4.4.4. The connection of the pushbuttons

The pushbuttons that we discussed in point 4.4.2. are voltage-free pushbuttons of any brand that are connected in star formation to the input modules of the integrated home system. These input modules are located in the fuse box. A good few integrated home systems use this technique.

We produce a list for the installation and connection of these pushbuttons so that work on the site can continue uninterrupted.

Figure 23: This list enables the installer on the site to connect any pushbutton to the right wire.

The first and second columns correspond to the first two columns in the list of pushbuttons. The first column contains the codes of the operating points. The second column contains a row for each pushbutton.

A mounting box has to be installed at each operating point. So that we do not have to work out which mounting box (size) has to be installed and in what direction (horizontal or vertical) during the installation, we provide a third column containing this information. The above example uses Bticino mounting boxes E503 and E504. We thus see that an E503 mounting box has to be fitted at operating points S1 and S4. There is an E504 mounting box at the other operating points. If the standard European mounting boxes are used (square shape), we can also note it in column three in the form of a figure, followed by the letter “H” or “V”. The figure indicates the number of combined mounting boxes, while the direction in which they are fitted (horizontal or vertical) is specified by the letter. Example: 2H stands for two combined mounting boxes in a horizontal position, while 3V stands for three mounting boxes below one another.

Figure 24: We can even use this method for round mounting boxes on hollow walls. For the operating point on the left of the photo we note the code 3V (3 x vertical) in column three, while the right-hand combination is noted as 2H (2 x horizontal). (Illustration source IPW)

The pushbuttons are connected in star formation (making use of a common wire) to the fuse box. In our case we use an SVV cable. This cable consists of a number of separate insulated and coloured copper conductors of 0.8 mm², surrounded by a grey outer sheath. The table in figure 23 shows the use of the green coloured horizontal lines. All operating points located between two consecutive green lines are connected with the same cable. We note the type of cable in column seven: SVV 4x0.8 or SVV 16x0.8, a cable with 4 or 16 conductors respectively.

We provide an identification label at the point where these cables go into the fuse box. In the above list we see that the first cable (SVV 4x0.8) has the label A1 and only goes from the fuse box to operating point S1 (there is a green line below it). The cable with the label A2 (SVV 16x0.8) goes from the fuse box to operating point S2, and from there to operating point S3. The next cable (A3) goes to operating points S4, S5 and S6.

Column four shows that the white wire of the cables will always be used as the common wire for all pushbuttons. Furthermore, each pushbutton is given a unique wire in column five. By drawing up this list beforehand, you do not waste any time on site noting which wire has been connected to which pushbutton. Few mistakes are made as a result.

Finally, we would also like to know which input of the integrated home system a pushbutton is connected to. This is shown in the last column. Depending on the integrated home system concerned, we can also make a modification here. For example, with Gardy and Peha the notation “I1.3.” can be used, which means: input module 1, third input (the third input of the first input module).