Technology is advancing at a dizzying pace. What used to be the ‘latest’ and ‘most advanced’ devices yesterday becomes redundant today. When people embrace any technology, they do so because it adds convenience, comfort and safety to their lives in one way or the other. When it comes to your home, all these three aspects matter a great deal. It’s why many people are now veering towards the smart home concept.

Sure, many homeowners already have Internet-based security systems and landscape irrigation systems that are connected to timers etc; but smart homes are designed and set up to do much more than that. Having a smart home is a lot about Wi-Fi connectivity and more. Take a look at some concepts; this will help you create a plan for your smart home.

It’s not uncommon for companies that launch smart home products to say that connecting their devices to the Internet is a breeze. Sure, they are bang on spot most of the times, but what actually matters a great deal is the Wi-Fi connectivity in your home. These are some of the things you will have to keep in view while planning your smart home:

This is vital, and it’s something you should keep in view while planning your first smart home. The longer the distance the radio waves have to travel, more the connectivity issues. The best way to overcome this kind of an issue is to install the Wi-Fi router at the center of your property and on the ground floor.

You will find a number of products which claim they are able to extend the Internet connection in your home. The simple fact is that multimedia over coaxial power-line adapters, network extenders etc tend to slow down the signal by around 50% and that reduces the consistency of the network. Of course, you won’t find any issues with driving a motion sensor or a smart bulb; however, you might just find it challenging to stream a movie to your tablet/laptop, only because it can’t figure out which Wi-Fi router it should connect to.

At times, installing a network of Ethernet cables turns out to be the best solution. You can use cable runs to install your smart home hub devices in spots that are more accessible. The devices that are connected to these hubs will function more smoothly if you do this. If your home is already wired for telephones, hardwiring for Ethernet won’t be too difficult. You will need to speak with your electrician and check whether he would be able to run an extra cable to the point you need it at, without too much of drilling and sawing.

When you are planning your smart home, ensure there are sufficient power points at different places in your house. While certain devices may be battery-powered, many aren’t. So whether it’s a Wi-Fi router/extender, web security camera etc, you will need a power point to plug them in. And of course you don’t want power cords dangling all over your smart home.

Very simply put, if you are building a new smart home or remodeling your existing one, sit down and plan not just for the current smart devices you plan to install, but for future ones as well. Map out a detailed plan and get some advice from the installer too. Coming back to the first point – focus on getting a very good Wi-Fi router and ensure its positioned at the right point on your property.

Very importantly, get a professional to do all the wiring work once you have your entire smart home plan in place. For more information about smart home device and hardwiring solutions, call Allround Electrical at 1300 169 263. You can also drop us a line via email or by filling out this contact form.

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The existing lighting solutions are efficient and provide us the kind of illumination we need; however, they are binary devices. They generally have only one switch that can be used to turn them on/off. In addition, you have to physically be present to operate them. It’s how electrical lighting has been since it was first introduced towards the end of the 19th century. Of course, the time was ripe for a change and that came in the form of smart lighting.

These lights have a completely different working; they make use of local infrastructure, either wireless/wired and provide much more control over various factors such as the colour & brightness of the bulbs you are using as well as the exact time at which they will get switched on etc.

In short, this gives us the scope to use smart lighting for regular home use, in security lighting (to keep miscreants and other unsavoury elements at bay), as well as lighting for all types of special occasions. This control also helps add to the energy efficiency and lowers your power bills as timers can be used to control exactly at what schedules and timings the lights should come and be switched off.

But that’s not the end of it. You also have a choice of a variety of Internet-based tools that can be used to manage the automation of your lighting installations; and you can do this either from your office a few kilometres away from home or from thousands of kilometres away, from across the globe. That is the beauty of smart lighting!!

When it comes to smart lighting installations, there are a couple of different approaches. This is based on whether you choose to:

If you opt for the former, the lights will be controlled using smart switches/relays. In case you choose the self-installed solutions, there are a range of products to choose from; smart bulbs being the commonest and most popular solution. In appearance, these bulbs are almost like the regular bulbs you already use, but they tend to be a tad more expensive than the latter.

All these can be installed in a hassle-free manner and then directly connected to the Wi-Fi network in your home. But that isn’t how all smart lighting solutions work. There are more complex smart lighting installations which use the lighting infrastructure (that already exists on your property), in addition to a wider network of smart switches and a variety of other automation solutions that are pieces of a broader home automation project.

If this is what you are considering to install on your premises, it’s important that you get a skilled and licensed professional to tackle the job. Keep in mind that the service provider and the products you choose will vary greatly in cost and that’s what you’d have to keep in view wile allocating a budget for your smart lighting project.

Regardless of the option you choose, while the upfront cost would be higher than that of traditional lighting solutions, you will save a significant amount of money on your energy bills, in the long term. For more smart lighting ideas and the best electrical solutions, call Allround Electrical at 1300 169 263. You can also drop us a line via email.

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While ductwork can be quite efficient and effective in its distribution of conditioned air throughout a home, this is only the case when that ductwork is in impeccable working condition. Air leaks in ductwork are among the most common causes of efficiency drops in residential cooling systems. By eliminating the need for air ducts entirely, you can eliminate the risk of such air leaks in your home.

When using a ducted HVAC system, you can also utilize a zone control system in order to better regulate the distribution of heated and cooled air throughout your home. With a ductless system, though, this level of control is just part of the package. Such systems use individual, wall mounted blowers in order to distribute conditioned air directly to the spaces in which they are installed. Each is controlled by its own, individual thermostat. This allows you, the user, to set different temperatures in different areas.

You can have a designated ductless AC system, but you may also choose to utilize heat pump technology in order to both heat and cool your home with one convenient system. When you do, your ductless mini slit system will be able to absorb existing heat from the air outside, and to use that heat in order to efficiently warm your home. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule ductless AC services with trained professionals.