Home automation refers to a set of techniques for centralizing and automating the management systems of the house.
If you have a command centralizing the closing of your shutters, it is home automation!
First steps, at least ...
How it works ?
A home automation system brings together several elements.
First of all, the network: the real nervous system of the installation, it allows devices to communicate.
It can be a wired network installed for this sole purpose, such as a wifi or CPL network.
Centralized control, on the other hand, is the brain of the house!
It is accessible from a dedicated control panel, or from a connected screen.
Finally, the devices are the members: they execute the orders sent by the control via the network.
With what devices?
The range of home automation devices continues to grow!
They can be divided into three essential categories: the first, the engines, which control the automations.
Doors, shutters, windows, gates… these are essentially closing and opening mechanisms.
Then come the sensors.
These convert measurements, such as sunshine, temperature or motion, into actions.
For example, triggering a lamp, lowering a blind, turning on the heating… The third category, for its part, is the largest!
Constantly evolving, it includes all connected household appliances.
From the weather station to the home automation vacuum cleaner, including the connected washing machine!
Connected home automation
What is the difference between home automation and connected home automation?
The latter simply refers to a wireless network.
It implies the possibility of controlling the system via a tablet, a smartphone… and remotely!
If you control your heating via a centralized control, it is home automation.
If you control it with your smartphone, connected home automation.
Smart TV, Bluetooth speakers, smart bulbs… from the largest to the smallest, all these devices belong to connected home automation.
Home automation, what for?
Are you still wondering about the meaning of such an approach?
The principle is simple: increase your quality of domestic life, by all possible means.
Comfort
Get out of the car to close the gate, open the garage by hand in the middle of winter… or even close the shutters one by one, at a time when you just want to sleep! With motorization at the head of the line, home automation takes pride in automating all your closings. The goal ? Save time, but also save you unnecessary efforts. Why perform ten actions when one is enough? However, the priority does not only concern the economy of movement: a comfortable place to live also depends on its quality. Home automation thus offers weather stations connected to your network, capable of analyzing your interior. Air quality, humidity, atmospheric pressure, temperature ...
Automation and programming are two complementary weapons dear to home automation. The technology uses the scenario principle: such and such a parameter leads to such and such an action. You can thus combine a significant number of parameters for tailor-made solutions! If the temperature exceeds 25 ° C, if the earth is dry, if the weather forecast does not predict any downpours within two days… without any intervention on your part, your home automation system analyzes the factors. Until starting automatic watering, if necessary!
Functions ideally suited to people with disabilities.
Beyond comfort, home automation can become a personal aid: stairlifts or a bathtub with door are among the possible installations.
A simplified daily life can thus allow the home support of people with reduced mobility.
Or improve the independence of many others, especially the elderly.
Security
Impossible to mention home automation without security. If you go on vacation, you know that a closed home is a prime target for burglars… but how do you fake your presence? Home automation has made it one of its specialties. All you need to do is program a specific scenario: opening and closing the shutters, switching on the lights, playing music… or even false barking. A program that you can modify at any time, even remotely!
The right installation allows you to control your home, wherever you are. Think of the telesurveillance installations, including cameras, alarms and sensors… Do we enter your home in your absence? The motion sensor detects it immediately. It sends a signal to the attached IP camera, which turns on while you receive an alert. Connect to the Internet or to a dedicated application, you immediately access the images, wherever you are! The system can also be linked to a security company, which intervenes immediately.
Beyond burglaries, security also concerns domestic life.
Sensors of all kinds secure your home to prevent major risks: fires, floods, gas leaks, etc. In addition to sending alerts, a home automation system can also initiate corrective measures.
For example ?
Cut off the water supply, shut off the gas… or even turn off an appliance, if the system detects an operating error.
Energy savings
As a direct consequence of a home automation installation, your consumption is reduced to a minimum. Electricity, water, gas: a smart home manages itself… and causes your energy bill to drop by 10% on average. No need to change your boiler settings every two weeks! This is the essential role of sensors. The information gathered is transmitted to the central control, which adjusts the parameters on a day-to-day basis. As for you, all you need to do is access this data to analyze your consumption.
