Many people may have seen this already in shows the like the “BLOCK” and it is not just a gimmick but a reality. Voice control can be achieved several ways but our preferred method is currently using the Amazon range of products like Alexa and Dot. While these are not readily available in Australia they can be purchased and set up to work in Australia quite easily.

They do not work on their own in the native C-Bus world but do work In conjunction with certain C-Bus products you may have installed already. It can also work in conjunction with PUSH control systems and RTI’s range of XP processors which we are big fans of.

One of the big reasons we are fans of RTI is their suite or compatible products such as LCD touchscreen remote controls, hard button remote controls, panel interfaces for apple and android phones and tables plus their own range of touchscreens. RTI is a very successful company focusing on control products and their gear is a well-designed and a quality product that works great.  RTI also works very nicely when connected to Clipsal C-bus home automation products offer 2 wayfeed back and control. Two wayfeed back means that if the switch is showing that it is “on” with C-bus, it will show that it is “on” within RTI, say on your ipad running the RTi software app.

One other nice thing is that if we have an RTI touchscreen remote or ipadthat is controlling your AV gear, we can even dedicate a button on a Cbus switch to turn on the TV or have volume controls on the Cbus switch. Now add voice control and you can then say,” turn on the kitchen lights” or “turn off the TV” etc.

The Amazon Alexa is a very intuitive product that easily understand accents and voice types. Recent testing we did saw it respond just as well to an adult voice or to a 6 year old childs voice. It also makes a great little Bluetooth speaker. Once you have the Alexa app installed, there are many options for adding “skills” or “apps” to your Alexa.

Even straight out of the box and once connected to your network, Alexa can do some really helpful things. I know one thing I like is to be able to set a timer with my voice when cooking while leaving my food covered hands free. Another great one is creating shopping lists that you can share between you and your partner. Just call out “ Alexa can you add milk to my shopping list” and its done. It appears straight into your Alexa app list or even links to other well-known app lists that you may share with your partner.

Some people may think it is all a gimmick, and I did at first but as you get into It, it is really quite a clever and useful device. You do keep thinking of more ideas of how you can use it. I could easily see another few of these around my house.

The Clipsal C-Bus home automation system is a very powerful well proven product and so are products from RTI such as their remote controls and XP range of processors. Add the Amazon Alexa and you really add value and further usefulness to what you already. On top of that there is added  “cool” factor to your current home automation and AV control system.

Well it’s about what it can do for you that normal electrical wiring cannot do. If those things though are of no interest to you, then you don’t need and shouldn’t have such a system. Many jobs we go to done by others have the Cbus unfortunately as just a very expensive light switch or dimmer with not other smart functions programmed into the system. What I would like to explain are some of the benefits and things you can do with a C-Bus home automation system.

This is one of the most popular features of a Cbus home automation system. But what is a “scene”? A scene is one of those new words within our industry that I would describe as one button press doing multiple different things. Let’s look at some of the scenes we typically do and some of the scenes I have in my house.

Working scene  or at Home. – At home I have a scene called working located on my C-Bus colour in wall touchscreen and it was simply the button my wife would hit once she was home with the kids from school. 15 years on, this scene is not used much anymore.  In our household back then however, my wife would be making dinner and helping the kids with their homework as they sat around the family room table. Our kitchen and family room have 7 separate switched groups of lights. She wanted all the lights on so the room was fully bright so instead of turning on 7 different switches, she only had to touch one switch/button to activate all lights to 100%. All lights at full brilliance for cooking and doing homework under.

Going Upstairs Scene or Relaxing  – After dinner and homework it’s time to relax. At our house that means going upstairs to watch TV and downstairs is not really being used much. One button press and the stairwell wall lights come on, the hallway lights come on at a dimmed level, the downlights in the TV/Home theatre room come on at a very dimmed level, the main kitchen lights over the work areas all go off, dining table lights go off, and the range hood light provides a gentle glow over the bench top as well dimmed pendants over the island bench. One wall light is left on in the family room. This scene sets the upstairs level ready to watch TV with subtle mood lighting, it’s easy to see for going up and down the  stair case, there is subtle lighting in the kitchen for a venture to the fridge or pantry to grab something to eat. People can easily walk around but there are no common areas lighting on at 100%.

Goodnight scene – the night is over and its time for bed. This is my most used scene every night of the week. Instead of running around the house and turning off lights and lamps, one simple button is programmed as a goodnight scene. This turns some areas off instantly and other areas that are on dimmers ramp off over a pre set period of time. Any outside lights that have been left on now go off. The lights around me are programmed to take a bit longer to turn off than others further away, the niche near the kids hallway is left on to give some light to negotiate the hallway and stairs if needed. I have this switch located at the entrance to my bedroom. Next to my bed I have another switch that simply ramps off the bedroom light which has already been preset to dim at only 20% to ramp off slowly to nothing over 20 secs allowing me to get settled into bed.

