What is a Smart Home

8/3/2019 What is a Smart Home

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What is a Smart Home?

Homes aren't what they used to be. It used to be, if you wanted to change the channel on your

television, you got up from your chair and turned the knob. If you wanted your porch light on

every night at sundown, you flicked the switch every night yourself.

Times have changed, and televisions don't even have channel knobs anymore. The Technology

Age has filled our homes with so many devices that can (and must) all be controlled without

leaving your chair. The problem is that all of the devices are from different manufactures and all

have their own remote control. You end up with a system to be proud of, but embarrassed by the

fact that you are the only one who knows which five buttons to press on the five different

remotes to watch TV.

Beyond televisions and audio/video equipment, there are many other areas that are more

commonly automated. Equipment is purchased based on price and functionality, which results in

a home filled with a wide range of equipment manufacturers. Not only is there a diversity of

equipment, but to compound the problem there is no leading standard for automation

control. The automation landscape is really a heterogeneous mess of equipment that, by design,

resists almost any effort at unilateral control.

Our system is designed to solve many of todays automation problems. It is a framework that

can be leveraged for home automation tasks. It has two primary functions:

1. A full featured automation controller.2. A multi software remote control system. This feature is optional, but provides a method

to control and monitor the system with advanced interface remote controls.

It is designed to give the user the ability to manage all equipment that is capable of being

automated from a single controlling source. Disparate equipment from a variety of


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manufactures using a variety of automation protocols is all abstracted into a common

metaphor that allows it to be controlled easily by a single system. Viewing all of the

automation equipment in a consistent and uniform way solves the first and primary problem with

home automation.

Now that all of the automation equipment in the home can be treated as similar devices with

compatible functions and properties, the entire system can be managed easily from a single

automating controller.

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Smart Home Software and Technology

Smart home technology was developed in 1975, when a company in Scotland developed X10.

X10 allows compatible products to talk to each other over the already existing electrical wires of

a home. All the appliances and devices are receivers, and the means of controlling the system,

such as remote controls or keypads, are transmitters. If you want to turn off a lamp in another

room, the transmitter will issue a message in numerical code that includes the following:

An alert to the system that it's issuing a command, An identifying unit number for the device that should receive the command and A code that contains the actual command, such as "turn off."

All of this is designed to happen in less than a second, but X10 does have some limitations.

Communicating over electrical lines is not always reliable because the lines get "noisy" from

powering other devices. An X10 device could interpret electronic interference as a command and

react, or it might not receive the command at all. While X10 devices are still around, other

technologies have emerged to compete for your home networking dollar.

Instead of going through the power lines, some systems useradio wavesto communicate, which

is also how WiFi and cell phone signals operate. However, home automation networks don't

need all the juice of a WiFi network because automation commands are short messages. The two

most prominent radio networks in home automation are ZigBee and Z-Wave. Both of these

technologies are mesh networks, meaning there's more than one way for the message to get to

its destination.

Z-Wave uses a Source Routing Algorithm to determine the fastest route for messages. Each Z-

Wave device is embedded with a code, and when the device is plugged into the system, the

network controller recognizes the code, determines its location and adds it to the network. Whena command comes through, the controller uses the algorithm to determine how the message

should be sent. Because this routing can take up a lot of memory on a network, Z-Wave has

developed a hierarchy between devices: Some controllers initiate messages, and some are

"slaves," which means they can only carry and respond to messages.
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ZigBee's name illustrates the mesh networking concept because messages from the transmitter

zigzag like bees, looking for the best path to the receiver. While Z-Wave uses a proprietary

technology for operating its system, ZigBee's platform is based on the standard set by the

Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for wireless personal networks. This

means any company can build a ZigBee-compatible product without paying licensing fees for the

technology behind it, which may eventually give ZigBee an advantage in the marketplace. Like

Z-Wave, ZigBee has fully functional devices (or those that route the message) and reduced

function devices (or those that don't).

Using a wireless networkprovides more flexibility for placing devices, but like electrical lines,

they might have interference. Insteon offers a way for your home network to communicate over

both electrical wires and radio waves, making it a dual mesh network. If the message isn'tgetting through on one platform, it will try the other. Instead of routing the message, an Insteon

device will broadcast the message, and all devices pick up the message and broadcast it until the

command is performed. The devices act like peers, as opposed to one serving as an instigator and

another as a receptor. This means that the more Insteon devices that are installed on a network,

the stronger the message will be.
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The green and red dots represent devices that could be connected to your smart home network.


