[ Spotlight: Smart homes ]
its smartphone capabilities –the Wemo from Belkin is a combination of a switch, a motion sensor, and an iOS app that can be controlled via an iPhone. Lighting has benefited enormously from smart
technology, and alongside the energy saving advantages of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are new ways to control them. Paul Vallis, product manager for indoor lighting controls at Philips Lighting, explains: ‘Most domestic dimmers were developed without considering LEDs – because they didn’t exist. In fact, most domestic dimmers have skipped a generation of lighting technology because it wasn’t possible to dim most compact fluorescent lamps. Philips Dynalite has developed a range of dimmers specifically designed to control all types of LED loads, ensuring the homeowner has full and reliable control of the lighting.’ Meanwhile, Crestron’s CLWI lighting control solution uses infiNET EX wireless technology. The nature of its mesh networking system means that a command will never be missed. Smart metering is also seeing a great deal of
interest. It is estimated that the average household spends more than £300 per year on energy that they don’t actually need, and according to the Energy Saving Trust (EST), trials in other countries show that simply having a smart meter in the home can cut energy bills by five to 10 per cent. It is hoped that smart meters will be installed in every home by 2020.
A question of protocol Over the last 20 years, KNX has emerged as the dominant home automation protocol, and a growing number of equipment manufacturers are integrating it into their products. Contractors are now able to use a variety of off-the-shelf components that are truly interoperable. Paul Collins, product manager at Hager,
comments: ‘Many manufacturers, installers and distributors are all committed to KNX. The beauty of an open protocol system and the interoperability between different manufacturers will ensure KNX is the future for building controls.’ While KNX is undoubtedly popular, it is not the only solution and manufacturers are utilising other protocols to suit a range of applications. Legrand’s Richard Hayward, says: ‘With regard to infrastructure, we have a number of different options for different property types and projects. For a homeowner wishing to refurbish their existing property, but not wanting the disruption and cost of complete rewiring, we offer a range that sends the control signal via ZigBee, a wireless protocol that works on a mesh network.’ Philips has even configured its own protocol called
DyNet. The company’s Paul Vallis, explains: ‘It operates on an RS485 four-wire network and was developed to control lighting and is also used to interface, at both high and low levels, to heating, ventilation, air- conditioning, security, fire detection systems, access control, blinds, motors and other electrical loads.’
Seaward PAT tester To the manor born
Longwood Manor in Surrey boasts a complete smart home system that features AV, HVAC and security control and a fully integrated lighting system for house and garden. The Manor now enjoys state-of-the-art, individual lighting systems, which can be easily activated and controlled using Crestron touchscreens, including a 15-inch tilted touchscreen that is located in the kitchen. The multifunctional handsets are simple to operate by the client, and further flexibility for control over the system is gained in other rooms through a Crestron handheld wireless remote. Equal design consideration went into the assimilation of AV elements
in the stunning grounds of the property, where garden lighting, water features, and the garden irrigation system are all controlled by a Crestron touchscreen. The garden boasts a veritable range of lighting effects. Dramatic LED
colour change mood lighting showcases the client’s collection of modern art sculptures and water features, whilst practical illumination is provided in specific areas for convenience and security purposes, such as in the greenhouse.
The key to success in this area is to be multi-disciplined and willing to learn new skills
Sound and vision Audiovisual (AV) technology has undoubtedly driven interest in home automation, and the adoption of HDBase-T compliant technology has accelerated it even further. HDBase-T technology is optimised for whole home distribution and allows consumers to connect all of their entertainment devices through the 5Play feature set, which converges uncompressed full HD 1080p digital video, audio, 100Base-T Ethernet, 100W of power and various control signals over Category 5e twisted pair cable. HDBase-T-ready products eliminate the need
for a separate power cable by utilising power over HDBase-T (PoH), which is based on established power over Ethernet (PoE) technology. PoE has a proven track record in enterprise network applications for deploying equipment such as wireless access points, surveillance cameras and access control systems
Longwood Manor, Surrey
Xxxxxxx x xxx
March 2013 ECA Today 35
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 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64