C-BUS with 5500PACA: can I connect to Home Assistant ?

Hi --

I have a 20-year old C-Bus system running my house.

The PACA came later, when the original Home Minder was destroyed by lightning.

Now retired (after 40 years in IT) , I am starting to fiddle with the like of ESP32's etc. and was wondering if it is possible to connect to Home Assistant (or similar) without the need to purchase another ultra-expensive 5500 interface ?

Go well

 

You can use the PACA as a serial interface but while in this mode all logic operations are disabled, This is fine for use with toolkit but not much use for a continuous connection like Home Assistant.

Keep an eye on Ebay for second hand serial interfaces. You will pick one up for around $100 if you are patient

 

Many thanks for the quick reply.

When you say "serial interfaces" will any such do ?

Following your suggestion I visited eBay and found a new 5500PCU that appears might do the job.

Alternatively,can you recommend some model numbers that I should be looking for ?

 

You can use a 5500PCU (via USB) a 5500PCI (via RS232), a 5500CNI(2) via ethernet.
Also the Wiser2 and SHAC have dual cbus interfaces so they can be used as a serial interface concurrent with their normal operation.

The 5500PCI and 5500PCU are generally the cheaper options on ebay. I've never paid more that $100 for one, but I'm very patient

 

Many thanks once again.

I tend also to be patient. And, given that this is in the nature of any experiment, I am in no particular hurry, i.e. I will be very patient

 

Currently being offered new (bankrupt stock) 5500PCU for Au$175 / GBP !00. What do you think ?