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Setting Up a Smart Home

X10, Insteon, ZigBee and Z-Wave just provide the technology for smart home communication.

Manufacturers have made alliances with these systems to create the products that use the

technology. Here are some examples of smart home products and their functions.

Cameraswill track your home's exterior even if it's pitch-black outside. Plug your tabletop lamp into a dimmer instead of the wall socket, and you can brighten

and dim at the push of a button.

A video door phone provides more than a doorbell -- you get a picture of who's at thedoor.

Motion sensorswill send an alert when there's motion around your house, and they caneven tell the difference between pets and burglars.

Door handles can open with scanned fingerprints or a four-digit code, eliminating theneed to fumble for house keys.

Audio systems distribute the music from your stereo to any room with connectedspeakers.

Channel modulators take any video signal -- from a security camera to your favoritetelevision station -- and make it viewable on every television in the house.

Remote controls, keypads and tabletop controllers are the means of activating thesmart home applications. Devices also come with built-in web serversthat allow you to

access their information online.
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Don Farrall/Photodisc/Getty ImagesThis keypad will send a message to your lamp.

This keypad will send a message to your lamp.These products are available at home

improvement stores, electronics stores, from technicians or online. Before buying, check to see

what technology is associated with the product. Products using the same technology should work

together despite different manufacturers, but joining up an X10 and a Z-Wave product requires a

bridging device.

In designing a smart home, you can do as much or as little home automation as you want. You

could begin with a lighting starter kit and add on security devices later. If you want to start with a

bigger system, it's a good idea to design carefully how the home will work, particularly if

rewiring or renovation will be required. In addition, you'll want to place strategically the nodes

of the wireless networks so that they have a good routing range.

While the networks claim that the products are easy to program and use, about 60 percent of

homebuilders who have installed home automation devices hired professional help [source:

Regan]. If you're looking for a technician, check if they have CEA-CompTIA certification. This

certification is the result of a partnership between the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)

and the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), and it represents proficiency

in installing, maintaining and troubleshooting any vendor's home networking equipment.
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Smart Appliances

While most home automation technology is focused on

lighting, security and entertainment, smart appliances may

be on their way as well. Ideas include:

Trash cans that monitor what you throw away andgenerate online orders for replacements.

Refrigerators that create dinner recipes based on theingredients stored inside.

Washers and dryers that send text message alertswhen their cycle has ended.

The cost of a smart home varies depending on how smart the home is. One builder estimates that

his clients spend between $10,000 and $250,000 for sophisticated systems [source: McKay]. If

you build the smart home gradually, starting with a basic lighting system, it might only be a few

hundred dollars. A more sophisticated system will be tens of thousands of dollars, and elements

of home theater systems raise the cost of a system about 50 percent [source: Gloede].
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Smart Home Benefits

Smart homes obviously have the ability to make life easier and more convenient. Who wouldn't

love being able to control lighting, entertainment and temperature from their couch? Homenetworking can also provide peace of mind. Whether you're at work or on vacation, the smart

home will alert you to what's going on, and security systems can be built to provide an immense

amount of help in an emergency. For example, not only would a resident be woken with

notification of a fire alarm, the smart home would also unlock doors, dial the fire department and

light the path to safety.

Thomas Jackson/Stone/Getty Images

With smart home security, you can check on your little one from anywhere.

Here are a few more examples of cool smart home tricks:
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Light a path for nighttime bathroom trips Instantly create mood lighting for time with that special someone Program your television so that your children can watch only at certain times Access all your favorite DVDs from any television in the home Have your thermostat start warming the bedroom before you get out of bed so that it's

nice and toasty when you get up

Turn on the coffee maker from bed

Smart homes also provide some energy efficiency savings. Because systems like Z-Wave and

ZigBee put some devices at a reduced level of functionality, they can go to "sleep" and wake up

when commands are given. Electric bills go down when lights are automatically turned off when

a person leaves the room, and rooms can be heated or cooled based on who's there at any givenmoment. One smart homeowner boasted her heating bill was about one-third less than a same-

sized normal home [source: Kassim]. Some devices can track how much energy each appliance

is using and command it to use less.

