FEATURE HOME AUTOMATION
Kent contractor finds home system efficient and intuitive A
s smart home technology has become more intuitive to install and
operate, one electrical contracting firm in Kent, Faulkner Electric, is finding success through ABB-free@home. Recent advances in home automation technology means that such systems are now affordable and well within the reach of most home owners. Traditionally, smart home systems have required specialist contractors and lengthy projects to set up and program bespoke systems. However, the latest systems have been designed to simplify the process, reduce planning and installation time and therefore save cost. Home owners benefit by having
enhanced control of lighting, heating, blinds or curtains, and front door control, via a smart phone or tablet app from anywhere in the world. Such systems are also attractive to house builders and developers as it allows them to offer something new and different for three to five bedroom family homes. In addition, contractors can tap into the burgeoning smart home market. Darren Faulkner of Faulkner & Sons
Electrical Services has a team of 10 electricians and delivers wiring and installation for prestige house builder Clarendon Homes. He first learned about ABB- free@home at a seminar through his wholesaler Edwardes Brothers, and
was attracted by its ease of use. Speaking about his experience, Faulkner said: “It’s based on an app and you just drag and drop the switches and sensors into the various rooms in the house. The wiring and installation side is simple as it is based on a two-wire bus and is similar to wiring a normal house. After the seminar, I did some classroom training and was confident that I’d picked it up. I then went ahead and commissioned the first house through the app without any more training. “During installation, contractors set up the house layout through an app on a tablet, laptop or desktop computer and once it’s been set up, settings can be changed through a secure log in on the same app and also on a smart phone. During commissioning, the app automatically recognises the smart home devices and the contractor can drag them into position on the layout. The process takes only about half the time required for other smart home systems and needs no knowledge of programming. “Installation of the wiring doesn’t take
any longer. The only difference is that you need to connect a control panel. I tend to split the installation and install one control panel downstairs next to the fuse board, and one upstairs, normally in an airing cupboard. It normally adds about half a day or a day, but the more panels you’ve installed, the quicker they get. Commissioning also takes about half a day, although I allow a day for my scheduling. All-in-all, it only takes a couple of days longer for wiring a smart house than a standard house.” Faulkner was also impressed with the
look and quality of the materials, which have a slim profile contemporary finish, as well as the supply of stock: “From sockets to Cat5 to TV points and plates, everything looks good. I’ve never had to wait long for supplies. They are either in stock or on the shelf the next day.” While technical support is available,
Faulkner found that he was able to pick up the system and be self-sufficient from the start: “I’ve not had to use the technical support a lot but whenever I’ve had any questions, an expert from ABB has been on the other end of the phone to help me through anything.” One of the guiding principles is that
home automation should be easy for contractors and homeowners to understand. Such systems should also be designed for the long term, so that product extensions and new features can be added over time and product support is available continuously. According to Faulkner, these aspects
are important: “Most of my customers pick up the system straight away and are happy to change timings and settings themselves through the app. If they do get stuck at any point, there’s an information button with a question mark and it normally answers any questions they have in the first instance.” However, when customers are a bit less confident or have more complex questions, Faulkner can log in and help from wherever he is: “The system is quite futuristic. It’s possible to log into the app securely from anywhere in the world and make changes or check settings on behalf of customers.” This has been particularly helpful to
Faulkner as it is helping him to offer maintenance contracts for his clients. They gain the peace of mind that they can call on him for to help when they need it. The annual contracts include a service visit to check their system as well as support over the phone, when he can log into the app remotely. Faulkner has also signed up as an approved installer to help win business and open new doors. He now has had approval from Clarendon Homes to install the system in a larger development of 42 new houses.
ABB
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28 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017 | ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
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