Note that a home automation installation is a tailor-made installation: it adapts to your existing installations. Even in the case of an all-in-one kit, the result will be personalized! How? 'Or' What ? By getting to know you. Many home automation devices thus have intelligent functions, which record your habits and preferences, in order to offer you adapted settings… and consumption at the lowest possible level.
Far from disposable products and temporary devices, a home automation system is above all scalable: in addition to infinitely modifiable programs, it is possible to add devices.
Depending on your type of installation, all you have to do is choose compatible models… and transform an indoor home automation system into a tailor-made system for your garden!
The constantly evolving offering allows you to keep your home moving at the speed of technology.
Home automation, in which room?
From the kitchen to the bathroom, which home automation devices to install?
Home automation offers solutions for every room in the house… or in the garden.
The exteriors
Tired of watering chores? Opt for automatic watering. Daily, depending on the rainfall or the season ... By the way, don't forget mowing: robots can take care of mowing your lawn! They are, moreover, ecological and silent. Often neglected in a home automation system, the swimming pool is a major application. Remotely control the temperature, water quality or cleanliness… without leaving the sofa! Alarms, rolling cover and maintenance robots can also be programmed. They are among the most famous: shutters, doors and gates were the first to benefit from home automation. The principle ? Automate openings and closings. These systems adapt to your existing installations. No need to change your garage door to open it without leaving your car!Videophones and alarms adapt to all configurations. Is your gate remote from the house? A videophone prevents you from moving. It guarantees optimal safety in transit, thanks to the visual inspection. As for alarms, they are as essential for the security of a swimming pool as of a home.
The kitchen
The rising star of home automation, the connected refrigerator offers new functions.
Like many home automation devices, it combines energy savings and home management.
By what means ?
Here again, priority is given to sensors.
These control the temperature and humidity of the refrigerator ... even the expiration dates of your products!
Trigger an oven, modify the temperature or shut it down remotely ... so many options available with a home automation oven!
Automated opening of inaccessible doors and cupboards can make your life easier.
An option that is also valuable for people with reduced mobility.
The living rooms
A flagship element of home automation, the management of heating makes it easy to use! The most recent development is undoubtedly the connected thermostat. In addition to regulating the temperature throughout the house, it is connected to your smartphone. An unforeseen trip? Turn down the remote heating, then turn it back up the day before you return. The arrival of connected bulbs has, for its part, revolutionized home automation. Coupled with motion sensors, the lights turn on when you enter a room, turn off when you leave and are controlled remotely. As for colored bulbs, they offer you different light atmospheres depending on the room, or your mood! Smart TV, multimedia box, home cinema… a growing number of multimedia devices have a network connection.You can access your content from any device! Not to mention the multiroom installations: thanks to them, you can broadcast your favorite music throughout the house. The home automation vacuum cleaner continues to expand its fame. It starts up during your absence, circumvents obstacles, vacuums your soil… before returning to load on its base. Even, for certain models, to empty its tank automatically! As for connected models, you control their activation, and their proper functioning, from a smartphone.vacuum your floors… before returning to load on its base. Even, for certain models, to empty its tank automatically! As for connected models, you control their activation, and their proper functioning, from a smartphone.vacuum your floors… before returning to load on its base. Even, for certain models, to empty its tank automatically! As for connected models, you control their activation, and their proper functioning, from a smartphone.
Speakers, connected sockets: close-up of accessible home automation
There is no need to spend a fortune for your interior to rhyme with home automation: indeed, the many ranges of connected devices that we find on the market today include very affordable devices. Note, for example, that it is possible to make most of your devices controllable, even if they are not connected from the base, thanks to a smart plug. Switch a lamp on or off remotely, deactivate your coffee maker when you are not at home, cut off the power supply to a TV on standby… so many possibilities available with our shopping guide for connected sockets. If you love to listen to music or dream of a home voice assistant,then our selection of the best connected speakers on the market is also there to help you equip yourself with the model that best suits your needs and your budget. Home automation is more than ever within reach.
