Re: 2012 and still no perfect UK HA light switch solution?

["dreamgreenhouse_com" <yahoo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, Mark J Cox <mark@...> wrote:
>
> Every few years I hope there is some new advance that'll let me
cheaply
> automate all my lights with a retrofit not a rewire.  My friends in
the U=
S
> can spend <$30 a light and get z-wave control with switches that
look goo=
d,
> work nicely, and fit their existing back boxes (like a ZW4001).  My
> previous attempts at X10 using micro-modules was mostly okay, but
> unreliable even with x10 filters, and too expensive for every light. 
The
> zwave Fibaro mico module looks slightly promising, but looks hard to
fit
> into a 35mm backbox and cost soon adds up (=E2=82=A450+a momentary
switch=
).
>=20
> Am I missing something?  I'd happily use switches rather than dimmers,
wa=
nt
> 2-way communication, have neutral at each box....

That's the nature of the home automation business right now. It's not a
mas=
s-market business that scales to reduce costs. It's still pretty much a
hob=
byist market, though a growing one.

Personally, I think it will get better in the next 12-18 months and costs
w=
ill fall but, home automation as you describe it, still requires
specialist=
installers and electrical certification in many cases.

Personally, I think Z-Wave is pretty good and I use it quite a lot. A
hybri=
d solution is the best bet long-term though, one that aggregates best of
br=
eed (wired and wireless) technologies. Z-Wave is one of the wireless ones
b=
ut, wired is still the most cost effective way to go in a new installation.

X10 is doomed (by being 1-way), an ancient technology that needs to be
rele=
gated to history. Anything that uses the mains power network (power line
ne=
tworking included) is going to have issues in some installations. Your
main=
s power network is effectively a public network.

Rob
http://www.dreamgreenhouse.com




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