New project kickoff

[tisserda]

Hello Cocoon'ers. I'm a long time lurker, first time poster. Just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and give some background on my 'project' as I'm sure I'll be polling the community for help regularly. I'm about to break ground on a new home construction. After reading about all the neat things people are doing, I've come to the conclusion that it is fully possible to implement a Home Automation system that will create the optimal environment for my family and how we live continuously and accurately, doing so at a reasonable cost.

Based on the reading I've done here and elsewhere, I'm leaning towards a Elk M1 + IDY-994i backbone to cover security and environmental control(lighting and HVAC). Haven't decided on a video security solution and weather to go analog or IP based.

Entertainment wil most likely be DirecTV + Internal media server with TVs in 6 locations, 3 being full 'theater' setups meaning video + suround sound.

I'll do all the LV wiring (data, cable, speaker, security) myself, and I'll have a fairly large time window to do so. I've read through the wiring 101/2/3 guides which were great and listed many things to consider that I missed. In fact, I think I'm now over 1ft of wiring per sqft of house!!

I guess a question to get conversation started:
What are the pro/cons of using a Thermostat controlled by Elk vs. Insteon based?

 

[electron]

Welcome to CocoonTech!

The advantage of using the M1 for your HVAC needs is that you have more choices. There is only 1 INSTEON thermostat afaik, so you are kinda stuck with the look/feature set if you go that route.

 

[tmbrown97]

In addition, there are a lot of different options for controlling the M1 - eKeypad, CQC, Homeseer, Premise, ElkRMS, the built-in web-app, etc - and every one of those will automatically be able to control the thermostat connected to the M1.

ISY is a nifty insteon master controller and a powerful rules engine, what it isn't, is a pretty control app. If a nice touchscreen is important to you, then you might end up with yet another control app (and another place rules and automation can live).

 

[tisserda]

Well after numerous hours spent surfing and researching here and many of the HA vendor sites, here is what I've ordered to get started:
Elk M1 + ISY994 package from smarthome which includes the ethernet module for the Elk.
1 extra keypad so there will be one at the front and the garage door.
Swann's new D1, 8 channel security DVR.
CAT6 for data/phone, and a couple of long HDMI runs (50-70ft). Also will use for some security wiring.
Quad shield RG6 for Satellite TV
16/2 and 16/4 for inwall speaker wiring
22/2 for security

I'm not quite in the city so TV will be satellite, phone will be POTS or cellular, Internet will be 4G wireless service.

We ended up with an 'extra' closet in our laundry room that is 2x3 and just happens to share a wall with the main media center in the living room. All wiring will be homerun to here.
28" Elk cabinet for Elk + ISY hookups. That should leave plenty of room for future expansion modules. I've got a couple of questions on config, but I'll post them in the security forum.
I thought I'd use the 14" cabinet that came with the package for all the RG6 routing and satellite multiswitch.

I've got a 24port patch panel that all the cat6 will route back to, and then distribute from there.

Here are my current wiring plans below. I'd appreciate any feedback/thoughts/suggestions:
2 CAT6 + 1 RG6 at each TV. I have a central media server so there will be a media center/HTPC/etc at each TV. Also assuming some will have a game console.
1 CAT6 drop for every PC location
1 CAT6 drop in master bedroom and in kitchen for POTS phone.
1 CAT6 to each Elk Keypad + 1 extra line to front door for future use.
1 WAP on each end of the house(4000+ sqft single story).
1 CAT6 from closet to sprinkler controller location.

 

[JimSlipe]

Hey tisserda,

I found your thread today and was struck by how similar it is to a project I have underway: same Swann D1, same number/type of cable drops, etc. I haven't commited to the Elk yet, but I'm preparing for it. I'm about 1/3 of the way through my wiring and the first lesson learned is just how bulky the Cat6 cables are. My plan calls for about 30 runs of Cat 6 but the 12 I have done so far have nearly filled up one of the two 1.5" conduits I ran out of the top of my Leviton SMC42 cabinet. I now need to put in a new 2" conduit before drywall goes in. Using Cat5 where speed isn't critical (e.g., POTS, keypads) isn't a compromise; it just makes your life easier than Cat6 everywhere.

I'm also running a length of Cat5 to each of the Swann cameras in case I decide to move to IP cameras for some reason in the future. It never gets easier to run wire than now.

By coincidence, my wife just returned home (L.A.) from a trip to McKinney and loved your old town area.

Cheers,
Jim

 

[cctv]

Hi;

Good Idea on the cat5e / 6 cable, good upgrade path to IP cameras in future.

If you can, consider running 1 inch conduits from bedroom multimedia outlet locations to attic or basement (whichever closer). Wiring needs may change in future and its much easier to push cables down a conduit then through a wall full of insulation...