Lighting Automation Technologies: What do you primarily use?

[electron]

Alright, it's time to find out what people are using. If you use something, and it's not on the list, please do not vote, but post here instead. I will add it as an option, so you can vote for it.

I am sure many of you might rely on multiple technologies, but please vote for the one you primarily use!

 

[brotsten]

Centralite Elegance

 

[fcwilt]

I find the potential of Z-Wave interesting (being a mesh network that can "expand" to cover a larger area as devices are added).

But I find the lack of an UPStart like configuration tool to be frustrating.

I purchased a number of Z-Wave products from different manufactures to "get my feet wet". They all seem to use different terms at times for the same thing. They also seems to implement different "feature" sets. For instance one primary controller I have doesn't appear to support scenes yet I understand that this is part of the zwave "spec". Perhaps I am mistaken in this.

Then too sometimes the instructions are not clear. I read one that said (more or less) "Don't forget to remove the device from the network if you are going to remove the device". But what if I did forget to remove the device from the network. Now what? It didn't say.

Perhaps I just don't have the mindset to understand the process of configuring a zwave setup. UPStart makes sense to me and I never struggled to setup a UPB "network".

 

[electron]

I added Elegance as an option. I agree about UPStart, it's one heck of a tool, it's one of those ideas that every manufacturer should adopt.

 

[JimInSoCal]

I use X-10 technology, but not X-10 brand products. There can be a sizable quality difference between X-10 brand and products made by others.

I have a large X-10 installation done 8-10 years ago. It is not a technology that I would suggest that anyone use today except, perhaps, for a very small installation.

 

[BLH]

I like some others; have a mixture.
Insteon in my primary protocol but X10 for some things not available in Insteon. Like Chime Modules and a Touch tone Responder.
My Insteon modules do have an X10 Primary Address in them also.

 

[sic0048]

I haven't started with any lighting yet in my system, so I didn't vote. But I've always thought it would be ALC lighting for me and unless some super duper new technology comes around before I start, that is what I'll use.

 

[AnthonyZ]

I also use a couple of different lighting control types in my rig. Primarily, I use UPB but I still have some "leftover" RA in my home and I also some relay based LED (home rolled) stuff that I'm screwing around with.

 

[RichardU]

Centralite Jetstream. Works perfectly.

 

[electron]

Centralite's JetStream platform is ZigBee based, which can be voted for.

 

[Herdfan]

Homeworks wireless. Bulletproof.

Not however, idoit proof as my in-laws have demonstrated.

 

[Ridgeline]

I'd be interested in a slightly different question: If you were starting from scratch again, which would you use?

 

[Herdfan]

I'd be interested in a slightly different question: If you were starting from scratch again, which would you use?

If I were to do it over, instead of a 100% Homeworks Wireless system, I would go with an 8 Series processor and used as many local wired dimmers as I could get wire to. Then add wireless as needed.

The reason is to a)save some $ and b)get the added benefits of a wired processor such as the ability to add CCO's and shade controllers.

 

[phenix]

Does anyone know the difference between the Centralite Jetstream line and the Lutron Radio RA line? I know the Lutron switches are much nicer but I'm sure much more expensive. Both seen to be compatible with the HAI panel I have but I don't know why one is more expensive than the other?

 

[kova3]

I have had Lightolier compose for 7 years now. Love the switches and super reliable if u are on the firewalls. Switches and scene controllers are cool and great quality. Pita to understand and expensive to rewire all circuits to put in firewall.

I just installed wave in the office and am having issues with 2 way feedback. Haven't played around much but easy to integrate and get going.