Today, it seems most of us have so much going on every day that we could all use an extra hour (or two) in a day. While we are forced to do everything 24 hours a day, we can work smarter, instead of harder, with home automation. Even with the basic types of home automation systems, you can integrate a network of electronic devices within your home, all controlled and monitored by a central processing unit. Through this CPU, you can perform a handful of tasks with the touch of a button.
Before you can make the most of your home automation tools, you have to install a system. While there are countless home automation products on the market, some that are simple to use and install, others that are more complex, they all stem from one of a few basic types of systems – power line, wired, and wireless.
Power Line
A power line system is the most affordable of all home automation, as it relies on your home’s existing power lines to transfer your tools to a control interface. On the upside, this system can easily cover your entire home. However, on the downside, this technology may need noise filters and isn’t as advanced as other types. Typically, power line systems are X10 technology based, which is the most popular, albeit oldest, protocol for home automation.
Wired
Relying on Cat 5 cables to communicate information, a wired system connects into a control system or control center. While they can be used in new and already built homes, this is much easier to install in a new home. A wired system is a great option for home automation as it’s reliable and can be simple to connect the systems together. Despite a wired system not having many disadvantages, it is still losing its popularity, as many people prefer the ease of wireless systems.
Wireless
Who doesn’t love wireless technology? You don’t need to run cables behind walls and connect multiple systems. Instead, you can rely on WiFi and computers to connect your home automation systems. Its reliability and simple installation is what makes wireless the ideal preference for home automation users. On a side note, wireless systems that use a different radio frequency than your existing home network aren’t compatible with open networks. Make sure to check on this before installing the system.
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Photo by: Gramophone Maryland
It’s good to know that a power line home automation system is the more affordable. My husband and I want to install a system for our house because we’re thinking of selling next year and moving closer to our grandchildren, but we don’t want to spend too much money on it. If we could get a good system for an affordable price, that would be ideal.