New Home - Automation strategy.

[wisebishop]

Thank you for reading this post. Very much appreciate your comments.

I am planning automation for new home. Framing will start next week. Size 6000 sq ft.

I plan to use all Insteon switches throughout.

Will be using 'Cortexa 7202 Controller w/Video, Serial Expansion - 12000VS' and 'Cortexa In-Wall Touchscreen' as central controller.

Security: INSTEON-Enabled M1 Gold

Audio: NUVO ESSENTIA AUDIO DISTRIBUTION 6-source, 6-zone system

Phone and paging system: Need advice.

Video Distribution: Need advice.

I do have about four months for planning.

 

[upstatemike]

For phone and paging we probably need a little more info about your lifestyle. Are you planning to comminacate to doors or security gates? How many phone lines will you have? Do you prefer cordless phones or wired ones? How do you use cellular technologies.? Are you one of those families that uses a cell phone to call your kid up in their bedroom (on their cell phone) to tell them it is time for dinner?

There are lots of options in this area so you need to give us some idea what you are looking to do.

 

[wisebishop]

Looking for Hybrid system. Two lines. Paging and intercom feature

- communicate to doors including main entrance for the house and the gated community entrance door.

- do use cell phones to call kids up in their bedroom.

I am considering
- 5240 HOME/BUSINESS 2 X 7 PHONE SYSTEM at Smarthome.com
- Panasonic KX - TA824

Thank you.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Looking for Hybrid system. Two lines. Paging and intercom feature

- communicate to doors including main entrance for the house and the gated community entrance door.

How about a DoorBell Fon Intercom system?

Easy to wire.

Can be wired it to a Nuvo phone/mute interface.

From any phone in the house you can open a gate or door.

The brass doorbell plate is attractive.

System is pretty inexpensive.

Downside, no paging.

 

[upstatemike]

Looking for Hybrid system. Two lines. Paging and intercom feature

- communicate to doors including main entrance for the house and the gated community entrance door.

- do use cell phones to call kids up in their bedroom.

I am considering
- 5240 HOME/BUSINESS 2 X 7 PHONE SYSTEM at Smarthome.com
- Panasonic KX - TA824

Thank you.

7 phones is not very many for a 6000 square foot house. I have the Pana 624 and wish I could put more system phones on it. Of course I lose 1 port to a DSS console, 2 ports to the Voicemail system, and 1 port is dedicated to my Stargate. This only leaves me 20 system phones and I could easily use 6-8 more. Unfortunately larger systems get real business oriented and leave out some key features included in the smaller systems like the 824 you are considering.

I would consider moving to an NEC system but I can't live with all black phones so I just have to get creative with phone placement and do part of my paging through an external paging amp.

You might want to look at Ablecomm.com for some additional detail on the Panasonic system.

 

[cliffs]

Here are some of the features of my system.
I use a ELK M1G for the control with a W800 receiver.

It is mostly X10(which works fine for me).

Timed turn on and off the outside fountain.
Timed turn off and on architectual lights.
Timed on and off outside house lights.
Turn on and off garage light for 15 minutes when entered.
Remotely turn off and on all pool and spa functions.
Timed turn off and on pool and spa functions(lights at night).
Timed CO2 injection for pool pH control.
Remotely turn off and on all outside slights.
Turn on garage lights when door is opened.
Automatically check to see if garage doors are closed at proper time.
The M1G also does all security functions, including a away light schedule.
Control thermostats for most efficient operation.

Since the M1G has a voice feature, I can use it for a door alarm for the
pool. Also, the M1G can be programmed to tell if you are away for a few
hours or are on vacation. It can be called on the phone to check and actuate the various functions.

I don't feel that it is wise to have internet access to the system although it
can be done.

I did try to automate the functions that were used the most often.

Another low cost device is switch mounted motion sensors, great for walk in closets
and laundry rooms. Put one on the fan in the kids bathroom so it
will come on when occupied, makes it smell a lot better.

Hope this gave you a couple of ideas.


Cliff s

 

[Spanky]

I understand that Cortexa now has a M1 Controller interface. Should be a very interesting system. Keep us informed.