Hardware or Software tutorials

[Isaac]

thanks again for all your help and sorry for my english, it's not my first language.

Indeed Im not too concerned about HVAC and alarm systems right now I would rather have lights, audio, video, etc.

Also I would want to integrate a bit of cameras but this I will do it wireless or with cat5 structured wiring.

Can you recomend some sensors that I can automate to triger lights, are there any good ones that are wireless, zwave or x10?

Or you would definately go wired with sensors.

I working this project with constructros so I have the posibility to run wires but I dont know how many diferent wires should i run, cat5, coax for video, speakers??

How about sensors

Again I really apreciate your help, and I understood that elk it the newest but I think for the things I want to do some ocelot and software programing will make it.

 

[bfisher]

Personally, I wire everything I possibly can, and only use wireless if I can't get wires where I want them. Wireless (in my opinion) is a great fallback, but I don't want it as my only solution... too easy for interference, etc.

As for wiring - put in as much as you can, anywhere you can. Some wire is expensive (good inwall speaker wire), but much of it is pretty inexpensive (cat5, 2-wire alarm wire).

If this is new construction, best bet is to wire every door/window (assuming you eventually want security (also good for automation)). Put Cat5 anywhere you would want motion sensors (for security and lighting). Put coax in for video (TV) distribution (including camera locations). Put Cat5 in anywhere you might want a computer and a phone (can use phone cable or cat5). Put speaker wire anywhere you want speakers (remember to include volume control locations if neccessary). Cat5 anywhere you might want IR receivers or emitters.

I would also run conduit to each room (couple spots in your key rooms) in case you need it for future requirements.

 

[AlbuquTurkey]

Just to give my two cents:

I started off on a VERY low budget. I got an ActiveX10 system and a couple of X10 light controllers. Now my system has just over $1000 worth of components and if you count the computer that is a bare bones home made from spare parts and a good processor/motherboard the whole thing is $1600.

I currently have 2 Ocelot/Secu16 systems. 1-Automation 1-Security which also has a SECU16I. As stated earlier - I try to wire all I can. The Security unit is programed to run completly through the Ocelot - No computer required. The Automation system gets information from the Security system to display status but is not controlling anything on the security system. The Automation Ocelot is programed to control the HVAC system without the computer but computer has override capabilities. The rest of the automation system is run through Homeseer. I have found that with this setup I can run anything that I've wanted to. Very flexible and has grown as I can afford to add to it.

Everything that I automate in the house must operate as it originally did. Light switches, alarm, thermostat ... That was a requirement that my wife set and I've been able to keep.

 

[Isaac]

Motion sensors are wired through cat 5? so you terminate them on router or switch in your control room??

what wires do u need for volume controls? you have to put the other end of the cable in your audio receiver?

can you sugest me a tutorial for wiring, thanks

 

[jlehnert]

sorry for my english, it's not my first language.

Don't worry about it. If you talk to anyone from England, they'll tell you that we Yanks don't speak English either. :lol:

Motion sensors are wired through cat 5? so you terminate them on router or switch in your control room??

No. Typically, you would use station wire (22/4) for wiring all the security applications, but many people just use cat5 for everything. Just twist the conductors for each color together and hook up to the panel. I prefer to use the correct wire myself, as the increased thickness of cat5 really adds up when you start to connect everything into the panel on a large system. Also the color coding on station wire matches up nicely with security needs (black = -12vdc, red = +12vdc, yellow and green are your loop). You should also use "firewire" (18/4 type FPL or FPLR) between the panel, keypads, siren, and smoke detectors.

On a side note, please fill in your location information. Some of the advice will be useless outside of the US.

what wires do u need for volume controls? you have to put the other end of the cable in your audio receiver?

Industry practice now is to pull 4 conductor speaker wire and a cat5 to each keypad location. Continue with the speaker wires to the speaker locations. This way you can run a central amp system (ie the Russound CAV series, cat5 for the keypad and the speaker wires pass through) or and A-Bus system (cat5 for everything, speaker wires unused, or used for power). If you know that you are only going to use A-Bus, then you can skip the speaker wire from the amp to the keypad, but absolutely do not run just speaker wire. All the equipment coming out now uses cat5 for controls.

can you sugest me a tutorial for wiring, thanks

Here is a real good tutorial. It has not been updated recently, but is a real good starting point. And of course, jstu dig around on this board. There is a boatload of information avaialble in the glossary and the how-to sections.