The Official Smarthome Blog – All Things Home Automation

Mi Casa Verde is offering home control that is affordable for everyone, with their new VeraLite, Z-Wave controller. Featuring a faster processor and more memory for downloading apps, Vera is more powerful than ever. The VeraLite is designed for those that already have a Wi-Fi router and want to add home control. Advanced users with multiple device types and plug-ins will find Vera is up to almost any challenge. Compatible with INSTEON, Z-Wave, and X10 devices, the Vera allows user’s to easily integrate new lighting or appliance controls into their home, while also providing them a choice between different protocols to be used. Vera is compatible with all other types of Z-Wave devices. This gives the user a larger selection of devices to choose from. Take advantage of everything the Z-Wave world has to offer and choose the devices that best match your home decor.

Vera is a great solution for new construction and those who already have home automation devices installed in their home or business. Vera’s unparalleled interoperability lets you include your existing devices and add on new device types, such as Z-Wave, INSTEON, and IP cameras. Receive an alert and view live video footage on your web enabled mobile device anytime a motion sensor is tripped in your home or business. Imagine knowing exactly when your children get home from school, when an elderly grandparent gets out of bed, or if motion has been detected while you are away on vacation. Vera can automatically turn on lighting so you never have to approach your home in the dark. change a thermostats temperature in your home while on your way there from work. Monitor energy usage to find bad habits you can change to save money and track your spending. Automatically receive notifications when motion is detected, a certain device has been activated, a flood or leak has been detected, and much more.

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Perfect for hard-to-reach lamps and small appliances G.E.’s 52149 Handy Switch allows you to plug in a device to be switched right at the outlet. You will enjoy the benefits of lower energy consumption and the convenience of not having to plug in, and unplug your favorite lamps or appliances. Featured on the Handy Switch is an outlet which is ready for both grounded and polarized plugs, as well as a toggle switch for controlling the attached load. There is no programming needed for this switchable load controller and the installation couldn’t be easier. Simply plug the device you wish to control into the Handy Switch. After, you will plug the Handy Switch into a convenient, standard, 120VAC outlet. Then, installation is complete and you are ready to test the Handy Switch.

The Handy Switch allows the user to switch devices that usually remain plugged in, but have no switch of there own. Even devices that do have switches (i.e. televisions and other home theater equipment) will consume less energy when switched by the Handy Switch. This is due to low level energy consumption that is occurring while you think the television is off, because it is still plugged in. When a device like a television is switched off by the Handy Switch, no voltage is allowed to flow through the televisions circuitry, preventing that low level energy consumption. Another great use for this device is seasonal lighting, as in switching Christmas lights or lighting decor. This device does not require programming, new wires, or batteries. Read more

The Aspire RF Garage Door Conversion Module is designed to allow you to use your in-vehicle transmitter with any garage door opener. Simply follow the instructions to connect it to the wired accessory terminal block of your garage door opener, and then finish by following the easy programming steps.

About Aspire RF
ASPIRE RF with Z-Wave technology is a new generation of easy-to-install and easy-to-use wireless RF-based home control technology. With a full array of one-touch controllers and a wide range of wiring devices that can be integrated together, creating a wireless home control network using ASPIRE RF is easy. Best of all, installing an ASPIRE RF wireless system requires no special wiring or rewiring, making it ideal for retrofitting existing homes and for new home construction.

Aspire RF and Z-Wave
The high versatility and dependability of ASPIRE RF is made possible by the use of Z-Wave technology. Z-Wave is a highly versatile and dependable RF-based home control technology that effectively transforms any component into an intelligently networked device that can be controlled and monitored wirelessly. ASPIRE RF products are compatible with any Z-Wave certified device. This interoperability with other manufacturers’ devices provides maximum flexibility and expandability. Each ASPIRE RF unit functions as a repeater, using 908 MHz signals to ensure that every command is carried out. Z-Wave’s ‘mesh network’ offers extremely high performance and greater reliability than many control systems. Read more

Cortexa Automation’s EZ1 Home Automation Ready (HAR™) controller offers home and small business owners an easy and convenient way to monitor and control devices within the home or business. The Cortexa can control “Smart” systems and devices in the home including lighting, appliances, HVAC, security cameras and more. Cortexa’s HAR™ controller can also help reduce energy bills by up to 30%, saving homeowners time and money while increasing quality of life. All of this can be accomplished by using a wide variety of INSTEON enabled devices including lighting, HVAC control, door and window sensors, motion detectors, garage door status/control and more. The Cortexa also works with other devices including Z-Wave products, Global Cache, T.E.D (The Energy Detective), DSC Security, Rain8Net, and Somfy shade controls.

Combining INSTEON’s Solutions with the Cortexa can bring convenience and peace of mind along with incredible energy savings. How many times have you wondered if you forgot to close your garage door? Or worried lights were left on, the thermostat was not turned down? With the INSTEON Garage Door Control Kit and the Cortexa, you can automatically receive an email or text message if your garage has been left open too long, and close it right from your iPhone, iPad, or computer at work. With the Cortexa and INSTEON Thermostat you can control your heating and cooling from wherever life takes you.

Are you going on vacation soon? Using INSTEON lighting devices and the Cortexa you can put your home in a “Vacation Mode” and your lights will automatically turn On and Off to give the impression you are actually home. You can even check your security cameras while away, just to make sure everything is okay.
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Keep your property secure and well-lit, but only when necessary. This Heath / Zenith Dual Brite Security Light is only activated when motion is detected, so you won’t be wasting electricity by leaving the lights on all night. Using motion-activated lighting can save you up to 80% on outdoor lighting costs. With an exclusive patented photocell, this security light ensures lights will only operate at night, so you won’t lights won’t activate in daylight when you won’t use them. A manual override mode allows the lights to function as switch-controlled lights, if desired.

Set the Dual Brite timer to keep the lights on at half-bright for a set period of time after dark, providing a gentle light source for high traffic areas, such as front porches or patios. Lights will go to full-brightness when motion is sensed, then go back to half-brightness.

Use this security light as a crime deterrent to keep would-be intruders and trespassers. CreepZone^™is a patented technology that eliminates dead zones in motion detection areas. Standard motion security lights operate with detection zones away from the light but cannot detect motion directly beneath the light. This security light detects motion directly beneath the light in addition to the left, right, and front zones. Pulse-Count technology reads heat and movement in pulses as opposed to single occurrences to prevent false triggering. Read more