Home automation tools. Theory and practice of "Smart homes". Part three


The first part is here .
The second part is here .
Well, we got to the implementation of projects. In this part, I will describe personal experience and difficulties in implementing medium to large home automation projects. This part is long, but in my opinion the most valuable from a practical point of view. In it, I tried to state all the important points and describe those "rakes" that I personally encountered.
Details under the cut.

The implementation of practical solutions.


It all starts with the fact that a client comes to us with the phrase "I want to!" Most often, the customer has seen something, somewhere, or sales managers beautifully told him everything in advance.
1. Terms of reference.
And then the most important part of the project begins. Drawing up technical specifications. My personal opinion is as follows. Having the necessary knowledge, skills and terms of reference, it is quite possible to assemble control panels and route cable routes without design documentation and schemes, but it is impossible to implement the project as a whole without a technical specification signed by the customer. In theory, the customer should write and submit to us the terms of reference for the design, which we adjust and sign together, as an appendix to the contract for the design of an automation system. But this only happens in the land of elves and fairies of "non-being". In almost 100% of cases, the technical task for the customer is written by the contractor. In the course of writing, technical details of the future project are formulated together with the customer. A separate issue is the specification of the terms of reference. A “very broad” interpretation of technical solutions can lead to misunderstandings when implementing a project. For example, a wording of the type: “Design a built-in wall panel for visualization in Room A with a project” provides an opportunity for both the designer and the customer to have fantasies. As a result, the following result may turn out: the designer lays a huge touchpad at a price about like a decent car, and the customer needs a wall mount for iPad and an application for control. At the same time, excessive detailing of the technical specifications indicating the articles of specific devices and specific technical solutions laid down in the project ties the hands of the designer and can lead to the fact that technical necessity (insufficient functionality,
2. Design documentation.
After the technical aspects are agreed upon by the technical task, and financial terms are agreed upon, often begins the longest and most unpleasant part of the project called obtaining the initial data. For some reason, most customers are convinced that the technical specifications are sufficient and the design time starts with the signing of the contract. However, a prerequisite for the start of design work should be to obtain all the source data specified in the terms of reference and (or) the contract (in fact, all our design contracts contain this clause). Most often, the source data is obtained for a long time and in agony. This is due to the fact that contractors for the design of related systems are selected by the customer mainly only for price characteristics. This gives a lot of problems. The most painful of them is the "crawling walls." This is when in the process of “creative thoughts” of the customer and (or) the designer (architect) there is a permanent change in the layout of the premises, and with them the engineering communications. Very often, this process stops only after the completion of the facility to the customer, and in "neglected cases" continues after the construction is completed. There is only one way to deal with this. Get architectural and design projects (and other initial data) directly from the customer with the signature “To work” with the date and signature of the customer. There is only one way to deal with this. Get architectural and design projects (and other initial data) directly from the customer with the signature “To work” with the date and signature of the customer. There is only one way to deal with this. Get architectural and design projects (and other initial data) directly from the customer with the signature “To work” with the date and signature of the customer.
The second major problem is the inconsistent design of related engineering systems. Often, the general design function is performed by the customer himself. And he performs it almost always very badly. This leads to the fact that in the process of project implementation it turns out that the functionality specified in our terms of reference cannot be implemented due to the fact that the local automation equipment inherent in the adjacent section does not support certain functions. I will not point a finger, but I can give as an example the project of a training center for one very large French concern. The goal was to make the “most energy-efficient” building with the function of centralized control and metering of the consumption of electric and thermal energy. As a result, due to the fact that the automation system of the heat point does not support the necessary protocols, and the project of the heat point does not provide for the installation of additional sensors and heat meters, the task of controlling the consumption of thermal energy, set at the very beginning in the technical task, was not fulfilled. This problem stems from the fact that, following the customer’s request (and we love our customers), we started designing without receiving exhaustive initial data on designed, adjacent engineering systems. The problem is treated organizationally. Good relations with subcontractors and coordination with the customer of the initial data received from subcontractors. Following the customer’s request (and we love our customers), we started designing without receiving exhaustive initial data on the designed, related engineering systems. The problem is treated organizationally. Good relations with subcontractors and coordination with the customer of the initial data received from subcontractors. Following the customer’s request (and we love our customers), we started designing without receiving exhaustive initial data on the designed, related engineering systems. The problem is treated organizationally. Good relations with subcontractors and coordination with the customer of the initial data received from subcontractors.
The third problem. Very often already in the design process, the customer tries to change the terms of reference, motivating this by the fact that work on changing the project will not take a very long time. Here you need to understand whether it is worth making concessions or not, and in each case you need to make a decision whether we do it at our own expense or at the expense of the customer. In any situation, there is only one rule. We recall that our TK is an annex to the contract and, accordingly, any changes must be somehow made out preferably with paper signed by the customer. This annoys many people, so in most cases an email to us with explanations of what and why and naturally we will notify the customer that any even the smallest (from his point of view) change can affect the deadlines for project documentation.
3. Installation work.
