Water heating
Communication with the heat pump is required if TapHome needs to obtain information about the heating or cooling mode. Most heat pumps support the Modbus communication protocol. If Modbus is not available, a dry-contact input or output should be used to detect or set the mode. If the heat pump has an available input, TapHome will send a command to switch the mode. If an output is available, TapHome will be informed by the heat pump about the current mode.
Apart from the heating/cooling mode, communication with the heat pump is usually not required. The installation company responsible for the heating/cooling system must ensure that there is adequate flow in the primary circuit even if all valves are closed. A universal solution is to use a hydraulic switch.
TapHome acts as a thermostat, providing zonal temperature control.
TapHome output devices switch thermoelectric valves in the heating/cooling manifold. We recommend laying a multiconductor cable between the electrical panel and the manifold so that all valves are connected with a separate conductor plus one common neutral conductor. Use 230V thermoelectric valves. An FTP data cable is required from each room to the electrical panel to connect temperature sensors and/or thermostats.
Sometimes it is necessary to control the circulation pump. This needs to be confirmed with the company supplying the heating/cooling system. The circulation pump is controlled by a relay output on the 12DO module. The relay is activated whenever at least one valve is open.
Electrical heating
- Before covering the floor, place floor temperature sensors at least 1 meter from the wall.
- Pull an FTP cable from the distribution board to the individual rooms. One cable passes through all rooms.
- Lay the power cables for heating from the distribution board to each room separately.
Air conditioning
Check with the air conditioning supplier which brand and model are used, because there are different solutions for each manufacturer/model.
- LG units can be controlled directly via RS485 communication.
- An FTP cable is required from the distribution board to the outdoor unit.
- The outdoor unit must be equipped with a PI485 expansion card (available in the TapHome webshop).
- All outdoor units are compatible with PI485 except the smallest model for 2 indoor units (MU15).
- More information here.
Shading
Order shading motors for 230 VAC without remote control. You only need the motor itself (e.g., Somfy WT) with four conductors – PE, N, phase up, phase down.
Run a separate power cable from each motor to the electrical panel. To control the motors, use TapHome modules with relays.
For manual control of the blinds you can use:
- TapHome buttons or TapHome controllers with a display. In this case, connect all rooms using a single FTP cable in a serial configuration.
- Classic buttons. In this case, run an FTP data cable from each room separately to the electrical panel if you prefer a star topology. The conductors are connected to TapHome modules with inputs designed for installation in the panel. If you prefer a serial connection, connect the rooms with a single FTP cable. Use TapHome modules with inputs designed for in-wall installation. The buttons for controlling the blinds should be provided by the electrician, not the shading system supplier, to ensure TapHome compatibility (monostable buttons without electronic or mechanical locking, typically used to control blinds).
Make sure that one FTP data cable is brought to the façade on the southern/western side of the house. You will connect TapHome’s wind speed – brightness – temperature sensor to this cable. This sensor expands the automation options for blinds.
Lighting
- Only data cables go to the switches. We recommend using FTP and not supplying power for shading on these cables.
- Topology can be any – serial, star or tree.
- Power cables run directly from the distribution board to the lights.
Ventilation
- Place an FTP data cable between the distribution board and the ventilation unit.
- Preferred communication with ventilation units is via the Modbus protocol.
- If Modbus is not available, control can also be done via a 0-10V input on the ventilation unit.
IP Cameras / CCTV
- Cameras must support the Onvif communication protocol.
- TapHome does not provide any recording storage, only live video streaming through the TapHome app.
Video doorbells
- Video doorbells must support the SIP communication protocol.
- A LAN cable must be run from the router to the doorbell.
- An additional cable is required for powering the video doorbell if it is not powered via PoE.
- Some video doorbells allow controlling gates/doors and lighting. If the doorbell does not provide this, two separate cables must be run from the distribution board to each controlled device.