Home Automation Info

Many folks believe home automation is only feasible to install when building a new home. With the advent of wireless solutions a retrofit installation is much more affordable than in the past. However planning for home automation when building a new home remains the optimum opportunity to install the technology of your choice and save on infrastructure costs. The two main considerations for a "smart home plan" for a new home are automation technology and which home subsystems will be automated.

For infrastructure wiring a Structured Wiring System should be strongly considered for the installation of telephone, distributed catv, security sensors and smoke alarms, and Cat5 cable for the home Ethernet network and distributed audio/video controls. These systems are great for organizing the cabling runs for all the above subsystems, and more importantly facillitating modification and maintenance of subsystems in the future. Also, cable costs can be reduced through the use of multi-conductor cable designed specifically for structured wiring runs.

The following sections describe planning considerations by subsystem. If a complete smart home is desired you may also want to review our information on whole-house automation.

Entertainment Centers and Multi-room Audio/Video

When planning for one or more entertainment centers and/or a home theater room the primary consideration is connectivity to the home data network. Increasingly audio/video components include an ethernet connection (RJ45 plug) for this purpose. This network connection typically enables software or firmware updates for the device to be performed via web download or from another computer on your home network. The ethernet connection may also be used for streaming digital audio or video from a media center computer or set top box (e.g. TiVo) from one room in your home to another. These A/V components now add to the total connectivity requirements for your home network. In many cases a single RJ45 plug outlet can serve your A/V equipment center when feeding a multi-port Ethernet switch providing connectivity for all the A/V devices. It is recommended you install at least one extra RJ45 plug in each room where an entertainment center is planned.

For multi-room audio/video distribution from source devices (media center, DVD, XM radio, satellite TV, etc.) additional wiring runs are required for stereo audio, video, and wall-mounted keypads. Depending on the technology chosen all Cat5e runs may suffice if A-BUS is chosen for stereo audio, and component video is distributed, as the keypads typically require an additional Cat5e connection. However, traditional audio distribution uses direct-wired speakers using 16 gauge or 14 gauge (over 125 ft) speaker wire. While composite video distribution uses separate RG6 coaxial cable runs to each room, similar to the cable required for cable or satellite TV. If you want to be positioned to take advantage of future high-speed home networking (i.e. Gigabit Ethernet) equipment for video and bulk data streaming then you should consider installing Cat6 cable rather than Cat5e. Cat6 will provide better performance and reliability at the higher data rate possible with 1000BaseT technology.

Lighting systems

State-of-the-Art automated lighting systems involve the use of wireless switches and dimmers in place of manual switches/dimmers. In an existing home the manual light switches are replaced with the wireless counterparts. When building a new home lighting controls can be deferred until a later time, but with the cost penalty of installing the manual switches initially. If you know you defintely want to control some lights automatically in your new home, then plan to have the electrician install the wireless switches/dimmers initially.

While automating every light in your new home provides maximum flexibility in lighting schemes, it may be cost prohibitive. To determine which lights need automated it is useful to think of lighting scenes. Typical lighting scenes are: sunset, night lights, wakeup, dinner party, patio party, large social, entertainment room. These scenes provide certain lighting levels depending on the time of day or a particular event taking place in the home. Once you define the scenes you desire, you can identify the lights needed to accomplish each scene. Some lights may be part of multiple scenes, but at different levels of brightness. After you complete the identification process you'll have a total count of the number of dimmers/switches needed to support your desired scenes.

However one important difference with wireless lighting is n-way switches. Only one wireless device controls a particular lighting load. If other switches are desired to control the same load for convenience, then wireless keypads are used which are available typically in 2-, 3-, and 6-button models mounting in a single-gang wall box. Note the buttons available on these keypads can normally trigger other automated actions besides controlling the lighting load, such as adjusting a wireless thermostat.

Climate Control

Automated HVAC systems typically allow remote control of the room thermostat(s). These thermostats may be wireless devices or an option with a home security system. If wireless, as with lighting above, the initial manual thermostat can be replaced with a wireless thermostat at a future time with no additional wiring needed.

If the thermostat is part of a security solution wiring must be provided from the thermostat location(s) to the security panel in addition to the thermostat wiring from the HVAC system itself. If it is desired to control the thermostat from home automation software running on a PC, then an additional serial or ethernet connection may also have to be in place.

If your HVAC system includes heating duct baffles with motorized controls, the duct air flow may then be controlled by most security systems and whole-house automation solutions via a relay output. This will require a connection from the security or automation system to the HVAC system for each relay output needed using the same wiring as needed for security sensors (see below).

The exact wiring requirements for an automated thermostat are highly device dependent, so making a choice on thermostat to install will be necessary to accurately identify the wiring needed.

Security Systems

Planning for a security and alarm system can minimally involve identifying the desired security zones and sensor type for each zone, then running the sensor wires from the security panel location to each sensor location using 22 gauge 2-conductor wire for each sensor. Note multi-conductor twisted pair cable may be appropriate for clusters of sensors in each room.

Systems with telephone controls and dial-out capability typically use a RJ31X jack to isolate the security system from the other phone lines in the home. This can be supplied by the telephone company or the security system manufacturer.

As mentioned above, if a thermostat option is selected, wiring from the thermostat to the panel is required. Also, most security systems that provide for external control require either a serial or ethernet connection to the controlling automation system for integration.

Note if you are planning for a complete smart home system you will want to review each of the above considerations by subsystem with the provider of your whole-house automation solution.