What is the best home automation system?
Or maybe you're just curious about what home automation has to offer.
This is how it usually starts... At least that's how it started many years ago when I first connected a "Clapper" (or clap system) to my bedside lamp.
Clap your hands; the lamp turns on. Clap your hands again; the lamp goes out. Magic...I was hooked!
Home automation has come a long way since the humble days of the Clapper. There are many more options of different home automation technologies and products, and they all claim to be the best home automation system; EVERYONE can't be the best!
The truth is that every system has its strengths and weaknesses. If you're just getting started with home automation, figuring out which smart home system is right for your needs can be a little daunting.
These days, different home automation systems tend not to play well together (why don't we get along?). This is slowly changing...
But for now, we have a decision to make...
Which home automation technology is right for me?
- Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC): It is possible to have remote control of all home energy monitors through the Internet that incorporates a simple and friendly user interface.
- Lighting control system – A "smart" network that incorporates communication between various inputs and outputs of lighting systems, using one or more central computing devices.
- Occupancy-aware control system: It is possible to detect home occupancy with smart meters and environmental sensors such as CO2 sensors, which can be integrated into the building automation system to activate automatic responses for energy efficiency and building comfort applications .
- Device control and integration with the smart grid and a smart meter, taking advantage, for example, of the high output of solar panels in the middle of the day to run washing machines.
- Robots and home security: A home security system integrated with a home automation system can provide additional services, such as remote monitoring of security cameras over the Internet, or access control and central locking of all doors and perimeter windows.
- Leak detection , smoke and CO2 detectors
- Indoor positioning systems (IPS).
- Home automation for the elderly and disabled.
- Pet and baby care , for example, tracking pet and baby movements and controlling pet access rights.
- Air quality control . For example, people at home use Air Quality Egg (AQE) to monitor the air quality and pollution level in the city and create a pollution map.
- Smart kitchen and connected kitchen. Using voice control devices such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home or mobile applications to manage coffee machines, ovens, refrigerators and multi-cookers, such as Instant Pot or robotic kitchen.
ELAN
ELAN offers a generous selection of equipment, along with custom, professional installation to make your home welcoming and easy to manage.
ELAN home automation systems give homeowners the convenience of controlling their homes using remote controls, touch screens, mobile apps and more . The company does not sell pre-selected equipment packages like many home security monitoring companies do. Instead, customize your system to fit your home and needs with equipment recommendations from a local dealer.
Since it is only purchased from certified dealers with the brand, you can be sure that the one you choose is a trained professional. Distributors, in turn, can draw on a variety of brands between 50 to 100 hardware options. With ELAN, you get a substantial selection of equipment in case you prefer a particular brand. All equipment is covered by a 1-year warranty, which is shorter than average, but not out of the ordinary in the home control system industry.
The ELAN app works with your smartphone or tablet to let you do things like set the temperature in your home, check that doors are closed securely and let children or people into the house, as well as set the entertaining mood. controlling lights, music and more. The application is also equipped with a multipurpose intercom that allows audio and video communication between its different users locally and remotely. You can make sure your kids are safe, keep an eye on a pet, see who's at the front door, make sure the house temperature is at an energy-saving level, and much more with this versatile tool. This handy app also comes with a do not disturb mode for when you need to focus on things other than household matters. ELAN home control equipment is quite advanced, allowing you to operate the system with voice controls.
You can also reduce your utility bills and make your home greener with features that increase and decrease shades, open or close blinds, adjust room temperature, turn off the pool heater, and more. You can do it yourself with a tap of your finger on your smartphone or tablet, or you can set ELAN's smart system to perform tasks automatically. ELAN also provides you with a history of your home's energy usage.
The company's website has a gallery of homes, amphitheaters, entertainment areas and other buildings that it has outfitted with an impressive array of safety and lifestyle equipment. You can browse the gallery to get ideas for devices and services you may want for your home. The website also includes a brochure that clearly describes and explains everything you can get from an ELAN system, including the ability to adjust pool temperature and set a schedule for your automatic garden sprinklers.
COMMANDFUSION
CommandFusion designs and manufactures a range of automation and control hardware and software. Allows you to create the definitive control system.
Combine the flexibility of the modular hardware range, with the power of iViewer on your mobile device to control almost anything. Whether your home automation or commercial control, Commandfusion products will fit any project.
Control your home with CommandFusion
Use CommandFusion to create the ultimate smart home. Think of our hardware as the glue that connects all your normally independent elements. Then, use iViewer to control everything from a single, easy-access control panel: your phone or tablet!
Just a few of the systems that CommandFusion makes it easy to connect to:
Home theater (TV, surround sound, projector)
Lighting, Blinds, Curtains
Heating/Cooling (HVAC)
Security Alarm, CCTV
Door Locks, Access Control
Build your system the way YOU want
Due to its modular design, it is very easy to design a control system using CommandFusion hardware that fits the unique requirements and budgets of your projects.
Do you need more infrared outputs? Simply add a MOD-IR8 module to your MOD4! Then, easily expand your home automation network to other areas by adding new devices over the CFLink bus or a standard Ethernet network.
This means you're not paying for features you don't need, and the system can grow as you expand it throughout your home or office.
Once you have your control hardware setup, easily control it (and any other IP-enabled devices) with iViewer for Mobile! iViewer allows you to create a graphical user interface that looks any way you want, right on your own iOS or Android device!
Perfect for any user:
DIY or Professional Integrator.
Whether you are a DIY user or a professional integrator, CommandFusion products are designed for you.
Integrators will enjoy the modular design and the cost effectiveness will allow you to compete with integrators using much more expensive systems and still achieve the same result.
DIY users will find the features and price very hard to beat. CommandFusion support is second to none, making it easy to get help when you need it.
Many applications and use cases
CommandFusion products are not limited to home automation. They have been used in many different applications, some examples of these are:
- Commercial office automation
- Meeting rooms
- Yachts and superyachts.
- Emergency response vehicles
- Education (schools, universities)
- houses of worship
- Movie at home
Open protocols - Conversations to any system.
We do not believe in limiting the software and hardware you must use to create your control system. We want to allow you to choose the components that best suit your needs, which is why we have implemented open protocols that allow easy communication with other control systems and services.
This means you can easily connect CommandFusion hardware and software with other brands of control systems such as Crestron, Control4, Global Cache, etc.
iViewer for mobile devices 
Our app for Apple iOS and Android devices allows you to control any IP-enabled device, including our own hardware, directly from your iPad, iPhone, Android device, etc.
- Fully customizable GUI
- Control anything over Ethernet/Wi-Fi
- Dynamic feedback processing
- Javascript API
- Use advanced sensors and device features.
- iOS/Android support
- Choose a version that suits your needs
Hardware agnostic
iViewer is hardware agnostic, meaning it does not depend on a certain type of equipment to be able to talk to your devices.
Just some of the hardware protocols iViewer can integrate with:
- Hardware CommandFusion
- Crestron, AMX, Control4, RTI
- Lutron, c-bus
- Zigbee, Z-Wave, Insteon
- KNX
- global cache
- RGB controllers
Hardware Overview
CommandFusion manufactures a range of control and automation hardware, accessible to professional integrators and DIY users.
Modular approach: Add modules and other devices to create a system as it grows with you
Extremely profitable
Distributed intelligence - no single point of failure
Ethernet and CFLink bus connectivity
Industry-leading 5-year warranty.