Z-WAVE, AN ECONOMICAL HOME AUTOMATION SYSTEM
I was called to a beautiful home recently to check the electrical wiring for a patio door light at the rear of a home and to install a new Z-Wave wall switch provided by the homeowner, Barry W. I have to admit I never heard of a Z-Wave so when the customer called, I Goggled “Z-Wave”. Well, 15,800,000 results were too much to read in one sitting. So then I typed in “Z-Wave information”, now I had 6,640,000 results, that’s more like it,… Just kidding, even that many links is more than I could ever hope let alone want to read. Anyway, after my research, I felt a little smarter. Our electrical contracting company offers same day electrical service and I was the electrician that drove out to the home with the electrician’s service truck.
Thanks to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z-Wave, here are two sentences that describe what it is: Z-Wave is a proprietary wireless communications protocol designed for home automation, specifically to remote control applications in residential and light commercial environments. The technology uses a low-power RF radio embedded or retrofitted into home electronics devices and systems, such as lighting, home access control, entertainment systems and household appliances.
Also, Remote home control and management: By adding Z-Wave to home electronics such as lighting, climate and security systems, it is possible to control and monitor these household functions via remote control, based on manual or automated decisions. The control can be applied to a single device or group of devices, in a single room or zone or throughout the entire home. One of the benefits of Z-Wave over power line communication technologies is the ability to function in older houses lacking a neutral wire. Z-Wave devices can also be monitored and controlled from outside of the home by way of a gateway that combines Z-Wave with broadband Internet access.
Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised by the flexibility and power this simple computerized electronic device provides to the home owner who wishes to automate their electrical loads at home or business from anywhere in the world. In the case of these two homeowners, they are both professionals that frequently have to work overtime. Their Z-Wave is connected to their ADT security system and either the husband or the wife can access their Z-Wave home automation and their ADT security system from their laptops at work. They are able to visualize the system, turn on or off whatever loads they desire, and modify the operation, as they desire.
20 years ago, systems like this sold for tens of thousands of dollars, now the homeowner can pick up a device for a modest amount starting from $30 as long as the home or small business has a Z-Wave hub already installed and programmed. When a device is added, as in the case with this homeowner, he logged into his notebook and Z-Wave, I turned the newly installed wall switch on and off a dozen times, he located
The switch on his computer, and connected it to his Z-Wave Hub and his notebook. He was able to turn on and off the back patio light fixture from his notebook. In this Case, the homeowner, Barry, could have done that from anywhere around the world,
This article written by Gary Stankiewicz, State Certified Master Electrician, Commercial Electrical Inspector, and State Licensed Electrical Contractor for Sparks Electric .com, LLC in Milwaukee, WI, www.SparksElectric.com. Thank you for reading and please feel free to sign up for our free newsletter.
Leave a Comment
Pages
- About Us
- Back-up Generators
- Blog
- Brown Deer Electrician
- Glendale Electrician
- Lightning Surge Protection
- Menomonee Falls Bay Electrician
- Milwaukee Electrician
- Newsletter Thank You
- Reviews
- Services
- Shorewood Electrician
- Sparks Electric
- Specials & Discounts
- Videos
- Wauwatosa Electrician
- West Allis Electrician
- Whitefish Bay Electrician
Archives
Categories
- Uncategorized (47)
Connect With Us
Z-WAVE, AN ECONOMICAL HOME AUTOMATION SYSTEM
I was called to a beautiful home recently to check the electrical wiring for a patio door light at the rear of a home and to install a new Z-Wave wall switch provided by the homeowner, Barry W. I have to admit I never heard of a Z-Wave so when the customer called, I Goggled “Z-Wave”. Well, 15,800,000 results were too much to read in one sitting. So then I typed in “Z-Wave information”, now I had 6,640,000 results, that’s more like it,… Just kidding, even that many links is more than I could ever hope let alone want to read. Anyway, after my research, I felt a little smarter. Our electrical contracting company offers same day electrical service and I was the electrician that drove out to the home with the electrician’s service truck.
Thanks to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z-Wave, here are two sentences that describe what it is: Z-Wave is a proprietary wireless communications protocol designed for home automation, specifically to remote control applications in residential and light commercial environments. The technology uses a low-power RF radio embedded or retrofitted into home electronics devices and systems, such as lighting, home access control, entertainment systems and household appliances.
Also, Remote home control and management: By adding Z-Wave to home electronics such as lighting, climate and security systems, it is possible to control and monitor these household functions via remote control, based on manual or automated decisions. The control can be applied to a single device or group of devices, in a single room or zone or throughout the entire home. One of the benefits of Z-Wave over power line communication technologies is the ability to function in older houses lacking a neutral wire. Z-Wave devices can also be monitored and controlled from outside of the home by way of a gateway that combines Z-Wave with broadband Internet access.
Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised by the flexibility and power this simple computerized electronic device provides to the home owner who wishes to automate their electrical loads at home or business from anywhere in the world. In the case of these two homeowners, they are both professionals that frequently have to work overtime. Their Z-Wave is connected to their ADT security system and either the husband or the wife can access their Z-Wave home automation and their ADT security system from their laptops at work. They are able to visualize the system, turn on or off whatever loads they desire, and modify the operation, as they desire.
20 years ago, systems like this sold for tens of thousands of dollars, now the homeowner can pick up a device for a modest amount starting from $30 as long as the home or small business has a Z-Wave hub already installed and programmed. When a device is added, as in the case with this homeowner, he logged into his notebook and Z-Wave, I turned the newly installed wall switch on and off a dozen times, he located
The switch on his computer, and connected it to his Z-Wave Hub and his notebook. He was able to turn on and off the back patio light fixture from his notebook. In this Case, the homeowner, Barry, could have done that from anywhere around the world,
This article written by Gary Stankiewicz, State Certified Master Electrician, Commercial Electrical Inspector, and State Licensed Electrical Contractor for Sparks Electric .com, LLC in Milwaukee, WI, www.SparksElectric.com. Thank you for reading and please feel free to sign up for our free newsletter.