Whether you’re a seasoned pro or an electrical contractor who is just getting started in home automation, learning more about INSTEON – the first dual-mesh network that combines powerline signals with wireless radio frequency – is a must. INSTEON offers two key advantages to homeowners and installers. First, the system costs considerably less than alternative technologies, making it an attractive option for a much broader market. Second, it’s scalable, so homeowners can start by automating just a few devices and gradually move up to whole-house automation at whatever pace they choose.

How it works

INSTEON’s dual-mesh network combines wireless radio frequency (RF) signals with communication over a home’s existing electrical wiring for maximum reliability. INSTEON confirms every transmission and automatically retransmits corrupted messages to ensure that commands are executed. In addition, every INSTEON device acts as a two-way repeater, so an INSTEON network actually becomes more robust and reliable as more products are added.

INSTEON is compatible with legacy X10 products, so you won’t need to replace existing switches and modules until your customer is ready. INSTEON products do not have to be hardwired, and no central controller is required, so the system is easy to install.

Clear benefits

Robert Smith of One Call Electric and Lighting in Southern California has installed INSTEON systems in 7,000-square-foot beachfront homes in Newport Beach, Calif., as well as in mid-sized homes in inland Orange County. He has installed the full line of products – including INSTEON SwitchLincs, KeypadLincs, PowerLinc Controllers, ApplianceLincs, and LampLincs – and is impressed with the reliability of the technology.

The price point is also extremely aggressive. Smith carries a competitor’s pricing sheet with him on sales calls and shows homeowners the price difference between the two systems. He sees the two as equal in terms of capability and performance, but the INSTEON system costs much less. “I can completely install an entire INSTEON system in a house for what a competitor charges for just the material,” he says. “INSTEON is the perfect choice for homeowners who want an automated lighting system but don’t want to pay thousands of dollars to install one.”

Many of Smith’s customers use the INSTEON system to set predefined lighting scenes and for art lighting, but the network can easily be expanded at any time to include other functions, as new INSTEON-enabled devices are constantly being introduced. For example, in the near-term homeowners can add First Alert emergency egress lighting devices, Broan/Nu-Tone fans, and Somfy remote-controlled window coverings. Eventually, it will be possible to automate practically any device with an on/off switch, allowing homeowners to enjoy even greater comfort, ease of use and safety.

For advanced applications involving a variety of systems, SmarthomePro is now selling the Elk M1 Gold home automation/security panel, which provides direct control over the INSTEON system. It’s easy to install, easy to expand, and easy to connect to the Internet – allowing the homeowner to access and control all networked devices from any PC in the world.

Getting started
For maximum reliability, the INSTEON network requires the installation of two SignaLinc RFs, plug-in devices that not only extend the range of signals but also eliminate the need for wire-in phase couplers, ensuring that commands sent from one electrical phase to another will be received and executed.

Upgrades
INSTEON products are flexible enough to match the décor of any home and reflect the changing tastes of any homeowner. Once you’ve installed the switches and keypads, you can take advantage of numerous color-change kits and options to modify the original products to your customers’ liking – whether that means changing the color of the SwitchLinc paddles and LEDs or the color of the KeypadLinc LEDs.

Electrical contractors interested in obtaining more information on INSTEON can visit www.smarthomepro.com or call 800-949-6255. Note that INSTEON is designed for two-phase systems and is therefore suitable only for residential applications.

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Top 10 Automation Applications

 

• Check up on the babysitter while at work, or your home while on vacation, through an Internet-connected video camera.
• Adjust the thermostat while you lie in bed, or from a cell phone on your way home from work.
• Heat the hot tub or turn on the oven via cell phone on your way home from work.
• Eliminate the need to walk around the house turning off lights before you leave home or go to sleep; turn off all house lights with the touch of a single button.
• Define a series of events for your morning routine: set the thermostat to warm the room, have lights gradually increase intensity, start the coffee brewing and turn the television on.
• Program your security system to alert you via e-mail or phone when the system detects activity in the home while you are away.
• Organize and control every component of the home entertainment system – television, DVD, VCR and whole-house audio – with a single touch-screen remote from anywhere in the home.
• See who is at the front door without leaving the comfort and safety of your couch through a display on your TV screen showing the visitor at the front door.
• Control all scheduled tasks, such as watering the lawn and turning outdoor lighting on and off, with a simple computer program.
• Ensure that pets are automatically fed and provided with new water and clean litter while you are away from home.