Designing a Home Automation System

Home automation systems are among the hottest technologies in homebuilding today with many homeowners requesting new systems. These systems can include lighting control, energy management, security, audio and many other sub-systems. The difficulty for most electrical contractors is that even though their clients may have an interest, they may not have the knowledge to describe what they need or what the system should do for them. Designing a home automation system becomes more complex as a result, requiring the contractor to become educator as well as designer.

Client Expectations

CLIENT EXPECTATIONS

An essential first step in designing a home automation system is to have a consultation to determine the client’s expectations of the system. This is a major factor in the system design, because without a thorough knowledge of the client’s wishes and needs, the installed system may never be satisfactory. Also it is important to educate the client about the various options available complimenting the products being installed. Once you understand the homeowner’s needs, you can start the framework for your home automation system.

SELECTING A CONTROLLER

The key decision you will make as the contractor is which home automation controller to use, because the supply available is a dizzying array of size and shape options. Choose a controller supporting all of the sub-systems and technologies that will be used during the initial installation and think about any future sub-systems or technologies a client may want to add. There is no single language or protocol for home automation systems. Because there are so many, the more products and protocols your central controller supports the easier it will be to integrate the different systems and add on later. Some of the more popular home automation protocols on the market today are RS-232, Ethernet, UPB, Zwave and ZigBee, as well as a number of proprietary protocols as well. Look for central controllers supporting as many protocols as possible, and avoid proprietary systems locking you in to one particular product line.

Always choose a controller with the capacity to handle the entire house, including every light, even if the homeowner is only choosing a few locations initially and be prepared for future system expansions. The worst thing you can tell an excited client, who later wants to add to the existing installation, is “Sorry, your system is maxed out, I can‘t add anymore.”

LIGHTING SYSTEM

Lighting controls are said to be the fastest growing home technology. These systems vary greatly in their design, scope and implementation so there is a wide range of products to suit every type of project out there. The cost of lighting control systems can be as low as $40 per circuit and up to $200-plus in the more sophisticated. It is a good idea to be familiar with several lighting systems in different price ranges to avoid losing a job because the client considers the choices too expensive.

Traditionally there has been a linear relationship between the cost of lighting control products and their performance, and more capable systems have not been available for retrofit installations. A relatively new technology called Universal Powerline Bus or UPB™ is a digital communications standard for lighting and home control which bridges the gap between cost and performance. UPB™ works over existing power lines in a home and therefore doesn’t require new wires to be run. UPB™ has about 95 percent of the features found in high-end systems. The devices have a dealer price of $55 to $120 making it cost effective for all but the most price-sensitive installations. UPB™ has been extensively tested and researched in residential environments and found to be 99.9 percent reliable. UPB™ is for single-phase 120/240 volt systems. It transmits using a spread spectrum pulse over the AC Sine wave with peak strength of 60V. This pulse has a long range and can travel up to one mile through the power lines. UPB™ has Advanced Addressing that allows 256 devices per house, 256 houses per transformer, which has greatly reduced the chance of overlap between houses.

WHOLE HOME AUDIO

Whole Home Audio is another very popular sub-system with residential customers today. Much like lighting control, there are many options available. Basic systems start with manual volume controls and high-end systems feature massive media music distribution servers with intricate keypads. Different systems are available, depending upon whether one will have a media cabinet, or the sources will be located in individual rooms. When whole home audio systems are tied into a home control system, paging features or notifications like, “Front door open” are obtainable in addition to their music distribution functions.

ENERGY MANAGEMENT

Energy management is also an integral part of a home control system. Many people install home control systems to conserve energy while still maintaining comfort. A quality home control system allows for the integration of occupancy sensors, communicating thermostats, and a range of sensors including humidity and water. The ability to control pool and spa pumps as well as irrigation systems is a valuable function.

SECURITY

Security is a popular system to integrate with home automation because it gives the homeowner the peace of mind, which comes from knowing family and home are as safe and secure as possible. Security systems allow the use of their motion detectors and door/window contacts for home automation purposes as well. One of the simplest and most popular examples is the feature that turns on the foyer light when the front door is opened. This is an easy task to accomplish when a security system is connected to the home automation system. The system can also activate lights in the event of an alarm, or turn off the air conditioning/heating system in the event of a fire. Be sure to choose a security system offering RS232 serial connectivity so it can be integrated.

INTERFACE

The last thing on our list is typically the first thing a homeowner thinks of and that is the interface. The way a homeowner interacts with the system is its most important aspect. If everything works flawlessly, but no one in the home can use it, then the entire system becomes useless. There are many ways to interact with a home automation system including keypads, telephone, touchscreens and the Internet. The touchscreen, available in many sizes and styles, is probably the most commonly seen example of a home automation system, is easy to use, and is often impressive to friends and neighbors. This is a good time to mention the very lucrative business that comes with word-of-mouth referral from clients of successful home automation installations.

REMOTE ACCESS

Your homeowners may want to be able to access the system remotely so telephone and the Internet are factors to consider as well. Most systems offer some sort of remote access and the Internet is very important to a large number of homeowners. Remind your clients they usually will have a telephone, but they may not always have access to the Internet.

Training

TRAINING

The best advice for getting into the home automation business is to get educated. There are a number of training opportunities with manufacturers all over the country and courses range from a couple of hours to a couple of weeks. Several third-party training schools have popped up in the last several years as well. They offer courses in system design, programming, and methods to handle the additional project management that comes with such a big system. Recently some trade schools have started offering classes in CompTIA’s Digital Home Technology Integrator program, so if you are hiring new employees this is a great credential to check.

Again, and most important to any successful installation of a home automation system, is to carefully listen to your homeowner before beginning the project -- and always plan for future expansion.

Charlie DeGiovanni,
Sales Manager South Central Region
E: charlied@homeauto.com

HAI Home Automation Inc.
Austin TX
T: 512.632.5553
W: www.homeauto.com