Most often, installation work begins even before the end of the process of preparing project documentation. This usually happens immediately after the cable route plans are ready. And this brings with it a number of serious problems. Usually, the documentation at this stage is “raw”, because it is very difficult to accurately track all the nuances that will be visible only at the end of the design process. After all, for a designer there are a couple of lines on paper and a couple of three mouse clicks on a computer, for an installer there can be 100 meters of cable routes of which 50 meters are in a line; half a meter. And in general, it may turn out that on the way of laying the final finish was made. An important part of any installation is field supervision. The designer must visit the site and the point. This is necessary both for high-quality installation and for timely correction of errors in the project. All tracks must be marked according to the project from 2 sides. Because the volume of the cable that is laid in the walls in home automation projects is much higher than in the classical scheme. Marking should be done using tags, so that cutting the cable could outweigh the tag above. If you ignore this important point, before installing the control cabinet, you will need to “wire” the cable. Believe me. This is hellish labor. At some sites, the cables rang 3-4 times. Do not ask why. I still don’t know the answer, but it was. During the work, executive documentation should be kept in the form of a full copy of the design documentation handed over to the installer’s team, in which notes and notes about deviations from the project will be kept. And they believe the experience is always there. When the installation is completed, the customer or his representative will ask you for a copy of this documentation (in most cases, this is generally one of the clauses of the installation agreement). If it was carried out accurately and in a timely manner, then there will be no problems, if not, then I guarantee you problems when the object is commissioned. When the installation is completed, the customer or his representative will ask you for a copy of this documentation (in most cases, this is generally one of the clauses of the installation agreement). If it was carried out accurately and in a timely manner, then there will be no problems, if not, then I guarantee you problems when the object is commissioned. When the installation is completed, the customer or his representative will ask you for a copy of this documentation (in most cases, this is generally one of the clauses of the installation agreement). If it was carried out accurately and in a timely manner, then there will be no problems, if not, then I guarantee you problems when the object is commissioned.
4. Assembly and installation of the control cabinet.
Along with installation work, one of the most important elements of the project is the assembly of the control cabinet. Practice has shown that a cabinet cannot be assembled efficiently at a building under construction with the help of 2.5 electricians from neighboring countries. The cabinet should be assembled and tested by specialists in the workshop with a sufficient amount of equipment to carry out these works. If possible (and there may not be any possibility), it is necessary to use through-through terminals. This will greatly simplify the exclusion of outgoing lines at the facility. All conductors inside the cabinet must be labeled. The assembler must provide an executive circuit, which may differ from the circuit available in the original design. The control cabinet is brought to the facility after final finishing work in the room where it will be installed. The number of control cabinets can be different. At least one, the maximum depends on the specific situation and depends on the configuration of the object. Pulling a large number of power lines to one point is time-consuming and unprofitable (it takes more cable), but at the same time, no architect or designer will allow you to arrange a switchboard in every corner of the house. In any case, this should be discussed with the architect and verified with plans for related engineering projects at the design stage, otherwise this can cause a serious conflict situation.
5. Installation of lighting fixtures, terminals and sensors.
Perhaps the easiest stage in the implementation of the project. This task is completed after the finishing of the object. And most often ends after the change. But here there is a couple of pitfalls. Prior to the start of all installation work, I recommend that you obtain from suppliers or do all the routings for the installation of fixtures, other terminal devices, sensors and transfer the data to the construction superintendent. So that they foresee all the necessary holes and niches in the ceiling and walls. Various types of suspended and suspended ceilings are now popular. in suspended ceilings, it is necessary to provide appropriate fastenings for devices, and in suspended ceilings, either holes or a reinforcement cage. fixtures and other devices may also have their own installation features. For example, recessed halogen luminaires in a metal casing have the feature of expanding as they heat up and if decoration is improperly done, the plaster will crack. Some devices require an in-depth or custom installation box. All devices requiring pre-configuration, such as physical address firmware (KNX), must be pre-configured and marked according to the project, so that the installer immediately places the specific device intended for this place.
6. Programming, tuning and commissioning of the system.
This stage begins long before the end of installation. Based on the main technical task, the programmer writes his own detailed technical task in which he prescribes all the interfaces and algorithms of the system. If necessary, TK is supplemented by sketches of device interfaces. It is advisable to prescribe the action of each sensor and button so that later there are no questions about the fact that a particular device is working "incorrectly". This technical task is agreed with the customer. Development begins immediately after the working documentation for the project is ready. Of the pitfalls, I can note the following. The programmer should be appointed to the project immediately after signing the contract, even though he will actually start work only after a month or two. In fact, the designer must keep the programmer up to date with all the technical decisions he makes in order to avoid all the pitfalls associated with programming and configuring various devices and simplify his work. As soon as certain modules and parts of the program are ready, the commissioning process at the facility begins. Distributed automation systems can be launched and delivered to the customer in parts. Literally in the rooms. The last stage of program debugging is closely related to the delivery of the object. But even after the actual delivery of the object, trips are possible to eliminate errors and fulfill various customer wishes for adjusting the algorithms and system behavior. All these points must be specified at the stage of concluding an agreement with the customer in the form of a warranty period, after-sales service,
The fourth part will be about the difficulties of integrating automation systems.

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