When we build the extension at the rear of the house I would like to introduce some Home Automation including control of lights (ON/OFF/DIM), control of some specific outlets (e.g. lamps, fans) plus some audio visual stuff.
I am happy with the low voltage side of what is needed but I am trying to understand what the high voltage side entails. Whilst I wont be fitting it myself I want to understand what is needed.
For the lighting I understand there are DIN mounted dimmer modules that can be fired by the 5v outputs on the microcontroller. What are the most common ones in the UK? Can one dimmer module cover more than one circuit?? Is it possible to, for example, switch on individual LED lights in a circuit (e.g. 10 LED lights but only want to switch on lights 2 4 6?
For controlling specific outlets I understand there are DIN mounted relays that can also be switched by the 5v outputs of the microcontroller (I read in here somewhere it is better to use 12v for relays due to EMF issues??) - again what are the most common and would there normally be one relay per outlet that requires controlling? Could I not use a small relay board that can be connected to the microcontroller board (I did this during some prototyping) instead of DIN mounted relays.
Is all of the low voltage stuff placed in a separate enclosure and does the wiring from the LV side to the HV side need to be of any particular rating?
I am expecting that the main cabling would all be in a star configuration back to the CU but is it still possible to retain traditional light switches (or similar) with this set up??
I want all the LV side to be cabled rather than wireless and will probably use CAT6 and possibly POE for the microcontroller boards.
Thanks for any pointers.
D
I am happy with the low voltage side of what is needed but I am trying to understand what the high voltage side entails. Whilst I wont be fitting it myself I want to understand what is needed.
For the lighting I understand there are DIN mounted dimmer modules that can be fired by the 5v outputs on the microcontroller. What are the most common ones in the UK? Can one dimmer module cover more than one circuit?? Is it possible to, for example, switch on individual LED lights in a circuit (e.g. 10 LED lights but only want to switch on lights 2 4 6?
For controlling specific outlets I understand there are DIN mounted relays that can also be switched by the 5v outputs of the microcontroller (I read in here somewhere it is better to use 12v for relays due to EMF issues??) - again what are the most common and would there normally be one relay per outlet that requires controlling? Could I not use a small relay board that can be connected to the microcontroller board (I did this during some prototyping) instead of DIN mounted relays.
Is all of the low voltage stuff placed in a separate enclosure and does the wiring from the LV side to the HV side need to be of any particular rating?
I am expecting that the main cabling would all be in a star configuration back to the CU but is it still possible to retain traditional light switches (or similar) with this set up??
I want all the LV side to be cabled rather than wireless and will probably use CAT6 and possibly POE for the microcontroller boards.
Thanks for any pointers.
D