Complete Home Automation kits
Discussion
Mr & Mrs Beanbag have put an offer in for a new home and it's been provisionally accepted! 
Aside from being both incredibly excited, we have a lot of work ahead of us. The property is a bank repossession (we live in Spain), and got looted about a year ago. Basically there is nothing inside. No doors, windows, kitchen, bathrooms, anything....all gone. However it gives us the opportunity to start fresh and make the home completely the way we want it so we're busy working everything out.
One item we'd like to install and have the opportunity to do is install a complete home automation system and quite honestly, when it comes to this level of automation, I have no idea where to start. Lights, and sockets are easy, but my requirements are a bit more extensive and I'd like it combined into one system.
Alarm, smoke, CO2, flood and electric sensors along with cameras around the property are managed by our security contractor so no need to worry about that, however I would like to control the following:
- A number of lights around the house. Primarily lounge, kitchen entrance hall and master bedroom.
- Window blinds. The entire house will have electric blinds installed and I'd like to be able to open and close them remotely with the ability to open all of downstairs independently.
- Air conditioning. No central heating here in Spain but I'd like to be able to control my cooling / heating remotely.
- Swimming pool control. Not sure if this can be combined but being able to control the pump and monitor the pool would be ideal, especially when away.
I don't think there is anything else. Any suggestions for good quality system would be appreciated.
I just don't want to invest in something that will be obsolete shortly after buying it. Some level of future expansion would be ideal. I've looked at WebKit compatibility but does this stretch to my requirements?
Cheers!
Aside from being both incredibly excited, we have a lot of work ahead of us. The property is a bank repossession (we live in Spain), and got looted about a year ago. Basically there is nothing inside. No doors, windows, kitchen, bathrooms, anything....all gone. However it gives us the opportunity to start fresh and make the home completely the way we want it so we're busy working everything out.
One item we'd like to install and have the opportunity to do is install a complete home automation system and quite honestly, when it comes to this level of automation, I have no idea where to start. Lights, and sockets are easy, but my requirements are a bit more extensive and I'd like it combined into one system.
Alarm, smoke, CO2, flood and electric sensors along with cameras around the property are managed by our security contractor so no need to worry about that, however I would like to control the following:
- A number of lights around the house. Primarily lounge, kitchen entrance hall and master bedroom.
- Window blinds. The entire house will have electric blinds installed and I'd like to be able to open and close them remotely with the ability to open all of downstairs independently.
- Air conditioning. No central heating here in Spain but I'd like to be able to control my cooling / heating remotely.
- Swimming pool control. Not sure if this can be combined but being able to control the pump and monitor the pool would be ideal, especially when away.
I don't think there is anything else. Any suggestions for good quality system would be appreciated.
I just don't want to invest in something that will be obsolete shortly after buying it. Some level of future expansion would be ideal. I've looked at WebKit compatibility but does this stretch to my requirements?
Cheers!
E36GUY said:
If you're going this far I would think Lutron Homeworks is your fella
Cheers. I've dropped them an email but they don't appear to support pool controls.I got another suggestion from a friend. A company called Loxone. He's never used them before but they do appear to support pool controls too along with everything else.
Has anyone heard of them and had experience with them?
Loxone is one option although I have not used or been trained on it.
My first thought for the begining of the list was RAKO, certainly for Lighting and Blind control.
However when I got to AirCon and Pool control, Rako struggles. So then we really are looking at Whole House control.
Ultimate would be Crestron or AMX (just doing a house with Crestron now)
However there is a newer brand that could fit perfectly, HDL is a chineese brand that has been around for 20 years, and they are really gaining support throughout the world at the moment. BMW used in thier HQ Showroom, the new UN Building is having it installed as well as IMB's new building in Egypt.
Did the training on it late last year and it really does have an excellent level of control and flexability.
www.hdl-uk.co.uk for more info (or me,
)
V.
My first thought for the begining of the list was RAKO, certainly for Lighting and Blind control.
However when I got to AirCon and Pool control, Rako struggles. So then we really are looking at Whole House control.
Ultimate would be Crestron or AMX (just doing a house with Crestron now)
However there is a newer brand that could fit perfectly, HDL is a chineese brand that has been around for 20 years, and they are really gaining support throughout the world at the moment. BMW used in thier HQ Showroom, the new UN Building is having it installed as well as IMB's new building in Egypt.
Did the training on it late last year and it really does have an excellent level of control and flexability.
www.hdl-uk.co.uk for more info (or me,
)V.
I'd say loxone. It's the only resasonable priced solution that I found that integrated everything I wanted.
Caters for lots of different standards, and can't think of much that it can't do.
Loxone accessories are slightly pricey but are quality items. You can source generic relays and extensions which will work fine too at much lower costs.
Lots of info on the loxone forums
Caters for lots of different standards, and can't think of much that it can't do.
Loxone accessories are slightly pricey but are quality items. You can source generic relays and extensions which will work fine too at much lower costs.
Lots of info on the loxone forums
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