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:

All eyes on the modern DCS platform
Schneider Electric South Africa PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Modernised DCS platforms are no longer confined to hardware-dependent architectures. These systems have evolved to combine the strengths of both PLCs and DCS while adding capabilities that make them more open, resilient and collaborative.

Read more...
Why choose between Capex and Opex if you can Totex?
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
In a sector marked by cyclical demand, high capital intensity, and increasing regulatory and sustainability pressures, mining, minerals and metals (MMM) companies are re-evaluating how they approach procurement and investment.

Read more...
AI and the smart factory
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Imagine walking into a factory where machines can think ahead, predict problems before they happen and automatically make adjustments to realise peak performance. This isn’t science fiction, it’s happening right now as AI continues to transform how we run industrial operations.

Read more...
Why your supply chain should be a competitive advantage
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
The last five years have placed unprecedented strain on global supply chains. Leading companies are turning the challenge into an opportunity to transform their supply chains into a competitive advantage.

Read more...
Real-time modelling is the key to a resilient, bi-directional energy grid
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
Utilities and municipalities are facing a challenge as the country’s legacy power grid, engineered for one-way energy delivery from centralised suppliers to end-users, must rapidly evolve to meet a new paradigm.

Read more...
Shielding data centre growth from the looming power crunch
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
Today’s digital economy is placing unprecedented strain on the power grid. The good news is that these challenges are not insurmountable. By adopting proactive strategies such as alternative power sources, infrastructure planning and software, operators can secure capacity, build resilient facilities and scale sustainably.

Read more...
Circuit breaker innovations
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
Recent advancements in circuit breaker technology have seen a major step forward in setting new standards for efficiency and sustainability in data centres, industrial and commercial infrastructure.

Read more...
Automation solution for waste management at incineration facility
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Valmet is to deliver an automation system to Seongnam City’s incineration facility currently under construction in South Korea. By leveraging intelligent automation, the plant will optimise energy production, minimise emissions and deliver efficient, consistent performance throughout its entire lifecycle.

Read more...
Buildings and microgrids for a greener future
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Buildings are no longer passive consumers of power. Structures of almost every size are evolving into dynamic energy ecosystems capable of generating, storing and distributing their own electricity. Forming part of this exciting transformation are microgrids.

Read more...
Africa’s brightest young battery innovators
Schneider Electric South Africa News
Schneider Electric and Enactus, the international NGO dedicated to inspiring students through entrepreneurial action, have announced the winners of the 2025 Energy Transition Battery Innovation Challenge, funded by the Schneider Electric Foundation. It empowers young innovators to design battery solutions addressing the region’s most pressing energy challenges.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved