Specialist trade supplier ElectricalDirect outlines its guide for tradespeople on the types of smart technology available to help bring their customers’ homes to life.
If your customers are looking to save time, money and energy, and make their properties more secure, then smart home technology may soon become their new best friend.
Connected smart technology makes for a more efficient, flexible home (or office) – with the help of a smartphone app to take control of heating, lighting, appliances and security whether you’re at home or away.
From lights to doors, windows and everyday appliances, in this guide we suggest ways in which this new technology could revolutionise everyday living.
Connectivity
To turn a home into a fully connected ‘smart’ environment, simply connect the smart home ‘gateway’ to the internet, download the app that connects products to a smartphone, and set up the smart devices. Each brand will have its own unique app to download. They can also be used with Amazon Alexa and Echo for hands-free, voice-controlled operation, such as turning lights on or off with a simple voice command.
Many products do not even need a router or hub to get some of the benefits of smart home control. Switches and sockets only require a remote control to operate simple on/off functions, and they can be a straightforward way of easing gently into the world of the smart home. Remote control functions make it easy to turn off a number of sockets and switches at once, saving time – all done simply at the touch of a button.
Monitoring movement
Motion sensors, such as the MiHome motion sensor, are placed around the property and can alert the home or business owner if motion is detected, and when linked with other products it can create scenarios such as ‘motion detected, lights on’.
Door and window security
For security purposes, open sensors placed on doors and windows provide peace of mind when away from home by monitoring the movement of these entry points, providing an instant alert to the smartphone when either opened or disturbed, as with the MiHome open sensor.
Appliances
Smart sockets (such as the Energenie MiHome double wall socket) will turn any electrical appliance into a smart product, enabling users to remotely control appliances, monitor usage and running costs.
Remote control sockets and extension leads make it easier to control those hard-to-reach sockets, meaning there is a simpler, no-wiring alternative to wirelessly controlling electrical appliances. The MiHhome Adaptor Starter Pack has a full 30m range and uses a high radio frequency which means you do not even need a clear line of sight to turn off energy wasting appliances.
To enhance security, remotely controlling some home appliances will help to give the illusion that the home is occupied when the homeowner is elsewhere, therefore deterring intruders.
Lighting
Existing light switches can be easily replaced to create a fully remote controllable lighting system, where you can switch on/off and dim lights from wherever you are. This is particularly useful for darker winter months, and for providing added security by illuminating an empty home. The Lightwave RF dimmer is a fully dimmable smart switch with an attractive stainless steel finish.
Heating
You can create more energy-efficient zoned heating within a property by heating only the rooms in use. Simple-to-fit radiator valves from MiHome allow your customers to adjust the radiator wherever they are and enable them to monitor energy usage from the app.
IFTTT (If This Then That)
Many smart home products are also compatible with IFTTT technology, which links smart devices to external apps. IFTTT consists of a trigger (e.g. the weather app says it is cold today) followed by an action (turn on heater), or if the home sensor is activated, call someone from Outlook contacts. The possibilities of IFTTT are limitless and it is a great way of using smart home products to their full capabilities.
To view and download the guide, visit the ElectricalDirect website.
