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Home Automation

03/07/2020 7:09 AM

I am task to design/specify and implement a home automation on an 80 rooms 5 star resort.

Any recommendation from you guys? What products on the market is already proved to be reliable? With out bugs and malfunction?

Best Regards..

GM

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#1

Re: Home Automation

03/07/2020 7:29 AM

We've had power saving computer systems for commercial facilities for many years, so the question becomes what level of automation are you targeting? Is it to be for dual control with the management having what level of control and the guests having what level of personalization? Then of course , how much money has been allocated to make this happen....

https://www.control4.com/solutions/smart-hotel/

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#2
In reply to #1

Re: Home Automation

03/07/2020 7:42 AM

Only basic to avoid complexities on technicalities. Resort is on an island so probably system has to be simple and user/end user friendly.

Basic Room appliance & Features

Aircon, Lights, TV, Audio, Door Locks, Energy saver, refrigerator, Shower/Jacuzzi Heater

Money has to be always a value, cheaper but reliable is the best.

Is Alexa, Google assistant reliable as host with no consequent malfunction and with reliability on this?

There are so many products on this in the market nowadays. I worry if all is worth the money.

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#5
In reply to #2

Re: Home Automation

03/08/2020 1:17 AM

My first worry is the many different accents for voice recognition systems, this would seem to be a problem requiring a learning curve for the system...these personal systems you mention I have never seen in a commercial environment, because each new guest would require a memory wipe...so that's 2 problems right away...What you need is a system designed for this type application, like the one linked in post #1 ...a hand-held device with symbols that interpret internationally...or have a language selection feature...

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#7
In reply to #5

Re: Home Automation

03/08/2020 6:17 AM

rf option and good old mechanical switches retained is a wonderful thing as a redundancy.

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#3

Re: Home Automation

03/07/2020 1:49 PM

This is already destined to become a 1-star resort.

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#6
In reply to #3

Re: Home Automation

03/08/2020 6:15 AM

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#4

Re: Home Automation

03/07/2020 11:24 PM

Gee, there are just so many home automation IoT platforms already out there. One of the oldest is the X 10 platform. I think these are still available, but maybe not for your location. Many of the older systems have become such hackers play toys. The lack of any industry standards simultaneously provide a modest proprietary security while it also prevents open source peer review of security and reliability.

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#8

Re: Home Automation

03/08/2020 12:22 PM

Well, if you are tasked to design it then I would be asking the person who asked you to do it, Mildred, because they probably have a better idea than you do.

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#9
In reply to #8

Re: Home Automation

03/08/2020 1:26 PM

I find your frequent use of "Mildred" quite offensive, demeaning, and totally inappropriate! Please STOP!

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#10
In reply to #9

Re: Home Automation

03/08/2020 1:29 PM

That's the idea, though!

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#11
In reply to #10

Re: Home Automation

03/08/2020 1:40 PM

Then I find you to be an offensive person! NO ONE should say demeaning things about others. This is especially true on a forum where readers have no knowledge of the education, experience, or even the native language of most Original Posters.

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#12
In reply to #11

Re: Home Automation

03/08/2020 2:20 PM

Ay ees a bit of a chuffer...

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#18
In reply to #11

Re: Home Automation

03/09/2020 8:09 AM

"No one can offend me unless I allow it" (paraphrased)- Eleanor Roosevelt"

As for me,I find humor in his remarks.

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#17
In reply to #10

Re: Home Automation

03/09/2020 7:59 AM

"Good Moaning" Mr Bostrom.

"I was passing by the door, and I thought I would drop in."

Modified by the editors of "ALLO!'ALLO! for humor effect to:

"I was pissing by the door, and I thought I would drip in"

(From the British TV comedy series "ALLO 'ALLO".)

How.a is.a-Captain Alberto Bertorelli these.a days.a?

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#19
In reply to #8

Re: Home Automation

03/09/2020 1:17 PM

You're on point crabtree

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#13

Re: Home Automation

03/08/2020 3:10 PM

Well what have you got so far (including the client overview or specification document)? You must have been given something more than "implement a home automation on an 80 rooms 5 star resort".

Lets take a step back here, how did you get this particular job now?

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#20
In reply to #13

Re: Home Automation

03/09/2020 1:25 PM

It's relatively relative to location perhaps.

Client opt for a new player, just the basics is ok, without any farther complexities. Because, not all that can afford the reservation are literate. Most of the member of the club using the resort are business owners who truly appreciates practicality than literacy.

Just started my own small business last 2017 so far good. I focused on building and building mechanical equipment (elevator services). But, I can't say no to this offer, cause I think I know, differential and integral eqtn. is far more problematic than this stuff without the direct reward which is money on the banks.

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#21
In reply to #20

Re: Home Automation

03/09/2020 3:07 PM

You need at least some specification or idea from the customer otherwise you will have to come up with a range of options from simple and cheap up to expensive and complex.

Perhaps you should start by doing some research into similar resorts and what they use and contact automation solution suppliers so you can find a complete fully integrated and tested automation control package that will be suitable you can offer.

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#14

Re: Home Automation

03/08/2020 8:45 PM

Without knowing the size and layout of the rooms, nothing can be suggested.

kitchen? bath? balcony? or just one five star room with a bed?

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#15

Re: Home Automation

03/08/2020 9:05 PM

Maybe you could the products from my company Sassin.

We have devoted into safeguarding the hotel electrical applications.

By mixing the Iot application with the automatic management.

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#16

Re: Home Automation

03/09/2020 7:35 AM

The more information you provide,the more pertinent the feedback you will receive.

A layout of the resort,location,appliances involved,etc.

It will require many hours of diligent research to determine the best fit for your situation,which only you can decide, for which you are being compensated.

