Long Driveway, Over the Hill and Far Away

I assisted a customer earlier this week who wanted to control some driveway path lights. He described the driveway as being over 300 feet in length, tree-lined, with a small hill and curves that prevented any line-of-sight from the home to the start of the driveway.  I think in my neighborhood, that kind of a [...]

Be safe! Be seen!

Home Controls is known for its wide array of products that can provide one’s home with comfort, convenience, and security.  Well, Home Controls also carries products that are not home-related, but still offer great value, such as this simple but totally functional illuminated safety vest.  At first, I thought the vest didn’t fit in with [...]

Outdoor Tunes for Christmas

Wanna really spruce up your outdoor Christmas lighting and decorations this year? How about adding the element of outdoor music to accompany the twinkling lights, inflatable snow globes and motorized reindeer? Home Controls offers several makes of outdoor speakers and they come in the standard, rectangular-shaped box, best suited for installation under the eaves, rock-shaped [...]

Comparing Motorized Window Controllers

Within the last two weeks, I had noticed an increase in the number of customers who have called inquiring about wanting to install some type of motorized controller to open and close their skylights and windows.  The windows of concern are usually hopper or awning windows, and are typically mounted up high, making manual operation [...]

UPB Control with IR

Home theater, audio and video equipment, and lighting control go hand-in-hand these days.  Wouldn’t it be cool if you could use your favorite IR remote to also control your UPB lighting?  If you are not familiar with UPB, then pick up the phone and give Home Controls Tech Support a call for a crash course on the [...]

Push to talk… “Time for Dinner!”

Thinking about installing an intercom in your home?  Take a look at this presentation and get the details on five popular wired and two wireless intercom systems.  The wired intercoms all use the ever-popular Category 5e  wire, and for the wireless, one system uses over-the-air RF and the other, the AC powerline. 
Nutone hard-wired intercoms were [...]

Have a 3-Way Circuit for Less!

I’ve received several calls from customers who have done remodeling, had obstructions in front of an existing light switch, or  just wanted to control a light switch from a more convenient location, like from their couch.  The addition of a second switch, without having to run any new wiring, is all that they wanted.
Well, we [...]