Religious Benefits of Smart Homes

For some members of the Jewish faith, installation of a smart

home doesnt just make life simpler, it can aid religious

practice. Some Orthodox Jews are prohibited to turn lights

on or off, or operate any sort ofelectricity, on the Sabbath. A

programmed light system can maintain a home at an

adequate state of lighting without requiring any human

interaction [source: Forbes].

Smart home technology promises tremendous benefits for an elderly person living alone. Smart

homes could notify the resident when it was time to take medicine, alert the hospital if the

resident fell and track how much the resident was eating. If the elderly person was a little

forgetful, the smart home would perform tasks such as shutting off the water before a tub

overflowed or turning off the oven if the cook had wandered away. One builder estimates that

this system could cost $20,000, which is less expensive than a full-time nursing home [source:

Venkatesh]. It also allows adult children who might live elsewhere to participate in the care of
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their aging parent. Easy-to-control automated systems would provide similar benefits to those

with disabilities or a limited range of movement.

Smart Dog Houses?

Pets can benefit from smart technology as well. Here's a

sample of automated products for man's best friend:

Devices that stop a dog's barking by emittingultrasonic tones.

Feeders that give your pet a preset amount of food atthree selected times per day.

Pet carriers that automatically heat or cool your petas the temperature changes.
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Smart Home Challenges

A smart home probably sounds like a nightmare to those people not comfortable with computers.

Those who routinely fumble around with a remote control just trying to change the television

channel might have stopped reading by now.

It may be your fear that if you try to turn on the television in your smart home, lights will start

flashing, and this does happen occasionally. (Power outages, however, activate backup battery

and safe mode, which means you can still perform tasks like unlocking a door manually). One of

the challenges of installing a smart home system is balancing the complexity of the system

against the usability of the system. When planning the system, it's important to consider a few

factors:

How large will the system be? What kinds of components are part of the system? Are they basic, such a light dimmer, or

more imposing, like an alarm system or a video camera?

How intuitive will the system be to a non-user? How many people will be required to use the system? Who will know how to operate the system? Who will know how to maintain the system

and address failures? How often will people who can only operate the system be left

alone in the home?

How easy is it to make changes to the interface? For example, if your house isprogrammed to wake you up at 7 a.m., how will you let it know that you're away

overnight on business or sleeping in on a Saturday?
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Image Source Pink/Getty Images

Smart homes may be difficult for some people to operate.

For these reasons, it may be easier to start with a very basic home networkand expand as

enhancements are needed or desired. However, there's some concern that with the market so

new, technologies are developing all the time, sometimes leaving old versions of products

useless. If you invest too soon, you may end up with a model that has impossible-to-find

components and spare parts. Like many new technologies, smart homes require a significant

investment to keep up.

Smart homes also come with some security concerns. Hackers who access the network will have

the ability to turn off alarm systems and lights, leaving the home vulnerable to a break-in, or the

theft could be more electronic. If music is saved on a hard drive so that it can be played around

the house, make sure that sensitive information, such as passwords or identifying numbers, are

saved elsewhere.

Some smart home devices also raise ethical questions about privacy, or evoke an Orwellianfeeling of "Big Brother." It's great to be able to check in on a four-year-old in his room while

you're cooking dinner in the kitchen, but how will that child feel when he's constantly monitored

through puberty? The information that a smart home collects might start to feel like a weapon to

a teenager who gets caught sneaking in after a late-night party. When setting up a smart home,

it's a good idea to discuss it with the whole family first.
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Of course, there's also the question of whether an individual needs all this technology. Is our

society really so lazy that we can't turn flip a light switch? It's an interesting argument, but smart

homes are coming. The good news is that with all the time we save from home automation, we'll

have time to work on other pursuits. Like developing robot maids.

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Smart Home

System Architecture:

The system integrates a computer with smart controllers that control the lighting and other

devices at home.

The computer software manages the smart-home controllers and is responsible to perform the

tasks it had been instructed to do.

The smart-home controllers allow control of electric devices such as lights, dimmers and

shutters.

Infra-red emitters allow the control of almost any IR controlled device such as TV, DVD, VCR,

DSS receiver, Tuner and A/C.
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Sensors connected to the system provide even more options for the automated home.

The system can be controlled locally from home, and remotely from anywhere in the world.

