home automation + backup generator: options?

[nick_l]

My question is purely theoretical at the moment, but late this summer I hope to be moving into a large space with a backup generator and and ATS. For those of you using a backup genny and an automatic transfer switch, are you automating anything on those circuits, and if so, what tech are you using?

Currently im using some X-10 and some Z-wave, but in the new place I expect I will be moving to UPB, as it is a 3 phase building, and UPB is pretty much the only non-hardwired tech that I have researched that will work in that envyronment (the building is steel and concrete with steel mesh rock plaster on all the walls and ceilings. A virtual fraday cage, and almost surely a killer of any large Z-wave install).

I guess I was assuming that powerline woudnt work with any circuits on the ats, and surely not if the system is running off the generator, does that sound correct? Has anyone used Z-wave on a generator? I would like to automate things like security lights, hall lighting, etc, that I would like to fuction on grid or generator power. I could try to concentrate the switches for those things in a small area and go Z-wave for them (I already have the hardware, after all) but I dont want to go to the trouble if it's not going to work for me anyhow.

Thanks in advance for your input.
Nick

 

[tmcgowan]

My HomeSeer system has had no problems talking to my Insteon or Zwave devices while running on a 15KWH Generac for extended periods of time. Of course I also have an APC UPS supporting all the server hardware and interfaces while the Generac is getting up to speed and makes the switchover from the mains.

 

[nick_l]

My HomeSeer system has had no problems talking to my Insteon or Zwave devices while running on a 15KWH Generac for extended periods of time. Of course I also have an APC UPS supporting all the server hardware and interfaces while the Generac is getting up to speed and makes the switchover from the mains.

Interesting. Do you have a whole house ATS? Im just wondering how the powerline signals are being passed when you are on generator power. I kind of assumed that Z-wave would continue to work, as long as the generator could put out clean enough power for their electronics.


Nick