Overview

The Hausmate home automation system is designed to control the services within a residential or commercial building. It is a holistic system that takes all the services together to a centralised point so that the building can be controlled as a single entity. Local control is provided by rocker switches (standard light switches) and Hausmate Hazes (they look like a standard light dimmer switch but are much more powerful). There is a website or User Interface (UI) for each installation that can be accessed with any internet browser, either locally on the LAN (Local Area Network) or via the internet. There are also Sensor Units (SUs) in most of the zones which have the following sensors as standard – temperature, humidity, ambient light, occupancy (PIR). Optional extra sensors are for CO2 (carbon dioxide) and any custom requirements. Outputs for mains (230Vac) via dimmer packs and Relay Units (RUs). The infrastructure is provided by ZGs (Zone Gateways), DGs (DMX Gateways), and PoE (Power over Ethernet) Network switches.

Hardware

The main Hausmate hardware is connected together using Ethernet, which is the same technology as the internet is wired in buildings, but, for security reasons, the Hausmate components are wired together on a physically separate network to the Local area Network (LAN) which is used to distribute the internet. This separate network is known as the Hausmate Area Network (HAN) and joins together the Host computer (the brains of the system) and the Gateways which are used to gather input data and distribute output data. The Host computer is also connected to the LAN and has suitable firewalls and other protection against unauthorised access e.g. hackers.

The system uses standard cables – CAT5 for data and T&E (Twin and Earth) and 3C&E (3 Core and Earth) for 230Vac. The CAT5s are terminated in RJ45 connectors allowing easy connection of the hardware components and easy testing of the integrity of the cables.


Power for Hausmate infrastructure components

Ideally the main infrastructure components should be powered using a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply). This will protect it from any short duration power supply interruptions or ‘brownouts’ (where there is a significant drop in the voltage of the supply for a period of time). The UPS will also protect the infrastructure hardware from any voltage spikes on the power supply. If a UPS is not to be used it is still good practice to supply all the infrastructure from a separate single supply so that it is easier to add a UPS in future if it is required. One easy way of doing this is to use a multi-way extension lead fixed to the wall in the wiring centre. This will need to provide the power for the router (and internet modem if not integral to the router), Hausmate Host computer, HAN (Hausmate Area Network) network switches. Note - all the Zone Gateways and DMX Gateways are powered by the HAN network switches using PoE (Power over Ethernet).


Hardware sizes:

