Home Automation Info

Direct connect systems can apply to home subsystems or whole-house automation solutions. They are by our definition solutions employing proprietary technology to accomplish hard-wired communication between a central controller and external components of the core system. The external components can be slave controllers, human interface devices such as touch panels, proprietary lighting devices or thermostats, or relay/sensor sub-controllers.

Examples of direct connect systems are Lutron for lighting control and Crestron for whole-house automation systems.

These systems typically use communication techniques between the central or master controller and the other system components that only works in the context of a particular system or family of systems and was designed by the manufacturer (i.e. proprietary). This class of system does frequently include standard interfaces such as Ethernet for computer communication with the system master controller, RS-232 for serial communication with a subsystem from a different manufacturer, or infrared emitters for control of off-the-shelf audio/video components such as TVs, receivers, DVD players, etc.

Because these systems use hard-wired point-to-point wiring the communication between components is typically fast and reliable. Technical support comes from one source for the core system, and product quality is consistent throughout.

On the flip side support for other popular sub-systems or devices may be either non-existent or not include all the features of the device. Also, the installation cost of point-to-point wiring in an existing home may exclude these systems from consideration all together for retrofit.