Home Automation

Welcome to the future!  Home Automation designed for today and tomorrow.  This is more then just 'Structured Wiring' as seen in most new homes.  This home actually makes use of the structured wiring with the installed Controller (i.e., computer), touch screen menus, programming features, as well as various other components.

Anyone new to Home Automation needs to really grasp the implication of integration.  The more time one spends with Home Automation (HA), the more creative one gets.  As any computer, there are inputs and there are outputs.  These are Events, and with the programming features, any Event can trigger any combination of Events of your choice.  As a silly example to get you thinking, the controller could easily be programmed to turn the irrigation sprinkler on by the front door when someone rings the door bell.  This webpage describes in more detail the features of this automated home along with some practical examples to demonstrate the power of integration and automation.

     The heart of HA is the HAI (manufacturer) OmniPro II Controller along with the OmniTouch screens and Omnistat Communicating Thermostats strategically placed throughout the home.

     > Security.  Integrated into the controller is the security system with the standard perimeter door and window monitoring; Night, Day, Away, and Vacation Modes; and Emergency Police, Fire, and/or Auxiliary Events.  In addition, this system integrates a number of other features.

     - Smoke detection throughout the home.  While all homes require smoke detection devices and newer homes are hard-wired to each other, these detectors are hardwired and integrated into the OmniPro II Controller. 

     The GE ESL 500 Series self-diagnostic, four-wire photoelectric smoke detectors are the industry's first conventional direct-wire smoke detectors with analog features such as drift compensation, multi-criteria detection and remote maintenance/trouble reporting (CleanMe). The 500 Series continually monitor their own sensitivity and operational status, and provide a visual indication if they drift out of the sensitivity range or fail internal diagnostics.

     In the event of smoke detection, any number of Events can be programmed via the Controller.  For example, turning on all the lights in the home would help expedite a response to the emergency or safe exit during the night.  Furthermore, the Controller can invoke the Emergency Fire feature.  In the event that the Controller knows that your are away (e.g., Away Mode), it can also call you via it's built-in telephone response features.

     - 'Directional' Vehicle Detection at the driveway.  By having two sensors installed to differentiate direction, the Controller is informed when a vehicle is coming up the driveway (as opposed to leaving the home down the driveway).  Any number of Events can be programmed based on this Event.  For example, lights can be turned on, Announcements can be made indicating guest arrival, and/or if you were away, the Controller could contact you via telephone.

     - Exterior cameras (color day / Infrared Black & White Night Vision).  Hawk-I weatherproof, vandalproof, and crushproof cameras (models HAWK-140IRCB, HAWK-520IRCB, HAWK-550VIRCB) strategically placed around the home.  These cameras feed into Video Modulators from Channel Plus which allow one to set which frequencies / channels each camera appears.  The output from these modulators enter the Leviton video distribution patch panel which distributes these channels / frequencies throughout the home to any video input (e.g., televisions, VCRs, DVRs, etc.).  So one can watch any camera from any television throughout the home.  For security reasons, one could document detected motion by recording the camera video on a recording device.

     - Motion detectors around the exterior of the home.  Optex Outdoor Passive Infrared Motion Detectors (Model LX-402/802N).  These detectors are additional monitoring devices which allow any number Events to be programmed based on detection.  Currently, they are programmed to turn on surrounding exterior lights at night.  This tends to scare off any varmints, etc.  or allow for additional camera coverage and/or resolution.  Again, video recording, etc. is all possible.  The flexibility and advantages of integration with home automation are endless.

     >  Lighting

     The Omni Pro II controls the lighting in the home via X-10 power line carrier transmission technology over the electrical lines of the home.  In addition to the smoke detection example above (or any security Event for that matter), rather than turning off all the lights one at a time when going to bed, the push of one button can turn them all off.  Easier yet, when you set the security in Night Mode, it can be programmed to turn all the lights off for you, or leave the hallway light on at say 5%.  Or when the security is in Vacation Mode, have certain lights come on at certain intervals so the home appears lived in.  Having said all that, the lighting is still controllable by you the old fashion way; by manual use of the switches on the wall.

     The home's light switches are predominantly Leviton Decora home control dimmer switches with:  soft fade ON/OFF, minimum brightness adjustment, brightness level display, Intellisense circuitry, ON/OFF LED indicates status of load, and One-button programming.  These are energy savers, easier on the eyes, and definitely a more professional look and feel.  This home doesn't just have lights, it has lighting; There is a difference.

     Leviton 7-scene controllers are installed in the Dining, Living, and Master Bedroom to control various different programmable lighting scenes of your choice.  For example, in the dining room one scene could be the chandelier at 25%, the recessed halogen lights at 50%, and the wall sconces at 75%.  Program another scene with some other combination!

     There are three-way switches that can be programmed to control any other switch in the home.  Normally, three-way switches control only one pre-determined switch.

     >  Distributed Video

     Any video source can be distributed throughout the home from any location in the home (e.g., satellite, DVDs, VCRs, etc.).

     Seven Exterior colored cameras have been strategically placed around the peripheral of the home.  These infrared cameras also have night vision (black and white).  The camera video source can be distributed anywhere in the home to any television or recording device (e.g., VCR, DVR).

      > Distributed Audio

     Audio source from Entertainment Center in Living Room is distributed to Kitchen, Dining, Office, Garage, Main Deck, and future pool area.

     Separate and distinct from distributed audio and HA, the Living Room is pre-wired for 6.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound, and the Master Bedroom is pre-wired for 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound.

