ElectricSmarts Network

Really, could any electrical device be simpler than a switch? It performs the most basic of functions, sending a simple on/off message to the equipment it controls. However, like just about every other component in our increasingly sophisticated electrical systems, switches, push buttons and other seemingly simple input devices now are becoming both smart and wireless.

As the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) continues to expand, with sensors offering remote views into areas of process operations never before available, system operators are having to make sense of a volume of data that’s increasing at exponential rates. This evolution is bringing new attention to the design of human machine interfaces (HMIs), which provide a window into just how well systems are running.

For decades, lighting control in commercial spaces amounted to either on or off. Easy, simple, but not very effective when it came to workplace productivity in offices, boardrooms, and classrooms.

Lighting control eventually evolved in the form of light sensors, motion sensors and electro-mechanical timers. It was better, as it helped cut lighting energy costs by automatically turning off lights when not needed. Even so, the technology was still limited to either on or off.

As a contractor, you have the ability to offer residential customers the same dimming strategies and lighting control available in commercial settings.

By offering smart lighting control, you can provide homeowners with the added benefits of convenience and peace of mind, and smart lighting adds to the value of the home when putting it on the market.

Few lighting-fixture styles offer as much flexibility as track lighting – once the track, itself, is installed, fixture heads can be clicked into place wherever they’re needed – and repositioned just as easily as room configurations change. And, as room styles change, the heads themselves can be replaced with newer models, giving designers and owners options recessed luminaires can never offer.

With the proliferation of lighting and and advanced electronics throughout the home, Hubbell has come out with new wiring devices designed for today’s tech-heavy home lifestyle.

Hubbell’s new Pop-up Countertop Receptacles, for instance, are the first UL-listed water resistant pop-up receptacles for countertop applications and permanent installations