Voltimum looks at how the requirements of today's homeowners, as well as the growing demand for smart homes and energy saving, mean that the day of smart modular wiring devices and wireless communication systems is already with us:
A clear wiring accessories trend in the domestic housing and small commercial building sectors is the ever-increasing demand for more socket outlets and control points, higher specifications and greater 'plug and play' functionality - all with style.
Changes in legislation in terms of safety and the environment (energy saving and CO2 emission reduction), as well as evolving building and architectural practises are also having an effect on the market for wiring devices.
Another trend over the past decade, however, has been for wiring accessories to become much ‘smarter’, more modular and also more stylish. This is accelerating, though the ‘bread and butter’ of the market is still the plain old traditional plug and socket.
It’s still the case that most home buyers rate security measures and an adequate number of electrical sockets for TV, DVD, Hi-Fi, PCs, security and access control and so on, as more important features that influence their buying decisions, than floor coverings and soft furnishings. Now, however, homeowners are starting to switch on to the benefits of smarter accessories as part of the smart home proper.
A decade ago, people started to want more and better sited wiring accessories. These included switches, switch sockets, dimmers and the like - to look after more and more electrical / electronic equipment, such as computers and peripherals, AV, media and kitchen equipment, modern household controls (security, lighting, H & V and hobby equipment). Now, though, the requirement is more onerous – and exciting.
Typical modern ranges now include combination media plates boasting various multimedia ports, USB chargers and connectors, and there is also the provision of central hubs for TVs, HiFi, games consoles and computers.
To take one example, Legrand's Arteor range extends from wiring accessories, through innovative radio automation options, up to fully networked home automation systems based on BUS/SCS technology, which can also be integrated into third party solutions.
While similar in design to the standalone accessories, Arteor automation devices provide a greater range of technological features, from lighting, heating and blind automation to full scenario control.
So today, intelligent’ wiring accessories make homes smarter, with life more convenient and comfortable of occupants, and they also bring business opportunities for switched on electrical wholesalers and installers.
Wireless connectivity and control
Being able to easily, quickly and relatively cheaply adapt and update a home is now more easily and cheaply achievable because of the wireless control and automation products available. Such products and systems can provide extra security, energy saving, comfort and control for homeowners and other occupants, without too much disturbance. And wireless (Wi-Fi) is ideal for retrofit home schemes too, because far less expensive and intrusive rewiring is needed.
Now, there are domestic control systems available – which include smart, wireless or Internet connected wiring devices – that interlink the electrical, multi-media and telecommunication worlds with a single and user-friendly solution. Such systems enable users to monitor, control and access their homes beyond physical boundaries at anytime, anywhere, on their smart phones, computers, door access systems and web tablets – plus a growing multitude of other smart devices.
The advent of the Internet of Things
Then there’s the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT), which are networks of physical objects (or ‘things’), each endowed with electronics, software, sensors and connectivity that will together enable them to achieve greater value and service by exchanging data with the manufacturer, operator and / or other connected devices.
To achieve this, every 'thing' - which could be an LED light source or luminaire, or thermostat, to take just three of a vast range of potential and actual examples - must be uniquely identifiable through its embedded computing system, yet it must also be able to interoperate within the existing Internet infrastructure.
Such devices already exist and are now proliferating fast in industrial, retail, public, industrial and health care buildings – as well as domestic homes. Indeed, the IoT is helping to enable the growing spread of ‘smart’ homes and building automation. This is one increasingly important link to smart wiring accessories, building control and communication.
Typically, the IoT covers many protocols, domains and applications, and should offer advanced connectivity of devices, systems, and services that goes beyond machine-to-machine (M2M) communications.
The interconnection of all such embedded devices will also help enable advanced applications. Not only that, with a huge increase in connected devices expected within a very few years, switched-on electrical contractors and installers should also be able to gain significant extra business from the IoT.
A growth in modular wiring systems
Although a separate topic from smart wiring devices, it’s important not to forget a related technology – that of modular wiring systems. The concept of modular wiring is increasingly being adopted as the logical approach to the final distribution of electrical and control systems within a building.
Modular wiring has been growing in use over the past decade because today’s construction programmes dictate that electrical installations are undertaken efficiently and in the least possible time. With technology constantly changing, installations need to be readily adaptable and offer a high degree of flexibility.
Traditional fixed wiring installations, though, can be seen as labour intensive, offering little in flexibility and remaining relatively costly.
Modular wiring is a rapid and easily installed, modular sub-circuit distribution system prefabricated off-site. A complete installation is achieved, from the distribution board to the furthest point of a circuit, by simply connecting the system components together. Companies providing such schemes can usually provide modular wiring design support, including (for example) Auto-Cad layout designs, voltage drop calculations and drawings recorded etc.
In short, modular wiring systems are conceptually simple, system modifications can be made with a minimum of out of hours working and there is minimum disruption to the fixed installation and building fabric.
Although certainly not suitable for every installation (such as domestic retrofits and re-wiring where traditional techniques are usually more suitable), modular wiring systems find applications in a very wide range of environments, including commercial, healthcare, educational, leisure, retail – and some new residential. Typical applications include lighting (fluorescent, decorative, high and low bay lighting control), power partitioning dry-lined walls, fan coils, VAVs, access floors, data lighting control and BMS structured wiring.
So modular wiring systems can sit well with smart wiring accessories, building control and communication systems in modern buildings.
