Home Automation Equipments – A Detailed Description

A home automation system permits you to control not only your electronic devices at home, but also your communication devices. Consider that you have purchased a laptop, installed an irrigation system for your garden, and subscribed to your pay-TV. Now, how will connect all these items?

To control various electronic devices in your house, you will require interfaces such as remote controls and switches. You need different types of hubs to connect different types of devices; multi-zone controls, distribution panels, and video modulators; a router for every computer to set up a LAN; and an interface card for your network.

Before setting up an automation system, you have know the basics of every component in the system.

Wiring Closet

The wiring closet is a tiny closet, especially designed to store a jumble of wires and to provide easy access whenever required. You can keep the wiring closet in front of your house to enable easy connection to external wires, such as cables for your pay-TV. Each input device is located at a hub, a place that can look quite confusing due to the large number of wires from different directions.

Patch Panel

The patch panel is the brain that controls the cables in your house. For example, cable A connects speaker B and C stereo. You can use the patch panel to change the functions of the cables. Simply unplug a socket, and patch or plug it into another. Label the cables to avoid confusion.

Connectors

There are various types of connections depending on the requirements of the wiring system. There are also different types of outlets. You may have to use several plugs and sockets for the cables of your speakers. This fact should be taken into consideration while laying cables and wall sockets. See that you provide for flexibility. Also, install a number of power outlets.

Keypads and touch screens

The most expensive controls are the ones that use touch screen technology. On the contrary, keypads are a simple way of communicating with your gadgets.

Smart Switches

Smart switch panels are a simple and flexible way of establishing control. You can also change these panels dynamically. Smart switch panels integrate lights as well as entertainment. It has an option to dim lights if you want to or increase the volume of your speakers. You should, however, use the same smart switch.

Remote controls

A common remote control can be used to operate air conditioners, lights, televisions, and blinds. Due to its mutiple control system, this device is expensive. To save money, you could use a simple controller, which performs a number of tasks without requiring separate controls.

Software

For home automation to function, you need to install a software on a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or a Personal Computer (PC). You can control your devices through a secure webpage, irrespective of where you are.

Impedance Matching System

This device takes cares of issues regarding the quality of sound. You can connect multiple speakers to a single amplifier although it will lower the overall power of your amplifier.

Multi-zone Control Systems

These function like patch panels in hubs. It accepts a feed from any audio source and sends it to a specified amplifier in any part of your house.

Distribution Panel

This device can split a video feed in any part of your house. It is the video hub for your network. Thus, a TV signal can be sent to the entire network of televisions in your house. You need to amplify the output because a split signal results in a weak display.

Modulator

This device manages the feeds received from various video devices such as a pay-TV receiver, DVD player, security camera, or VCR. The modulator chooses an input on the distribution panel. A multi-channeled distribution panel and modulator sends feeds from a number of devices to a number of rooms simultaneously.

Router

You need a router to set up a LAN to access the Internet and network from various parts your house. A router enables all printers, modems, computers, and related peripherals to communicate with one another.

Network Interface Cards

You have to connect the Network Interface Cards (NIC) to the router to permit communication within the networks in your house.

Learning about the different devices that your home automation system comprises is really fun.

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Author: Abhishek Agarwal
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Import duty tariff

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