Electrics: Smart Homes

Many self-builders want to future-proof their homes by incorporating technology that will aid the occupiers’ lifestyles. There has been a lot of innovation in this area over the past few years, and not a little confusion. Different technologies offering different possibilities make it a difficult area to summarise. Most people still think of smart homes in terms of laying data cabling around the house, much as it has been done in offices for decades. But it is now also possible to transfer data over the conventional power lines and, increasingly, Wi-Fi – which operates without wires at all – is becoming an accepted standard for broadband, so many of the commonly held assumptions about data cabling are being challenged.

The standard setup is to run data cable, known as Cat 5, around the house. Each cable runs back to a central hub where the connections are made. You can in theory link everything together but in practice people tend to want specific features enabled. These are detailed below:

Internet Connection and Home Networking: Broadband and home networking capabilities are available everywhere you place a socket. Every device plugs into a data socket and can be configured to link together or to an internet router.

Distributed Audio: Cables can be run around the house to a series of in-ceiling or in-wall speakers that can play music from a central sound system.

Distributed TV: Coaxial cables can be run through the house which enable people to watch TV in different rooms without a conventional aerial or a series of digital receivers. This can now be achieved with Cat 5 cable, but you can still only watch one channel per box.

Lighting Control: Lighting scenes are done by connecting all the switches and the lights to a central server which is pre-programmed to determine what is turned on and off with each scene.

Home Automation: There is no limit to what can potentially be controlled. Heating systems can be tweaked or switched on and off remotely; blinds can be set to open and close at predetermined times; CCTV can be monitored remotely; eventually it may be possible to control appliances (such as fridges and freezers) to come on at times of low demand for electricity and thus reduce bills.

Security: Burglar alarms can be integrated into a home network system, but are still usually installed separately. There is a huge variety of different alarm systems out there and it’s not easy deciding what to fit. It is usually cheaper to install a wired system, which is particularly well suited to new housing as the wiring can be concealed during first fix stage. Installation quotes for a four bedroom house are likely to vary from £500 for a basic system, based on a mixture of internal infrared detectors and contact points, to over £1,000 for external vibration detectors, which are triggered by interference with doors and windows. Should you not want to go to the expense of installing an alarm, the wiring can be first fixed in a day for £1-200, so that the intruder detectors can be fitted later on, without disrupting the decorations.

"We Created a Hi-tech Farmhouse"

A traditional family home has been given a smart makeover so that every element can be controlled — with no cables on display.

This remote stone farmhouse on the West Pennine Moors was given a hi-tech makeover by home automation installer Morban (0870 141 7042 morban.co.uk). The traditional farmhouse, built in 1870, was modernised and extended as a family home by Nigel Moon and his wife, Ashley, for them and their two children. The house features a Cytech Europe Comfort Intelligent Home System, which controls the two gates and three garages, a Systemline audio system, three touchcontrol panels and Velux windows throughout the house. The setup also includes digital CCTV, a whole-house audiovisual system with a central server, and discreet speakers. “It’s really great, you can control the gates, view all the CCTV cameras, distribute video and TV throughout the house to 12 flat screens and much more,” says Nigel.

Further reading:

• Lighting
• Ventilation and Built-in Vacuums

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