PLCs, DCSs & Controllers


Schneider Electric updates home control solution

September 2015 PLCs, DCSs & Controllers

Schneider Electric has announced significant updates to its Wiser Home Control, an integrated control solution that interlinks electrical, multimedia and telecommunications in a single home automation platform.

Wiser Home Control allows owners to control all appliances in the household and customise settings to adapt to their living patterns through a user-friendly interface for a more eco-friendly and stylish way of life.

“The advances in smart home technology have allowed us to evolve our solution even further,” says Anoop Hariparsad, product manager in the eco-buildings division of Schneider Electric South Africa. “The latest updates to our Wiser Home Control solution simplify home living with automated systems that not only allow for flexible control but also bring great convenience to just about any scenario one can imagine. Owners can look forward to a more comfortable lifestyle, as upgrades can be easily executed and the control system can be accessed from a greater range of mobile devices.”

The Wiser Home Control solution has expanded from its iOS compatibility onto the Android platform, which increases support for more mobile devices in the market. Homeowners can now install Wiser Home Control applications directly on their Android devices, ensuring a smooth transition and control across multiple platforms.

The solution has been extended with several upgrades to its system architecture aimed at providing homeowners with a better user experience and a hassle-free retrofitting and installation process.

• Hassle-free installation: The backbone of the solution, the Wiser Home Controller is updated with the new plug-and-play USB ZigBee interface, which allows for communication with the ULTI EZinstall3 switches. As ULTI EZinstall3 switches are ZigBee-oriented and designed for easy retrofitting, homeowners using the Wiser Home Control solution can now avoid compatibility issues with mechanical switches and directly install ULTI EZinstall3 switches in their homes whenever they want to. With the ZigBee wireless signal, ULTI EZinstall3 switches can also communicate directly with the solution and, as a result, not only can homeowners now control lighting, but also all other home appliances such as air-conditioning, curtains and security. With this innovative Wiser USB ZigBee interface, owners need not worry about the hassle of rewiring or undergoing a major renovation overhaul when they want to upgrade their existing home or install a new system. The Wiser Home Control provides users with an easy and cost-effective way to upgrade their homes with automation technology.

• Reliable control from the comfort of the living room: The added option of using the TV set as a controller. The newly added HDMI port allows homeowners to directly connect their television sets to the controller hub and access the controls through a larger display, for a better navigation performance and ease of use. With the television remote as a controller, users no longer have to worry about their control devices dying and an external keyboard or mouse can also be used for control via the USB port. The lack of a Wi-Fi or Internet signal will no longer hamper control as well, improving reliability.

Furthermore, the system allows owners to manage energy usage around the home through smart automation, which uses sensors and time scheduling to avoid unnecessary electricity wastage, and monitoring features that give home owners greater insights to power usage. These ultimately help consumers reduce their energy bill by up to 30 percent.

“At Schneider Electric, our expertise lies in helping homeowners achieve energy efficiency through smart energy management. We believe that combining technology, aesthetics and design can bring homes to the next level, creating a space, which owners would not want to leave, by delivering great innovations that help individuals and organisations make the most of their energy, both at home and at work,” concludes Hariparsad.

For more information contact Ntombi Mhangwani, Schneider Electric SA, +27 (0)11 254 6400, [email protected], www.schneider-electric.com



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Bringing brownfield plants back to life
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Today’s brownfield plants are typically characterised by outdated equipment and processes, and face challenges ranging from inefficient operations to safety hazards. However, all is not lost, as these plants stand to gain a lot from digitalisation and automation.

Read more...
Power supply with scalability optimised
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
Schneider Electric has introduced the Easy UPS 3-Phase Modular to the South African marketplace. This robust uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is designed to protect critical loads while offering third-party verified Live Swap functionality.

Read more...
Mesh networks: a multidirectional electrical superhighway
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
Today, many power industry stakeholders are faced with mounting requirements for improved grid reliability, resilience and distribution efficiency. It’s a challenge which requires power service providers to rethink their infrastructure. Enter mesh networks, which can overcome the limitations of traditional star networks.

Read more...
Schneider Electric announces 2023 Global Alliance Partner Programme award winners
Schneider Electric South Africa News
Schneider Electric has announced the winners of the 2023 Global Alliance Excellence Awards. Throughout 2023, Schneider Electric’s Alliance Partners supported customers in the digitalisation of industrial automation, delivering value with innovative initiatives, solutions and services.

Read more...
AI is driving data centres to the edge
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
The data centre has become the cornerstone that links our digitally interconnected world. At the same time, the rapid growth and application of AI and machine learning (ML) is shaping the design and operation of data centres.

Read more...
No guarantees - this is why you need a microgrid
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
The energy landscape is dynamic, robust and versatile. One option that is undoubtedly gaining exciting traction is the microgrid, offering a wide range of capabilities that benefit specific energy goals and resultant business strategies.

Read more...
Schneider Electric and NVIDIA collaborate to optimise data centre infrastructure
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Schneider Electric has announced a collaboration with NVIDIA to optimise data centre infrastructure and pave the way for groundbreaking advancements in edge artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twin technologies.

Read more...
Megatech is expanding
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Megatech SA has been importing high quality industrial plant equipment and spare parts since 2016. Based in KwaZulu-Natal, the company specialises in electrical and mechanical equipment and instrumentation.

Read more...
Access to energy – the African imperative
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
The ongoing energy crisis has set back global progress on universal access to electricity. The good news is that microgrids are becoming the most cost-effective way to expand energy access in remote areas.

Read more...
The criticality of maintenance in the water and wastewater segment
Schneider Electric South Africa Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
In a time of water shedding, climate change and ageing infrastructure, the importance of maintenance and support in the water and wastewater segment cannot be overstated.

Read more...