Integrator in Adelaide

Hi,

I am building a new house and am considering installation of cbus for control of lighting, airconditioning and possible some audio/visual. I expect to have around 90 downlights and 45 individual loads to be controlled.

In order to minimise cost I am thinking of engaging a company to perform the design and programming, and obtain the materials myself (for example from http://www.cbussales.com/) and get my own electrician to install based to the design.

I would appreciate any recommendations of a suitable company/person in Adelaide who can provide integration services for the design and programming. I have seen the list of approved installers/integrators but was hoping to get some personal recommendations.

Thanks in advance.

JM

 

The design is the smallest ticket item but one that makes all the difference. What has in the past been quite a heated discussion about what things are really worth is in effect a difference in perceptions.

For example.
a) A bad design may lose sight of such things as 3 phase / 1 phase lightning protection. A simple and easy to install item which saves money over the life of the home.

b) Knowing which lights to make automatic - laundry, WC, garage, corridors.

c) Knowing how to make a house think for itself rather than just have expensive gizmo to control the lights that just do the same thing a normal house switch does.

d) prewire design. Things that will be allowed for which are not in your current budget but can not be wired later.

e) conduit installation. Knowing how to install tubes which remain empty or allow repair work to be done. Some wires may need replacement (tv antenna, external wires, major connections).

f) entertainment systems (hard drive based systems, WiFi, LAN, speakers.

g) Things like MCB/RCD instead of MCB so that you have one safety switch for each main section of power instead of one for the whole house.

Having seen some really tragic designs I can say that some people have great intentions but they fall short with things like 1 extra piece of TV cable or floor to floor conduits, no mini board in kitchen.

To get a first class design, one that is expandable, repairable and gives flexible options there is nothing to be gained by getting the cheapest design. The cheapest design is the type of design where the cables are stapled to the wood rafters instead of being installed in tubes. Naturally, you dont just want it to appear like it is installed, you want it to work.

You also want an onsite inspection before the plaster work is done. Otherwise how to do justify having done all that work to find out it is wrong. I have walked past some construction sites, walked around the site and had a look. I saw some shocking cable handling and several months later the walls were cut open to replace the destroyed cables.

The design is what makes the electrician confident and that means you save time on installation. You need the trades to be well informed and have someone to talk to if there is a problem. They can't ask the builder or the owner because that will result in something silly being done.

So having gone this far with your project planning bear in mind that you have to interact with your home systems for 25 years and you dont want people pointing fingers at each other because you only had $200 for a design. To get started you need a Clipsal Electrical checklist. These are free and available from Clipsal by mail or from some of the better wholesalers.

 

Hi tobex. Thanks for the tips. I do completely agree on the importance of getting the right design and not the cheapest.

Thats why I am considering engaging to design the system a good integrator and was seeking seeking recommendations. I figure with the right design the installation should be relatively straightforward for a competent electrician.

 

I would suggest that if you want to do this in a simple and rational way then you only need to do one thing.

Look at the walls of each room and specify where the switches and outlets are. How high off the ground and what they are for.

Let the designer do the rest and let them build in various redundancy or prewires into the design. Whatever happens just dont let the electrician decide for himself that you dont need something because that will save $4 on a $30,000 entertainment system.

When you look at a full pre-wire for a house you are no longer just looking at power points, lights and alarm. You are also looking at the capacity of your system to entertain you.

One of the great joys of smart design is the capacity to share AV equipment and merge internet based technology / network hardware with TV's. This includes AppleTV, MP4 players and various ipod type technologies.

There is no need for the gadgets to be bought on the first day you move in. Many of the items you will want / desire only need planning ahead. This includes the main data cable for the movie projector you may one day purchase.

There are now also internet gateways for home control as well as various digital recorders with cameras instead of alarm sensors. The strange thing is that much of the newer stuff costs 90% less than the old technology.

In 2003 the LINN CD storage system cost $100,000 and the same thing in 2007 costs $300.

When I look at designs I focus on mood and comfort. For that reason I never put a down facing light over the pillow area. That is what coffers were invented for.

I will recommend several useful things

- visit a hotel with a 5 star rating. In Adelaide I would suggest the Stamford at Glenelg beach. Take an executive suite for one night and take lots of notes on how the space is used and how things are spaced out. Similarly the Hyatt in Melbourne would be a good choice. It has smart technology in the rooms and good lighting design. I also thought the Marriot on the Gold Coast was well thought out.

- buy a copy of the Australian Wiring Code book from a local electrical dealer. This will explain why you need a kill switch for the dishwasher above countertop and not behind the dishwasher. (let's just say that I had more than one argument over that and I always got a call later saying that it saved the kitchen from flooding). If you want to go nuts just trade your Amex points for a trip to Dubai and a stay in the Burj Al Arab or a wander on Palm Island.

- try to find books on lighting. They are quite rare and my collection took several years to compile. When you look at how lighting works you will also notice the direct and indirect forms of lighting which fit with different kinds of rooms. These become design features as well as ergonomic features.

- Look at going to CEDIA in Brisbane or USA CEDIA in Las Vegas. At the very least you will want to know if the designer has a good porfolio or is a member of CEDIA. Ask for a reference and possibly arrange to see a house under construction. The onsite manager generally works with the designer directly and modifies the blueprint, which he then gives to the builder. If your project does not afford a site manager then at least write a building contract which gives you direct control over the trades. To hire and fire and to dictate the design. If you sign away control then the builder can do as he pleases. I know from experience that several electricians resigned from a site because they would not be allowed to do anything without having it checked.

- Avoid using ideas from corporate spaces as they generally are much larger than homes and the lighting from the large windows is uneven across the spaces.

 

Recommended Integrator in SA

Hi JM928,

All the companies listed under installers on the CIS website are more than capable of helping you out.
More often than not, it is best to meet with a couple of them to see who you feel most comfortable with.
All of them will be able to offer you different ideas, so check around. After all, what you are embarking on is pretty big, so it is important you feel comfortable and confident with the company you choose.

 

Absolutely. The thing I could never work out is why people insist on offering a low price and whining when they get stuck doing the job properly and taking more time. What exactly is the price of doing something right the first time .... it would have to be at least 1/3 of doing it again.

But I still like the guy who used a staple gun to secure the cables. That was just plain stupid.