Smart Home IO

Amazon Echo is now shipping from Amazon. The smart hub is primarily controlled with verbal commands which was built in to be the primary source of control over the device. Amazon and the Echo hub is banking on verbal commands being the preferred method for control rather than using your smart phone as many other system utilize. The Amazon echo has a long way to go to be the main smart hub to control your house as it lacks the ability to communicate with many other smart devices currently used in the home. As of now we see the device as a novelty device with many nice features and uses but let's see what future updates will bring to this novelty but still cool device.

Smart Home wall clutter can happen very easily to a home when an automation system design has failed to take into account the ascetics of the home. This wall clutter phenomenon especially happens when you have too many different contractors implementing electronics within your household. Most of the time when this happens the electronic elements within your home do not play well together and for many create unnecessary devices and switches and thermostats and touch panels that clog up your wall space and look with drywall acne throughout your home. With the advent of the iPad and pairing this with a well designed and implemented home automation control system, placing the tablet on an inductive charging dock it is a nice way to prevent wall clutter for your smart home. Keep your walls clean and free of electronic clutter by consulting and talking with your contractor or builder and demanding that you have one cohesive system that can limit the dials and switches on your w

Heat kills electronics especially when they are improperly installed and stacked one on top of the other. Electronics in general do not like heat and when it rises with no spacing for air flow the components heat builds off of each other creating a hot damaging environment for the more and more intricate devices we use. To help combat this problem properly space electronics with the help of equipment rack enclosures. Moving the hot air out and away from the equipment is a great first step in maintaining the build up of heat around your components. The best practice to eliminate the heat generated from your electronic equipment is to have a climate cooled space where the electronics reside to always keep them running at a climate controlled temperature and environment.

Protected wiring is a must when running wires outside. There are many reasons why running outdoor wiring in PVC or metal conduit is the best practice to protect the wiring and improve the longevity of the wires.  The outdoor elements can wreak havoc on any type of wiring from animals chewing on your wires to the sun beating down on the wire breaking down the protective layer for which all wiring needs to operate and work correctly. If you have gardeners or you are a DIY yard specialist you may at some point in time run into your outdoor wiring with a shovel or a set of shears trimming your hedges. Outdoor conduit can provide that added protection for your wiring to make it last for years to come. If you see a technician not protecting the wiring they are running you can be sure they are going the lazy route and you should be weary of their craftsmanship.