Unit 2 – Electrical / Wiring / Home Automation
Electrical Terms and Definitions:
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Amps: the standard unit for measuring electrical current.
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Watt: a unit of electrical power, equal to the power developed in a circuit by a current of
amp flowing through a potential difference of one volt.
o
1W [Watt] = 1V [Volt] x 1A [Amp]
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Voltage: electromotive force expressed in volts.
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Conductor: that in which electricity can flow through freely.
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AC [Alternating Current]: movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternating_current
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DC [Direct Current]: movement of electric charge moves in only one direction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_current
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Circuit Breaker: a device that automatically interrupts the flow of an electrical current.
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Breaker Box: an insulated box on which interconnected circuits are mounted.
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Electrical Panel: an insulated panel on which electrical wires are mounted.
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Current Flow: the rate of flow of an electrical charge, generally expressed in amps.
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Electrical Load: the amount of power delivered by a generator or carried by a circuit. A
device to which the power is delivered.
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Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI): GFCI detects grounding problems and shuts
electricity off to prevent a possible accident.
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Structured
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High Voltage: the term high voltage applies to electrical equipment that operates at more
than 600 Volts (for terminal to terminal operation) or more than 300 Volts (for terminal to
ground operation). Low voltage, high current AC or DC power supplies are also
considered to be high voltage.
Unknown (May 09, 2007). Electrical Safety. Texas A&M Health Science Center, Chapter III- Electrical Safety. Retrieved
http://tamhsc.edu/departments/finance-admin/safety/electrical/electrical_safety.pdf
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Unit 2 – Electrical / Wiring / Home Automation
Wiring: Terms & Gauges
Electrical Wire: pliable strand or strands of metal typically wrapped with electrically insulated
material.
Solid: single strand of metal (typically copper) wrapped with in electrically insulated
material. This type of wire is typically less expensive, but also less flexible it is often
used for structured wiring.
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Stranded: multiple strands of wire that are wrapped together to form one wire then
wrapped with electrically insulated material.
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Cat5: category 5 cable is what is known as a twisted pair. Twisted pairs have two
shielded wires or conductors of a single circuit that are twisted together. This twisted
form helps to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) form outside sources. There
are many different types of twisted pair cables Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6 and so on.
Wire Gauge: wire gauge refers to the diameter of the wire measured by American
Wire Gauge (AWG). Using the AWG scale the smaller the gauge numbers the
larger the diameter of the wire will be.
Romex: the term Romex often is used as a generic name for non-metallic sheathed electrical cable
typically used in home electrical wiring. Many time Romex is often referred to as 14/2, 14/3, 12/2
and 12/3.
14/2, 14/3, 12/2 and 12/3 AWG: this reference is to the gauge and number of
conductors involved.
o Example: 14 AWG is the gauge and 2 are the number of insulated
conductors that electricity can flow though freely. In a 14/2 there are three
wires Black (hot), White (neutral) and bare copper (ground). 14/3 has the
same configuration with the addition of another insulated conductor in Red.
14/2 and 14/3 are typical used for basic residential wiring.
14 Vs 12 Gauge: 14 gauge wires are typically used for wiring a 15A circuits. 12 gauge
wires are typically used for wiring 20A circuits.
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Unit 2 – Electrical / Wiring / Home Automation
Switches: there are several different types of switches some of them are commonly use in the
motorized shading industry. All of these switches have applications for both low voltage and line
voltage.
Single Pole Single Throw Switch (SPST): Simple on and off switch. Example :Light
Switch not used in shade applications
Single Pole Double Throw Switch (SPDT): This switch is a change over switch
allowing a connection to one or the other of its two hot terminals. Used to control a
standard dumb motor with the switch up the connection is made to run the motor up,
the center or neutral position is off when the down
Single Pole Center Off (SPCO): This switch is also commonly knows as a momentary
switch as it always returns to an off position if not pressed.
Double Pole Single Throw Switch (DPST): This switch is equivalent to two SPST
switches.
Double Pole Double Throw Switch (DPDT): This switch is equivalent to two SPDT
switches.
Double Pole Center Off (DPCO): This switch is also commonly knows as a
momentary switch as it always returns to an off position if not pressed.
Home Automation: Through the use of computers and various electronic systems many of your
homes systems lighting, HVAC, audio, visual and many others can be automated. This can be
done on a small or large scale and can incorporate as much or little of the home systems as desired.
With the use of a home automation system there are many different ways to incorporate automated
shades into the system. Below is a list of the different types of shade motors that ca be integrated
into the home automation system.
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AC Standard Cylindrical Motors: Standard or dumb motors (QIET non-RF & QMS non-RF)
some times called a 4 wire motor. When power is supplied to set of wires the motor reacts in
the corresponding direction. Sometimes used with a SPDT or DPDT switch. When the
opposite set is supplied power the motor reacts in the opposite direction. These motors can be
integrated into a home automation system using many different devices that control the power
output to the motor; these will be covered in motor controls.
DC Standard Cylindrical Motors: Standard or dumb motors that utilize DC will have only two
wires. The two wires control the direction of the shade by the polarity or directional flow of
power to the motor. These motors can be integrated into a home automation system using
many different devices that control the power output to the motor; these will be covered in
motor controls.
AC Drapery Motor: Standard or dumb motors 110v drapery motor. They are typically used as
a stand alone motor system with the use SPDT switch. These motors can be integrated into a
home automation system using many different devices that control the power output to the
motor; these will be covered in motor controls.
DC Dry Contact Closure (DCC) Cylindrical Motor: DCC motors allow for motor control via
DCC this allows the motor to utilize 110V power but receive control from dry contact closure.
Dry contact closures are commonly used in many applications for home automation situations.
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Unit 2 – Electrical / Wiring / Home Automation
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AC Radio Frequency (RF) Cylindrical Motors: RF motors (QIET RF & QMS RF) utilize
Radio Frequency to operate the motor functions. RF motors are considered semi-intelligent,
this means that you are able to program some or all the motor controls. RF motors only
require 110v power to operate. RF motors are able to be integrated into home automation
systems with the use of RF interface device.
DC Radio Frequency (RF) Cylindrical Motors: DC RF motors utilize Radio Frequency to
operate the motor functions. RF motors are considered semi-intelligent, this means that you
are able to program some or all the motor controls. RF motors only require 12-24V power to
operate. RF motors are able to be integrated
DC Drapery Motors: DC Drapery motors typically operate by RF or by DCC allowing for
maximum flexibility. This dual system allows the motor to be integrated in two different ways
depending on the home automation set up.
AC Intelligent Cylindrical Motors: These motors sometimes called ILT motors are able to
integrate with home automation systems and offer bidirectional feedback. This allows the
motor to send and receive specific information that relative to that shade. Such feed back may
be status, direction or current position.
DC Intelligent Cylindrical Motors: These motors sometimes called ILT motors are able to
integrate with home automation systems and offer bidirectional feedback. This allows the
motor to send and receive specific information that relative to that shade. Such feed back may
be status, direction or current position.
Integration Types: Terms:
Serial Communication: Involves sending digital data over communication lines one bit at a
time.
Recommended Standard 232 (RS-232): Is the common or standard for binary serial data
transmission between two devices.
Recommended Standard 485 (RS-485): Is the common or standard for binary serial data
transmission between two devices. This protocol much like RS-232, but allows for more
then two devices on the network or system.
Dry Contact Closure (DCC): a switch or connection that does not have a power source
running through it. These are often used by the motorized shading business as an override
switch. DCC can also be used to connect to integration components by providing a manual
connection that can be closed to complete the circuit.
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