House buyers in Dorset have the option of the latest home automation technology at a new development in Poole.
Sit back and imagine sailing your luxury yacht along the south coast of England. Turn into the harbour and moor,

then take a few strides along the waterfront and step into your luxury apartment. The hall lights switch on as you enter the code for the security system and the house is already nice and warm, courtesy of your having programmed the remotely-controlled heating system.

This daydream could quite easily become a reality for house-hunters in Dorset thanks to a new housing development overlooking Poole Quay. The eight property Odyssey development built by Bemstone Homes includes a state-of-the-art home automation system which offers the future homeowners the potential to enhance their property's security and comfort, while reducing their overall energy consumption.

The smart home technology fitted in the apartments is based on the Siemens Instabus network. It enables electrical appliances to be connected so that they can communicate with each other as the owner desires.

Specialist electrical installers Dome Systems have integrated lighting control, security and audio and video devices through the home automation network. By doing so, the users can monitor, operate and co-ordinate functions of each electrical fitting connected to the system via Instabus.

The Instabus network enables electrical devices from different manufacturers to be linked by a common EIB protocol. The fieldbus network consists of a single, twin-core, 24 V measurement and control cable that runs parallel to the standard power supply.

The system is structured so that individual, stand alone bus lines and infra-red control systems are linked to each other via interfaces in a programmable distribution board. These interfaces snap onto a mounting rail on the distribution board. With the data highway being provided by a screwless snap connection, the on-site installation time was reduced as no wiring was needed. The distribution board can accommodate up to 64 communications devices on one network.

The system can be accessed locally through intelligent wall switches or via an infra-red controller. When away from home, the owners can control the system externally via a modem.

The installation of the technology at the Odyssey development has led Bemstone Homes to specify the Instabus system for another one of its housing projects. "At Bemstone Homes we recognise that smart home technology is the way forward for the building market in general," says managing director Geoff James. "Our success with this system has inspired us with the confidence to invest in the Instabus for another significantly sized development."

Techaus call

Smart home technology company Techaus has now added totally wire free multiroom audio distibution to its offering. The system uses a music server connected with a network player via a wireless network. Working with specialist sound system supplier Imerge, this latest introduction is controlled by either a hand-held device such as the Philips Pronto in conjunction with the tv linked into the system, or by using the network player in the room. Up to 240 hours of music storage capacity is provided and different material can be heard in different rooms around the home.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor