[RAUL HIDALGO]

Anyone knows of a good automation program for a 2500 ft house. Thanks for the help

 

[Missouri Bound]

For what, lighting, appliances, heat? Start with X10

 

[RAUL HIDALGO]

It'll be general lighting. No appliances

 

[RAUL HIDALGO]

For what, lighting, appliances, heat? Start with X10

Its Gen. Lighting no appliances

 

[Seattle2k]

For cheap gear : X10
For great gear : Insteon

 

[RAUL HIDALGO]

For cheap gear : X10
For great gear : Insteon

Thanks man ill look up these brands

 

[ddawg16]

As noted above....x10 is going to be on the cheap side....about par to Harbor Freight tools....

As another referece....try out SmartHome
http://www.smarthome.com/_/index.aspx?src=WG1000015&gclid=CKP2wKWN17QCFcaiPAodO3AAHQ

One other note.....a lot of the automation switches require a neutral at your switch box, so be cogizant of the wiring needs for the modules.

And....if you do put something together....do the rest of us a favor and do a thread on it and share what you learned.....I'd much rather learn from someone elses mistakes and successes.....

 

[RAUL HIDALGO]

As noted above....x10 is going to be on the cheap side....about par to Harbor Freight tools....

As another referece....try out SmartHome
http://www.smarthome.com/_/index.aspx?src=WG1000015&gclid=CKP2wKWN17QCFcaiPAodO3AAHQ

One other note.....a lot of the automation switches require a neutral at your switch box, so be cogizant of the wiring needs for the modules.

And....if you do put something together....do the rest of us a favor and do a thread on it and share what you learned.....I'd much rather learn from someone elses mistakes and successes.....

Sure ill keep youguys up to date with the installation thanks

 

[zolakk]

I've been in process of automating my house with a combination or z-wave and insteon and the biggest issue for me has been with dimmers after the cost. Not all dimmers are created equally if you plan to use them. Incandescent ones (the cheapest) generally don't work well with LEDs mainly due to them using less power than the minimum rating for the switch, unless your dimmer also has a neutral wire or you want to get creative adding resistors to simulate the load. Also if you have fancy fixtures that use a transformer box you need to be aware of the transformer type (Magnetic Low Voltage (MLV) or Electronic Low Voltage (ELV)) or you could blow the switch, the fixture, or both. I got bit by that and ended up having to spend almost $200 for a single ELV switch.

If you don't care about dimmers then it doesn't really matter because it's just an on-off relay

 

[deverson]

I've had X10 for over 30 years. I've had Insteon for over 5 years. Insteon is superior to X10. Very few problems and all have been with the software. I've lost a couple of Insteon devices early on but were replaced under the 2 year warranty without a problem. I've installed insteon in homes where the customer doesn't want to rip down an entire ceiling. and installed it in a second home with the six button scene controller. Eliminates a lot of hassle and looks a lot better than X10

 

[fa_f3_20]

I hate X10. Very unreliable. I have a bunch of UPB devices and have few problems with them. Mine are driven by an HAI system, but you can get simpler and less expensive timer systems from PCS or Simply Automated.

 

[RAUL HIDALGO]

Thanks for all the feedback you guys helped a lot. With so many options ill just let the client decide

 

[k_buz]

If you are going to be working as a contractor, you should learn to do your own homework instead of relying on a DIY website.

 

[RAUL HIDALGO]

If you are going to be working as a contractor, you should learn to do your own homework instead of relying on a DIY website.

What's wrong with asking about a reliable brand its not like I'm asking how to do it I'm sure even you have been helped once or twice

 

[gregzoll]

Anyone knows of a good automation program for a 2500 ft house. Thanks for the help

A wife, yourself, or your kid turning off the light switches as you leave or enter the room.

2500sqft is not that large of a house.

 

[RAUL HIDALGO]

A wife, yourself, or your kid turning off the light switches as you leave or enter the room.

2500sqft is not that large of a house.

Jajaja good one but it's for a client not me

 

[747]

Insteon, Zigbee, and Z-Wave :thumbsup: Depending on your application.

 

[gregzoll]

Creston is the best out there, but it needs to be installed by one of their licensed installers.

 

[herdfan]

I've had X10 for over 30 years. I've had Insteon for over 5 years. Insteon is superior to X10. Very few problems and all have been with the software. I've lost a couple of Insteon devices early on but were replaced under the 2 year warranty without a problem.

They must have gotten better then. I put 80 Insteon devices in my house and over 6 months replaced almost all of them due to failure. Ripped it all out and installed Lutron's Homeworks Wireless.

Another recommendation would be Lutron RadioRA2. More expensive, but rock solid.

 

[oberkc]

Insteon, Zigbee, and Z-Wave :thumbsup: Depending on your application.

A good number would also suggest UPB.

I agree with not including X-10. While inexpensive, I have found that it can get less reliable as you add devices. When one is talking "whole house", I doubt it would work well.

Control4 is another, but it requires a recongized contractor, I believe.

I use insteon, and have most of the house retrofit, over the last five years. It works well for me. Very few hardware issues. Communication can be interrupted by the presence of certain other electronic devices. Definitely plan to include some filters in the installation. And a controller.