CentraLite Introduces Affordable Hardwired Lighting Control System
Jimmy Busby
CentraLite Systems® Revolutionizes Lighting Control with the
Introduction of CL-24 at the INTERNATIONAL BUILDERS SHOW in Las Vegas,
January 19-22, 2004!
January 19, 2004 Las Vegas-CentraLite Systems® Inc. unveiled today its
3rd generation whole house lighting control system at the
International Builders Show. CentraLite CL-24 is a revolutionary
breakthrough in affordability for architectural dimming systems. The
system is designed for homes under 2,500 square feet, apartments and
condominiums yet has all the features and functionality of systems
designed for large luxury homes. The CL-24 standard package includes
the Relay Panel, Master Control Panel, 16 Keypads, and Display Panel
for a list price of $3,000.
CentraLite CL-24 combines digital dimming, whole home lighting
management and sophisticated scene lighting with the reliability and
convenience of a hard-wired system. Standard features include a touch
pad programmer with LCD readout, over 500 dimming levels, 40 scenes,
RS-232 ports for 3rd party serial access, contact closure inputs and
outputs, engraved keypad buttons, and RJ-45 connections using CAT5
wire. Optional features include remote automobile activation, fan
speed control, and custom engraving.
President and CEO James L. Busby exclaimed that CentraLite CL-24 will
bring lighting control to the masses. "No longer will lighting
control be solely in the domain of the wealthy. Everyone can now
enjoy the comfort and convenience of a feature packed lighting control
system."
Centralite Systems has installed more than 1,000 lighting control
systems in high end homes and light commercial buildings across the
country and around the world. In addition to the
CL-24 and Elegance product lines CentraLite also manufactures CenDI,
the CentraLite device integrator.
CL-24 will be available through authorized CentraLite dealers and
other distribution outlets.
For more information contact Bill Hambley, Senior VP, Sales and
Marketing, at 1-877-466-5483.
CentraLite Systems®, Inc. designs and manufactures lighting control
and home automation systems that are ideal for the residential and
light commercial market place, both in price and functionality. Our
products are simple to use, rugged, reliable and affordable.
CentraLite has more than 135 authorized dealers in 40 states and nine
international locations.
Chuck Yerkes
company did a writeup with some technical content,
rather than mostly marketing fluff.
How does it control lights and devices? will it
actually *integrate* or will it be yet another thing
to reverse engineer to be able to talk to it in a
meaningful way (eg. let a computer/ha device that's
not theirs setup scenes and execute them or does a
computer just get to "push a button")?
I'd mumble something about it "sounding promising" but
it's mostly content free. Ok for a glossy, but in a news
group about HA, it's fluff without meaning.
Or am I alone in this.
Robert L. Bass
> company did a writeup with some technical content,
> rather than mostly marketing fluff.
They did. See the HTML which follows. The post to which yoyu are
responding was a PR and is IMO perfectly acceptable content for this
newsgroup.
FWIW, The Centralite is a decent outfit with some interesting products.
I've had dealings with them and they've come across as honest, responsible
types.
> How does it control lights and devices?
Relays and dimmers in a central board. Centralite requires homerun 110VAC
wiring so it's not particularly suited to DIY (which is why I don't make
much noise about it although I can supply it if someone is interested).
> will it actually *integrate* or will it be yet another thing
> to reverse engineer...
It can run stand alone. It also will accept commands via standard serial
port from PC-based HA apps such as HomeSeer and hardware HA solutions such
as HAI. I'm not sure how many third party HA providers have integrated with
CentraLite but the documentation looks like it wouldn't be hard to develop a
plug-in if you were so inclined.
> I'd mumble something about it "sounding promising" but
> it's mostly content free. Ok for a glossy, but in a news
> group about HA, it's fluff without meaning.
>
> Or am I alone in this.
