xhwhf introduction – The UK home Automation community have been meeting yearly because 2001. The “UKHA2004” event was held on the 15th and 16th may 2004, in Ramada Jarvis hotel in Hatfield, near London. This is my review of the event.
This year we booked the three largest conference rooms in the Hotel. The Pioneer and Endeavour suites were used for exhibitor’s stands. We had 18 companies and individuals demonstrating their systems. The third room, the Comet suite, was used for presentations.
As last year we will have a video of the event…
BARIX www.barix.com
Barix Barionet and Extender
(Klikni na zväčšenie)
The Barix Exstreamer, Exstreamer Gold and Instreamer products are already well known. However, their Barionet product is relatively new and seems purpose built for numerous home automation applications. For example, with its on board relays and I/Os, using it to create a central heating controller would be ideal.
Barix showed the new Barionet Extender product which will allow multiple units to be daisy chained together on the RS485 network, giving practically limitless relays and I/Os.
Also on show was a prototype Input Module that’s currently being installed in the brand new purpose built automated home of the Barix CEO. due to be completed in around 4 weeks’ time, it will be the first install of its kind any where in the world.
Barix Input Module Prototype
(Klikni na zväčšenie)
This multi purpose unit is developed to be low cost and ubiquitous. For example, it can be used behind every light switch and PIR in the home, sending messages to the Barionet. It can also be used for IR and with the Dallas 1-Wire temperature sensors.
Even though Barix is young company, their personnel have numerous years’ experience in their field. They are producing exciting new products and it’s apparent by the amount of other exhibitors using their systems at the show, that I’m not the only person that thinks so.
Johannes Rietschel
Barix CEO
We were pleased to have the CEO of Barix, Johannes Rietschel, at UKHA2004, along with his technical Manager, Silvan Sauter. Both men had flown in from Zurich, Switzerland and had cancelled other engagements to be with us. We appreciate their presence and especially the amount of time they spent with us.
It’s great to see a company like this bringing new ideas to the market rapidly and at a sensible cost. The fact that Barix are talking to members of the UKHA community and incorporating their ideas and protocols into the actual firmware of their products is another sign of how open and forward thinking they are.
Barix are a company on the up-and-up and one to keep a close eye on!
CBUS shop www.cbus-shop.com
The CBus shop Stand
(Klikni na zväčšenie)
Although the CBus shop is relatively new, it’s part of the Laser group of companies which are already well recognized as home automation e-tailers with practically a decade’s presence on the web selling home automation products.
Featuring their display board the CBus Shop, showed the beautiful Neo switch in action. Its scene lighting capabilities and the aesthetics of the configurable LEDs were very impressive. The Neo also incorporates an IR receiver.
Showing just how far you can take C-Bus, Kwong Li of the CBus shop along with Paul Grahamsley of integrated technology and control (www.itac.org.uk) demonstrated a system showing C-Bus lighting integrated with a Crestron controller all running from a beautiful touch screen interface where a graphical layer to replicate the floor plan of a house was used to making control very intuitive. control was demonstrated from various devices including a wall mounted touch panel, a C-Bus light switch, a button panel, an iPAQ, an XDAII and normal mobile device with SMS.
The system even more integrated with a safety and security panel, featuring a GSM Modem. one of the good little touches of the system was the ability to send SMS from the touch screen by utilising the capabilities of the alarm panel. other control options demonstrated included irrigation control.
Part of the CBus/Crestron setup
(Klikni na zväčšenie)
According to Paul the purpose was to demonstrate… “how home automation and integration ought to be made up of building blocks rather than one total system. We have produced a package of equipment that whilst in its normal use is a self reliant off the shelf product with our system becomes part of a total integrated solution. Each block can itself run happily as intended but to offer the graphical interface and communication platform we use a central processor which manages the communication between blocks ensuring that the client can control the system from one user point and each block can communicate with the next. This way the central unit acts like cement holding the blocks together but if the cement was taken away the blocks would still stand but the wall would become weak and unusable. Each block represents common elements of a total system, Lighting, HVAC, Security, Audio Visual, GUI and connectivity. For example when the system is set for a holiday period the lighting can be controlled on a random bases giving the home a lived in look also the heating is set back to a level to offer fabric protection but not to a normal comfort level. also when the user returns from holiday and enters a relevant code the system is returned to normal.”
