home automation

text Mavis ANg

One hotel-inspired home

solution Legrand offers is
to have full control over
all the lights and curtains
in your room right by
your bedside.

The systems are a hassle to install

Wired home automation systems, which allow for
a wide array of personalised controls, are indeed
best installed during a major home renovation,
says The Automated Lifestyles director Esther
Wong. Its the best way to conceal the required
wiring and keep from having ugly cable cases
running all around your home, she says.
But there are basic forms of home automation
that do not require any form of rewiring to
install, such as Schneider Electrics 2-wire Tru
Retrofit switches, Lutrons wireless RF switch, and
Legrands wireless Zigbee protocol system. They
can be retrofitted into existing homes simply
You can turn on your
air-con remotely with
Schneider Electrics
system, ensuring that the
room is comfortably cool
when you arrive home.

incontrol
Often thought of as expensive, difficult to use or

simply a novelty, home automation has yet to take

off in a big way here. We challenge the experts to
debunk these preconceptions.

When you fully integrate

your home automation
system with ABB, you
can monitor both the
quantity and quality of
the electricity running
through the household.

by replacing the current mechanical switches.

Using an accompanying remote control, you can
either turn the lights on or off, or create different
lighting scenes for various occasions or moods
from any point in the house.
However, unlike wired home automation
systems that allow you to have more
flexible controls and link up a wider range
of components such as the security system,
appliances, and air-conditioning, basic wireless
systems are mainly limited to lighting, curtain,
and blind controls, says Samson Ho, product
marketing manager at ABBs Low Voltage
Products Division.

Did
you
know?

The Kwikset Smartcode

range at The Automated
Lifestyle combines
manual and digital locks,
making the switch to
digital security easier for
the more sceptical.

58

They are extremely expensive

The upfront cost of installing a home
automation system is usually the reason people
reject it, says Mae Liew, marketing manager
at Schneider Electric Singapores retail partner
business. She estimates that fitting an entire
three-bedroom apartment with automated
lighting would start at $3,500, but with lighting
and electricity bill savings of 20 to 30 per cent
per annum, most will see a return on their
investment in just over three years.
With more affordable wireless solutions that
dont require any rewiring or hacking of the
walls, you can enjoy the convenience of remote
controlled lights without forking out too much.
As Mae highlights: People no longer have to
sacrifice comfort to achieve energy savings.
Dimming the lights to create various moods also
helps save energy.

ABBs home automation system lets you

combine various panels, such as those used
to control the lighting, air-conditioning, and
security intercom, all into one sleek brain
(above), reducing visual clutter. The system also
lets you fix the lux (lx) per area so the amount
of electricity used is constant, regardless of
how many lighting points there are.

They are just gimmicks for the home

There is some truth to the belief that having
automated scene controls for smaller apartments
is a more of a luxury than a necessity, says Legrand
marketing and communications manager Vanessa
Lee. Its a lifestyle that young, well-to-do couples
with dual incomes like to invest in, she reveals.
They see it as an accessory for the home.
But in terms of security, The Automated
Lifestyle offers systems that would benefit many
families here. With certain locks from Yale,
Baldwin, and Kwikset, you can assign a unique
number code to each member of the household,
and we can enable it so that youll receive an
e-mail notification immediately after they enter or
exit the home, explains Esther, who recommends
this technology for families with domestic helpers.
It is also useful in tracking wayward children, she
adds with a chuckle.

home automation is finding its way

into more homes here, with lower
prices and intuitive controls.

below ABBs semi-

master panel is a
secondary control point
that simplifies the main
automated controls
within the home.

Legrands 10-inch video

touchscreen controls
feature clear graphics
and is a breeze to use.

They are difficult to operate

Given the numerous options available in fully
automated homes, navigating the controls can
seem overwhelming to individuals who arent
tech-savvy. As such, Legrand has invested much
care in designing the user interface of its latest
10-inch multimedia video touchscreen. Its a lot
like using the iPad, says Vanessa, as she flips
through the various customised profiles, which

59

The Automated Lifestyle

emphasises the ability
of family members to
control their home
environment through
various channels.

are indicated by the individual images of each

family member. Weve made it more visual so
its easier to navigate.
Automated homes are also equipped with
more than one point of control. ABBs system is
anchored by a master control panel, but Samson
assures users that they will never be left in the
dark even if it fails to function properly. The
touchscreen is independent of the individual
mechanical switches installed in each room, so
homeowners will still have full control over the
electrical system, Samson notes.
And as mobile devices continue to be an
indispensable extension of our lifestyles, home
automation controls by manufacturers such as
Schneider, Legrand, and Lutron now also come
in the form of apps, making it possible for
anyone in the home with a smartphone or tablet
computer to control the system.

The draw of home

automation for many new
homeowners is the ability
to set scenes, which
create various ambience
for different occasions,
says Samson.

the range of products you can

choose from is limited
ABB, along with hundreds of reputable
manufacturers such as Bosch, Legrand, Miele,
and Philips, adhere to the KNX protocol, which
is a worldwide standard for home control that
allows products and systems from different
brands to communicate with each other. This
opens up endless possibilities, allowing the
lighting, blinds, entertainment systems and
white goods in your home to merge and work
together as one, as Samson aptly puts it.
You are limited only by your imagination,
adds Esther, who sees repeat customers looking
to install home automation systems in their
second abode. Those who have experienced
home automation seldom look back. The only
regret some of my customers have is not having
more areas in their home automated during the
renovation because of the high initial cost.

60

Dir e c to ry
ABB www.abb.com.sg Legrand www.legrand.com.sg Lutron www.lutron.com/asia Schneider Electric www.schneider-electric.com,
www.homeanew.com The Automated Lifestyle #B1-20 Park Mall, 9 Penang Road, tel: 6298-8911.

Schneider Electrics
Wiser home control
system integrates
electrical, multi-media,
and telecommunication
systems at home into
one simple control panel.