You are never alone. :^)
(Note to Chuck: The above is not intended as correction, just information)
(Note to netcops: Sorry for posting HTML)
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" valign="TOP" style="FONT-SIZE: small;
COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; TEXT-ALIGN:
justify">
<tr>
<td><b>Elegance Lighting Control System Documentation</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><b>Programming Software</b></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/Software/setup260.exe">Elega
nce (Version 2.60.05)</a>(Windows Application) 8.0MB</li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a href="Dealer/Elegance/Software/setup270.exe">Elegance(Version 2.7
0.62beta)</a>(Windows Application) 8.1MB</li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>New Features:</b> Improved Print, Upgraded Logging, Improved Display,
File Reports, Scene Import, Hotkeys, File Export</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><b>Application Notes</b></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/AppNotes/Elegance_RS-232_Pro
tocol.pdf" target="_blank">Serial Protocol for Elegance to 3rd Party Device
Communications</a> (Adobe Acrobat)</li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a href="Dealer/Elegance/AppNotes/Lantronix_UDS-10.pdf"
target="_blank">Lantronix UDS-10 for serial communication over LAN</a>
(Adobe Acrobat)</li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a href="Dealer/Elegance/AppNotes/EleganceOcelot%20X10.pdf"
target="_blank">Applied Digital Ocelot for X10 interface</a> (Adobe
Acrobat)</li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a href="Dealer/Elegance/AppNotes/Elegance_Multiple_MCP.pdf"
target="_blank">Elegance Multi-MCP System Configuration</a> (Adobe
Acrobat)</li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><b>Elegance General Overview (flash)</b></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a href="Dealer/Elegance/Flash/EleganceComponentOverview.swf"
target="_blank">Elegance System Components</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a href="Dealer/Elegance/Flash/MCPOverview.swf"
target="_blank">Master Control Panel</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a href="Dealer/Elegance/Flash/Switch%20and%20STAR%20wiring.swf"
target="_blank">Switch and STAR Wiring</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a href="Dealer/Elegance/Flash/WireOverview.swf"
target="_blank">Switch Termination</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><b>MCP (Master Control Panel) Documentation (drawings)</b></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/Drawings/Pub/page0006.htm"
target="_blank">MCP Description Detail</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/Drawings/Pub/page0007.htm"
target="_blank">MCP to 3rd Party RS232 Pinout and
specifications</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><b>STAR (Switch Transmit and Receive) Documentation
(drawings)</b></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/Drawings/Pub/page0001.htm"
target="_blank">STAR Chain Wiring Topology</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/Drawings/Pub/page0002.htm"
target="_blank">STAR Chain Wiring Detail</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/Drawings/Pub/page0003.htm"
target="_blank">Wall Switch to STAR Wiring Detail</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><b>SST (Switch Status Terminal) Documentation</b></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/Drawings/Pub/page0004.htm"
target="_blank">SST Description Detail</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><b>Remote Control Documentation (drawing)</b></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/Drawings/Pub/page0005.htm"
target="_blank">Remote Control Receiver to STAR Wiring Detail</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>FSCB (Fan Speed Controller Board) Documentation (drawing)</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/Drawings/Pub/page0008.htm"
target="_blank">Fan Speed Controller Board Description Detail</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/Drawings/Pub/page0009.htm"
target="_blank">Fan Speed Controller Board Chain Wiring Detail</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><b>LVRB (Low Voltage Relay Board) Documentation
(drawing)</b></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/Drawings/Pub/page0010.htm"
target="_blank">Low Voltage Relay Board Description Detail</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><b>Relay (ERPxx) Enclosure Documentation (drawings)</b></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/Drawings/Pub/page0011.htm"
target="_blank">Dimming Relay Enclosure to MCP Wiring Detail</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/Drawings/Pub/page0014.htm"
target="_blank">ERP48 Detail and Electrical Loading
Description</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/Drawings/Pub/page0015.htm"
target="_blank">ERP36 Detail and Electrical Loading
Description</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/Drawings/Pub/page0016.htm"
target="_blank">ERP24 Detail and Electrical Loading
Description</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/Drawings/Pub/page0017.htm"
target="_blank">ERP12 Detail and Electrical Loading
Description</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/Drawings/Pub/page0019.htm"
target="_blank">Relay Driver Board Pinout Description</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/Drawings/Pub/page0020.htm"
target="_blank">3 Phase Relay Driver Board Pinout Description</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a href="Dealer/Elegance/AppNotes/ArcFault.pdf" target="_blank">Arc
Fault Breaker Connection to ERP Dimming Enclosures</a> (Adobe
Acrobat)</li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><b>DSBK24 (DIP Switch Backup) Documentation (drawing)</b></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/Drawings/Pub/page0012.htm"
target="_blank">DSBK24 (DIP Switch Backup) Wiring Detail</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><b>HTBX(Hot Box) Documentation (drawing)</b></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/Drawings/Pub/page0013.htm"
target="_blank">HTBX (Hot Box) Detail Description</a></li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><b>Elegance System Manuals (manuals)</b></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/manuals/EleganceElectricians
Guide.pdf" target="_blank">Electrician's Guide</a> (Adobe Acrobat)</li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/manuals/EleganceInstallation
Guide.pdf" target="_blank">Installation Guide</a> (Adobe Acrobat)
2.6MB</li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/manuals/EleganceOwnersGuide.
