7

Things
you must decide
before starting with
Home Automation

Copyright 2014 Vesternet Ltd.

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Index
1 Start small, think big ....................2
2 Who’s the boss ............................3
3 Too many chefs spoil the broth ....4
4 Measure twice, cut once ..............5
5 Cutting corners increases costs ..6
6 Don’t run before you can walk .....7
7 KISS ...........................................8
8 Further Reading and Links .........9

Copyright 2014 Vesternet Ltd.

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1 Start small,
think big!
We know that starting out can be daunting, so we always
recommend that you get going with a small area to begin with,
say by adding some control to your home’s lighting.
There are many options when it comes to Home Automation
so it’s important to make some good, solid decisions before
you get going. For example, it’s possible to control lighting
using some simple-to-install infra-red light switches that work
on ‘line of sight’. These switches provide you with both remote
and local control, however, you do have to be in the same
room. Different options are available if you want to switch your
lights on/off if you are in another room or you aren’t at home: it
depends what you want.
The crucial thing to remember is that wherever you choose
to begin, go for a strategy that won’t limit your options in the
future.
At Vesternet we believe that devices based on Z-Wave
and LightwaveRF technology offer the widest selection,
compatibility and interoperability. Choosing a Z-Wave
controller such as a MiCasaVerdeVera for example, allows
you to start with a small number of devices and gradually
add to the system over time to incorporate 100s more! The
Vera can also be expanded to integrate other technologies,
for example LightwaveRF, Sonos, Hue and Nest.

Copyright 2014 Vesternet Ltd.

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2 Who’s the
boss?
At Vesternet we believe that a Home Automation system
needs input from all the family in order to create a user friendly
system for everyone.
One person in the house might think it cool to be able
to collect environmental data such as temperature, humidity
and light level for every room in the house and create flashy
graphs, but it’s unlikely to get an enthusiastic reaction from
everyone.
Much better to implement some easily controlled mood
lighting, for example some RGB based strips that can be
set to an infinite range of colours! Add a 4in1 sensor to turn
lights on automatically when somebody enters the room and
everyone is happy. And the geek of the house can get a fix
too, as the sensors also provide environmental data for those
all-important reports!

Copyright 2014 Vesternet Ltd.

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3 Too many chefs

spoil the broth!
Advances in Home Automation are leading to its
implementation in multiple areas of the home: Lighting,
Heating, Security, Entertainment, Comfort and Energy Saving
can all be given the “Smart Home” treatment.
Unfortunately, the proliferation of technologies could result
in the installation of many separate control systems covering
light switches, buttons, touch screens, PCs, smartphones and
tablets. Who wants to have to use a dozen different systems
to run a home?
At Vesternet we believe that it’s important to invest in a
Home Automation system that is capable of offering a unifying
experience. That’s why we recommend simple, wireless
devices that are easy to retro-fit and can cover all the different
areas in your home.
A central controller such as the FibaroHome Center 2 or
the MiCasaVerde Vera can tie different areas together into an
easy-to-use web, smart-phone and tablet interface.

Copyright 2014 Vesternet Ltd.

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4 cut once! Measure twice,

We can’t emphasise enough the importance of good

research and planning and this is especially important for
newcomers to Home Automation.
Use your favourite internet search provider to find out as
much information as possible about any proposed systems.
Participate in forums and discussion groups, don’t be shy!
Learn from the mistakes that other people have made and
avoid falling into the same traps that they have. It’s much
better to first ask some simple questions than to spend a
small fortune on something that may never do what you want
it to do.
Vesternet are the only Home Automation supplier to offer
free pre-sales advice – use and abuse this fact! We’d much
rather help you in the initial planning phase and answer your
questions to assist you with making good choices. There’s
loads of useful information on our website to help, for example
our resources and knowledgebase sections are stuffed full of
tutorials, application notes and guides. We’ve also recently
launched our new solutions section – a great place to get
started.
Remember, the only stupid question is the one that is
never asked!

Copyright 2014 Vesternet Ltd.

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5 Cutting corners
increases costs!
Nobody likes spending more money than they have to!
With the cost of living increasing every year, we’re all feeling the £
pressure to cut costs or perhaps to do things “on the cheap”. £
Unfortunately when it comes to Home Automation, cutting
corners can end up costing you more money in the long run!
For example, if you’re decorating rooms anyway, why not
spend a small amount of extra moneyfitting deeper electrical
“back-boxes” at your light switches?
Or perhaps while you’re having some other electrical work
carried out, why not ask the electrician to run a neutral wire to
your light switches too?
These simple things shouldn’t cost much and can make
installing Home Automation devices easier in the future, or give
you additional options when it comes to choosing a technology.
In life we all quite often apply the “get three quotes and go
for the middle one” strategy when considering purchases. The
same can also be applied to Home Automation and it’s worth
considering going for the middle ground in many cases.
For example, a Motion Sensor that also has temperature
and light level data may cost a little more, but in the long run
you might be able to use those extra functions to control your
Heating or Lighting automatically. So spending a bit more in
the beginning could save you money in the long run!

Copyright 2014 Vesternet Ltd.

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6 Don’t run
before you can walk!
You wouldn’t attempt to run a marathon if you get out of
breath walking to the shops, so don’t jump in at the deep end
with Home Automation either!
If you’re just starting out, Vesternet recommend that you
begin with a simple project like controlling a few lamps from
a remote control. Or if you want to get stuck in and take
control of your entire lighting system, break the project up into
manageable chunks first by implementing it a room at a time.
Taking it a step at a time really helps you get to grips
with the technology, gaining experience and confidence as
you go. There’s no point in buying a myriad of devices and
wondering what to do with all the stuff when it arrives!

Copyright 2014 Vesternet Ltd.

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7 KISS!
Systems that are complicated to use and maintain will
never get used to their full potential and will create resentment
and bad feeling in the long-term.
At Vesternet we believe that it’s important to create a
structured Home Automation system that allows critical
systems like Lighting and Heating to function independently.
The smarts and control should be layered on top of the basic
functionality to provide additional comfort and convenience
wherever possible.
Other systems that have a Star Trek-like command and
control system may be a huge technical achievement, but
nothing will kill the spirit of Home Automation quicker than a
failure in one part that completely takes out a crucial part of
the house. Could you really suffer without heating on a cold
winter morning because your central control PC crashes and
refuses to turn on again?
At Vesternet we believe in “Keep It Simple Stupid”. Home
Automation should make your life easier, not harder.

Copyright 2014 Vesternet Ltd.

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Further Reading
and Useful Links
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this guide
– remember that Vesternet are your Premier Home
Automation store, focusing only on the latest
wireless sensor network technologies. All of our
home automation products come with a 365 Day
Satisfaction Guarantee and Lifetime Technical
Support.

Resources for loads more free material:

www.vesternet.com/resources
Contact for one-to-one help:
www.vesternet.com/help
Latest news:
www.vesternet.com/blog
Shop for latest products:
www.vesternet.com

Copyright 2014 Vesternet Ltd.

Copyright 2014 Vesternet Ltd