The Lutron Home Control+ iPad App is here!

By: Thomas Bechtel

The Lighting control gurus at Lutron have done it again. The Lutron Home Control+ App for the iPad is now available. A little background… lighting control in a home is a  fantastic luxury feature. Remote control, scene setting, keypad interface, daylight sensing, zone lighting, zone grouping and time clock events can all be part of a modern lighting system. The drawback is that these systems are pricey and traditionally require hard wire to all light switches and keypads. Great for new construction, not so great for remodeling existing structures. Lutron solved this challenge with Radio Ra2, which is a wireless lighting control system. Same proven Lutron features, but now on an exclusive wireless platform. Being wireless, the next obvious evolution was to tie the system to WiFi. The Lutron Home Cotrol+  App gives access to the lighting control system from anywhere. The App provides typical light control plus scene adjustment, shade and blind precise movement, time clock events, an energy “green button” and control for Lutron’s upcoming wireless programmable thermostats. The app is designed for iPad and iPhones and requires a total Home Control system (Radio Ra2 or HomeWorks QS)  and can be downloaded from the iTunes App store for $19.99.

Mirror Mirror on the wall, bring me news, weather, sports… bring it all!

By: Thomas Bechtel

There is no mistaking the wow factor of having a TV display disappear behind a mirror. It’s as though the image comes out of nowhere. Bath, bedrooms, wet bars or even purpose built architectural elements are all potential applications. The units out of the pioneering German mirror LCD display company ad notum© are impressive. At a recent demo I was able to put one of their “magic mirror®”units through the paces. I was not let down.  While the visual quality was stunning, I found it even more exciting to know that ad notum has solved a number of installation challenges. Typically, installation of these products are intensive: special bracing, intricate positioning, cooling, and a host of other concerns that were complex to say the least.  On the other hand, Ad notum© uses a unique LCD   “near surface” mounting system, remotely tethered electronics, and they source the mirror glass as well. All great features that lead to a  less complex, more straight forward system configuration for the professional technology integrator. Pricewise,  LCD mirror products are not for the faint of heart. However,  if you are looking for a practical LCD mirror display that has high quality German engineering, killer aesthetics,  and  a jaw dropping wizzy tech factor,  this is it!

Twelve miles of digital wiring in one home? Digital Home Lifestyles knows every foot of it.

ByDigital Home Lifestyles, an established technology integration company located in Phoenix, began prewire services on a 20,000 square foot estate home in the Phoenix area.  Using triple the number of technicians that normally to do the work, Digital went to work pulling twelve miles of combined phone, data, audio/video, automation and security/surveillance wire throughout  the home. “While twelve miles of cabling may sound like a lot, it’s  consistent for a home of this magnitude” says Thomas Bechtel, of Digital Home Lifestyles… “This home requires various levels of technology to operate the subsystems. Interconnections, both wired and wireless, form the behind-the-scenes nervous system that serves as the system backbone.” Once prewire is complete, and the drywall goes up, the Digital team performs a final integrity test on the wires before final connection and commissioning of audio/video source equipment.         

By: Thomas Bechtel 

Technology integration on a swimming pool? Yes, and an 80% energy savings to boot.

By: Thomas Bechtel

Home owners are utilizing higher levels of home automation, lighting control, security and audio/video integration than ever before. As these systems morph to a focus on energy control, a swimming pool is a somewhat overlooked application that really represents some low hanging fruit for the homeowner related to both automation and energy savings combined.   A swimming pool’s electrical functions have become quite complex.  Single touch valve operations, multi pump integration, water features, advanced sanitizing, event timers, spa/pool heat pump/gas heating, solar control, traditional/fiber optic lighting, dedicated cleaning systems, and misting systems can all be specified on a modern day pool build. At Digital, we integrate  these functions with wireless touchpad control typically through a Crestron or Élan automation platform  linking a Pentair digital pool equipment interface. It’s great to have the benefits of automation, but tack on the energy savings and it’s a real winner.

On a recent install, Digital installed a Pentair wireless control system driving complete system automation, along with  two Intelliflo 3 horsepower intelligent pumps. Through timer event programming, and the processor controlled variable flow settings on the pool pumps,  this pool will see an astounding 80% energy savings over the course of a year.  Pay back on these pumps will conservatively be in about 30 months!    Wireless tech, automation, whisper quiet operation, and a pay back on the investment. Does it get any better than this?

The Ahwatukee Mountain Park Community Church sounds and looks better than ever.

By: Thomas Bechtel

Christmas never sounded so good as it did this past season at Mountain Park Community Church. Digital was employed to upgrade the aging sound and video systems in the Church’s main worship center.  The upgrades included a complete Meyer Sound Labs system, Panasonic high performance PT series video projectors, and Draper fourteen foot wide, 16x9 ratio,  borderless video screens. The Meyer system included the award wining Meyer UPQ-1P speakers and the new Meyer Galileo digital signal processor.  Digital utilized Meyer’s MAPP online prediction tool to determine the best choice and location of speakers. The results?... The upgrade drew rave reviews from church leadership during its debut at four worship services conducted on Christmas Eve. Engineering, design and installation lead by Digital’s Glenn Peacock, who also enlisted some talented church volunteers to help with the installation.