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Comfort 1 + X10.... upgrade to new comfort & logic
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 Posted: Saturday May 16th, 2020 09:04 pm
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RicTS
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Hello,
I've an original Comfort 1 system with X10 (that are DIN rail modules)… to cut a long story short the X10 modules as I'm sure you'll know go a bit dicky every now and then, so I just used to replace them... BUT it looks like they're now getting harder to find, and, newer systems have taken over.
I installed the system back in 2001, so it's done pretty well to be fair and now I've got multiple X10 modules down and in conjunction with the original board limiting me to X10 and other elements such as not being able to use the newer (better looking) keypads I've decided it's probably best to start over.
It looks like the new Comfort has separated the logic controller out, and that the controller can do multiple formats... does anyone have experience of these formats and especially anything that'll fit in a DIN rail box with connections that mirror the X10 modules?
Any pointers would be helpful... I've not really kept up to date on this.
Regards,
RicTS



 Posted: Sunday May 17th, 2020 02:45 am
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slychiu
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KNX would be a good choice. They are much more expensive than X10 though

see this forumhttp://www.comfortforums.com/forum12/
Zwave would be the closest in cost but we have stopped producing this interface due to the module no longer available



 Posted: Tuesday May 19th, 2020 09:51 am
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Agree with Cytech KNX is probably your best bet.
They have a multitude of different options and its a lifetimes work understanding all the options.
If you are a novice then ETS lite may help as it will enable you to put together a small home project.
ETS will give you endless possibilities in terms of tech capabilities scope and aesthetics.
KNX has been around 20 years and it totally backward compatible.
KNX is a standard so its NOT manufacturer specific.



 Posted: Tuesday May 19th, 2020 10:11 am
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RicTS
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Thanks for the reply,
I'll have a look at ETS and KNX.... Although the DIN modules are more expensive, it looks like they're multi-channel, so I'll only need a few of them. 
I suspect that there's also a DIN rail mounted KNK logic controller which is the part that Comfort talks to via the interface... i.e. the Comfort logic controller is a gateway, not the controller?
I'll have a read up on KNX, I need to understand how the bus is wired.



 Posted: Tuesday May 19th, 2020 10:13 am
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RicTS
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Thanks for the reply Slychiu,
From your above statement are you saying that z-wave comfort interface is no longer sold or available?

Last edited on Tuesday May 19th, 2020 10:15 am by RicTS



 Posted: Tuesday May 19th, 2020 11:08 am
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slychiu
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That is right The Zwave interface is no longer produced



 Posted: Tuesday May 19th, 2020 12:57 pm
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slychiu
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'll have a look at ETS and KNX.... Although the DIN modules are more expensive, it looks like they're multi-channel, so I'll only need a few of them. I suspect that there's also a DIN rail mounted KNK logic controller which is the part that Comfort talks to via the interface... i.e. the Comfort logic controller is a gateway, not the controller?
Comfort is the alarm/autromation controller.
UCM/KNX is the interfacehttp://www.cytech.biz/brochure/comfort-to-knx.html

KNX/Logic is another controller which has a built in KNX Interface. It does not have any alarm functions If you already have Comfort then you need the UCM/KNX2, not the KNX/Logic controller

http://www.cytech.biz/brochure/knx-logic.html
I hope that is not too confuring





 Posted: Thursday May 21st, 2020 11:36 am
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In designing the system you need to consider  (I would suggest) point of failure.
The KNX system is driven by 30V and so the power supply is the first point of failure.This can be reduced by splitting the system up into different lines each with its own power supply. So could be per floor or out buildings or heating/lighting etc or indeed in a small system not at all.
KNX is excellent as each item is programmable and has its own memory so for example you can take a light switch from room a and move it to room d and it will still retail all the original information and control the lights in room a.
You need to decide where to store the logic. A baisc KNX system will operate without additional logicOnce you start to pull logic out into a separate controller (could be comfort or one of the many KNX logic blocks) then you have to consider the point of failure again. So if the logic is only required for example for an U/F manifold and pump/call for heat etc then it may be best to use a KNX logic block locally which only relies on the 30v KNX bus.
Remember that using a central logic device adds the layer of failure as if this item fails then any item or function associate with the logic will also fail.
KNX wiring topology is very flexible - as a norm we would wire a loop to each device per floor and use the tail to ascertain that we had a full loop once all the connections were made.
If you need to branch off or do a spur then so be it but I would suggest keeping a diagramatical record of cabling.

Hope all this helps.



 Posted: Thursday May 21st, 2020 11:40 am
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The X10 system is now totally redundant as far as DIN modules go anyway. We cannot purchase at all from anywhere.
Any customer we have with X10 we offer an upgrade path.

BTW you can use the existing X10 switch cables ( if we are talking DIN modules) simply as contact cables (make sure they are disconnected from the mains and marked LV). KNX bus couplers and the existing  momentary switches can then be used



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