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FAQ
Up one levelHere you find answers to frequently asked questions. Please contact us for further informations (+41 (0)52 264 50 70).
FAQ overview
- Electrosmog
- Hearing security
- Reliability
- Compatibility to Zigbee
- Energy consumption
- Control or automation?
- Internet access
- Installation
- Self learning mechanism
- Costs
Electrosmog
We hear and read much over the possible injurious
character for the body of radio. Violently in particular the effect of pulsed
high frequency radiation, how it is used in mobile telephones and radio communication systems, is discussed.
The transmitting and pool of broadcasting
corporations Zigbee, used in the Adhoco system, works at
similar frequencies (2,4 GHz), but with very many deeper transmitting powers
(portable radio: max. 2000 mW, Zigbee: max. 1 mW). The Adhoco devices transmit
besides only if an event must be announced (e.g. inhabitant steps into the
room), otherwise is quiet them, during that a mobile telephone cyclically with a
portable radio antenna in connection sits down. The fact that an Adhoco sensor only takes energy from a small solar cell and needs otherwise no other energy
source for measuring and transmitting, shows clearly that the load remains
very very small by inhabitants by the installation of an Adhoco of system.
Interested find in the published report of the Federal Office in environment (BAFU) (pdf in german) much further information to this topic.
Hearing security
Adhoco uses the standard Zigbee (www.zigbee.org) as radio communication. This permits it to transfer reports coded. The Adhoco System works with the 128-Bit AES key procedure, which admittedly offers high security (as e.g. with the Internet Banking). Besides the individual devices announce itself with their global clear identification number with the control center adhoco.H1; and adhoco.H1 accepts only such participants for the transmission of information. Since the radiograms besides are very short and rare, an aggressor cannot crack the key also with large arithmetic performance.
Reliability
Central solution - directconnected control elements
Adhoco uses a central control. What, if it
precipitates? Other systems work after the concept of a decentralized control,
e.g. EIB/KNX. Isn't that the fail safe solution?
Indeed the central intelligent control is the heart of Adhoco's automation solution. BUT: Still each switch or tracer is directly connected with a contactor or a net curtain engine. The system functions so also in case of failure to the center perfectly. Thus only manually like as no automation would be installed. Also in the worst case thus light can be always switched on with depressing the key.
Indeed the central intelligent control is the heart of Adhoco's automation solution. BUT: Still each switch or tracer is directly connected with a contactor or a net curtain engine. The system functions so also in case of failure to the center perfectly. Thus only manually like as no automation would be installed. Also in the worst case thus light can be always switched on with depressing the key.
Radio net work with self-healing
With other systems for intelligent living functioning
user instructions depends usually in critical way on perfect functioning of the
communications network. The Adhoco system uses radio communication, which
works as a network (similar as Internet). In case of failure a knot finds the
message owing to the organizing characteristics of the radio net work
nevertheless its goal. Storage of learned rules
At total power failure naturally also the Adhoco
system does not work any longer. That would use also nothing - all power
consumers are anyway out of operation. The pre-setting and the trained rules stores
itself the center, and can it, if river is again available, further use.
Compatibility to Zigbee
Zigbee is a new standard. Many manufacturers are developing new products wirh Zigbee and bring them on the market. However momentarily only completely few
are today already available. Owing to the commitment of many global active
semiconductor enterprises in the Zigbee market it is only a question of time, until more products are available.
Adhoco examines the market for Zigbee of products constantly. We are anxious to evaluate and offer suitable products, which supplement the Adhoco system, and/or to recommend.
Adhoco examines the market for Zigbee of products constantly. We are anxious to evaluate and offer suitable products, which supplement the Adhoco system, and/or to recommend.
Energy consumption
The energy consumption of the central controlpanel adhoco.H1 is very modest:Just 1 watt is used for it. However the center is during 24h per day in enterprise. Well thus that the
value consumed is so low.
Other house automation systems usually need clearly more energy. Extreme examples are systems, which run on a hardware with the capacity of an attained full growth PC, and are equipped in addition with a large screen for visualization.
Such systems need easily 100 Watts or more. The Federal Office for energy (BFE), anxiously around the increase of the current consumption in private households for intelligent living, gave also in the context of a pilot project the opportunity to the system of Adhoco to prove the deep energy consumption in practice. The project runs!
Other house automation systems usually need clearly more energy. Extreme examples are systems, which run on a hardware with the capacity of an attained full growth PC, and are equipped in addition with a large screen for visualization.
Such systems need easily 100 Watts or more. The Federal Office for energy (BFE), anxiously around the increase of the current consumption in private households for intelligent living, gave also in the context of a pilot project the opportunity to the system of Adhoco to prove the deep energy consumption in practice. The project runs!
Control or automation?
The Adhoco house automation is many more than e.g. a
radio remote maintenance or a control by means of time program. And also many
more than one number of centralized tracers. The keyword is called automation:
This means that light, blinds, heating etc. of alone correct (evenly:
automatically!) work and without the effort of the inhabitant for the correct
lighting and shade and for the correct room climate provide. The pressure
on serving branch is necessary so only in the exceptional case, and offers to
the inhabitant the possibility of serving the system against the mechanism.
Sometimes exist reservations against automatic operational sequence: We do not want to be delivered given rules and operational sequence subjected and the technology thereby. The Adhoco system solves this problem ingeniously by its adaptive adjustment of the rules to the user habits. This means that the system learns from the behavior of the inhabitant and also from the physical behavior of the building independently and adapts the rules.
Sometimes exist reservations against automatic operational sequence: We do not want to be delivered given rules and operational sequence subjected and the technology thereby. The Adhoco system solves this problem ingeniously by its adaptive adjustment of the rules to the user habits. This means that the system learns from the behavior of the inhabitant and also from the physical behavior of the building independently and adapts the rules.
