Blog

Recently we had an existing client come to us with an interesting use of his home automation system, and honestly, it is one we never even thought of! The client lives on the water and has a new boat and jet ski, docked behind his home. Both have their own dedicated lift/launch that run on 220V power.  The client wanted to  know if he could control the power to these launches.  His thinking was if he can turn off the power to the lifts, then the boats would be a little more secure.

We came up with a simple but elegant solution for this, and took it to the next level.  We installed an Insteon SwitchLinc 220V switch kit.

This kit is very versatile and  comes pre-installed in a weatherproof enclosure, which was perfect for this application.  With this device we are able to control the flow of power to the boat launches and can therefore prevent someone from having access to the boats.  We put a lock on the enclosure to restrict local control, and used the existing Home Automation Software- Indigo from Perceptive Automation to control the power both locally, from remotes, Macs, iPhones and keypads, but also over the web.
To add another layer of security to the boats, we used Indigo to create a custom trigger.  Whenever the power is activated on that switch, whether it is locally on the device, or any other way, the Mac software instantly sends the homeowner an email notifying him.  If it is the owner that restored power to the boat launch, then there is no cause for concern, but if the home owner is away, he can take immediate action.
The client is happy, and is is really enjoying his automated home and the way it can be used as an extension of his home security system.  We really enjoyed this installation, and it got us thinking of the many other uses for it.  If you’d like to automate your home and are in the Central Florida area, contact Duprey Home Automation, we would love to help design a custom system for you and your family.