| Glossary |
Audio Vision Electric
Electrical & Low Voltage Contractors
31500 Grape Street, Suite #3176
Lake Elsinore, California 92532
Business: 951. 674.9844 |
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HOME SYSTEMS • ELECTRICAL |
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CEBus: Consumer electronics Bus is set of standards for communicating control information between devices such as lighting controls, appliances, HVAC equipment and more.
Circuit Breakers: Circuit breakers are the switches found in the electrical service box of homes. Each circuit breaker protects a specific group of electrical devices (outlets, overhead lights, appliances, etc.). If the devices draw too much power, the circuit breakers will shut-off (or "trip") the power to all the devices to which it supplies electricity. Once the problem has been fixed the circuit breaker can be reset. When working on home automation projects that involve the home's wiring, the respective circuit breakers should always be turned off manually to avoid electrocution.
Compact Fluorescent Light: Small fluorescent light bulbs designed to replace standard, screw-in incandescent light bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use about one-third of the electricity an incandescent light bulb uses to produce the same amount of light. Most compact fluorescent bulbs, however, are not compatible with dimmers, timers, and some types of automated switches, unless specifically marked.
Energy Star Label: The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) evaluate energy-using consumer products to identify models that are the most energy efficient with the energy Star Label. Energy Star Labels are found on office equipment, home electronics, major household appliances, heating and cooling equipment, residential lighting fixtures, windows, insulation and even new homes.
Fluorescent Light: This type of light bulb uses less energy, and generates less heat than an incandescent light bulb while producing the same amount of light. Standard fluorescent bulbs require special fixtures that only hold fluorescent bulbs.
Ground Wire: Ground wires are a safety feature in a buildings wiring that helps prevent electric shocks when wires are damaged. In wall boxes, ground wires have either green insulation or no insulation (bare cooper wire).
HVAC: Heating/Ventilation/air conditioning system.
Incandescent Light: The original type of electric light bulb.
IR: Stands for "infrared" The most common home automation use of IR is in hand-held remote controls for TVs, VCRs and CD Players. Infrared light is invisible to the human eye and cannot penetrate walls.
LCD: Liquid Crystal Displays are used in most digital watches, laptops computers, digital cameras and home control devices, including some programmable thermostats and timers.
LED: Light Emitting Diodes are electronics components that look like tiny light bulbs. TV remotes use LEDs to produce the infrared signals that control the set. Many TV remotes also have an LED that glows red to indicate a button is being pushed. Another common use of LEDs is to show that a device is on.
Motion Sensor: The device detects movements by people, pets and even hot air. Motion sensors are commonly used with security systems, light switches and office HVAC systems.
Occupancy Sensor: See Motion Sensor.
PIR: Stands for Passive Infrared. This technology is used in motion sensors to detect movement. The devices are passive because, unlike a TV remote, they do not generate any infrared light - they only detect it. Infrared light can be generated by heat, so motion sensors with PIR can detect the heat produced by people and warm-blooded animals.
Powerline Carrier System: A technology that sends coded signals along a home's existing 120-volt electric wiring. These signals can be used to remotely operate devices. For example, a PCS transmitter (or control device) can send a signal along a home's wiring, and a receiver plugged into any electrical outlet in the home can receive that signal and operate the appliance to which it is attached. X-10 is the most common PCS protocol.
Programmable thermostat: This type of thermostat has built-in, adjustable timers that create a comfortable temperature when it's occupied. A setback setting saves energy when the home is unoccupied or when people are asleep.
Protocol or Communications Protocol: Refers to the system by which devices communicate. A home automation device that uses one protocol cannot be operated by a control that uses a different protocol. Examples of different home automation protocol are X10, CEBus, CEPCO, and Open House.
Receiver: The part of a system or device that detects a signal sent by a transmitter.
RF: Stands for "radio frequency". Sounds are transmitted via radio waves. Televisions, radios, cell phones, computer networks, garage-door openers, intercoms and more us RF.
Single Pole Switch: This is a very simple type of switch that controls a single device. If more than one wall switch controls the same electrical device, a hallway light for example, than none of those switches can be wired with a single pole switch. See also Three-Way Switch.
Three-Way Switch: When two switches control the same light, each of those switches must be a Three-Way Switch. If single-pole switches are used instead, then when one switch is turned off, the other switch will not work.
Transceiver: A unit that contains both a transmitter and a receiver. Some Transceivers receive one type of signal (such as RF from a hand-held remote control) and re-transmit it as another type (such as a Powerline Carrier signal that will control a light).
Transmitter: This is the part of a system or device that sends a signal.
Wall Box: A plastic or metal box, mounted behind a wall in a home. It houses electrical switches, electrical outlets, phone jacks, volume controls for stereo speakers, cable TV wires, wire splices, etc. |
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Residential • Commercial • Industrial |
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