Software:

The client-server application allow the full control of the system. The server side runs on

standard Windows computer. It can run and has access to:

Any hardware connected to the computer

Any software installed on the computer

All network resources

Information from the internet

What can be done with the system?

The system can control and automate many things at home. For example, it can:

Turn lights on and off at pre-defined times

Turn on lights at sunset and off at sunrise

Have different modes of operation (like 'Vacation' and 'Weekend')

Stop the movie when the phone rings

Send Email as a response to events (like door opening)

Send SMS

Dial to predefined numbers

Play MP3 files

Send infrared (IR) codes to control devicesRun a software on the server

Display lighting ststus
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Control capabilities:

One of the most interesting qualities of the system is the richness of control devices.

The system can be controlled by several different sources at the same time.

The control is done by the clients that can be located in different places. These clients can be

either wired or wireless.

Thus the system can be controlled by wall-mount touch screens, wireless windows based PDAs

and by any PC that is networked.

The system not only controls IR devices. It is also being controlled by IR. This way, any IR

remote control can be defined to control and do just any task that the system can do.

In addition, any wall-mount push-button can be defined to perform tasks. For example, pressing

a button when getting out of home will turn off all lights, turn the shutters down, turn off all

A/Cs and all the TVs at home, and arm the alarm system.
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Phone Control

The system has a unique phone module with the following features:

Full integration with the smart home system

Control the system from any touch-tone telephone

Security features

Answering machine pass-through

Displaying the caller ID and the caller name on the screen

Declaring the caller name over the speaker

Keep a log of outgoing calls

How the system controls electric devices?

The computer communicates with smart-home controllers that control lights, dimmers and

shutters.

These controllers are built for heavy load. For example, while a regular home dimmer can stand

a load of 300-500 watts, the smart-home dimmers can stand a load of 3000 watts!

Using these controllers allows the use of high power lights, while still staying far from the limits.

Reliability and survival:

Every controller in the system is independent of the other controllers. Each controller has self

power supply, self CPUs, self contactors and even self scenarios. Actually, one controller can run

a small smart-home system.

In the rare event that of a problem with a controller, the rest of the controllers still continue to

work. There's no weak link in the system!
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Logging and Tracing

The system provides a variety of different logging and tracing features. Each Device has its own

private device log. Property Value changes can be logged to the Devices log, or to a user

defined log.

Typically logs are used to store the history of Property Value changes on a particular Device.

For example, it can be used to keep a file record of all received calls using captured caller ID

information. Logs can also be helpful for troubleshooting odd Property Change behavior.

Logging can be configured to output to either a file or to the Device log window (or both). Log

files can be setup to roll-over on a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly basis. HouseBot can also

purge old log files.

User Defined Logs

In addition to the supplied Device logs, users can define their own logs. User Defined logs can

collect Property Changes from any number of different Devices. This allows a single log file to

store an accurate chronological record of many changes in the system.

Error Log

Since the system is designed to run as a server, it generally does not display pop-up message

boxes when it encounters an error. Errors can be reported from Device Plugins, Hardware

Interface Plugins, Scripts, or by the HouseBot server itself. Any errors that are reported are

automatically sent to the system Error Log. This provides a single place to monitor for

system problems. Errors are also logged to the individual Device logs.
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System Log

The System Log will collect additional detail for any error messages. It is mainly used for

collecting tracing data for diagnostic purposes.

The latest developments in 'Smart Homes and more'

The market for so-called 'smart homes' -- domestic houses that use intelligent and

automated systems to control household appliances and devices - has been developing fast

right across Europe and has now started to take off in the UK. James Hunt casts an eye

over this market, and looks in brief at some of the systems and their applications in the

domestic and commercial sectors:

Electrical installations in today's homes and commercial

buildings have become more sophisticated, in terms of functional

diversity, convenience, and in efficient and economical

operation. Increases in flexibility, reliability and safety are also

required. Such demanding requirements, together with the need

for minimum planning and installation cost, cannot be met by

conventional electrical installations.

