ISSUE FOCUS
Good Things… Small Packages The Next Generation of Power Management Doesn’t Need to be Bulky and Messy By Jimmy Paschke
Design and functionality are in demand for residential technology installations, and that’s no surprise as homeowners continue to seek seamless, smart, and stylish home systems. With this demand, manufacturers are faced with the challenge of creating functional, reliable, and interoperable products that fit into any room, without compromising a home’s design. In a market often judged by looks and praised for performance, there is no longer space for unmanaged cables and boxy backup devices. The power environment is one of the few foundational elements on which all installations rely on. Unfortunately, power management devices often fall victim to scrutinous looks as clunky, loud, and wire-messy UPS units and diagnostic tools can stick out like a sore thumb. However, they are perhaps the most important part of an install. As homeowners invest in systems to make their homes more attractive, functional, and comfortable, they often do not
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Residential Tech Today | Summer 2021
realize that the devices and systems that make their home unique must be protected from power problems caused by existing conditions, both direct from the grid and from other powerdrawing technology like HVAC, appliances, and lighting. Power anomalies threaten more than just continuity; spikes, sags, surges, and other distortions in the power environment can cause permanent damage, gradual degradation, and recurring disturbances of electronic equipment. For an integrator, this can turn into extra service calls, equipment requiring premature replacement, and loss of trust from clients. Home technology professionals need to prioritize power management that protects, monitors, and manages across a variety of electronic environments. To ensure smooth installations and successful growth, integrators should establish a power foundation for homeowner clients to protect
against these anomalies. The style of solution typically needed to protect residential installs is one that will measure and report on electrical parameters, including voltage, current, power, frequency, power factor, and crest factor, while also providing advanced surge protection and power conditioning in an appropriately sized form factor. A variety of these products exist, but with the current design demands, integrators will want to be sure that the device not only offers this deluxe protection, but also pleases the eye of design-conscious clients. Remote monitoring and reporting are also integral pieces of the power management puzzle that shouldn’t be omitted. If the integrator has enabled remote monitoring of the homeowners’ power infrastructure and equipment, they will be able to identify the issue in no time, in many cases before the homeowners themselves even realize anything is wrong.
