Hi everyone,
We're currently constructing a new home and would like to implement some home automation and by the recommendation of a good friend have decided to run with Homeseer.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around all of the possibilities so please bear with me if these questions seem dumb.
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Things that I would like to automate and/or have scene controls over:
Lighting
- Whole house is LED / EnergyStar lighting
- Exterior lighting as well
For lighting...there are certain areas in our great room where pot light layout ties in to two different zones on the ceiling (from an aesthetic standpoint). I would really like to be able to make them work in unison. ie. If I turn on my dining room lights, the lights around the table would turn on, as well as the 3 pots on the outside perimeter which would be on separate switches...since the dining room pours out into common area/hallways. Might be tough to visualize right now so I will post some pictures if needed. From my programming days in my head it seems like it would be an and/if scenario.
Heating
- 18 zones of Radiant Heating (controlling without traditional thermostats would be ideal)
- Central A/C
- 2 HRV units
I'm thinking of using the Aeotec Multisensor 6 for every radiant heated zone. I'm assuming I will be able to use something like the Heatit Z-Water control module...and use Homeseer to take the temperature readings from the Multisensor to send a signal to the Z-Water controller to activate the appropriate zone valve on the manifolds. Also would like to tie in the A/C as well but that would ideally run off the average of all the sensors since it's one large unit.
Blinds
- Prewiring most windows for blinds, unsure what to do for controls.
This seems pretty straightforward and something that I can deal with after we've completed the house but it would be nice to go in with a plan before we start wiring.
Security
- Camera system
- Door/window sensors
- Motion detection
[I]Again not a high priority item at this stage in construction. I plan on running Cat6 to all the points where I'd like cameras...would appreciate suggestions on what might get me ahead of the curve while we're still looking at walls with no drywall.
---
I guess my question is...am I on the right track here or do you guys see some flaws in what I'm trying to accomplish? I feel like this is going to consume a vast amount of my time...but I really dislike the closed-door nature of the Control4/Crestron systems that are generally available from installers in our area. I do enjoy tinkering though so I'm kind of looking forward to learning everything needed to accomplish what I want.
If there's any Homeseer guru's in Vancouver, BC...I'd appreciate the contact referral.
Thank you for making it this far in this essay.
We're currently constructing a new home and would like to implement some home automation and by the recommendation of a good friend have decided to run with Homeseer.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around all of the possibilities so please bear with me if these questions seem dumb.
---
Things that I would like to automate and/or have scene controls over:
Lighting
- Whole house is LED / EnergyStar lighting
- Exterior lighting as well
For lighting...there are certain areas in our great room where pot light layout ties in to two different zones on the ceiling (from an aesthetic standpoint). I would really like to be able to make them work in unison. ie. If I turn on my dining room lights, the lights around the table would turn on, as well as the 3 pots on the outside perimeter which would be on separate switches...since the dining room pours out into common area/hallways. Might be tough to visualize right now so I will post some pictures if needed. From my programming days in my head it seems like it would be an and/if scenario.
Heating
- 18 zones of Radiant Heating (controlling without traditional thermostats would be ideal)
- Central A/C
- 2 HRV units
I'm thinking of using the Aeotec Multisensor 6 for every radiant heated zone. I'm assuming I will be able to use something like the Heatit Z-Water control module...and use Homeseer to take the temperature readings from the Multisensor to send a signal to the Z-Water controller to activate the appropriate zone valve on the manifolds. Also would like to tie in the A/C as well but that would ideally run off the average of all the sensors since it's one large unit.
Blinds
- Prewiring most windows for blinds, unsure what to do for controls.
This seems pretty straightforward and something that I can deal with after we've completed the house but it would be nice to go in with a plan before we start wiring.
Security
- Camera system
- Door/window sensors
- Motion detection
[I]Again not a high priority item at this stage in construction. I plan on running Cat6 to all the points where I'd like cameras...would appreciate suggestions on what might get me ahead of the curve while we're still looking at walls with no drywall.
---
I guess my question is...am I on the right track here or do you guys see some flaws in what I'm trying to accomplish? I feel like this is going to consume a vast amount of my time...but I really dislike the closed-door nature of the Control4/Crestron systems that are generally available from installers in our area. I do enjoy tinkering though so I'm kind of looking forward to learning everything needed to accomplish what I want.
If there's any Homeseer guru's in Vancouver, BC...I'd appreciate the contact referral.
Thank you for making it this far in this essay.
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