Internet access
The guarantee of a confidential connection the center
adhoco.H1 becomes not a static IP address and does not expose directly the Internet. Adhoco furnished a portal for the final users. This portal is a safe
server, which is professionally hosted and which can develop a secured
connection to adhoco.H1. For this is the VPN technology used (Virtual private
network). If you would like to access your house, announce yourselves at the internet at this server with user name and password, and you receive entrance to
the adhoco.H1 in your dwelling. You can read then the values of all
sensors and the current position of all actuators, change the mode of operation
of the system, give control advices and receive messages. Besides you can also
specify here, with which kind of messages and alarms the system on which way is
to orient which persons.
Installation
The installation is in principle very simple: The
control center is only attached over an PoE adapter at the 230V-Stromnetz. At
the PoE adapter (power of over Ethernet) can be put in additionally a cable for
the Internet connection.
The sensors work in principle slackly and can be placed in the dwelling at your will. With a selector switch one gives, which devices in an area do belong together. They are integrated afterwards fully automatic into the control, as the center is shifted into the configuration mode.
The sensors work in principle slackly and can be placed in the dwelling at your will. With a selector switch one gives, which devices in an area do belong together. They are integrated afterwards fully automatic into the control, as the center is shifted into the configuration mode.
The actuators (net curtain motor controls, dimmer,
etc.) can be installed - permit so far it the national installation regulations
- by your self. Also they are assigned to an area with a selector switch. Tracers or switches
for the operation of the actuators can be shifted either again, it can however
usually also the past switches (inclusive wirings!) further to be used.
For the expert installation of the actuators we recommend to take the assistance up of a licensed electroinstallator. An automation system can be also gradually developed and extended by the modular structure and the automated configuration. A first installation in an existing 5 1/2 room dwelling can take place in such a way in two to three hours.
For the expert installation of the actuators we recommend to take the assistance up of a licensed electroinstallator. An automation system can be also gradually developed and extended by the modular structure and the automated configuration. A first installation in an existing 5 1/2 room dwelling can take place in such a way in two to three hours.
Self learning mechanism
The system can adapt in principle within two ranges
its control behavior: A) due to the building characteristics, for the
minimization of the energy consumption, and b) due to the behavior of the
inhabitants, for the adjustment of the behavior to the user desires.
Concerning the building characteristics the system learns for example independently lighting conditions for an area with given radiation conditions (measured with adhoco.M1 external feeler), or it learns the thermal inertia of the building, in order to use this information for punctual preheating after a temperature reduction.
Concerning the building characteristics the system learns for example independently lighting conditions for an area with given radiation conditions (measured with adhoco.M1 external feeler), or it learns the thermal inertia of the building, in order to use this information for punctual preheating after a temperature reduction.
Concerning the inhabitant behavior the system trains
on the one hand the usual presence samples and uses these for different tasks of
automation. On the other hand the inhabitant can communicate desires to the
system and adapt the automation rules thereby. This is done not via a
programming system with a special aid, but completely simply, as the usual
control elements (e.g. a wall switch for the light) are used, in order to
override (unwanted) the pre-setting of the system. The system seizes this
information, in order to adapt later, with a similar situation, the control advoice. This adjustment takes place not immediately to 100% - the user
made an over-regulation by hand perhaps only because of an exceptional case - to
separate gradually, with consistent, several times same behavior.
This kind of learning from the inhabitant to applies
to all building services components, i.e. for light (also dimmbar), blinds,
heating, ventilation, etc. the usual control elements become thereby thus quasi
programming tools the adjustment of the automation rules to the desires of the
inhabitants.
These self learning mechanisms were internationally patented and examined in detail and optimized in a 9-month practice test.
These self learning mechanisms were internationally patented and examined in detail and optimized in a 9-month practice test.
Costs
If one speaks of costs, a general survey should be
always made: Which costs planning, which the devices, the installation and the
later enterprise.
Planning: The Adhoco system can be really installed
“ad hoc”, i.e. from the conditions. The slack sensors can be replaced at any
time, the integration of lights, blinds or heating elements can gradually take
place, and which know different control parameter easily are tried out. The consulting of a planner and associated costs can be void thus.
Devices: The high-quality control center with safe internet connection and Zigbee radio-coordination is the most expensive element.
It is however once needed only. The different sensors (operational readiness
level and brightness sensor, temperature and dampness sensor) are once needed
for each area. Per steered element (lamp, radiator, net curtain, window) an
actuator element is used. A completely simple first equipment in a 2 1/2-room
dwelling results in equipment costs in the order of magnitude of 1500 to 2000
CHF, a full equipment 6 1/2 room of row single family house about 7000 to 8000
CHF. In these data the costs of the building services components themselves are
not enclosed (tracer, lamps, motor driven blinds, etc.).
Installation: Owing to the simply executable
installation a dwelling can be installed in some hours, a house in one day and
made fully ready for use (without installation of the building services).
Enterprise: Maintenance and maintenance are void
practically completely. In particular result no costs owing to the adaptive rule
adjustment, if the system performance is to be changed (e.g. if an area is
differently used). Likewise system expansions or the replacement can be
implemented by components owing to the self configuration at minimum
expenditure. If one wants to use the remote administration over internet, an
appropriate connection is necessary. If available, here subscription costs of
the internet connection do not result anyway.
Savings: Our pilot installations prove that with the
system about a quarter of the energy otherwise needed (electrical and heating)
can be saved. The energy savings potential depends naturally very strongly on
the past user behavior, the building and the use intensity.