Modern building management systems (BMS), such as those

applied to modern 'smart' homes (and also commercial buildings), use a variety of technologies to

carry out energy management andbuilding controltasks. These control, monitor and optimise

building services such as heating, ventilation, lighting and alarm systems as well as domestic

Haghill.
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appliances, video, TV and even hi-fi. Some simple analogue systems, such as timer-controlled

water heaters and thermostatic radiator valves, have been around for years; others are more

complex and can enable significant energy savings and the control of fire safety and security

systems. Another reason for control in the home is comfort - setting the right lights for mood

without getting up.

Many of the latest developments have been applied to homes in mainland Europe, especially

Germany, Scandinavia and France. Typically, a central control unit runs the whole system, based

on information supplied by some of the peripherals and on pre-set instructions for some of the

devices. Commands can be sent through a two-wire fieldbus system, power lines, telephone lines

or fibre-optic cables. Recent developments have been based on distributed-intelligence

microprocessors. Here, 'intelligent' peripheral units manage a variety of local tasks and functions,while the central unit acts as a supervisor.

Today, the dominant 'backbone' for such systems is Ethernet-based. For example, Echelon's

'Lonworks' building automation system uses the Ethernet as its backbone, as does the Electrical

Installation Bus (EIB), of which more later. In such a system, the backbone remains a constant,

while the application layers (such as an EIB device - a fan, for example), vary. A simile is that of

a railway line (standard gauge), representing the Ethernet backbone, while the various devices

from different manufacturers (the application layers), can be represented by the 'trains' running on

the track. Each train from a different operating company might (or might not) have different

couplings and systems so that, although they can all run on the track, they might not be able to

oin together.

House builder's customers can now specify an 'smart' home, with control options for a cost

typically less than 1% of the sale value, using fieldbus-based control systems typically having a

backbone comprising a single twisted pair cable. Once installed, any amount of control can

usually be added without any further re-cabling. Control scenarios are also easily changed or

extended without complicated and messy refurbishment work. The system commonly controls

lighting, heating and motorised shutters or curtains, but it can also interact with smoke and

burglar alarms. Any control combination is possible, the only constraint being the cost of

commissioning and programming.


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Must be simple to use:

The development of human machine interfaces (HMI) for smart homes has been a neglected area.

Development has tended to concentrate on the underlying technology and the applications. There

will always be a few 'techies' but most homeowners will simply want to know what the system

will do for them in the easiest possible way. For this reason, the user interface could be critical to

success for the full introduction of this technology. The challenge of integrating many

applications within a smart house, creating quite complex systems with sometimes hundreds of

user controllable parameters is key. Many people are still unable to confidently programme their

video / DVD recorder. It must be simple to use.

Not just for large and expensive homes:

Even in mainland Europe, by far the largest number of applications have been in new and more

expensive homes but smaller homes can benefit too, with control of PIRs for fire and security.

These devices usually have 'intelligence' already built-in. Indeed, some basic intelligent home

control systems can sometimes be obtained for the price of double glazing - typically as little as

2000.

Nearer the top end of the market, some companies solved convenience problems where the

clients had remote buildings. More recently, some suppliers have moved into scene setting and

mood controls. Indeed, ECS (Philips Lighting Controls) has one private customer who has spent

80,000 on this aspect alone! These systems can be readily linked to home entertainment systems

- either using one of the established audio/visual protocols (e.g. DMX512) or by using a multi-

function infrared 'commander' such as the Philips PRONTO. There is a web site devoted to this -

try www.pronto.philips.com.

People are also beginning to spend thousands on home entertainment systems complete with

surround sound. It is a natural move to get the lighting right for the media concerned.

New products are in the pipeline that will bring lighting controls to a wider audience - but these

must meet price expectations as well as being simple to apply, operate and own.


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How the 'smart home' system works:

Essentially, the fieldbus system in homes and offices acts as a backbone for the system automatic

controller and devices. Sensors send signals over a transmission medium to the devices (such as

actuators), which, in the temperature example, might be used to turn on a radiator, or control an

entire air-conditioning system. New functions can be added at any time.

Sensors and actuators are programmed and linked as the requirements of the system dictates, so

that - for example - home owners can alter home equipment settings according to their wishes via

a keypad, telephone or PC.

The flexible EIB adjusts your home to the needs of the person - no matter what time of the day,

season or phase of life. That also goes for the future.

System transmission media are typically 24V bus cable, EIB radio frequency, via infrared, and,

increasingly today, using the Ethernet.

'Smart home' systems can be built into new homes (in which case it is important to be involved

from an early stage), or retro-fitted into older buildings.

