Spring Sale: 20% Off Simply Automated UPB Products

Home Controls and Simply Automated have once again teamed up to offer great savings on their UPB lighting control products. Through the month of April, enjoy a 20% discount on every Simply Automated UPB product available at Home Controls.

The online price already reflects the sale discount; no need to codes or coupons, just shop away! This is always a very popular sale; a great opportunity to expand an existing automation system, or start building a new one!

Save Here: www.homecontrols.com/SimplyAutomated

(Installers can enjoy 15% off their already reduced dealer prices.)

‘Tis the Season for Hassle-Free Holiday Lighting

Venturing out in the cold and snow just to turn on/off the Holiday lights is not always enjoyable, and leaving the lights on all night is too expensive! With these kits from PCS, you can enjoy your holiday lights without these hassles.

Plug your seasonal lights into the PCS Appliance Module. Then plug a Desktop Keypad into any other outlet in your home. Using your home’s existing powerlines, you now have one touch control of your lighting. Expand your control by plugging your indoor decorations (like a Christmas Tree) into the PCS Lamp Module for full control of indoor lights (on, off, dim, etc.).

Better yet, with the DDT Desktop Daily Timer, you may program the lights to automatically come on at Sunset and turn off at bedtime. The on/off times may vary so it appears someone is home and never worry whether you left the lights on again.

Are you visiting relatives this season, attending a holiday party or going on vacation? Program the lights to automatically turn on at different times of the night for a lived-in look.

Home Controls is offerings two Holiday Lighting Control kits from PCS:

PCS Desktop Lighting Kit, Plug-In: 1 DDT Desktop Controller/Timer (Tabletop controller with custom timer); 2 Lamp Modules 400W; 2 Appliance Modules 12A; and 1 Plug-In Phase Coupler (Connects the phases in an electrical panel).

PCS Desktop Lighting Kit, Wire-In: 1 DDT Desktop Controller/Timer (Tabletop controller with custom timer); 4 Wall Switches 600W; 1 Lamp Module 400W; and 1 Wire-In Phase Coupler (Connects the phases in an electrical panel).

20% OFF: Simply Automated UPB Light Controls

Home Controls and Simply Automated have once again teamed up to offer great savings on their UPB lighting control products. This is always a very popular sale; a great opportunity to expand your existing automation system, or start your own!

Through the end of the year, enjoy a 20% discount on every Simply Automated UPB product available at Home Controls. The online price already reflects the sale discount; no need to codes or coupons, just shop away!

Our dealers can get in on the savings, too. Log in to your online account and save 15% off your wholesale prices!

Read more »

WebMountain Remote Universal Controller Revisited

Ever since WebMountain  introduced the RUC-01 Remote Universal Controller, I’ve yet to see a comparable controller. I mean, where can you find a controller that can handle UPB, Z-Wave, X10 and ESI installations for less than $280? With its built-in web server, astronomical clock and scheduling capability, the device is a virtual workhorse.

I’ve actually used this device to enable remote access to an HAI Omni LT over the internet. A web-enabled Omni LT! In fact, I’ve also used it to web enable the Stargate from JDS Technologies and RCS CommStars and Homebases. Read more »

HAI Lighting Control Now Shipping with Gen III UPB Features

HAI Lighting Control Products are now shipping with Gen III UPB features!

HAI’s popular powerline carrier based product line, HAI Lighting Control, has received another round of enhancements to meet the needs of home and business installations in 2012 and beyond.  HAI Gen III UPB includes improvements to the core UPB technology and better tolerance for power frequency variations and interruptions in the dimmers.  Gen III dimmer and non-dimming switches allow the user to configure the device as dimming or non-dimming in the field locally at the switch using the rocker. Dimmer and non-dimming switches now feature an automatic timeout so that the light automatically turns off and an optimized TRIAC drive.  Gen III UPB is compatible with all previous generations of UPB products.

And yes, the prices and part numbers are the exact same despite these great improvements.

“HAI sells thousands of HLC devices per month because they are reliable, full featured, and cost effective for custom homes and small commercial”, explained HAI President, Jay McLellan.  “HAI is happy to yet again increase our product features while keeping the price constant.”

HAI Lighting Control Products are now shipping with Gen III UPB functionality from Home Controls.

See the HAI Lighting Control Products Here »
See the entire HAI Product Line Here » 

How Will X10 Closing Affect Your Home Automation?

“X10 is shutting down. It appears the company is headed into receivership and its factories will cease making products for controlling lights and other devices over the powerline. CE Pro has learned from several sources that X10 will no longer make products based on the home-control protocol it created in the 1970s.” Read the entire story here »

Home Controls learned about X10 closing its factory in China the day after is stopped manufacturing parts. After all, being in the home automation business for more than two decades, we have some good sources! Still, it took us by surprise.

We have also learned that Leviton is streamlining its Decora Home Controls (DHC) product line, an X10-compatible lighting control system. It’s not as drastic. The entire DHC product line is not being eliminated, but several parts are being discontinued.

How will this affect you? We’ve heard some interesting reactions already. Are you saddened by the loss of your favorite do-it-yourself home automation system – or are you jumping for joy at the demise of this older and less expensive technology? Do you want to stock up on the remaining X10 devices that remain – or are you going to upgrade/transition to one of the newer, although more expensive systems, like Z-Wave or UPB?

We would like to hear what you think. Good, or bad.

In the meantime, Home Controls still has several X10 components for sale; however, we admit there are some few parts we just can’t get any more. Find them here. »

 

New: UPB Remote for iPhone and iPod touch

We’ve been covering iPhone and iPod touch apps here on our blog for several years. From turning your Apple device into a fancy universal remote to controlling your security system, it’s all possible with the latest technology. X10 and Z-Wave control systems have been available for a while. There are a few new apps for UPB systems, including the new UPB Remote.

UPB Remote allows you to control and view the status of your UPB devices from your iPhone. Coming home late at night, turn on your foyer light to light the way. Did the kids leave the family room light on? Check and see and turn it off from the comfort of your bed. Craving a midnight snack? Dim the lights in the hallway so that you can find your way without tripping on toys. Time for bed, press one button and turn off all of the lights in the house, with the exception of those that you want on. Have a vacation home or UPB devices at your workplace, UPB Remote supports multiple UPB networks, allowing you to control devices in different locations.

UPB Remote uses the configuration file from UPStart to simplify configuration. Most UPB installations already have an existing UPStart configuration, so there is no need to duplicate device and link information in a different application. UPStart is the standard for configuring UPB devices. Read more »