Wireless HA lighting - where to start

[Oscarp]

I'm new to the HA area, and I'm totally confused as to what I need...please help

I'm looking for a SIMPLE solution that can be easily retrofitted (i.e. wireless) to my existing lighting system.

The system will need to do the following :
1) When I walk into a room the lights come on (e.g. lights come on at a low level when going to bathroom at night!)
2) Option to dim the lights (ceiling halogens/ lampstand)
3) A "One button" that will turn all lights off downstairs / upstairs
4) Optional control by Pronto remote
Note: Scene control is not a necessary requirement (unless someone persuades me otherwise)

I believe that I'll need :
A central master control box of some sort (to do the "all off / all on")

In each room I'll need:
A motion detector
A switch (which will replace the existing light switch)
A receiver (Ceiling Dimmer / Light stand)

Is this correct??

The suspects identified so far are:
Expected to be in budget:
Wisecontrols
Get lighting
Rako

Expected to be out of budget:
Clipsal C-bus (eeeek!!)
Leutron

Which of the suspects would be best suited to my requirements?

I've seen that www.mr-resistor.co.uk does the WiseDim PIR Kit - 4 Channel, Style Switch, Remote & PIR Sensor - will this do everything I need?


Your help and advise is much appreciated
OscarP

[HainS]

I retrofitted RAKO dimmers to my living room lighting and a Wisecontrols Dimming Box in my bedroom/ensuite. And also a Wisebox (for switching only) in the garage.

http://www.rakocontrols.com/
http://www.wisecontrols.com/

The RAKO system has many ad-on features at a price, e.g. integration with Pronto remote, but not any motion sensor. It was fairly hassley to install RAKO, as you have to use magnets to link all the dimmers to the switches. It was also quite costly as you are only buying single circuit dimmers. I do like the RAKO system now that it's in and working, however, I wouldn't want to fit one again. It's really only worth it if you want simple scene setting. It is also not totally reliable, e.g. I have 3 dimmers working halogen downlights and a switching pack for LEDs (RAKO cannot dim LEDs) - I find that on occasions some packs do not pick up the signal when you press a button, so only some of the circuits come on/ go off.

The WiseDim Kit is great particularly given you get 4 circuits in each box and switches/remotes included, see:

http://www.mr-resistor.co.uk/controls.aspx?t=466&r=385

Reliabilty is good (I never had a problem yet) and this is probably because all circuits are controlled from the main unit.

I have not tried a PIR on the Wisedim, but assume it would works well as the WiseBox in my garage works perfectly. This could be used for motion sensing as you require.

I should also add that programming the Wisecontrols is very simple - just press a button inside the box and a button on the switch and it is linked! Compare this to RAKO which needs magnets and mutiple button presses.

I don't know if you can link Wisecontrols to Philips Pronto. I suggest you talk to Mr Resistor who were very helpful when I bought my unit. In fact they supplied a modified Wisebox (not available on their website) that enables me to open and close my garage door, switch on/off drive lighting from the car (via remote) and motion sensor for pathway lights all from a single box!

http://www.mr-resistor.co.uk/controls.aspx?t=466&r=261

Good luck...

[HainS]

Just another quick thought...I noticed the colour changing controller is now available from Wisecontrols:

http://www.mr-resistor.co.uk/controls.aspx?t=650&r=554

I saw an early version of this in the Mr Resistor Demo room when I went there. It is a wireless colour change unit that links with the other Wisecontrols products - that would have been ideal for my living room for dimming and colour changing LEDs. It was not available when I did my room, but may be worth a look.