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Bosham Weekend Home – Home Automation Case Study

This weekend KNX home automation project included the very specific requests of the client, based on his desire for energy saving, easy control and remote monitoring of the property. Eighty A Controls coupled this with the desire to create an easy home automation solution that would not overwhelm any friends and family who had little experience of KNX technology. Eighty A Controls Ltd designed the home automation installation based on KNX and linked other control systems such as DMX (for LED lights) and the IP (internet) into the KNX bus. All systems integration control points were designed by Eighty A Controls Ltd for maximum functionality and ease of use.

The KNX controlled halogen and LED lighting was activated by individual push sensor switches in this home automated home which also displayed the room temperature and gave the client control over the heating in that zone. The light circuits could also be combined into predefined 'scenes' programmed by Eighty A Controls which allows the setting of multiple circuits at the touch of one button programmed using the KNX system.

Each light circuit and heating zone in this home automation project designed and installed by Eighty A Controls Ltd was also controlled by a GIRA Home Server application for the iPhone/iPad. Specific times were set to control the heating in each individual zone and an overall time clock was allocated to control all zones in this systems integrated weekend home.

The motorised blinds and Velux roof windows designed, installed and programmed by Eighty A Controls Ltd were also KNX controlled by local push sensor switches on the GIRA iPhone/iPad application. Each blind was controlled individually or as a group. The media room had 'blackout' and 'shading' blinds which were set to be operated via the KNX system depending on how the room was being used.

Eighty A Controls specified and installed the GIRA stainless steel door communication system in this home automation project which allowed the internal hands-free home stations to match the design of the push sensor switches.

Individual login details to the KNX controlled GIRA home server iPhone/iPad application allows for personalised access to predefined areas of the property. Home users can log-on with any IP or GSM connection.

Special scenes were created by Eighty A Controls Ltd to allow the owner of the systems integrated property one-touch control. One example is on leaving the house they could, 'set-back' the heating control, shut the Velux windows, turn off the lights, turn off the heated towel rails by one iPhone button saving time and also giving 'feedback' information to show that this had happened.

As with all Eighty A Controls home automation systems, the KNX system can be continuously expanded to include any new features the client may like to add. All additions are easily included by programming which can be done remotely by Eighty A Controls or any other KNX specialist.