|
Below are a few important things to remember not to do as you build your networked smart home.
Missing the basics of automation
Keep the following in mind:
- In the United States, the electrical main line coming into your house consists of two 110-volt phases, which are split off at the main distribution panel. Some outlets in your house are connected to one of these phases, and the other outlets to the other phase. To get X10 signals to cross over to different phases, you need to install a signal coupler in your main distribution panel. This is serious, high-voltage, zap-yourself-and-don't-live-to-tell-about-it stuff, so hire a qualified electrician to do it for you.
- Low-powered electrical signals such as X10 get weaker as they travel over long distances. If you have a big house, install a signal coupler that also includes a signal amplifier/repeater to boost your signal strength.
- Surge protectors will not let automation signals through. Instead of buying a bunch of individual surge protectors, have your electrician install a whole-home protector at the main electrical panel. This will keep the noisy stuff out and let your automation signals work inside your home.
Thinking that AC and low voltage are friends
Most everything you'll network in your home is low voltage. AC power is high voltage. High-voltage systems, because they carry so much power, emit stray electromagnetic fields. Low-voltage systems, because they use very little power, are easily interfered with by these stray fields, which can cause major havoc with the networks in your home running over the low-voltage wiring.
Keep low-voltage lines at least 18 inches from high-voltage lines. Try to not run these lines parallel to each other. And when crossing high- and low-voltage wiring, do so at a right angle to minimize the length of cables that are near each other.
Not planning accordingly
Don't think you need cable in the nursery? Well you might not, if the kids stay toddlers in perpetuity. But when they're in school and need a computer, wouldn't you like to have an Ethernet LAN port next to the desk?
Thinking that wiring is a dirty word
Compared to wireless networks, purpose-built, wired networks using CAT-5e/6 and RG6 are cheaper and more capable than these wireless alternatives. By all means, feel free to go wireless, just don't think they're somehow better or more capable than a wired network.
Falling into the proprietary pitfall
Some cool home-networking and home-automation and control systems are built on a specific vendor's proprietary protocols. These proprietary systems often have tangible benefits. The downside is that you'll often find yourself locked into them — if you want to expand, upgrade, or otherwise modify your system, you need to go back to the same vendor who provided the rest of the system. You may find that the benefits and features of a particular proprietary system are too compelling for you not to use it. That's a perfectly valid decision. Just make sure that you go into such an installation fully aware of the consequences.
|
