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Information Handout: What is Smart Wiring?

How to explain smart wiring to potential clients? Use this information handout to give an overview of how it works in the home.

Whether you want basic audio in multiple rooms of your house or full-on home automation, smart wiring is the standard home wiring system that will let you achieve this.

In 1999 the Copper Development Centre, in conjunction with the National Electrical and Communications Association of Australia (NECA) and electrical product manufacturers collaborated in developing a system where telephony and audio-visual services could run off one central hub and be distributed throughout the home.

Known as smart wiring, it is a system that lets you combine phone and fax lines, pay TV cabling, sound, computer and Internet, intelligent lighting, security, home automation, and much more, at the one time.

It also gives the flexibility to add and change in the future without expensive re-wiring costs. This means that while you currently might not want Internet access in the bedroom, or multi room audio in your dining room, the wires are in place should you change your mind down the track.

The starting point for smart wiring is to pre-wire four to six cables out to each room to ensure your home is covered for basic communication, followed by audio, security etc. Here are the services that smart wiring can help bring into your home. (Please note, your wiring should always be installed by a Smart Wired accredited designer/installer).

Home networking

An efficient home network gives you the convenience of linking any number of computers around your home. Not only can you surf the web at the same time from different computers, you can share files and send documents to a common printer.

Intelligent lighting

Lighting control gives you the convenience of being able to turn your lights on and off from the one spot. Small touch-control keypads replace conventional light switches and these are used to control entire groups of lights located in the same room or throughout the house.

Lighting control can help conserve electricity by automatically switching off or dimming lights when not in use. Sensors can even measure the amount of natural light coming into a room and adjust the artificial light accordingly.

Multi room audio

With a multi room audio system you can listen to jazz in the dining room, classical in the bedrooms and easy listening on the deck all from the one sound system. Multi room audio systems range in complexity from a simple two-room set-up to a whole house set-up, but they generally allow you to control volume and music selection for anywhere in the home.

Multi-media entertainment system

Just one touch of a button will lower curtains, dim the lights and power up your media centre to start a movie.

Security

A security camera located at the front or back gate can be wired into the network, allowing you to see who is at the door by flicking on your TV. Security sensors can detect movement or a door opening and an alarm notification can be sent via email or text.

Climate control

Heating and airconditioning can turn on or off as you leave or enter the house and can be programmed to activate at certain times of the day.

Motorised blinds and louvers can also be integrated with central control and programmed to open or shut at certain times to keep out the heat or let the cool air in.

Automated irrigation

Program your irrigation system to run only when you need it, by using automatic timers. You can also connect a weather and rain sensor on your roof so that it only irrigates when necessary.

Permission is granted for this Information Handout to be copied and used for educational purposes.