Spanky
Senior Member
ELK Products, Inc. is sponsoring a new, local showcase house to display all the capabilities of the M1 system. The house is over 13000 sq. feet and had the lighting already prewired before we got involved. Sheet rock is not up yet.
The automation will include:
- Security
- Whole house lighting control with motion sensing automatic pathway lighting.
- Cameras
- Whole house audio/video control
- HVAC control with 6 heat pumps and 24 total zones
- Home Theatre
- Water leak detection with zoned water cutoff.
- Wifi with wireless touchscreens.
First -
Lighting Control selection criteria:
One lighting control system will be used.
Since the light switches were already prewired, we have to either work with the existing wiring or make major wiring changes.
We found so far:
1. Many switches were 3 and 4 way wired. The electrical boxes were filled with wires, limiting the size of dimmer control switches.
2. There were as many as 14, 65 watt recessed can lights on some loads.
3. There are combinations of dimmer loads and relay loads.
4. Over 100 total loads.
5. Three 200 amp breaker panels in different parts of the house.
6. Many existing electrical boxes needed multiple dimmers, exceeding the dimmer capacity of some of the existing electrical boxes.
7. Way too many light switches in some areas. In one location there were 8 light switches.
The electrical wiring is OK for a non-automated house, but changes are in store for the wiring as we automate.
As the saga unfolds, I will keep you informed.
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
The automation will include:
- Security
- Whole house lighting control with motion sensing automatic pathway lighting.
- Cameras
- Whole house audio/video control
- HVAC control with 6 heat pumps and 24 total zones
- Home Theatre
- Water leak detection with zoned water cutoff.
- Wifi with wireless touchscreens.
First -
Lighting Control selection criteria:
One lighting control system will be used.
Since the light switches were already prewired, we have to either work with the existing wiring or make major wiring changes.
We found so far:
1. Many switches were 3 and 4 way wired. The electrical boxes were filled with wires, limiting the size of dimmer control switches.
2. There were as many as 14, 65 watt recessed can lights on some loads.
3. There are combinations of dimmer loads and relay loads.
4. Over 100 total loads.
5. Three 200 amp breaker panels in different parts of the house.
6. Many existing electrical boxes needed multiple dimmers, exceeding the dimmer capacity of some of the existing electrical boxes.
7. Way too many light switches in some areas. In one location there were 8 light switches.
The electrical wiring is OK for a non-automated house, but changes are in store for the wiring as we automate.
As the saga unfolds, I will keep you informed.
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.