HONEYWELL HOMEtronic Systeem

[stefxx]

Hi,

I have several years of experience with home automation. Homeseer with HSTouch, X10, A10, Xanura, Oregon Scientific weather station, wireless fire detectors, RFXCOM etc etc. I am very pleased with the functionality, reliability and just the overall result. But we are considering moving into a new house.

However, this house has the Honeywell Hometronic system already build-in. I don´t have all the details yet, but it seems a pretty decent (and expensive) system. I am looking for some real life experience from users with the same system. I know the system is being used for alarm, lights and heating.

And, also important, is this system in any way compatible with the "standard" home domotica systems? Can I still attach my weather station or other components, or do I have to buy everything new from Honeywell (if available and probably at a very high price)?

Thanks for your help!

[John]

I use the Hometronic System of Honeywell since 2004. At that time the system was fully supported and Honeywell even included my suggestions in the firmware update.

Currently the Hometronic system is not longer supported in the Netherlands. There is a German version of the Hometronic System available (HCM 200D). Sensible heat has the possibility to connect a web manager or web server to the German Hometronic system. These options are however expensive. I think it is possible to write a interface between Homeseer and the German Hometronic system using the web manager. See the following link for more information:

http://www.sensibleheat.co.uk/web_interface.htm

Although according sensible heat the Hometronic system is very well supported by Honeywell the product will not be available in the future according Honeywell Germany.

As the Hometronic system was not supported anymore I decided this year not to add additional features to the Hometronic system but to switch to the Homseer System. The price difference between Z-wave devices and Hometronic devices was so great that it was even cheaper to by Homeseer Pro including a dedicated server and iPad client than just add additional Honeywell shutter devices to the system.

I decided to use both systems and will add the functions that Hometronic is performing to the Homeseer system when parts of the Hometronic system wil die (it is Honeywell quality so this will take a tinme). The problem is that I use the Hometronic system for underfloor heating and the system is realy excellent. Currently there are no comparable options available using Z-wave, Zigbee or other interfaces.

A new system of Honeywell is EvoHome also called Evotouch is availbe from teh begin of 2010. People investigate if this system could be used in combination with Homeseer but currently there is no News.

John

[stefxx]

Thanks for the info!

[Henk]

I agree Hometronics was a very sophisticated domotica system when introduced in the early 2000's. Special the heating management was well implemented including alarming and even an energy management system by placing sensors on the utility meters. The screen was Teletext displayed on your television set. In the last upgrade an X10 gateway was even implemented.
Hometronics was too advanced for its time .... and more a result of a group of highly skilled engineers - exploring the limits on domotica technology by that time.

The Evo-touch system is not really a replacement of Hometronics - it will be mainly a thermostat and adding functionality of heating control by using the remote radiator valves and creating a kind of multi zone possibilities. Wondering if the heating system should be converted so the home temperature will be controlled based of the CV-water temperature.

Again it will be a closed system and no way to interface with evo-home/touch like the closed protocol of the RF valves. Good to have an alternative RF radiator valve delivered by Danfoss based on Zwave - that should be the future.

Wondering if there will be any integration with io home motion originated by Somfy Henk