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We regularly find ourselves replacing the ‘wrong’ devices/products and replacing these with a well designed and planned approach. We are called to change these because the customer has usually received poor information or just based their decision on the first and cheapest smart product they have seen. Unfortunately, this exercise costs the client money in wasted time and equipment.

As Home automation electricians and integrators, the best advice is to work from the desired end result or solution, as what you would like your home to do. Consider how it should feel and function, visualise the the end result.

You have to start with the system that you are going to use for your home automation. You will only require specific wiring if you are selecting a bus system or a hybrid system bus wiring and z wave together.

You don’t want to make a mistake of purchasing just Smart WiFi globes, which run on one application and then later realise you wanted full control of lighting, heating and cooling, security and audio visual, which will now have to run on another four separate applications. When these could have been integrated in the first place.

With the flexibility of some scalable automation systems these days, you don’t need to do it all in one hit but rather build your planned integrated system step-by-step as your budget allows.

For a basic set up:

Network:

You want to run Cat6 cabling from the central point (hub) to at least 1 central point in the ceiling space per floor.

1 data point to each room in the house is also a good idea.

The central point becomes the communications hub for your home, the best location for it may be a study or in the garage.

Remember to run a Cat6 cable to your entertainment system or home theater, if you have any. If your set up will be more advance you might want to run fiber cable to future proof 4K 8K streaming and Audio Visual distribution.

Our system recommendation will be a unify network system.

CCTV:

You want to run Cat6 cabling from the central point ( hub) to at least entry door, front of the house, sides and back area so you can install a select smart IP camera system.

Our system recommendation will be unify cameras system.

Alarm and security:

You want to run Cat6 cabling from the central point ( hub) where the alarm panel will be installed.

Most alarm systems will have a IP module option to connect your alarm panel to the network. Our system recommendation will be a Bosch alarm

Lighting control:

If you are going to use a bus wiring system.

The bus wiring will go in Daisy chain to each smart device back to a central panel.

If you are going to use a Wireless systems make sure you have neutral available at each light switch.

Our recommendation will be a Fibaro system.

Climate control:

Depending on the type of system you will have. If it’s a multi zone system you might need a data cable from the main compresor back to your hub.

If you are using split systems you can use individual modules.

Our recommendation will be cool master and or Intesis modules.

Intercom and access control:

If you are are looking for a smart lock on the main door or secondary doors you need to make sure they are not fire doors and it will be fine to install them.

If you are have a door strike release you want 3 cat 6 cable run from the central hub to the intercom location. 1 for data 1 control 1 spare (most smart intercoms will work of 1 cable with POE).

You will also need power to the door strike.

Our recommendation will be DoorBird intercoms.

For home automation system details and information, we will be glad to assist all your questions and concerns. Please call us at Canny Electrics on 1300 522 446.