Need Ideas on control system

[philz1982]

In 8 weeks I will be prewiring my house.

I am very well versed in electrical, HVAC, and controls. I am envisioing that I will use the existing controls at my company. I am envisioning doing the following.

-Automatic lock control front door, back door, and garage door. (possibly through my system not sure what the locks require/ if they are dry contact relays I can control them.)
-Lighting schemes control of the different lighting circuits. (through my system)
-Control of the HVAC (through my system)
-A Multi-Zone Stereo system Cat5e to each speaker control location/ 16/4 from the control location to the speakers in room)
-7.1 Surround sound in 3 rooms. (I assume 16/4 to each wire location wrapped up in a jbox. I plan on doing in wall speakers)
-3 Tv's connected to HDMI and surround sound system. (Pre-wire not sure what wire I need I assume Cat-5e from tv's to HD converter and Surround sound system?)
-A Bluray/sound system that can share movies to the three tv's and sound to the multi zone speakers.
-Irrigation control (control)

A way to tie all this together into an Ipad or Internet accessed device.

 

[philz1982]

I am open to idea's for lighting control, security, and HVAC control options other than my current product.

 

[tmbrown97]

I am open to idea's for lighting control, security, and HVAC control options other than my current product.

What current product would that be? You mention using parts from your company but we don't know what parts you mean.

Depends on how complex you want to go and what you want to spend. Z-Wave will get you locks, lights and t-stat control; or you can go with electric latches and wired thermostats and UPB since you'll have the chance to wire without sheetrock in the way from the sounds of things.

Security is the absolute most important to wire... since it's all exterior walls it's the hardest to retrofit.

Have you decided on security platform, automation system (if you're not going Elk or HAI for security); lighting technology, etc?

 

[philz1982]

I work for Johnson Controls so I can use the excess controllers we have sitting on the shelf waiting to go into the garbage. The only problem is while the controller is fully programmable and can control/monitor any dry, voltage, or PWM signal it cannot do anything with A/V. It also cannot pull in Wireless. I perfer wired rather than wireless though for everything.

My real concern is the A/V systems. The house comes prewired for security and I can use a local provided for monitoring.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

Not to sound pessimistic, but I think you will find industrial I/O and their related controllers are not very friendly when it comes to trying to implement them with home automation.

 

[philz1982]

Not to sound pessimistic, but I think you will find industrial I/O and their related controllers are not very friendly when it comes to trying to implement them with home automation.

I do ton's of Building Automation. Metasys is not industrial by any means. It is a Very high end Building automation system for hospitals, data centers, and military facilities. The only thing I do not do is A/V. For example, I did the production studio for the guys who produced the matrix. Our system controlled the HVAC and we pulled in a Crestron and Lutron system via BACnet/IP.

We did the big cisco rep here in Dallas with the same system.

I can pull all the lighting into my controllers and they are free programmable and run with 1ms response. We also have a full security suite of software that is used in some really high profile places. So I have the controls down. I just really need to find an A/V system that I can control. I envision having a single source control for all my a/V stuff. I will take care of the Security, Lighting, and HVAC with my IPAD through the Metasys system.

 

[Neurorad]

The Metasys system looks like it support RS232, with a 'FieldServer' gateway.

http://www.fieldserver.com/about/Metasys.php

How easily is the iPad Metasys GUI configured? Can it be changed to accomodate AV devices?

 

[philz1982]

The Metasys system looks like it support RS232, with a 'FieldServer' gateway.

http://www.fieldserver.com/about/Metasys.php

How easily is the iPad Metasys GUI configured? Can it be changed to accomodate AV devices?

Never used it for A/V before. I would use a gateway for BACNET/IP. I assume since your using 232 it is a modbus connection. The gui has a tree like structure and then a 4 windowed screen for graphics which I can completely customize.

The ipad interface uses a similar layout and can have graphics.

 

[AnthonyZ]

Never used it for A/V before. I would use a gateway for BACNET/IP. I assume since your using 232 it is a modbus connection. The gui has a tree like structure and then a 4 windowed screen for graphics which I can completely customize.

The ipad interface uses a similar layout and can have graphics.

Well, there you go. Use RS232 capable displays, pre/pro`s and sources. Tie to JC via Modbus. Program. Done.

 

[etc6849]

I agree, RS232 is much better than IR in my opinion. If you have some components that are IR and you must use them, I would look into the global cache line of products (such as the GC-100 and the WIFI2IR).

You may also want to think how to do the HDMI switching... Use two cat5e cables to for HDMI with a balun at each end? I haven't tried this yet, but I've heard could things about this method.

Since you're system already has RS232, why not integrate it into a whole home automation system? I think this will save you time and in my opinion, it makes more sense to have all automation logic (with the exemption of security and basic logic needed for some sub-systems) in a single system. This means I would make your other controllers dumb controllers or slaves that would rely on a single system for logic, receiving commands over RS232. My idea is you would use Digi or Lantronix port servers to communicate with things over IP.

Motorola Premise is an open system that's free, and would work great as a way to compile all of your sub systems into a single interface. The links for Premise are in my signature.

 

[Neurorad]

I suggest that all your LV and line voltage wiring be 'standard', as in other homes. You should add to that standard wiring, rather than replace it.

Selling the house, and making changes down the road, are things to consider.

 

[llucica]

If you are looking for Modbus/N2/BACnet gateways for JCI systems then try the Problem Solving page at www.chipkin.com. There are many gateways that cater to different needs.

 

[KeepItSimpleStupid]

At the very least, make sure the switches have 3 wire feeds for the wall switches so the neutrals are there.

For lighting, you could go complete with home runs from the light fixture to a lighting controller, but somehow I see some imparacticalness in a home controller. One of the problems is ceiling fans.

Pre-wiring could also include drapary controllers.

Also take some pics of the house with the walls down, so you know what's there. Create wire raceways.

 

[fwd03]

Sounds like you only need to find an interface between the A/C and Johnson control?

 

[Del91574]

Skip the Cat 5's for HDMI right now. Pull them for a future use, the baluns and bandwith/timing issues in a big integration aren't up to snuff as of yet. We pull MAC 6 cable and do it in component video because of past issues with image skew and timing synchronization.

I think you'll have some problems with the BACnet and instance ID's and similar, but if you want to spend the time to do it, more power to you.