The Official Smarthome Blog – All Things Home Automation

The BLUEline Innovations PowerCost Monitor™ and Energy Meter informs you in real time of exactly how much electricity your household is consuming. A wireless sensor clamps to your energy meter and transmits information to a portable, wireless receiver that displays your energy usage information on a large LCD screen. Various electricity rates can be programmed for extreme accuracy, including single (flat) rates, tiered rates, and time-based rates. The sensor measures the speed of the wheel and the display unit converts that information into current and cumulative dollars and cents and kilowatt hours. By monitoring your energy costs you can decide when to cut back on your energy use and save money; validated 3rd party research puts actual savings at 6% to 18%. The PowerCost Monitor uses smart technology that calculates your home’s electricity use and displays that information in a way that we can all understand, in dollars and cents. The PowerCost Monitor requires the use of four AA batteries, included.

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Whether you’re just getting started in home automation or even if you’re getting ready to upgrade, INSTEON products are a reliable and affordable solution. Using both the existing wires (power line) in the home and radio-frequency communication, INSTEON adds remote control and automation to lighting, appliance and home control applications of all types. While INSTEON is designed for the average Do-It-Yourself homeowner, having a little extra help never hurts. INSTEON: Smarthomes for Everyone is a book that will make installation and programming your INSTEON devices a snap. It will guide you through the process of designing, installing and programming a complete and reliable Smarthome system. With step-by-step instructions, you will be able to setup path lighting, scene lighting, security and environment control with the touch of a button. Turn off lights over the Internet, close your garage door from work, shut off every light in your home from your nightstand and lock all the doors. From beginner to expert, this book will guide you through the process with step-by-step instructions and leave you with a complete understanding of your system. Get more out of your home with INSTEON Smarthome technology.

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Increase the versatility of an INSTEON home automation network by adding the I/O Linc – INSTEON Doorbell and Telephone Ring Alert Kit. Never again will you have to miss out on an important phone call or visitor because you didn’t hear the ringer or doorbell. Use this kit to notify you of a visitor or phone call when working (or playing) remotely in the backyard or in the garage. This kit is also great for when you’re listening to music and can’t hear the phone or doorbell. It’s also perfect for those that have a difficult time hearing certain frequencies. The doorbell and ring detector will initiate an INSTEON signal when a guest arrives and presses the doorbell or if you receive a telephone call. Using INSTEON devices such as Dimmers and Switches, Wire-in/Outlet Modules, and/or Plug-in Modules, you can program an individual or group of lights and devices to turn on as an indicator. Up to two doorbells and/or one phone line can be connected to the detector. Adding an additional I/O Linc to this kit will allow for two distinct INSTEON commands to be sent from separate door bells or from a door bell and a telephone.

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Irvine, CA – May 18, 2009 – SmartLabs, Inc. is pleased to announce the latest releases in their line of I/O Linc INSTEON Low Voltage / Contact Closure Interface Kits: I/O Linc – INSTEON RF Proximity Reader Kit and I/O Linc – INSTEON Doorbell and Telephone Ring Alert Kit.

About I/O Linc INSTEON Low Voltage / Contact Closure Interface
I/O Linc is a universal INSTEON interface with contact closure sensor input and a low voltage / contact closure relay output, monitors and controls any low voltage device. Thanks to several different output relay modes, I/O Linc can easily adapt to different types of devices. “Contact closure and low voltage are used to automate a wide array of home systems and devices,” says Laurie Maroni Vice President of Marketing at SmartLabs,”I/O Linc is flexible enough to support each type of home system and affordable enough for several to be placed around the home.” For the same price as a single low voltage interface with many inputs and outputs, several I/O Linc modules can be placed around the house in the locations where they are needed.

I/O Linc – INSTEON RF Proximity Reader Kit
Combining the features of I/O Linc and an RF proximity reader, this kit will allow users to wave a wireless RF ID key tag in front of the proximity reader and send INSTEON commands. The INSTEON signal can be used to unlock doors for access control (door lock sold separately) and/or initiate lighting scenes using INSTEON devices such as Dimmers and Switches, Wire-in/Outlet Modules and/or Plug-in Modules. The weatherproof RF proximity reader can be mounted near a door or entry area and includes six RF ID key tags with one trillion possible code combinations for added security.

I/O Linc – INSTEON Doorbell and Telephone Ring Alert Kit
The Doorbell and Phone Ring Detector works with I/O Linc to initiate an INSTEON signal when a guest arrives and presses the doorbell or if you receive a telephone call. Using linked INSTEON controlled devices you can create a visual alert with lighting to let you know when your phone or doorbell. Up to two doorbells and/or one phone line can be connected to the detector. Adding an additional I/O Linc to this kit will allow for two distinct INSTEON commands to be sent from separate door bells or from a door bell and a telephone.

Other I/O Linc Kits Available:

I/O Linc – INSTEON Door / Window Sensor Kit
I/O Linc – INSTEON Telephone Alert Kit
I/O Linc – INSTEON Remote Control Door Strike Kit
I/O Linc – INSTEON Garage Door Control & Status Kit
I/O Linc – INSTEON Remote Chime Alert Kit
I/O Linc – INSTEON Leak / Flood Sensor Kit
I/O Linc – INSTEON Indoor/Outdoor Photobeam Entry Alert Kit
I/O Linc – INSTEON to Somfy RF Drape Control Kit
I/O Linc – INSTEON Freezer Failure Sensor Kit
I/O Linc – INSTEON High and Low Temperature Threshold Kit
I/O Linc – INSTEON Freeze Sensor Kit

About INSTEON
SmartLabs’ INSTEON home automation technology uses a simple, low-cost combination of wireless and power line communications. It provides customized control and communication of lighting and appliances that let you create a network of devices and scenes that make life convenient, fun and energy efficient. With over 200 INSTEON-compatible products, it’s easy to link together systems such as lighting, security, HVAC, A/V, appliances and sensors that can be accessed from inside the home or anywhere in the world.

For more information:
www.insteon.net
www.smarthome.com

Contact:
SmartLabs, Inc.
Mike Scharnagl 949-252-6962
pr@smarthome.com

Take full advantange of your INSTEON network by using the I/O Linc – INSTEON RF Proximity Reader Kit . Add access control to your property or trigger INSTEON scenes, or do both at the same time, via an a RF reader and key tag. The weatherproof RF proximity reader can be mounted near a door or entry area and will initiate an INSTEON signal when the appropriate RF ID key tag is presented. That signal can be used to unlock doors or to activate a scene using linked INSTEON devices such as Dimmers and Switches, Wire-in/Outlet Modulesand/or Plug-in Modules. The Proximity Access Control System includes six RF ID key tags with interchangeable color inserts for identification purposes; there are one trillion possible code combinations for added security against duplication. The proximity reader can accommodate up to 25 users, additional key tags are sold separately.

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