  • Host PC - as standard this is in the 19" rack, but may be wall mounted. It must be mounted to allow convection cooling -  it stands on its side so that it is tall and not deep.
  • Zone Gateway (ZG) and DMX gateway (DG) - allow minimum space of 225 x 125 x 35mm (WxHxD) for the unit and cable trunking extra. 10 cables with RJ45s enter along bottom long edge, 1 cable along right-hand short edge. These units are powered via the Ethernet connection from the PoE Network switch so don’t require another power source; they are often mounted in the rack.
  • DMX dimmer units  - standard unit: 370 x 515 x 90 mm (H x W x D). Size with cooling / ventilation space: 500 x 600 x 100mm. They are normally mounted on the wall.
  • Relay units (RU) - Allow 250 x 150 x 35mm plus space for trunking for each relay board. There are 4 glands on bottom long side for output cables (T&E and/or CAT5) and one cable on the right-hand end for the control cable from a ZG (CAT5 with RJ45 connector). They are normally mounted on the wall. 
  • Router -  Ideally, this should be placed next the the 'master' telephone socket to get the best internet speed. It is usually supplied by the client's ISP (Internet Service Provider). If the router includes WiFi, it should not be mounted in the rack, as the metal of the rack will compromise the WiFi signal. Otherwise, it is normally mounted in the rack.
  • Wireless Access Point (WAP) - The TrendNet TEW-653 is approx 150mm diameter by 50mm high. It can be powered by a ‘Power over Ethernet’ (PoE) network switch on the LAN (not on the HAN). It should be mounted where it can radiate a good WiFi signal i.e. not next to large metal objects or on solid walls, or where the WiFi signal will have to pass a long distance through solid walls. 
  • PoE Network switches - The D-Link DGS-1008P (1GHz) - box is 120 x 190 x 38mm (HxWxD). Some space is required for connectors and cable trunking – i.e. allow 190x190x40mm. Power supply from UPS or special network supply for network switches/modem/router/HostPC - multiway block so UPS could easily be added at a later date. It is recommend power surge protection for this supply. HAN (Hausmate Area Network) only needs 100MHz data rate network switches.
  • Network switch - non-PoE  - Normally mounted in the rack under the patch panel: 19" rack, 1U high. 
  • Heating/boiler isolation switches - double back box, 35mm deep. It provides isolation and manual over-ride for boiler servicing and it is normally mounted near the boiler.
  • Rocker/light switches - these are standard lighting switches, according to the customers' specifications. In general 1gang, 2gang & 3gang switches go in standard single back-box,while 4gang and 6gang go in double back-box. All back boxes require a minimum of 25mm deep if fitting RJ45 connectors to CAT5 cables (this is recommended as it allows easy cable testing and fast swap-out of units). The back boxes should go as shallow as switches need for direct wiring into switches.
  • Haze and Encoder 'dimmer' switches - These fit in standard back-boxes which require a minimum of 25mm deep single back-box for single haze/encoder. The CAT5 cable terminated in RJ45 plug  allows easy cable testing and fast connection of units. Faceplates can be drilled with a 12mm diameter hole for fitting these – centered in single faceplates. Screwless faceplates need to be able to let the Haze PCB pass through the mounting plate behind the faceplate – the size of the PCB is 50 x 50mm.
  • Sensior Units (SU) - round, 130mm diameter, 35mm high, connected by a CAT5 cable with RJ45 plug and mounted on the ceilling.
  • External sensor unit - IP66 box 110 x 110 x 66mm plus space for cable gland if required. It is connected by a  CAT5 cable with RJ45 connector.
  • External PIRs - can be mounted on the wall or under eaves.
  • UPS - -- either 2U 19" rack or similar to a small desktop PC.

Software

The Host computer has access to all the inputs and outputs of the system (via the HAN and LAN) and presents them to the ‘Apps’ at a single point, known as an API (Application Programing Interface). The ‘Apps’ control the behaviour of the system and usually an App controls one service within the property (e.g. lighting, heating, curtains etc) or they process raw data to provide it in a more user-friendly means for other Apps e.g. the Hygrometer App calculates the Relative Humidity (%RH) from the humidity and temperature sensors. Because the Apps have access to everything at the API, they can act and react to the status of any input or output of the system, not just of those directly related to their service. Custom Apps and modified Apps are relatively quick and easy to write as everything they will need is available at the API. The Responses App can be used to easily program custom behaviour on a system using a visual programming language very similar to ‘Blockley’. Apps are written and developed in the Python programming language and converted to Cython when installed on a Host computer.

Design philosophy
Hausmate has several key design philosophies. 

  • Hausmate does not directly control safety critical equipment or equipment where there is a risk to people or equipment if something goes wrong. This includes gate controllers, fire alarms, intruder alarms, emergency lighting; anywhere there are BS regulations etc that need to be met and certified compliance.
  •  There are 6 usable inputs/outputs on each Zone Gateway (ZG) socket. Most fixtures which are wired back to a ZG have a dedicated socket on the ZG for that fixture. This allows for changes in the future  - e.g.if client decides they want a 3 gang rocker switch instead of a 2 gang, or even wants to upgrade to a Haze. Some individual items can be multiplexed onto the same ZG socket using a ‘Punchdown’ Sensor Units (SUP) e.g. remote temperature and humidity sensors, external PIRs. In extreme cases any spare lines on a ZG socket can be used for missed/overlooked/new requirements, e.g. after all the cables have been 1st fixed and covered up, a new rocker switch is required that can easily be linked to the spare lines on a nearby rocker switch rather than having to run a new cable all the way back to the wiring centre.
  • The Zone Gateways (ZGs) are powered by the PoE network switches (max 48V) and the items connected to the ZGs are supplied 5Vdc. This means that rocker switches and Haze units are allowed inside bathrooms.