     Also separate and distinct from the distributed audio, are announcement speakers distributed throughout the home to hear any number of announcements from the Home Automation system. 

     > HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning)

     There are two RHEEM furnaces (100,000 & 50,000 BTU) and two RHEEM condensing units 10 seer (5 & 2 1/2 ton).

     These two physical units are employed to control 5 zones in the home via Omnistat Communicating Thermostats integrated into the Controller.  Operable dampers installed within the ducts open and close to direct conditioned air.  This helps save on energy costs.  For example, during the hot months at night, cool only the Master Bedroom and save on electricity.

     An operable fresh-air vent intake is available rather then the interior return-air intake (5 ton unit only).  So when the temperature outside is cooling quicker then inside, open the fresh-air intake, close the return-air intake, and turn on the fan(s) (to the zones of your choice) to distribute fresh, cool air around the home.  You could even have the program turn off automatically after say twenty minutes.  This sure beats having to open and close windows for fresh air.  Furthermore, like the return-air intake, the fresh-air intake has a filter to help keep out the dust.

     Outside temperature and humidity sensors are integrated into the Controller.  This allows for intelligent programming when comparing inside and outside temperatures.  With the fresh air in-take example above, the Controller knows when the temperature is cooler outside.

     > LAN/WAN (Local Area Network / Wide Area Network)

          .   Set up your LAN by simply plugging into data ports that have been liberally distributed around the home. 

          .  WAN, or Internet Access, via DirecWay Satellite.  Satellite modem located by the Distribution Panel. 

          .  Modem, Router and Switches all located in Distribution Panel. (See Structured Wiring below.) No need to have this hardware dangling around your computer. 

          .  OmniPro II interfaces with LAN/WAN for on-line programming updates, status, commands, etc.  So in the event you don't care to deal with programming changes, a consultant can log on remotely to make changes.

     > Telephone

     The OmniPro II is equipped with a built-in telephone response feature that allows you to access and control the status of your system from any Touch-Tone phone; In or outside of the home.  [Want to call from your cellular when your commuting 15 minutes from home and turn on the heat/cooling?  Or maybe you want to program the heat/cooling to come on automatically during the work week 15 minutes before you come home.  The choice is yours and it is easy to change.]  Furthermore, the security features provide emergency communications (i.e., Police, Fire, Auxiliary).  The OmniPro II can contact you, a monitoring service, etc.

     The OmniPro II actually talks to you using a digital recording of an actual human voice, so the sound is incredibly life like.  You send commands to the OmniPro II using the keys of your Touch-Tone phone.  There are no tapes, discs, or other moving parts associated with the speech and control features, so there is no maintenance or parts to wear out.

     See Structured Wiring below.

     > Irrigation ( 8 zones)

     Eight zones, including drip, have been installed and integrated with the OmniPro II.

     > Hot Water Circulating Pump    

     While hot water circulating pumps are one thing, integrated into home automation is another.  Near instant hot water is great, but the circulating pump does cost money in terms of electricity and propane/gas.  With integration, the pump can be turned off when the security system indicates that you are Away or on Vacation, or when in Night Mode.  Currently, the program has the pump turn off when the security night mode is turned on, and come on after the night mode security is turned off in the morning.  Again, the choice is yours and easy to change the programming. 

     > Velux Operable Skylight with exterior awning and interior Venetian blinds

     Refer to the Skylight section of the Construction Webpage for a description of the skylights.  This section addresses the integration to Home Automation system.

     An advantage of an interface to Home Automation is that the skylight can be programmed to operate independently or in concert with other automation features.  With the fresh-air HVAC example noted above, the program would include the skylight opening and allowing air to escape.

     Another advantage of integration, the skylight, it's Venetian Blinds, and/or exterior Awning can be controlled from any touch screens throughout the home (or the telephone, network, etc.).

> Whole-House Surge Protection

     Surge bar protectors are only designed for "point of use" protection.  In other words, they only protect what is plugged in to them.  For example, you may already have your computer and printer plugged into a surge bar.  While your computer may be protected to some degree, everything else in your house is still unprotected.  That's the beauty of whole-house surge protection; EVERYTHING in your home is protected.  ALL of your appliances, computers TV's, telephones, ALL OF IT!  And you don't have surge bars plugged in all over the house.  The best part of all is your home will always be protected no matter what electronics you buy next.

> Structured Wiring

     A 'Bundle' is a combination of wires bundled together in a jacket.  The majority of new construction today uses bundles of two-to-four wires: one-two coaxial cables, one-two CAT 5 data/phone cables.  THIS home has six wires: two coaxial cables, two CAT 5 data cables, and two fiber optic cables designed for future technologies.  Furthermore, THIS home has multiple 'drops' of these bundles in various places to allow maximum flexibility.  For example, in bedrooms where the bed could be located in more than wall, multiple drops have been strategically placed in the same room to allow for maximum flexibility in telephone, network, cable, etc. usage.  There is a drop in the garage utility/work area, outside at the barbeque, and one drop for a future pool.

> Summary

     If you find any of this intimidating, rest assured that one doesn't need to use the integrated features of Home Automation.  Everything can be operated independent of integration.  For example, light switches are used as normal lights switches.  The HVAC system can be used as one would normally use it.  The skylight can be used independent of it's integration with Home Automation, etc.  Finally, while programming might sound complicated, the programming language is pretty straight forward.  If you can understand IF, THEN, and ELSE, you're pretty much there.  An Owner's Manual is provided.  Finally, there are consultants available in the area, and the owner will provide free consulting to help on the initial setup for the new owner.