Compatible security and heating systems in UK?

[randomfeelings]

I'm about to get a new heating system (including boiler!) installed, and also a new alarm system.

I'm having trouble though finding products that will work with LMCE. The wiki points to the Apex Destiny 6100 for the alarm system, however when I try and find a UK supplier for this, I end up on a US site telling me that the product has been discontinued!? Same kind of situation for the heating control.

Has anyone done this recently in the UK? Also, I'd be grateful for any comments regarding British Gas (or similar) willingness to fit a custom control / thermostat as part of the installation?

I guess as part of this I will also need serial ports - are serial to USB devices suitable (I'm guessing so) - any advice on which are the best for hassle-free install, and if there is any limit to how many LMCE can support simultaneously?

Any thoughts welcome and appreciated!

[tschak909]

Well, funny enough, yes... that unit has been discontinued...however, this isn't a problem...

LinuxMCE does not need a security panel.

Simply connect your various contact closure sensors to a GC-100, and let LinuxMCE manage them. LinuxMCE becomes your panel, with various orbiter displays providing a security PIN panel you can use anywhere, not just at the front door. Z-Wave motion sensors can also be used, and all the sensors can be paired with nearby cameras to provide a security system much better than any of the panels can ever provide.

-Thom

[totallymaxed]

Well, funny enough, yes... that unit has been discontinued...however, this isn't a problem...

LinuxMCE does not need a security panel.

Simply connect your various contact closure sensors to a GC-100, and let LinuxMCE manage them. LinuxMCE becomes your panel, with various orbiter displays providing a security PIN panel you can use anywhere, not just at the front door. Z-Wave motion sensors can also be used, and all the sensors can be paired with nearby cameras to provide a security system much better than any of the panels can ever provide.

-Thom

While your right Thom at a technical level I am afraid here in the UK (and in many other countries too) it may well be a requirement of your insurer that you have an 'approved' alarm panel installed by an 'approved' installer. In some cases even if this requirement ins not the case many customer we deal with still like the fact that they have a separate dedicated alarm panel installed alongside their Dianemo system.

We are working on support for a panel available here in the UK currently and as soon as i have approval from our supplier I will post details here for that product. The interface will be usb or serial (yes usb to serial adapters work fine by the way) and we will add our code as its developed to http://svn.charonmedia.com/svn/ and provide a Wiki page for config/installation info too.

I'll update this thread with any news as soon as i have it.

All the best

Andrew

[totallymaxed]

I'm about to get a new heating system (including boiler!) installed, and also a new alarm system.

On the heating/climate side we are still in the early phases for how this might best be integrated. At a simple level there are already radiator valves (DanFoss and others make them) and blind and thermostats that can be controlled using ZWave (we use Zwave 9/10 for customer projects http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Z-Wave) or KNX (this is the basic KNX-EIB interface code we use on customer projects now http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Bash_dce_knx). So these devices can be added to your system and controlled in various ways or data can be pulled from them, in the case of Thermostats, and displayed on the Climate floorplan (ie current multizone temps in any room where you have a Thermostat). The basic building block mechanisms for extending this into intelligent property wide energy management are there already and with some effort could be extended much further.

Hope the above is of some help to you.

All the best

Andrew

[randomfeelings]

Indeed, although I love the idea of the all-lmce security solution, the insurance is a factor, and also the fact that if I do get broken into, my lmce server will probably be the first thing to get ripped out and nicked! Also, my 'better half' is talking about a redcare monitored alarm too, which is something I'll need to consider.

WRT the heating control, I was thinking that it would need to interface with the main thermostat, although I guess talking to radiators is just as (if not more) sensible...?? Is Z-Wave fully supported - I ask because I was slightly put off by a comment on another post, although I can't even remember what it was now!

[tschak909]

*hmm* the insurance I can understand..however the excuse that the server would be stolen is laughable if properly secured.

-Thom

[totallymaxed]

Indeed, although I love the idea of the all-lmce security solution, the insurance is a factor, and also the fact that if I do get broken into, my lmce server will probably be the first thing to get ripped out and nicked! Also, my 'better half' is talking about a redcare monitored alarm too, which is something I'll need to consider.

WRT the heating control, I was thinking that it would need to interface with the main thermostat, although I guess talking to radiators is just as (if not more) sensible...?? Is Z-Wave fully supported - I ask because I was slightly put off by a comment on another post, although I can't even remember what it was now!

With KNX you could interface to the main heating control via localised zoned thermostats - this is standard in the KNX world. With ZWave currently the control is via the radiator valve. Yes ZWave is fully supported now.

Andrew

[randomfeelings]

...or KNX (this is the basic KNX-EIB interface code we use on customer projects now http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Bash_dce_knx). So these devices can be added to your system and controlled in various ways or data can be pulled from them, in the case of Thermostats, and displayed on the Climate floorplan (ie current multizone temps in any room where you have a Thermostat). The basic building block mechanisms for extending this into intelligent property wide energy management are there already and with some effort could be extended much further.

Reading this again - KNX sounds interesting. I've read the wiki page you mention, however am struggling to understand how this fits in the wider picture - ie is it an existing hardware standard such as thermostats I can add on to any heating system etc? Could you expand on this please?

[totallymaxed]

...or KNX (this is the basic KNX-EIB interface code we use on customer projects now http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Bash_dce_knx). So these devices can be added to your system and controlled in various ways or data can be pulled from them, in the case of Thermostats, and displayed on the Climate floorplan (ie current multizone temps in any room where you have a Thermostat). The basic building block mechanisms for extending this into intelligent property wide energy management are there already and with some effort could be extended much further.

Reading this again - KNX sounds interesting. I've read the wiki page you mention, however am struggling to understand how this fits in the wider picture - ie is it an existing hardware standard such as thermostats I can add on to any heating system etc? Could you expand on this please?

KNX-EIB is an international standard for 'bus based' control. Its not limited to heating control - that is just one of the many applications for the technology. However becuase it involves running a bus cable past every device you need to control or get control information from it is not particularly suited as a retrofit option to a house - it is usually only used when doing a 'new build' or a major refubishment. Google it for more background info.

Andrew