Basic Home Automation Devices PDF

Learning Outcomes Describe the key features of home automation systems and their relevant devices: o Switching (e.g., switch) o Dimming (e.g., dimmer) o Timing (e.g., timer) o Sensing (e.g., motion sensor) o Scene control (e.g., scene master) o Central control (e.g., control pane...

Learning Outcomes Describe the key features of home automation systems and their relevant devices: o Switching (e.g., switch) o Dimming (e.g., dimmer) o Timing (e.g., timer) o Sensing (e.g., motion sensor) o Scene control (e.g., scene master) o Central control (e.g., control panel) o Visualisation (e.g., tablet) Unit 2.2 | Basic Home Automation Devices 91  2.2.1 Key Features of Home Automation Systems Table 2.2-1 shows some key features of home automation systems and some devices that provide these features. Table 2.2-1: Key features of home automation systems Feature Description Devices Switching Switching is the ability of a device to provide only Switch one of two states, i.e., on or off, to the home Push button automation system. Motion sensor Smart plug Fig. 2.2-1: Switch Usually, switching is used to control output devices, such as turning a lamp on or off, or lowering or raising window blinds. Fig. 2.2-2: Smart plug Smart plug (e.g., Z-Wave power socket) allows users to turn appliances on or off remotely. Users can also set timers for appliances and monitor energy consumption. It allows users to make energy- efficient schedule for appliances, or brew coffee even before he/she enters the house. Unit 2.2 | Basic Home Automation Devices 92  Feature Description Devices Dimming Dimming, which is also known as ramp control, is a Dimmer (Ramp Control) more sensitive version of switching. Instead of providing only on or off states, dimming is the ability to provide varying levels of brightness. Dimming can be done in large definite steps, i.e., in increments of 10%, or it can be controlled to a very high precision with increments of 1% or less. Fig. 2.2-3: Dimmer Usually, dimming is used to control the current to a lamp to create a particular light scene or save electrical energy. Timing Timing is the ability of a device to give the home Timer automation system information about the current time or whether the desired time duration has elapsed. Usually, timing is used to control how long appliances such as water heaters and rice cookers have been operating, or to schedule switching or dimming tasks on a regular basis. Sensing Sensing is the ability of a device to give the home Motion sensor automation system information about physical Light sensor measurements or events. Temperature sensor Window sensor Usually, sensing is used to automatically decide whether another action should be taken, such as turning off the lights if motion detectors do not detect any motion in a room for a pre-set time. Unit 2.2 | Basic Home Automation Devices 93  Feature Description Devices Scene Scene control is the ability of the home automation Scene master Control system to perform multiple switching and dimming actions with a single command. Fig. 2.2-4: Scenes Usually, scene control is used to enhance the mood of a room, improve comfort, and save electrical energy by automatically adjusting the lights in the house to an appropriate level of brightness for various activities. Typical scene names include “Dining Scene”, “Movie Scene”, “Welcome Scene” and “Presentation Scene”. Central Central control is the ability of the home automation Control panel Control system to switch on or off all the lights, or just those in a particular section of the home, with a single command. Visualisation Visualisation is the ability of the home automation Tablet system to show the status of electrical loads on the screen of a tablet or panel. Unit 2.2 | Basic Home Automation Devices 94