Comfort Automation/ Security System Forums > Third Party (interfacing to Comfort) > Lighting Interfaces > Philips Hue - UCM |
Comfort Automation/ Security System Forums > Third Party (interfacing to Comfort) > Lighting Interfaces > Philips Hue - UCM |
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Home Comfort Distributors
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We are increasingly coming across Philips Hue. Does anyone know if Comfor can control this and if so how? |
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Home Comfort Distributors
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So basically Philips Hue is Zigbee - any plans for a zigbee UCM its been around long enough! |
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wexfordman UCM Pi Users
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Ucmpi would work would.it not ? |
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slychiu Administrator 
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Zigbee does not have a common set of commands. Each product has its wonUCM/Pi should be the best way to control this |
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Home Comfort Distributors
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We have seen a vast take up of Hue this year !What are the chances of getting a zigbee(Hue) in the next six months? |
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slychiu Administrator
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Interfacing with Hue is not by using Zigbee, as they do not reveal how to do that. It does not matter of there is a UCM for Zigbee, it would not be able to talk to Hue You would have to use their API, which is more suited for apps and software |
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Home Comfort Distributors
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So how is it controlled from zigbee pi - has anybody done this yet I can't afford to be a gpig on this one! |
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slychiu Administrator
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Control is via the API, nothing to do with Zigbee. Matt is using UCM/Pi to control Hue in his house and it works well, but you can ask him more |
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Home Comfort Distributors
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So Matt can you give me a rundown ! How long would it take me to set up ? What is the user interface ? |
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mattbrain UCM Pi Users 
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The UCM/Pi adds an industrial grade Raspberry Pi CM3 to the Comfort system on which you can run Node-Red (amongst other things). Node-Red has a module to support Hue and it's accessories, and allows full control and status updated for Hue devices. For example, it is possible to control bulbs or collections of bulbs, react to remote control operations and Hue PIR's. Linked to Comfort, it is possible to use Hue remote controls to trigger responses or have Comfort control bulbs. The node-red flows allow for very complex logic to be developed and deployed quickly and we have been running beta tests for the last 6 months with great success. We already have an installer who has quickly adopted this solution and is rapidly installing it into existing and new clients, in some cases even replacing RTI and other home automation processors. An intro to node-red can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYreeoCoQPI If you'd like more information, please get in touch via matt.brain@alphawerk.co.uk |
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Home Comfort Distributors
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So lets begin with the bit no one wants to hear !I run a company and as such I'm in business to turn a profit. I'm selling this to a customer who is going to want to receive value for money.What can I as an installer sell to the customer ! In the case of philips Hue - the customer has purchased the starter kit and already has two lights working from the app and alexa for under £60. He also has a Comfort system. He does not want the ability to physically switch lights on and off or dim from comfort keypad or app i.e he already has very good hue app that does this. So I'm thinking this can be viewed as a logic engine interfaceIf comfort armed then switch Hue lights on etc I take it there is no facility for the customer to alter settings?So for example I've introduces a timer and I want the customer to be able to alter the times? I created a scene and i wna the customer to be able to alter the scenes? Does the node red come already loaded? |
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mattbrain UCM Pi Users
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I suggest you take a look at what node-red can do, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Some examples of integrations are:
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Home Comfort Distributors
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Thanks.. i appreciate that this us a powerful tool. As a company we have to weigh up if we can make money from this. one of the big problems with comfort is that there is no saleable front end. so what we would be selling is the ability for us to program logic. what we are up against is volume materials that cost pence (hue £60) against how long its going to take to physically set up ucmpi and then program (£100's). This of course does not take into account out learingand expertise 'curve' which in reality is weeks rather than days. |
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Home Comfort Distributors
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The node-red software once you have created a scenario or project are you able to save the configuration remotely? When designing systems we are always conscious of point of failure. As the UCMpi would really only be used for non critical logic thats not a problem however if the UCMpi goes down or gets corrupted then we need the means to re-load. |
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Home Comfort Distributors
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OK So here is a live scenario Customer with Comfort - quite an extensive alarm thats been installed 10 years +All x10 and is moving over himself to Hue. Probably has 20 hue lamps working from Hue app in various locations both inside and out. Has asked me to look at ability for Comfort to control Hue...... I can add UCMpi OK simple What will it then take to get 20 odd Hue lights switching from ComfortI note that the UCM Pi tab on the comfigurator gives nothing away so presume the whole thing is code and node red or assisted home or open hab programing. Does Hue provide feedback to comfort? What is the expected cost of UCMpi? Can we get the Pi to be the Comfort app ? i.e. set unset alarm What are the mechanisms of accessing the UCMpi remotely? e.g. I want to switch my Hue home lights from my office? Bear in mind the Hue lamps are £15 each ? Has anybody managed to control the colour changing Hue lamps from UCMpi? |
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