Transforming a house into a smart home is now more affordable and accessible than ever before. Using state-of-the-art wireless technology and innovative products your property can embrace all the convenience, features and security of smart technology with just some simple modifications that utilise your existing wiring and internet.
So let’s cut to the chase of how you can embrace the future at your doorstep, and transform your house into a smart home.
How it works
Smart homes are all about connectivity and communication, with appliances, fixtures and fittings all responding to their environment and relaying information to a central hub. It sounds complex in theory but is simple in practice.
In a similar way to how your computer wirelessly connects to your printer, appliances, power points and fittings like doors are fitted with sensors, and connected to a central gateway. This gateway is similar to the current internet router that you probably already have in your home.
Information is then relayed from the gateway to a control hub on your smartphone, PC or tablet using a simple app that allows you control what these connected items can do.
You can program items with automated commands or remotely control specific features.
For example you could set your home up for a sequence that involves increasing ventilation, closing curtains and starting the air-conditioner when the outside temperature reaches 27 degrees. Or you could set your home to close curtains, turn on specific lights, and start the heating and oven as you leave work.
Now we’ve got the basics down, let’s delve into the detail or how each area works.
Sensors
The first element of a Smart Home involves the use of sensors. These allow you to obtain information about what state your appliances, fixture or fittings are in. Often equipped with extras like temperature readings they, tell you things like whether a door is open or locked, whether curtains are open or closed and what the internal temperature of your house may be. They can alert you to things like a fire, security breach or a light that has been left on.
Modules
Next in the chain are modules. These are the mechanisms that allow items to operate via switches, dimmers and controls. Modules can turn lights on or off, shut off power to a power point or switch on an appliance. The Fibaro modules that Lera uses also have the capability of power metering so you have real-time information at your fingertips about how much electricity your home is using, where.
The Gateway
The Gateway is the hardware that your switches, sensors and modules all connect to. This is the communication hub. It then relays information to a device like a smartphone or tablet where you can set and control functions via an app. While the gateway is located in your home, the app can be used anywhere, allowing you remote management and monitoring of what your home can do.
Remotes
In addition to an app, there are also a host of other ways to control items in your home, including remotes, voice activation and centralised buttons.
Gone are the days when getting “smart” was a complex, time consuming task involving major retrofitting that was reserved for only luxury homes. New technology and innovative products mean creating a smart home is more simple and affordable than many imagine. It can also be tailor-made exactly to you budget and needs.
About Lera Smart Homes
Lera Smart Home Solutions is a leading Sydney installer of smart home technology. Our expert teams work with home owners to design and install smart home solutions that cater to your needs, budget and lifestyle. You can learn more about our services here, or contact us directly for smart home advice.
More info: lerasmarthomes.com.au
