Colorado vNet - Wired Lighting and Control System

Designed primarily for new construction, our Lighting & Control System is not only the most reliable, scalable, and stylish system in the industry, it’s also the easiest to install.

Our system uses the same cutting-edge CAN (Controller Area Network) technology found in automotive, medical, and real-time life-critical control applications. Inputs fly at the speed of thought over standard CAT5e cable, which carries both data and power, dramatically simplifying installation. At the end of every cable is a plug-in module; if there’s a problem, simply replace the module. The system stays up the entire time.

There is no central processor in the Colorado vNet Lighting & Control System. Each module independently handles its own processing, making the system extremely reliable because there is no single point of failure. This distributed intelligence also provides scalability. You can add single modules or several at a time, without having to add processing power.

“Life Simplified”…that’s our philosophy at Colorado vNet. From the idea that our Touchpads and keypads should fit standard junction boxes to the notion that our Dimming Module should handle nearly all standard lighting loads to the belief that you shouldn’t need a PhD in order to program a customized system, we try to extend our way of thinking to our customers.

Lighting & Control System Wiring Diagram

The IR Remote sends programmed commands to the Lighting & Control system from its infra-red emitter to a 3rd party IR receiver that connects to the back of the TP2-1D Touchpad. On, Off, Slew Up, and Slew Down commands are available when programmed.

The Touchpad uses a customizable capacitive touch area that when touched, the signal is interpreted by the internal circuitry and then sends appropriate commands to the Lighting & Control system. The single CAT5e connection in the back provides both data as well as power to the Touchpad. Status indicator LEDs and an adjustable audible ‘click’ provide feedback to the user.

The 5-button Keypad uses mechanical buttons to initiate On/Off and associated Slewing commands in a Colorado vNet Lighting & Control system. Large type fonts and custom backgrounds make keypad labels easy to read from across the room. An 8-button version is also available.

The Input Module is the eyes, ears and nose of your Colorado vNet home automation system. Its sole purpose in life is to notice everything that you shouldn’t have to. Signals from PIRs, door sensors, smoke alarms, and the like, are connected to one of the 8 Class 2 multi-purpose input connectors on the board. These inputs trigger specific actions as dictated by the system’s design.

The Dimming Module is one of the main components of a Colorado vNet Lighting & Control system. This powerful, yet highly flexible, module can control up to 8 independent loads from a single 20 Amp circuit feed. The outputs of the Dimming Module can be tied together in a variety of combinations, up to a total of 1,920 watts. For example, a 480 watt circuit, a 1,200 watt circuit, and a 240 watt circuit can all be controlled independently by one Dimming Module.

The Starhub is the connection point for all Colorado vNet Lighting & Control system devices. It provides not only a path for data to travel from one module to another; it also provides power to all of the modules in the system. Since no processing is done in the Starhub, data transfer times are nearly instantaneous.

The bi-directional RS-232 Gateway acts as a translator between Colorado vNet’s Lighting & Control system, which uses CAN (Controller Area Network) technology, and 3rd party devices that use RS-232 protocol to communicate. Seamlessly integrate other manufacturer’s components with your Colorado vNet system with the RS-232 Gateway.

The Output Module provides eight multi-purpose relays which are triggered by Lighting & Control system events (such as a Touchpad press or motion detector activation). Start your fireplace, lower the shades, or turn the heat pump on in the Jacuzzi by using a simple contact closure or +12VDC signal.

The Vibe Color Touchscreen is no longer just in command of the distributed digital audio system. As an integrated part of our Lighting & Control system, the touchscreen can turn lights On or Off in the den, dim the lights in the home theater, or raise the shades in the kitchen, all while you listen to your favorite music emanating from the 70-watt amplifier inside.

The Bridge Module commissions the system, recovers any module in a plug-and-play manner in the event of a component failure, and communicates with the outside world.

The Dimming Ballast Module is used to control up to 8 independent dimming ballasts, such as what is used for florescent lighting. After all, the Dimming Module can’t do all the work.