirement is it worth mixing them with other X10 units.
I'm starting to think X10 is going to be the most flexible option, perhaps with a couple of Marmitek micro dimmer modules in the back of the current double gang switch box with a 'nice' looking switch panel on the front.
Any comments?
Comment