Outside scene or Panic scene – So you are woken up with a noise during the night and the dog is barking.  One button next to your bed is programmed to turn every light on outside. Normally those lights are independently switched over 9 switches and a sensor for the floodlights but when I press this scenes button,  all my outside lights come on in the hope of startling anyone who is out there and also allows me to be able to look easily out of any window and into the yard to see what is happening.

Entertaining scene – people are coming over for a dinner party. One button press turns on all the outside garden lighting, the hallways and stairs come on at dimmed levels, the entry lights are dimmed to 60%, kitchen work areas are on at 80% but main kitchen floor area is off, decorative wall lights and table lamps are turned on, lighting in feature niches, over artwork and features like stone walls are turned on partly dimmed. Formal dining area is dimmed to just 40% of maximum. Again just one button press sets the house up for all of this.

Art scene- this one is just like it says. Instead of turning on individual switches for art works, pictures, glass cabinets, stone walls, niches, and maybe table lamps, this scene is a simple one button press that turns on all those lovely features you have incorporated into your house.

The number and choice of scenes is really up to your imagination. We haven’t even talked about other items in the house that are not lighting but can be incorporated into scenes. For example in the goodnight scene the TVs in the house are all turned off. The system checks if the garage door or gates are open and closes them, the alarm is set to partial arm so the downstairs and garage areas are activated.

Clipsal C-Bus can do all this but try to do this easily with traditional wiring. If you like the sound of  scenes then maybe Clipsal Cbus might be your thing as well.

Next time we will look at “schedules” in your home automation system.

Along with the new Wiser comes a new Wiser app which gives an updated look and functionality. Quoting  Clipsal , the state the following about the the new Wiser -

“Key Features

• Wired Ethernet or wireless client (Wi-Fi) connection to home network
• Supports applications including lighting, climate, blinds/curtains, measurement, multi-room audio and security
• A physical port connects directly to a C-Bus network with dual internal C-Bus connections
• New User Interface (UI)
• Includes preconfigured UIs for consistent appearance on all supported devices
• Includes preconfigured widgets to provide consistent graphical components across all interfaces
• UI can be viewed in a web browser (Flash must be supported), on an iOS device, on an Android device
• Supports control on HDMI connected display device using the device’s own hand-held remote control
• Supports a dynamic (DHCP) or fixed IP address configuration
• Supports many popular Dynamic DNS services
• Supports network time protocol (NTP) for accurate time and date retrieval from the Internet
• Includes on-board C-Bus Ripple server for use with C-Bus Multi-Room Audio solution (configuration of C-Bus Ripple library and playlist is possible from iOS app only)”
• Includes a 10-year Lithium battery backup for the Real Time Clock (RTC)
• Powered by 24Vd.c. power supply (supplied) or by Power over Ethernet (PoE)

One of the greatest features we have noticed, and appreciated,  is the much improved compatibility with recent apple devices. Since the iOS8 upgrade, the previous Wiser would sometimes “lock Up” and require resetting. Sometimes you could not log in at all depending on how large the programme or ho many widgets you were using. All this has gone even when using the latest iOS9 updates. The stability and remote access to  the new Wiser MK2 is excellent. As far as a remote access device for your CBus home automation, the new Wiser is an excellent addition and a sensible upgrade if you still have the original Wiser especially when controlling from the latest iOS.

Cbus touchscreen

On the Gold Coast we have many electricians who claim to be home automation experts. When we start calling them or looking into their businesses more closely, we find that many just add these words because it is “cool”,  ”trendy” and the “newest thing” in electrical.

Some people have only done one job and call themselves experts. Others may have helped or wired for an automation subcontractor and believe they can do it themselves now. Don’t get me wrong, not all have done this. We have worked with several electrical firms as partners or subcontractors on projects and a few have gone away and done become good installers in their own rights. Others have been happy to leave this work to us and build on a positive relationship. Some firms bring in a home automation integrator but credit their jobs to themselves and not their associate that they have brought in. They call themselves “specialist” but the automation works are done by a totally separate entity.

Some automation specialist are not even electricians and don’t have an electrical background at all. By rights they cannot touch or disconnect the 240volt side of home automation systems and need to bring in an electrician to assist them in this. They may be an AV company, security specialist or electrical engineer, if you repairs require an electrical component as well you may end up paying for extra tradesman to be there.

On the Gold Coast and Northern NSW, make sure the Home Automation Integrator you have brought in has the experience and expertise that they say they have. Ask for their past jobs and the extent of their experience. On their laptop they should be able to open there respective software packages and show you a database of jobs they have been to.

Clipsal also have Approved Installers as well as their Point One Integrators. All approved installers have done a C-Bus course but in may be many months between jobs.  All Point One companies must have an approved installer on board. With this credential they should be able to offer you a double warranty as well. Point One integrators are at Clipsals highest level for domestic C-Bus installations and service.

