I am getting ready to begin building, and will be pulling all of the LV wiring for the house after framing is done. I don't really want to spend the money on a HV hardwired lighting system, or have the wall-o-switches in the basement, and I would like to retain local control at all lighting locations. I have read a lot of posts regarding Cat5 wired systems, and wonder if they are any better than UPB. I thought I was sold on UPB, but want it to be as reliable as possible (without costing a fortune).
So, first question is, are there other Cat5 lighting systems out there besides I-Line and OnQ?
Do any of the Cat5 hardwired systems have drivers written for CQC (or possibly HL)?
Lastly, do the Cat5 lighting systems have better reliability than UPB?
Thanks for any input on this. I have most of my other decisions made, but am still wavering on lighting. It seems that people are pretty happy with UPB, but if I can increase reliability a bit more, with just running some additional Cat5, I would willingly do it.
Use the OnQ ALC lighting system above all else. Here's why.
1. Was created over 12 years ago while OnQ was owned by AMP. And it's still shipping today.
2. Cost is about 10% more than UPB, and far cheaper than any other posts to your question.
3. The electrician wires the home like normal using OnQ switches insted of standard. The Cat5 cable attaches to the ALC 4 volt polling loop on two wires. Do this on top of the electrical box (for the inspectors benefit). You can of course relocate switches to the back of coat closets should you wish to reduce wall acne where there will be many switches in one location. The beauty is that the switch wiring is NOT PROPIETARY like Centralyte, Litetouch, Vantage and some versions of Lutron.
4. With open architecture wiring, the OnQ ALC does not scare the local electricians.
5. ALC does not use X-10, it's a polling loop system and as such is 100% dependable and it comes in 6 colors with 2 types of scene switches.
6. ALC works even without a lighting controller of a home automation controller. Just like a standard dimmer or relay switch.
7. The two way communicaitons allows ALC to be used as occupancy sensors and for positive confirmation of the light's onoff status. Occupancy sensor meands if little Sally turns on her bedroom light after midnight, you can program an Elk, OnQ or HAI controller to wake Mom up to check on her....
8. ALC can do RAMP over TIME. Meaning Program (requires a controller for this trick) the light to start coming on 45 minutes before dark and take 45 minutes to ram up to a specific level . The effect is that as the sun darkens, the room slowly brightens. Try that with I-Line!
9. OnQ has their own stand alone lighting controller that allows advanced lighting control at a very low price. You can even add triggers like doorbell buttons. Of course you can always add a system controller for max bells and whistles.
10. There is much more, but I'm tired of typing. ALC is the choice - bar none!
Check this site for more or call these folks
ALC from SETNET