Plenty of information is available on line if you care to pursue it,or do you wish someone else to do the footwork and give you a nice neat package for your problem?

If you have exhausted all available resources and are simply looking for advice,then show what you have so far on this project,and submit them for comparison and comment.

That will be much more effective in solving your problem.

I am certain that you are well qualified for the work or you would not been awarded the bid.

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#22

Re: Home Automation

03/09/2020 3:19 PM

Please don't tell us you will be installing cameras in the rooms. I don't care if the cameras are intended to verify that the remote window shade is working correctly.

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#23
In reply to #22

Re: Home Automation

03/09/2020 8:43 PM

No, just a control over surrounding thing for hotels. But, in homes, why not?

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#24
In reply to #23

Re: Home Automation

03/09/2020 10:56 PM

Perhaps a small native boy to await your beckoned command would be more practical...

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#25

Re: Home Automation

03/09/2020 11:33 PM

Your request is too open ended.

Automation is nothing but a word, a verb in this context. You need define at what level automation.

What do your stake holders expect?

  1. Type of automation
  2. level of automation

And whats budgeted?

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#26

Re: Home Automation

06/10/2020 7:04 PM

With the very vague amount of vague information you have provided,it shows that you only have vague idea of what you need to accomplish.

Get with the owner,operator and decide what features you want to start with and THEN you can go about deciding the best method.

You have put the cart before the horse,and you are not going very far.

First,list the desired features.

Then decide the priority of these features.

Perform a on site survey of the sites,using on site measurements to determine distances ;do not rely on blueprints,they can be erroneous or deliberately misleading (yes,I have had this happen.A 20% shortage on measurements can eat up all of your profits on a job.When I complained,I was referred to the fine print of the contract.

A lesson learned the hard way.)

Make a project schedule tracking plan with daily tasks to be completed and a total project completion date.

All labor and materials will be included in the scope of the work.Any deviation from the original plan must be accompanied by a change order.Any change orders will be billed at a cost plus basis.Do not let them talk you into doing a change before getting a signed change order,or you will regret it later.

I have only scratched the surface of your needs if you pursue this job.

Get a good attorney to review the contract and make suggestions for your protection.

You are a babe-in-the woods,and I suggest you stick with that which you know already, unless you are ready for a steep learning curve into the world of contracting.

A cheap, quick and easy way to confuse thieves who may find a room key lying about is to deliberately mis-label the keys,but keep a file containing the real vs fake room numbers for reference in case the real tenant loses his key.Keep this file in a secure location,not on a computer.

Good luck!

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#27

Re: Home Automation

06/12/2020 10:06 AM

I am doubting that domotics is really what you are after.

As opined many times already, a more clearly defined end result is necessary.

Reliability? Malfunctions seem to be a product feature designed into many items I have seen, and bugs in the form of incompatibility with ANY other domotic system seems to be the industry standard.

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#28
In reply to #27

Re: Home Automation

06/12/2020 3:23 PM

Didn’t Bob Vila do a automated home about 20-30 years ago, and the ‘client’ or who ever bought the home, file a lawsuit, because nothing worked. And the claim was something like false advertising.

I looked for a reference to this, but came up with a big fat zero....

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#31
In reply to #28

Re: Home Automation

06/17/2020 10:40 AM

Yeah, I sort of remember a story along that line.

I find a few bits and pieces on the 'net, mostly urban legend kind of stuff.

Conrad Bains is the actor name that appears most often.

These automated home schemes are simply designed to enrich the upstream guys. I only got fully involved with three of them, and I'll never get wrapped up in another one.

Building automation is a different bucket of fish, and is quite possibly what our OP is really looking for.

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#29

Re: Home Automation

06/15/2020 3:52 AM

I have some experience with Sonoff wifi switches and thermostats. You can find them on Aliexpress or Wish etc.

They are very cheap and cheerful, I have found them to be of quite reasonable quality and are a good way to remote-switch lights or run the office heater.

They look OK for compliance but here they may run into declared article restrictions and I doubt anyone has had them tested which restricts their use here (NZ).

Could be worth a look.

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#30

Re: Home Automation

06/15/2020 4:17 AM

Before you design for a 5 star resort you need to be clear on the Brand standard basis which you need to start preparing. In case you don’t have it, you can ask for the same from the resorts engineering head .

Most of the resorts plan to have the flexibility of controlling and monitoring the Smart Home Automation from a Single Location. The first point of selecting the design is whether you want a Wired system or a wireless system. In most cases Wired systems would be preferred because of more robustness.

The next step in case you choose Wired system would be to select the protocol Open /Close protocols. Open protocols give the flexibility to the resort to pick and choose products from different brands. Companies likes Schneider Electric which work on Open protocols can be an Easy Choice. They have End to End solution for a Guest rooms and a resort together based on WISER.

You can also have a common platform where Resort Engineering head can monitor the consumption patterns. Once you have selected the brand then you need to check for the number of circuits and how do you want to control it. It can On/Off or dimming. Dimming comes with its own challenges as you need to check the compatibility of fixtures with the Automation brands you are using.

Once this is verified, design the circuits accordingly. Next challenge is deciding on the keypads or switches. Again companies like Schneider Electric can give you the flexibility to design and select from a range of Switches like Unica, Zencelo ,Ulti and Neo which have been used in many hotel projects. Now you have to decide on the scene settings and integration capabilities based on the brand requirements.

Maintenance is an important criteria to choose from. Because customer complaints can really ruin the reputation of any hotel within no time, so choose for a company which has service centers to address all your needs. Again here Schneider Electric having service base in all major cities can be an addon benefit.

So now you have covered all aspects of design from rooms to maintenance.

Voila ! you have designed a Resort room successfully and you are good to go”

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