What do Hollywood and smart technology integrators have in common? Both can make you think you don’t need wires.
Behind the scenes, though, you’ll see both rely on wires to make things work, like when Tom Cruise is shown dangling 2,000 feet above the Burj Khalifa skyscraper in Dubai with what appears to be just a sticky glove in one of those Mission Impossible movies.
That’s the magic of the movies.
With smart home systems, the magic happens on a systems rack – also involving wires. It’s actually a structured cabling system that can connect all multiple integrated devices. And just like in Hollywood, you don’t have to see the wires. They are usually neatly tucked away in a dedicated room called the equipment room.
Structured cabling system can be put inside a dedicated room
A structured cabling system is one of many ways that professional installers can have an enterprise-grade network organization, all you need to enjoy a fully automated space.
Just think about it. You’ll benefit from a rack or structured cabling system in the following ways:
- Dedicated space for installation of equipment
- Sufficient wiring management
- Proper ventilation and cooling
- Equipment protection
- Screwed-on systems for keeping wiring and equipment in place
- Uses minimal space
- Labor is quantifiable or easily measured
This is also ideal for general contractors, architects and designers to know so they can make room for designing around smart technology. For contractors and other industry professionals, it’s good for them that they will need some space for a system rack. A 25” x 25” rack should do it. Having it wired this way will make it easy to manage.
A wired system is simply better than any wireless system for a host of reasons if one needs to integrate multiple devices together. This means your audio, video, lighting, motorized shades, security system will also work well using different albeit wireless mobile devices.
Wired audio distribution offers high-quality sound in every room
Think of how your audio sources can be centralized while high-fidelity sound is distributed in all the different rooms, including your common spaces.
This is much easier in a wired audio system like Kef which produces higher quality audio than a wireless system; wireless transmissions will always drop out, especially if you’re connected to it through Bluetooth, which is not designed to provide high-quality audio.
Now, if you’re only renting, a Sonos soundbar is the only wireless setup that’s going to be close in getting high fidelity sound to a wired system. Still, keep in mind that wired audio distributions will keep your wires organized and structured, so wires need not be showing where they can be an eyesore.
Wired video system centralizes your sources
A video distribution system centralizes all of your video sources to one location like a structured cabling system, but it allows you to access your media from any selected rooms. You can call it pre-wiring your space for video distribution, laying down the necessary infrastructure, while homeowners add their own media and screens.
Your professional integrator should have CAT6 and coax wires throughout the home, for starters. This will allow you to hardwire TVs into the network, which will make it easy to run streaming services. Of course, you’ll be better off consulting with a technician to plan, design, install and program this for you – as experts can certainly make both your audio-video needs integrated well, in every space you need them.
Wired surveillance cameras prevent signal interference
One big advantage a hardwired surveillance camera has is that it doesn’t run on batteries. Wired systems also don’t have signal interference like wireless ones, which can fail to respond.
Just on a base level, you have to realize that signal interferences could either be electromagnetic or structural. The former can come from other devices, including baby monitors, fluorescent lighting, microwave ovens, and power lines.
The latter comes from ceilings, floors, walls, or metal filing cabinets. That’s a lot to consider when you go wireless, including battery maintenance whereas wired systems can require a proper professional installation.
Wired smart lighting prioritizes connectivity and reliability
A good smart lighting system puts connectivity and reliability as priorities. Imagine using only one keypad or smart device to manage multiple smart lighting fixtures. That means you only need fewer switches throughout the walls, hence the drilling of holes. In a business or commercial facility, that means you’ll have a smarter, more connected lighting system.
You will need low-voltage cabling, as all components in a lighting control system provide better security with little chance of signal interference that you might experience in a wireless system. This is one of the most important features of a wired system.
Take Lutron’s HomeWorks QS. It features a centralized control that lets the lighting system communicate with itself. Thanks to its centralized control, communication glitches or service issues like unresponsive lights will not be an issue. Savant also offers architectural lighting with sophisticated high-end lighting options designed to fit perfectly with any style or decor.
Wired automated shades mean no battery worries
You probably like wireless motorized shades, but then again, you’ll have to worry about batteries – which can turn out to be even more inconvenient. Also consider that you’ll have unreachable windows in your space – like floor-to-ceiling windows – which makes having wired automated shades even more of a practical choice.
One has to consider the damaging effects of sunlight on your furniture and furnishings. By having automated shades that automatically open and close depending on the time of day, you also make your h–me energy efficient.
Think also of how hardwired powered shades can pair nicely with your home furnishings, but also assure you that they will perform better than wireless ones without costly battery replacements. Hardwired solutions require the help of an electrician, which integrators like Premium Digital Control & Automation can help you with.
Lastly, having wired motorized shades that automatically raise and lower together in perfect symmetry are less worrisome and more economical in the long run. You can even program them with no human interaction.
Conclusion
It may appear as if we missed to mention other wired products like climate control systems but they need to be wired obviously, especially based on the fact that they work not just as a thermostat. The important thing to know is that having wired systems can offer you safer and reliable connections. Most of these products can be integrated if they’re wired.
Of course, when you control them with a mobile device, they are wireless. They will also work remotely. This is possible because a wired system just makes controlling many integrated devices better, wired or wireless. We can also put it this way: Wired systems, if carefully planned and well executed, make a good wireless control system and yes, your personal or business space, look good. Just like in the movies.