A convergence:

The equipment and technologies involved are converging. CD/CD-ROM/DVD/video are blurring

the boundaries between hi-fi systems, TVs and PCs so that linkages are forming naturally. Add in

work on Bluetooth and similar initiatives and the possibilities of your washing machine talking to

your mobile are very real. Such wireless technology aims to revolutionise the personal

connectivity market by providing freedom from wired connections and enabling links between

portable computers, mobiles, portable hand-held devices, and connectivity to the Internet.

Systems such as Bluetooth work because they have been developed as a cross-industry solution

that combines engineering innovation with an understanding of both business and consumer

expectations.

As demand and improving technologies bring component and installation costs lower, smart

home technologies will be increasingly taken up by the average homeowner. They will also be


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integrated into new buildings from the start. Many developers are talking to manufacturers.

The realities of owning a 'smart home' are, if not commonplace yet in the UK, even so closer than

most people realise. To take one example, a typical four bed-roomed detached house has had just

such a system installed to offer flexible switching and control for lighting, heating and shutters.

Via an input relay device, it also incorporates other manufacturers' control products. All work has

been carried out by a normal, competent electrical installer. This example shows just how

important it is for electrical contractors to keep a weather eye open for such major opportunities

which are now increasing by leaps and bounds as home owners become more aware of the

opportunities, and as more devices become available at reasonable prices.

EIB Technology

One technology that is being increasingly used in the 'smart home' (and elsewhere) is EIB. This

technology is a decentralised distributed data bus system for flexible operations management in

utility and residential buildings. This technology, which is one of those revolutionising electrical

installations, is relatively simple to understand, requiring only a bus line along which all bus

devices (sensors and controls) may communicate.

The central feature is the embedded control protocol - devices, such as sensors, actuators and

smart controllers, can co-operate to perform distributed control application functions. It combines

flexible node architecture for devices with strong network management features on standard

transmission media plus ensured multi-vendor inter-working - so that devices from many

manufacturers will all work on the system.

The benefits of EIB are as follows:

Better economy of scale. Minimised installation and maintenance costs. Better security. Lower fire risk.

EIB devices each have their own intelligence, and respond according to their own type, and the


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way they are programmed. In an intelligent home, office, or other environment, it may be

necessary to have a controller to coordinate, for example, security, lighting, HVAC, and other

functions. The system can be linked to manufacturers' own devices in some cases so that,

between certain times - and when (for example) a home's security system is switched on, lights in

certain parts of the house switch on automatically if specific doors are opened. However, this

usually requires more than just the EIB system's group address linkage, but devices and systems

can be designed to achieve this type of scenario.

Devices can be designed to act as controllers (gateways) for the EIB system - providing many

further benefits:

They can operate as an EIB network central controller. Telephone control and monitoring (eg: via a mobile away from the home or office) of EIB

device status is possible.

Control is also possible from special human machine interfaces (HMI) or the home PC,using time programs / reminders.

The Internet can also be used - in some cases - to control and monitor devices. Alarm inputs and conditions can provided real integration of alarm and lighting systems

where required.

Security is important for any homeowner. The EIB system, with suitable devices, is idealfor reducing burglary risks, as it can check that all windows and doors are closed, then

centrally lock the home, exactly like central locking in a car. It can also simulate

occupancy whilst the occupants are away.

EIB switches can be used to control 'comfort' actions such as air-conditioning systemsand, increasingly, home entertainment systems. Alarms can be dialled-out to programmed

telephones if preset levels are exceeded.

Lighting and heating bills can be significantly reduced, because of the individual roomcontrol for temperature, plus the ability to compensate room temperature against outside

temperature to provide a constant environment. Heating in a room can be turned off if the

system detects that a window or door has been opened.

An EIB-related technology is ABB's 'intelligent installation system' called i-bus EIB/KNX. This is


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claimed to be the intelligent building installation system that meets the highest standards, being

future-oriented. Since the EIBA (European Installation Bus Association) merged with two other

European organisations to form the Konnex Association, KNX has become the new standard in

building technology. ABB's i-bus EIB/KNX corresponds to both the EIB standard, which is being

used all over the world, and the KNX-standard.

