SECURITY
SPECIAL FEATURE
Security systems can directly control the lighting.
“
Security sensors can play a large role in the intelligent home.
HOME AUTOMATION SYSTEMS PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVEAND AN ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF REVENUE THAT IS READILY ACCESSIBLE TO ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS.
behaviour from time to time, although this ideal does not fully exist at present. A security system, or more accurately,
an intruder alarm system is an essential part of most homes in most developed countries. Alarm systems typically have one or more keypads, magnetic sensors on external doors and windows and one or more motion sensors or passive infrared detectors (PIRs) within the house. When the alarm system is armed, any intrusion detected by the sensors causes the sounders to be activated, and perhaps the alarm monitoring company to be notified. Many home owners install security systems to obtain the benefits of lower insurance rates. However, the true benefits of home security far exceed any savings in insurance. When the alarm system is connected to a central home automation controller, or is part of a home automation system, then an intelligent home becomes possible. A basic means of integrating security with lighting is the signalling of events from the former to the latter. Most simple alarm systems have a few outputs that are triggered by say, an intruder alarm or the system being armed and disarmed. In this manner, the lights can be made to switch on in the event of an alarm or to switch off when the system is armed. In a practical home automation system, it is only necessary to control strategic lights so that they can respond to predefined events.
My personal definition of home automation is the ability to intelligently coordinate and monitor the operation and behaviour of appliances, lighting and subsystems in the home to achieve security, comfort, convenience and energy saving. I would not consider the ability to use a remote control or touch screen or a designer keypad to
control lights or a sound system to be an example of useful home automation. Such simple remote controlled systems just replace mechanical switches and have the benefit of convenience but do little more. The ideal automated home would require very little direct intervention from the occupants except to make changes to its preferred
BENEFITS
More sophisticated security systems are
available that are well suited to act as the main controller in a home system or to communicate with another controller. Such systems have many programmable outputs as well as the ability to communicate via a serial interface like RS232 or Ethernet to lighting and other third party products.
When the alarm system is connected to a central home automation controller then an intelligent home becomes possible.
33
Events like the arming and disarming
of the security system, movement in any zone, opening and closing of doors and windows and the occurrence of specific alarms like intruder, fire, and power failure can be linked to lighting and other subsystems in the home. This allows the security sensors to play a larger role in the intelligent home than just detecting intruders. Various sensors in the home, including motion, temperature and light, act as eyes and ears for the intelligent home. Some examples of intelligent
integration of security with other systems include; • When the security system is armed to holiday mode, lights and music can be switched on at suitable times in the day or night to give the impression that the house is occupied.
• Automatic garage doors and gates can be opened or closed with a single control that arms and disarms the security system at the same time.
• The heating in the home can be automatically switched on or off or
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40