Fw: CBUS & Comfort Questions

[Gareth Cook <g@xxxxxxxxxx>]

As Kevin points out there are some "funnies"

I use all the logic in Comfort, not a CBUS PAC. As it works, CBUS cannot=20
"see" directly any comfort input/outputs, but Comfort can see all
of CBUS=20
ID's

G.

Gareth Cook
IT Architect / Project Manager, SWG Sales
Office: +44 (0)1784 445166 - Mobile: +44 (0)7980 445166
email: g@xxxxxxx

=20
----- Forwarded by Gareth Cook/UK/IBM on 20/02/2007 09:18 -----

Discussion
Main Topic

ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Today 02:48

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Subject:
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Re: Fw: [ukha_d] CBUS & Comfort Questions
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Category:



Hi Chris ,

This posts already a bit messed up reply indentation wise but I hope=20
you get the gist .... I don't actually use Comfort but applying what=20
I've learned elsewhere I've added some guesses...on how I expect it=20
might work

Gareth Cook wrote:
> Hi,
> I'm about to start a cbus & comfort install in my house and I've
got a=20
> few questions for you clever people.
>
> How closely integrated can you get cbus & comfort. For instance
for my=20
> lighting setup I need a 12 channel cbus relay costing around =A3520.
If I=
=20
> have a ucmcbus module in the comfort box can I replace the cbus
relay=20
> with comfort 240v relays, 12 x =A328 =3D =A3336, thus saving =A3194 to
pa=
y for a=20

> free ucmcbus?
> Yes, but you are limited by the number of total comfort outputs - not
so=
=20

> with cbus.
>=20
Also - any Comfort outputs do not become correctly represented on C-Bus=20
as they don't exit there - ie they don't correspond to a true C-Bus=20
group and therefore don't correctly report status using MMI  on C-Bus,=20
they can be controlled from C-Bus though.
> Will I be able to get exactly the same performance using comfort
relays=20
> for lights? Will CBUS scenes work in the same way switching lights=20
> through comfort? I'll still need cbus dimmers, the relays are just
for=20
> external lights and utility areas.
> Yes - using 12v <> 240v relays of course - a few quid. I have
some CBUS=20
> buttons activate comfort relays, and also cbus buttons tell comfort
to=20
> activate cbus channels (ie pressing the same light switch when it's
dark=
=20
-=20
> will only turn the light on to 50% without holding for dim)
>=20
I think by 'scenes' you mean groups in this question - otherwise the=20
next Q is the same isn't it ?  This I think works although C-Bus will=20
not correctly report the states of the outputs present on Comfort - it=20
will see and report them as 'absent' but you can control them ok.
>
>
> I will be using scenes in cbus so can comfort relays be a part of a
cbus=
=20

> scene, having a cbus switch trigger a scene containing cbus dimmers
and=20
> comfort relays?
> Not directly, but comfort could activate a comfort output and then
tell=20
a=20
> cbus channel to activate.
>=20

If you have a scene and divide outputs between C-Bus and Comfort then=20
(as before) those outputs on Comfort will not maintain correct 'group'=20
status on C-Bus and as such you won't be able to use the feature where=20
key indicator lamps remain lit when scenes are valid and go out if=20
broken ( a member changes state) - but this feature isn't too dependable=20
anyway and wouldn't be a great loss.
>
> Whilst on the subject of scenes, is it possible to dim scenes? If I
have=
=20

> a 2 button switch with a scene on each switch would it be possible
to=20
> turn a scene on with a button press and then dim the whole scene up
and=20
> down with press&hold on the switch? Or is dimming only possible
on=20
> individual lights?
> I think so !
>=20
Not sure if G is saying yes to 'only individual lights' here or your=20
wanted dimming ?? AFAIK it is not possible to dim scenes  - however you=20
can assign an area to a dimmer pack (and dimmer switches too I think)=20
which allows you to dim all the area as one ie all channels on one , or=20
several dimmers. You can also put the same group on several dimmer=20
channels  too but then they are really just one bigger channel, you=20
can't control them independently.  To do what you want I think you need=20
more 'smarts' eg something that will link several different groups to=20
one as a master dimmer. This could be done with a PAC or C-Bus=20
touchscreen or xAP/xPL.  It is possible you may even be able to program=20
Comfort to handle this too - it would take a required dim level and then=20
instruct each dimmer channel (C-Bus Group)  individually (sequentially)=20
to go to that level .   The result would still appear to be one=20
co-ordinated dim , especially over longer ramp times.
> I'm just specing the system out, so I'm sure I'll have more
questions=20
> once I get going.
> Thanks,
> Chris
>=20
Scenes on C-Bus are not 'collections of dimmer channels' - they are a=20
collection of dimmer channels each member of which has a defined final=20
dim level at a specific ramp rate. They are 'triggered' by setting a=20
certain trigger/action pairing, So as such members of scenes can't be=20
dimmed as one. without a little 'programming' help.  Achieving complex=20
multifunction (shortpress longpress) scene control is quite awkward on=20
C-Bus switches due to trigger group membership issues,  but you can also=20
use standard groups with suitable smarts 'PAC/Touchscreen/xAP'  to do=20
the same thing - if not more.    Comfort relay outputs will not maintain=20
correct status on C-Bus so you will need to take care with any C-Bus=20
'logic' programming that depends on knowing the state of such outputs.=20
eg "If outside floodlights are ON then do this..... (where outside=20
floods are a Comfort output)

Kevin












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