Greetings from NW Florida

[primdrumma]

Hello Cocoon-ers. I have been lurking anonymosly for a while and thought I should go ahead and sign-up/sign-in. I am in the process of designing a new home with construction to start in a little over a year. I'm in information overload right now, trying to figure out what my priorities are.
 
I currently work in the commercial building automation field, so many of the concepts are not new to me. The commercial world though is a little further along on standardization, through protocols like BACnet and LON, but does not put as much emphasis (progressing) on mobile features and complete integration of different systems.
 
My goal is complete integration, where the sprinkler system can talk to the lighting system, can talk to the shade control, fireplace, garage doors, etc. A single user interface for everything.
 
With designing a new house I have the option to hardwire everything, but it seems the home automation industry is heavily focused on wireless communication. I've read the wiring guideline, but it seems a little bit out of date (though still applicable) for current industry trends. I've read the recommendations for smurf tube and will probably use it pretty extensively.
 
Any suggestions for new construction are very welcome,
 
Thanks for hosting such a useful forum!
 
-Tim

 

[tmbrown97]

Welcome!
 
I think the retrofit options for lighting are more prevalent because obviously that's a much larger potential client base vs. people who can actually rip open their walls and get wire to every switch.  On the other hand, hardwired security is much better and has been around for 50 years with no real improvements needed, at least in the traditional contacts... motions and glassbreaks and smokes have been improving as technology allows.
 
What I do like with the Elk M1G is that the inputs/outputs can be extended to remote cans so you can locate relays and sensors wherever they're needed; in my case, there's another can in the garage that hooks to the sprinklers, garage doors, etc.  It's very flexible in that sense.
 
Everything you mention is doable - and if you already have some background with the basic switching and sensing technologies, you'll do fine!  I have everything but the shade control you mention currently in place.
 
For what it's worth, I have seen BACnet apps for mobile devices and I've read some detailed stories where people have taken that industrial automation and tied it into their homes - but there are plenty of ways to do this in a typical home setting as well.  There are the very well established Elk and HAI option that can serve most of these things, or a million new things hitting kickstarter every day; there are also different approaches - an ISY and a bunch of Insteon gear can ultimately work with sensors and outputs and lights too, and the ISY can add more advanced control.
 
Lots of options - lots of reading to do - good luck!