CBS also demonstrated other aspects of integration where for example a C-Bus light switch was used to control different music devices.
Displays like this show how open the C-Bus system actually is. these days it’s quite easy to get the basic protocol file from Clipsal and much more and much more companies and individuals are developing links from their hardware to C-Bus (see www.cbus-enabled.com),
The CBus shop are the only on-line source for CBus modules in the UK. They supply retail, trade and integrators.
CLIPSAL www.clipsal.co.uk
The Clipsal Stand
(Klikni na zväčšenie)
It was great to see Cipsal return to our event after their first time last year. The UK general manager of CIS (Guy Madgwick) and area Sales manager Geoff Chapman attended.
With the most professional display at the event, and the announcement of “4000 new parts” coming in the next year, the Clipsal stand was a busy place.
Probably one of the most exciting aspects of the show was the chance to see the new C-Bus Wireless. This is a an advancement over the existing “Ulti” range and is a “2-Way” RF solution.
Guy Madgwick, CIS general Manager
(Klikni na zväčšenie)
The C-Bus Wireless switch has been a massive design challenge for the boffins at Clipsal. The unit is a straight swap for your existing light switch, fitting in the same wall box and needing no additional wiring at all! This implied that Clipsal had to power the switch using the live feed only, as no neutral or earth is available inside a standard UK light switch back box. They also had to fit in the RF circuitry as well as the dimmer itself! Clipsal have numerous years’ experience in the dimmer company and use their “phase-cut” technology to produce an efficient and cool running device. The RF link is encrypted so there will be no issues with multiple installations where houses are in close proximity. range was quoted as 20 to 40 metres and of course as it’s RF and not IR it will work without needing line of sight.
The C-Bus Wireless Gateway
(Klikni na zväčšenie)
Many new products will be available in the wireless range including a wireless socket which is also retro fit. A Gateway product will also be available so that if, for example, you want to retro fit C-Bus Wireless to your existing property, then possibly add a hard wired C-Bus network to a new extension, you can marry the 2 networks together.
The C-Touch Colour
(Klikni na zväčšenie)
The C-Touch Colour is the new 7 inch C-Bus touch screen. 11mm thick and available in Neo, Saturn Glass, Stainless Steel, and Brass options it has an immense range of connectivity and functionality including Ethernet, RS232, TV Out, Microphone, Light Sensor, IR and USB!
The C-Bus DLT Switch
Another new development is the C-Bus DLT (Dynamic Labelling Technology). This is a service to conquer the switch labelling issues that are often found in home Automation applications.
Bitmaps can be used to produce the labels on the LCD panel so you have quite a bit of freedom in what they display. The units editable dynamic labels include options for bar-graphs and percentage etc too.
Wireless DLT Switch
(Klikni na zväčšenie)
An interesting looking C-Bus Wireless version of the DLT switch is also planned. It removes from its docking stations in the wall (where it charges) so it can be carried around like a remote. There’s even a good blue LED in the charger/docking station.
(Update Dec 2005 – Clipsal UK have asked us to point out this device has still not been developed yet. also if it is developed it will be an IR remote on a hardwired C-Bus Switch, not wireless)
The Premise Gateway
(Klikni na zväčšenie)
The Premise Gateway is a solid state machine, featuring a suite of embedded applications offering Internet connectivity and safety and security with a web based user interface.
The Premise Gateway is developed to interface to the building’s electrical and electronic systems. For example safety and security and Alarm System (MinderPRO) with Remote arming, disarming, zone monitoring, alarm state and mains voltage and battery level. It also includes lighting Controls (C-Bus), controlling levels – On/off/ramp, and monitoring their states. It controls a single network with up to 255 group addresses and will also support Ulti lighting and USB video Cameras.
