Issue Focus Powering the Smart Home

By Jimmy Paschke

Design and functionality are in demand for residential technology installations, and that’s no surprise as homeowners continue to seek seamless, smart, and stylish home systems. With this demand, manufacturers are faced with the challenge of creating functional, reliable, and interoperable products that fit into any room, without compromising a home’s design. In a market often judged by looks and praised for performance, there is no longer space for unmanaged cables and boxy backup devices.

The power environment is one of the few foundational elements on which all installations rely on. Unfortunately, power management devices often fall victim to scrutinous looks as clunky, loud, and wire-messy UPS units and diagnostic tools can stick out like a sore thumb. However, they are perhaps the most important part of an install. As homeowners invest in systems to make their homes more attractive, functional, and comfortable, they often do not realize that the devices and systems that make their home unique must be protected from power problems caused by existing conditions, both direct from the grid and from other powerdrawing technology like HVAC, appliances, and lighting.

Power anomalies threaten more than just continuity; spikes, sags, surges, and other distortions in the power environment can cause permanent damage, gradual degradation, and recurring disturbances of electronic equipment. For an integrator, this can turn into extra service calls, equipment requiring premature replacement, and loss of trust from clients. Home technology professionals need to prioritize power management that protects, monitors, and manages across a variety of electronic environments.

To ensure smooth installations and successful growth, integrators should establish a power foundation for homeowner clients to protect against these anomalies. The style of solution typically needed to protect residential installs is one that will measure and report on electrical parameters, including voltage, current, power, frequency, power factor, and crest factor, while also providing advanced surge protection and power conditioning in an appropriately sized form factor.

A variety of these products exist, but with the current design demands, integrators will want to be sure that the device not only offers this deluxe protection, but also pleases the eye of design-conscious clients.

Remote monitoring and reporting are also integral pieces of the power management puzzle that shouldn’t be omitted. If the integrator has enabled remote monitoring of the homeowners’ power infrastructure and equipment, they will be able to identify the issue in no time, in many cases before the homeowners themselves even realize anything is wrong.

The latest in power management devices offer a combination of the most in-demand technologies for monitoring, protection, battery backup in a single unobtrusive device.

Remote monitoring saves the time of scouring the system for errors while also allowing technicians to service systems without having to physically assess the equipment. In addition, being able to monitor and log power metrics over time will ensure the system is always running at peak performance, providing peace of mind for homeowners and integrators alike.

To shield users from the most pressing power challenges, from inconvenient blackouts to lockups to full blown destruction, and to protect installers’ reputations, the right power conditioning and management equipment is critical. But remember that home technology installations require a combination of design and functionality, and that homeowners often take power for granted and assume if you plug a device into the wall, it will just work without error or risk. Integrators need options that will keep them competitive in an aesthetic-focused market.

When it comes to competing for looks with sleek TVs, regal window treatments, concealed speakers, and more, how can pros protect installs from boxy, wire-riddled eyesores? Not every power management device can blend all these features into a neat little box. Delivering on the promise of the best of both worlds – functionality and design-friendliness – the latest in power management devices offer a combination of the most in-demand technologies for monitoring, protection, and battery backup in a single unobtrusive device. SurgeX Squid is one example of this: It allows integrators to say goodbye to clunky wall warts without compromising on remote monitoring and power management.

The small but robust device brings valuable visibility into the assessment of power quality of each installation. It adds more install flexibility than traditional monitoring and management tools, as its compact form factor can mount to the rear of an AV rack – hidden away but just as powerful. Removing messy wires and dongles from the equation, it has an integrated network connection. And if dealers can utilize the connectivity, Squid will provide protection and reboot control for over four AC outlets and two banks of DC for a range of voltage leads – removing the clutter from the equation.

When it comes to developing a smarter home, the convergence of design and technology adds pressure to spec the right products for the job. No longer does power management need to be a carbuncle; the protective, insightful gusto that an integrator needs can now be installed in one compact device.

When tucked away, homeowners and integrators alike can adopt a newfound confidence that their systems will remain online and running, complete with management just a quick, remote checkup away. And, most importantly, homeowners can enjoy their investment in their technology.

Whether it’s in a gaming lair, a home theater, a home office, or a family room, the only thing that remains in sight are the design-centric selections that clients have made for their home, while power management works behind the scenes to guarantee electronic devices have a longer, uninterrupted lifespan. x