Cbus touchscreen

                             

What is Clipsal C-Bus?

Introduction

C-Bus is a microprocessor-based control & management system for Buildings & Homes.  It is used to control lighting & other electrical services such as pumps, Audio Visual Devices, Motors, etc. Whether simple ON/OFF control of a lighting circuit, or variable (analogue) type control, such as electronic dimmable fluorescent ballasts, C-Bus can be used to easily control virtually any type of electrical load.

To ensure fast & reliable operation, each C-Bus device has its own in-built microprocessor & “intelligence”, allowing units to be individually programmed.

C-Bus uses a patented method for updating the status of units.  This method does not require a central computer or central controller to handle databases or lookup tables to operate.  The status of each C-Bus unit is initiated at specific time intervals, without the need of a central controller.  Each device is allocated a specific time frame to broadcast its status, synchronised by a self-generated system clock pulse.  This allows large amounts of data to be transmitted in a very small time frame, effectively & reliably on the network, leading to low processing overheads & low bandwidth requirements.

Why C-Bus? 

The primary reasons to use C-Bus are:

• Highly robust & reliable control system, but low cost per node.
• Wide range of tools available to allow 3rd party companies to interface to both PC based & embedded systems.
• A single C-Bus cable connection can control an unlimited number of devices.
• Ultimate flexibility in switching & control – functions can be changed, added, removed, moved, reprogrammed, at any position on the network, at any time – without any cumbersome hard-wiring.
• C-Bus is simple to install & commission.
• C-Bus can control any type of load, digital & analogue.

How C-Bus Works 

C-Bus Network Wiring 

The C-Bus Network Bus is the communications wiring for the system, consisting of an unshielded twisted pair (UTP) ‘Cat 5’ cable.  The Bus not only provides the means of communication between units, but also the small amount of power needed to operate the circuitry within each C-Bus unit.

The C-Bus Network is electrically isolated from the mains power, & operates at safe extra low voltage levels (36 V dc).  Legal restrictions of mains wiring do not apply, so C-Bus wiring may be run into places that would be dangerous (or illegal) with normal mains wiring.

All Input & Output devices are wired to any point in the C-Bus Network by a twisted pair cable, which carries all communications between the Units.

The C-Bus connections may be looped from unit to unit or a branch can be made at any point.  This ‘free topology’ structure provides a flexible system layout.  New units can be added anywhere, at any time, without re-configuration.

During commissioning, the system is programmed so that specific commands trigger specific responses in one (or more) devices on the Network.  At any time the commands can be re-programmed, & C-Bus units can also be added, removed or moved.

The size of a C-Bus Network is practically unlimited.  A large network is usually divided into sub-networks of 100 C-Bus Units, with a total cable length of 1000m per sub-network.  This allows a C-Bus system to be divided into manageable sections, simplifying design, limiting potential fault propagation & aiding in any troubleshooting.

C-Bus Units 

All Units on the C-Bus Network have their own built-in microprocessor, allowing them to operate independently with “distributed intelligence”.  This provides extremely reliable & efficient communications, & also means that a malfunction in one unit will not affect the operation of any other Unit or the Network.

Every C-Bus Unit has a unique number, so that all devices on the Network can communicate directly.  Also, as C-Bus uses point to multi-point communication, every device on a C-Bus Network issues & responds to commands directly from the Network, rather than requiring a central computer or controller.

Simple Control 

Each C-Bus device is programmed to issue & respond to the certain commands.  A virtually unlimited number of commands can be programmed into the C-Bus system.  Generally, Input Devices are programmed to issue commands, & Output Devices are programmed to execute those commands.

When a C-Bus Group Address comm& is issued by a C-Bus Device, any other Devices that have been programmed with that Group Address will be activated, wherever they are on the C-Bus Network. There is no need for any direct 240V connection between any C-Bus units.

Multiple Events 

Single Devices can also produce multiple events.  For example, you may program an Input Switch so that the length of time the key is pressed determines what Command is issued – a short press issues an on/off command & a long press controls a dimming command.

Multiple commands do not have to control the same Output Device(s), so complex scenarios can be easily created, for example a single push button switch controlling a whole floor of a building.

Multiple Input devices can conditionally control a single Output Device, dependant on specific circumstances.  This allows multiple levels of over-ride switching & other complex control systems to be created easily.

Control Flexibility 

The C-Bus system can carry out control in virtually unlimited ways, including:

• Any input device can be programmed as a master control point. Master overrides can be positioned anywhere in the network, & control any other unit or units on any connected network.
• The system can allow unlimited switching configurations.  Two, three (or any number) of switches can be set to toggle or control any other switch or device.
• Overrides can be easily re-programmed via Windows software at any time.
• A computer or cental controller is not required for normal C-Bus operation, but can be used to add additional features if desired.