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Automation has to be my favorite task of all the endeavors I am asked to design and layout. Automation covers a large array of automatic functions by devices for the aid and convenience of the home or business owner.
Be sure to contact me regarding the money that can saved with a little automation!
One example involved the parking lot lights of a local car dealership. Businesses are charged an extra amount if they experience a large 'surge' on their electric meter. This occurs when large multiple electrical loads are switched on at the same time. It is actually visible on some of the older meters with a red needle inside the glass envelope. The higher the surge, the higher the red needle swings, the higher rate on the electric bill. Ouch. It was determined that if the parking lot lights did NOT switch on at the same time, a savings could be realized. With the help of a photo cell, timer, and some time-delay relays; sections of the parking lot lights were configured to come on with slight, 2 minute, delays. The large combined surge was eliminated. Electric bills were reduced.
DSC and Elk were some of the first controllers I installed, but I found these systems to very limited. They are great for basic alarm and light control, but very limited. They used X-10 technology to control various devices in the home and did very good, but there was a certain level of reliability that was never quite achieved.
Insteon Technology then became the status quo for reliability and flexibility. Manufactures and programmers quickly got busy and developed many interesting and unique apps that could be downloaded into 21st century network devices. Now the ability to control your home security and automation can be held in the palm of your hand.
Simple thing like turning on the lights from the car and ensuring the furnace is turned down during a long trip become everyday tasks.
With the installation of motion sensors, basic alarm functions can be incorporated, but even better, they can turn on the lights in a room, if a controller knows it is dark outside.
Please contact me for discussions about your home and the 21st century applications.
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