News

New Square D division set to drive the home automation and networking market (14/6/2004)

Square D has launched a new business division that aims to create a new market for affordable home automation and entertainment networking systems.

With products at a third of the price of other equivalent systems, a new nationwide installer network and the most extensive residential electrical product portfolio available, the Residential Systems and Solutions (RSS) division will drive home automation into ordinary homes. Launched alongside the new division is a new range of consumer units to complement an existing range of wiring accessories.

With its extensive products, installer network and considerable investment, Square D expects to become market leader within the next year. From virtually a standing start, Square D predicts selling 2,000 installations within its first year and doubling sales in 2005.

Leading the charge is Square D's Intelligent Home Control and LexCom Home systems, which provide advanced functions at a fraction of the cost of other systems on the market.

Increasing demand

These two product ranges will meet increasing demand from many homeowners to improve the safety and security of their homes and enjoy the enhanced comfort and improved entertainment possibilities that modern technology can provide. The ranges are best fitted in new-build houses and flats, although any property that requires a degree of rewiring can also benefit. Intelligent Home Control is a home automation range that can be supplied for as little as £1,200 for a four-bedroomed house, excluding installation. Typical costs for a more complex system are usually less than one per cent of the cost of the house. Similarly, in a typical four-bedroom house, the equipment to supply a basic LexCom Home system that networks telephone, data and video for home entertainment costs less than £1,000.

With the products aimed at new build projects, builders can enhance the sales potential of their houses and add considerable value to increase their profit.

Greater safety, security and comfort

Square D Intelligent Home Control enhances the safety, security and comfort of homes through advanced features. A few of the many possibilities include:

o Water and gas detectors installed and solenoid valves fitted on the incoming supply to regulate utilities. The sensor detects any gas leaks and sends a signal to the controller to close the solenoid valve connected to the gas supply. This action can be coupled with a signal to turn off the power, while the homeowner can be sent a mobile phone message telling them that there has been a gas leak.

o Similarly by fitting water sensors any leaks will be contained. This can have a great potential saving. The damage that could result from a leaking water connection to a fitted kitchen can easily cost in excess of £10,000.

o Smoke detectors can provide information to the controller that could be used to turn lights on, allowing the occupants to escape while simultaneously turning off the gas supply.

o Lights can be triggered using passive infra red (PIR) detectors to switch on low-level lighting at night. Lighting combinations can also be programmed into the controller to simulate the presence of people in the home.

o Using the Web as an interface, homeowners can easily access relevant information about their house and use the Intelligent Home Control to adjust many aspects remotely. The Web makes the interface user-friendly and provides enhanced security, including monitoring their property via webcams or CCTV.

Home entertainment advantages

With Square D LexCom Home, any home entertainment devices, such as telephones, radios, TVs, or computers can be plugged into any socket in any room. This gives the homeowner greater flexibility in using the equipment through an integrated network.

The high degree of flexibility is possible because all connectors are the same. Each room can be fitted with as many connectors as needed and each of these can be connected, via a central unit, with any service. The Square D LexCom Home system uses specially developed cabling with specifications in excess of existing standards. This means that voice, data and video imaging are all distributed using the same cable.

A room can be fitted with, for example, four connection points that could be used for any combination of entertainment device such as a PC, a laptop, a telephone and a radio. Should needs change, the four connection points can easily be reconfigured for alternative devices.

Square D offers a 15-year guarantee on installed LexCom Home system cabling. The cabling is also future-proofed as it far outperforms existing data cabling systems for example it can handle data at over eight times quicker than the current Cat 5 standard.

www.squared.co.uk