pdf" target="_blank">Owner's Guide</a> (Adobe Acrobat) 2.6MB</li></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><b>Wall Switch Engraving (utility)</b></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><li><a
href="http://www.centralite.com/Dealer/Elegance/Installation/SwitchEngraving
Templates.xls" target="_blank">Elegance Wall Switch Engraving Templates</a>
(MS Excel)</li></td>
</tr>
</table>
Alarm and Home Automation System FAQ
http://www.bass-home.com/faq/masterfaq/faq.htm
Regards,
Robert
=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
2291 Pine View Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34231
877-722-8900 Sales & Tech Support
941-925-9747 Fax
941-232-0791 Wireless
Nextel Private ID - 161*21755*1
http://www.bass-home.com
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>
Robert L. Bass
device or PC to call up individual switches, dimmers and scenes at specified
rates (cross-fades). It does not appear to allow the PC to build scenes
though I may be wrong about that.
Jimmy Busby
> Wouldn't it be neat if one of the techies at the
> company did a writeup with some technical content,
> rather than mostly marketing fluff.
From the chief CentraLite techie:
Chuck, your absolutley right. Here's some technical info:
The CL24 consists of a relay panel(44"x14"x4") which contains
24 solid-state relays along with the Master Control Panel(MCP).
High voltage devices(lights and fans) are homerun back to the relay
panel.
Wall mounted keypads are wired back to the MCP with CAT5 cable. All
terminations are made with RJ45 connectors. CL24 can have up to 96
buttons.
The system also includes a Touchpad Programmer. This allows the
installer
or homeowner to configure the system without using a PC. CL24 has a
maximum of 41 scenes.
The Cl24 has a built-in astronomicqal clock allowing for timed events
based on local sunrise and sunset.
Integration is done through RS232 and RS485 ports on the MCP. Here
are some examples of the protocol:
"^A003" = Turn On Relay #3
"^B021" = Turn Off Relay #21
"^C011" = Turn On Scene #11
"^D022" = Turn Off Scene #22
"^E0175507" = Fade Relay #17 to 55% at a rate of 7 seconds
"^H" = Request Instant Relay states
"^I" = Request Instant Button states
......there's more
Most of the technology we're using for CL24 is taken
direclty form our Elegance system. We've packaged it so
that we're able to offer this system package at a retail
price of $3,000. This price advantage along with the easy
of installation and programming make this product truely
revolutionary.
CL24 will ship beginning in April. The technical data on our website
is still under construction. If you'd like more details, please give
me a call at 877-466-5483.
Jimmy Busby
CentraLite Systems, Inc.
John Gilmer
"Jimmy Busby" <james...@centralite.com> wrote in message
news:f97106e5.0402...@posting.google.com...
> Press Release
>
>
>
> CentraLite Systems® Revolutionizes Lighting Control with the
> Introduction of CL-24 at the INTERNATIONAL BUILDERS SHOW in Las Vegas,
> January 19-22, 2004!
>
> January 19, 2004 Las Vegas-CentraLite Systems® Inc. unveiled today its
> 3rd generation whole house lighting control system at the
> International Builders Show. CentraLite CL-24 is a revolutionary
> breakthrough in affordability for architectural dimming systems. The
> system is designed for homes under 2,500 square feet, apartments and
> condominiums yet has all the features and functionality of systems
> designed for large luxury homes. The CL-24 standard package includes
> the Relay Panel, Master Control Panel, 16 Keypads, and Display Panel
> for a list price of $3,000.
You do KNOW that $3,000 will buy a LOT of wiring for 3 and 4 way dimming
switches.
Robert L. Bass
> for 3 and 4 way dimming switches.
Automated dimming switches with a reliable controller?
Robert L. Bass
> of wiring for 3 and 4 way dimming switches.
Automated dimming switches with a reliable controller? RS232 port?
Flexible mood (scenes)? Timed cross-fades?
You get what you pay for (sometimes). The key is deciding how much you want
and whether that merits the cost for you. Since this is a home automation
newsgroup rather than an electrician newsgroup one would think that folks
here would be receptive to information about systems like CentraLite, no?
No flame here, friend. :^)
Jimmy Busby
> You do KNOW that $3,000 will buy a LOT of wiring for 3 and 4 way dimming
> switches.
I thought this group was alt.home.AUTOMATION ;)
John Gilmer
Well "home automation" is home automation. But THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS is a
hell of a lot of money!
Computers aside I may have spent in total that much on X-10 stuff and
sensors and burglar alarms (since about 1978 or so) but $3 K up front? Nah.
Robert L. Bass
>
> Well "home automation" is home automation. But
> THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS is a hell of a lot
> of money!
I guess it's all a matter of perspective. If you don't have $3,000 it's a
lot of money. If you have enough money that spending $3,000 on automation
won't crimp your style then it's not much to spend.