Highly flexible, the ABB i-bus EIB/KNX provides increased security, economic efficiency,

convenience and flexibility, whether in office buildings, industrial plants or residential properties.

Functions such as lighting, shutter control and heating can be individually adapted to the

requirements of the user. Later changes can be easily implemented.

'From simple to complex', says ABB, 'every application can be covered by i-bus EIB/KNX'.

Typical functions for EIB/KNX include: control and data logging, display and operation, heating,

lighting, security, shading and ventilation. The Integration of different tasks brings important

advantages, particularly doing installation and usage.

Go to

www.abb.com/global/abbzh/abbzh251.nsf!OpenDatabase&db=/global/seitp/seitp329.nsf&v=9A

AC910006&e=us&m=9F2&c=227DA61A0FB5BB9DC1256E3F003A384E for ABB

downloads.

Another system is Schneider Electric's Transparent Building Integrated Systems (T-BIS). This

too can look after lighting control, security, air conditioning and heating and ventilation, as well

as electrical distribution.

Lighting controls:

BMS can also incorporate special lighting control networks. For example, a major lighting-

specific control protocol is theDigital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI). DALI is a lighting

specific protocol set out in the technical standard IEC 60929, Annex E. DALI, which was the

idea of leading international lighting manufacturers, is fast becoming an international,

standardised interface and its use provides real advances in lighting.


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Moreover, though DALI is specific to lighting, when incorporated into BMS, significantly

enhanced building automation can be the result. It is particularly effective where remote

supervising and service reports are required.

DALI was originally developed to provide a standard lighting control protocol. This was because

many lighting control manufacturers used their own proprietary protocols - many 'open' but

others not. Most of the major European manufacturers have now recognised the advantages and

have joined the DALI activity group.

Architects, contractors, engineers, facility managers, building owners and tenants can all can

benefit from using DALI-enabled lighting systems, and the reason lies in the inherent flexibility.

Typically, a DALI system comprises a ballast (which can operate from any manufacturer's DALIcontrol units) and a multisensor, and the DALI protocol is based upon digital rather than the

traditional analog signals. The great advantage is that lighting ballasts can be individually

addressable (circuit addressability only is possible with analog systems). Also, bi-directional

communication between each ballast and the control system is possible. Other benefits include

PIR movement-detection, constant light control and infrared (IR) remote operation. In addition,

the various parts are very simply connected and configuration is easy. The latter can be achieved

using the lighting control panel or, alternatively, an IR remote control device. Standard LV

wiring connects ballasts to lighting controls, helping to keep costs to a minimum and making it

easy to change layouts in the future.

Using DALI, lighting loads can be easily grouped and groups can be individually addressed. This

is made easy by the IR remote control mentioned or by using Windows-based software. In this

way, zoned or localised lighting control can be arranged very simply. Also, many separate DALI

systems can be connected to BMS using gateways.

As communication is bi-directional, other benefits are conferred, such as being able to centrally

monitor ballast operation, dimming levels, and also the identification of failed components such

as ballasts and lamps.

It is this inherent flexibility that makes DALI so useful, especially to building and system


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designers. However, some lighting manufacturers still prefer to use their own protocols and

complain, for example, that DALI can only cope with up to 64 addresses.

A few BMS and lighting control examples:

Schneider Electric's Transparent Building Integrated Systems (T-BIS) has already been

mentioned. In a drive towards greater efficiency in its schools, Glasgow City Council has

invested in Schneider Electric's Transparent Building Integrated Systems offer for its newly built

Haghill Primary School and Community Sports Centre. Intelligent integration of the building's

services has generated substantial energy savings, while even attendance rates have improved.

At the start of the Haghill project, the market was investigated for a system that would integrate

all services. A BMS was required that would cater for electrical distribution, lighting control,

security, air conditioning as well as heating and ventilation, and Schneider Electric's T-BIS offer

became an apparent choice. Having specified Schneider Electric's Merlin Gerin and Square D

branded electrical distribution equipment for many years, there was confidence in implementing

the T-BIS offer at Haghill.

The building's control room, just off the main reception area, is centred around a single

Telemecanique HMI. From this easy to use touch screen, the facilities management team can tell

exactly what is happening around the building and control all services at the touch of a button.