The Premise Gateway connects to the Internet and offers a connection to the local area Network. devices such as PCs, Wireless access points and third party devices such as video web Servers may be connected through the Premise Gateway.
V3 install Software
(Click to Enlarge)
Finally, the new C-Bus Installation software V3.0 is on its way too. It will offer easy commissioning and easy debugging. It’s “Internet Ready” and based on C-Gate V2. essential features are the cleaner, simplified user interfaces that allow 95% of programming to be achieved without ever having to enter into the “advanced” tabs. another new feature – Barcode support – offers a easy way to commission C-Bus Networks, allowing the easy entry of devices into the software and the recording of their serial numbers by scanning the label on the box.
Many of the new items above are due to launch at the same time in the UK and Australia, in July this year. It’s looking like a busy time ahead for Clipsal!
COMFORT www.home-control.co.uk
Part of the comfort Stand
(Klikni na zväčšenie)
Although comfort is one of the most well known automated safety and security products in the UK, this was the first year they attended the UKHA event..
Directors (husband and wife) Andy and Caroline Roberts produced a great display showing the comfort safety and security and home automation panel, and the range of systems it can now attach to.
Comfort LCD Touch Screen
Comfort produce an range of serial connection devices (UCMs) and connectivity is currently available for C-Bus, Lutron, Honeywell, EIB, X10 and xAP.
Andy showed the comfort Scene Switches, Bosch Covert video camera in PIR, smoke detector, magnetic contact and a water leak detector as well.
CCTV On LCD
Also on display was the new LCD Colour Touch companion Screen, which certainly drew the most attention at the stand. A very good unit with superb graphic capabilities (I believe it uses Flash to design its screens).
One very good feature is its ability to display a local analogue video CCTV feed (up to 5) on the unit as well as controlling your comfort system, lighting, heating and even control your audio collection as MP3 using the Barix Exstreamer or Audiotron.
Security Simulation
(Klikni na zväčšenie)
Panel, Keypad, Doorphone
(Klikni na zväčšenie)
Lighting & Input Devices
(Klikni na zväčšenie)
Companion LCD Screen
(Klikni na zväčšenie)
Comfort continues to grow and develop. Its feature set is ever expanding and with the introduction of new touch screen its credibility as a world class system is even more strengthened.
DYNALITE www.dimtek.co.uk
Dynalite Stand
(Klikni na zväčšenie)
Australian company DynaLite had a very outstanding stand at the show.
The marketing blurb says “As an industry leader, Dynalite is committed to creating exceptional home automation, lighting control and energy management systems, setting new benchmarks in performance and efficiency. From a stock exchange in Shanghai, to a luxury resort in Dubai, from a smart home in Sao Paulo to limestone caves in new Zealand, Dynalite’s innovative services deliver Intelligent Light.”
Rhys Quirk took me through their lighting system which has at its heart is a hard wired bus using RS485.
A variety of products where on show, primarily lighting. Although the demo did include a newly developed IR source control from DynaLite switches.
One of the scenarios shown was a wind speed sensor, linked to a relay control to bring down roller shutters in the even of a storm. An application possibly much more suited to a different climate than London, but the concept is of interest none the less.
A new DynaLite module for driving LED lighting was shown too. It got lots of “ooo’s” and “aaah’s” from the visitors. We’re all suckers for LED lights.
Dynalite appear to be rebuilding the brand in the UK after some recent restructuring.
FIRM http://www.armaghelectrical.com.au/
FirM Zoned IR
(Klikni na zväčšenie)
Graham Howe demonstrated “Firm”, Frank McAlinden’s Zoned IR System as well as his new Probe system, interacting with HomeVision in the presentation room.
The demo showed zoned infrared control of X10 lighting and multiple network MP3 players (Dell digital Audio Receive