|
|
| |
| |
What is Home Automation?
Automation is all about adding comfort, convenience, security, and energy savings to your lifestyle. It is the remote and automatic control of your home's systems such as lighting, appliances, heating and air conditioning, entertainment components, security system, communications, irrigation system, pool and spa, and all of the other systems in your home. These systems become easier to use, and any level of automation can be installed.
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Why should I consider an automated house?
Automation is about making your home work for you, saving you time, and simplifying your life. It can be as simple as automatic control of outside security lights that come on at dusk and shut off at dawn. Or your home's exterior and interior lights, and your stereo can all come on for you when you signal your garage door to open, so you don't ever have to enter a dark house again. Or it can be as sophisticated as having all of the systems in your entire home automatically controlled according to time of day, day of week, or personal presence in a room, and with voice control, too. Now you can find out every time your children left or entered your home, see who they called for how long, as well as protect them from the internet. Remote and automatic lighting control, heating and air conditioning control, and drapery control are very popular tools for realizing significant energy savings as well as convenience. And of course security is also an important part of automating your home.
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Is this technology too complicated to use?
No! In fact, it will make things easier. For example: press a button on your remote when you leave. The garage door closes, the thermostat, lights, and the entertainment system are turned off, and the alarm is armed. Even someone who never heard of any of this can use it.
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
How does automation work in general?
You have devices and controls. Devices are what turn on/off or check status of automated items like lights, wall receptacles, security systems, heating, etc. Controls tell the devices what to do and when. They included wall switches wireless remotes, voice control, motion sensors, etc. The old protocol is called X10. There are also newer protocols such as UPB and Insteon, but there are fewer products available right now, and they cost a little more. They are extremely robust and reliable, so we use them, depending on the application.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