Pumps and boilers can be turned on and off and temperature adjusted. The team can pinpoint the

exact amount of energy being consumed in specific areas of the building and project where

savings are being made. If there is a problem anywhere in the building, the system alerts the team

to this by a flashing red light. After this has been acknowledged by the touch of button, the light

turns green.

T-BIS allows Haghill's services, in both the sports centre and the school, to be consistently and

easily managed. The BMS at Haghill is web-enabled, so, if they chose to, the facilities

management team could control the system from anywhere in the world. The system intelligence

brings benefits over and above making the job of facilities managers easier, as the increased

efficiency means that the running costs of the school can be kept to a minimum. Indeed, Haghill

is enjoying huge financial savings on heating and ventilation, due to local sensors in all


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communal areas. Should a room become vacated the system automatically turns off the lights and

turns them on again when someone walks in. Even the showers in the changing rooms are

automatic.

The safety features are thorough. For example, if the fire alarm goes off, the gas automatically

shuts down. However, with convenience in mind, should this turn out to be a false alarm, staff

can turn the gas back on at selected switches - one being in the kitchen.

A small plant room is located in the sports centre section of the building. Here, Schneider Electric

equipment works to reliably and effectively control and power the facilities. Web enabled

outstations, soft starters and contactors from the Telemecanique building.net range work

alongside the switchgear.

A larger plant room in the building's basement contains the BMS as well as the gas and electric

mains, and all panel boards and LV switchgear, power factor correction and surge protection

equipment. The metering system monitors, meters and automatically reports the building's

consumption of utilities. Telemecanique control panels for hot water also feature.

From Trend, a brand of Novar, comesIQView. This is a new, easy to operate, touchscreen user

interface designed to control BMS. This device immediately 'learns' the structure of the Trend

BMS to which it is connected, and then can be quickly configured to give different levels of user

access. Some levels will permit just a few simple adjustments, like changes to heating or lighting

levels, while others can give full control access, required by the engineering or maintenance staff.

IQView also responds rapidly to user actions, regardless of the size of the system, with the

facility to display and log all alarms and display historic data in graph form.

Available with illuminated colour or mono display, for a small system IQView can serve as the

sole operator interface. On larger systems, where the main user interface would most probably be

a PC, it can conveniently provide additional access points, perhaps on different floors or locations

within a large building. With high contrast, touch screen 1/4 VGA LCD display, this easy to use

controller is available in panel or wall mounted options.

IQView has been designed for the home, in a plant, or office environment, and links to either a


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Trend or Ethernet network via its integral RS232 port.

In terms of a lighting specific control system, theLightMaster Modularlighting management

system by ECS (Philips Lighting Controls), offers a 'future proof' approach to Lighting

Controls. This system provides the building blocks to keep pace with the fast changing needs of

the office environment now and in the future. Time and cost savings are key considerations for

any building developer, designer, owner-occupier or installer. LightMaster Modular has been

designed with all this in mind.

The system's unprecedented flexibility means that its functionality can be changed and upgraded

at any time during the life of the building without the need for new wiring. Commissioning is via

a simple application-based software that does not require specialist knowledge to operate. The

result, says the company, 'is maximum flexibility with minimal complexity and cost'.

The simplicity of LightMaster Modular's portfolio offers adaptable and cost effective installation.

Its hardware features a choice of plug-in or screw terminal connections. The basic control module

is a compact one-piece install with separate plug-in mains and dimming control cables. This

allows for improved handling and faster more reliable connections. Cables can simply be added

at times of upgrade.

LightMaster Modular effectively supports compliance with legislation and regulations in the

areas of employee comfort, safety and energy consumption. It is also fully equipped to manage

emergency lighting testing requirements. The building occupier can therefore rest safe in the

knowledge that future legislation or user requirements can be met without major outlay on new

equipment or installation.

The future:

For the future, smart homes, and many other commercial buildings, are likely to have features

such as demand-control strategies for ventilation, lighting, heating and cooling; optimal control

of heating and cooling processes; the use of programming to provide for a more flexible

representation of users' needs; and using expert systems. The latter may be based on neural

networks for 'smart' management systems. Ethernet as a backbone is likely to continue to increase


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its dominance.

Development will keep in touch with emerging communications technology to ensure that

integration with other systems is straightforward.

http://www.voltimum.co.uk/news/3901/cm/the-latest-developments-in--smart-homes-and-more-

.html

Documents

What is a Smart Home