What stages are there in installing Control4?

After your initial contact, we send you an email asking a series of questions in order to scope the size of the project. The project could be a single room with a single light switch perhaps, or maybe the installation of a fully automated system into a muliti-roomed hostelry.

After receiving your reply we are able to make recommendations and give you a guide to the overall costs.

If you decide to proceed with the install we will visit your premises to formally introduce ourselves and to provide you with further information and answer any questions you might have. At the same time we would take details of the rooms that were affected and give guidance and advice where necessary.

On return to our office we would be able to give you a better idea of the costs based on any changes that may have arisen due to our visit. We will also provide you with a structured wiring plan, where necessary.

To help reduce your cost, our advice and structured wiring plans are provided free of charge. This enables you to provide your own electrician, or perhaps, if you feel up to it, you could DIY. We would give advice and answer any questions you have along the way.

At this stage all you have paid for would be the travelling costs, everything else is provided free, and at this stage you can walk away from the project without incurring any extra cost.

If however, you proceed, the next stage, after installing any necessary wiring, is to purchase the components and connect them to the system. This is something we would do and at this time would ask for a deposit.

When the components have all been connected and programmed to meet your requirements we will then ask for the balance outstanding.

Finally we would show you how the system works and how easy it is to operate, and how simple it is to make changes to the system.

What will I need?

The starter kit would include a HC-300 Home Automation Controller as the control centre of the system. This will enable home automation and control of audio and video streaming throughout the home. A starter kit could provide automation in one room, including A/V control, and would cost around £1000. This is a great base on which to start as the HC-300 is included in this package and is capable of controlling multiple rooms. The package would also include a remote controlled light switch that can be programmed to operate when you are away from home, on holiday perhaps.

The next step up would be multi-room lighting and audio control. This is simply achieved by adding further light switches around the home and multi-channel Audio and Video distribution components.

As an example, we will assume the system is to control the lounge and one bedroom.

Lounge:
1 HC-300 Home Controller (including System Remote Control).
1 Network Router.
1 Dimmer switch.

Bedroom:
1 Wireless or Wired Speaker Point (allows music to be streamed from your networked music library).
1 Pair of Speakers (ceiling or wall mounted).
1 Dimmer switch.

The great thing is, to add the extra devices including the amplifier and speakers is around an extra £800.

To add a light switch to a third room would be around £120. So you can see that it is inexpensive to add further rooms and grow the system gradually.

How does the system connect to other devices?

The network router along with your DVD player, CD player and Satellite/Cable/Aerial would be connected to the control unit. The network router would be configured to either connect wired or wirelessly to the bedroom speaker point, which in turn will be connected to the pair of speakers. The light switches are operated by ZigBee RF communication. Other devices can be added to the system as and when required.

How would I operate the system?

This setup will allow you to control the DVD player and Televison using just one remote control and also give you control over the light switches and music in both rooms using the same hand-held control. Further, the lights can be pre-set to cater for different 'themes'. One theme could be a 'holiday theme' where the lights will switch on or off at different times during the evening to give would-be burglars the impression that the home is occupied. Another theme might be 'cosy film evening' where, on pressing play for the DVD player, the lights in the bedroom and the front light of the lounge are automatically switched off while the lights at the back of the lounge are turned down to 20%.

In the morning, music can automatically switch on to gently wake you, the volume can be set to increase slightly over a period of time. At night you will be able to switch off the lounge and bedroom lights from the comfort of your bedroom, turn off the televison and switch on your favourite relaxing music to gently soothe you to sleep. The volume can be set to reduce slightly at specific intervals before eventually switching off. Individual playlists can be compiled for each family member allowing each person to listen to their own music, which means Mum and Dad do not have to keep swapping CDs whenever they want to relax. The kids can also have their own playlists and the system can be enhanced so that different music can be played in additional rooms.

These are examples of starter set ups. It is completely up to you how and where you would like the system to be installed. You might wish to add televison and speakers to the kitchen, it is your choice.

What will it cost?

For the HC-300 Home Controller plus 1 Wireless Network Router (if you have't already got one), 2 Dimmer Switches, 1 Wireless Speaker Point and a pair of ceiling speakers the cost would be around £1800. The beauty of this system is that it can be added to as and when required. The most expensive part of the system is the HC-300 controller and because you have already bought one as part of your starter kit it means you can add further automation at a relatively small cost, so if you would like to add lighting control to another room you can do it from as little as £115.

You could even add heating control by installing a Heating Thermostat for around £280, and maybe upgrade you alarm system to have a fully integrated security and alert system around £750 extra, and include integrated smoke detectors. All controlled by a hand-held remote control with built-in display or a menu displayed on your television screen, or from the Internet or your mobile phone.

The smoke detector, in the case of an alarm, can send a signal to your control unit which in turn can switch off your heating or climate control, send messages to each set of speakers you have added to your system and can also activate your house alarm if required. The controller could be set up to also turn on the lights in your bedroom and in your hallway to illuminate your exit route.

So you can see, once you have installed the starter kit it is suprisingly inexpensive to add futher automation. You can eventually unleash the full power of the control unit to control your home.