Part 2: The Celek Smart Home

12/17/2020 in Case Studies

Project highlights

Location
West Chester, PA

Highlights
Advanced Lighting Control:
• LED Ceiling Light RGBW Tree
• LED Strips RGBW
• LED Spots RGBW
• RGBW 24V Dimmer Tree

Simple Control:
• Touch Pure Tree
• Loxone App
• Touch & Grill

Night Mode by Presence:
•Presence Sensor Tree

In Part 2 of this case study, we’re sharing a Q&A with our Loxone Partner Scott Hirst that implemented the complete automation solution in the Celek Smart Home.

As a fourth generation family business, Hirst Systems places strong values in evolving alongside of technology that makes life easier for their customers.

Their goal is to provide select clientele with products and services that enable them to do what they do without the technology getting in the way. This is where Loxone comes in seamlessly. With the Loxone Miniserver taking care of the simplest control of lighting, HVAC, audio, security and more throughout the home, Loxone was the best fit solution for the Celek family.

Want a look inside the Celek Smart Home?
Visit Part 1, where we shared the home photoshoot and Q&A with former Eagle and Super Bowl champ, Brent Celek.

Flexibility and wiring

How did the flexibility of Loxone’s lighting control affect your experience?

Scott: Tree wiring is a very flexible wiring topology. It saved a lot of time, in that we didn’t have to know ahead of time what lights are tied to what switch. This allowed us to connect lights together with the least amount of cable, and labor, and still have the ability to control lights from any method: Touch, app, time of day, Operation Mode, etc. Another huge time saver was the ability to add wireless contacts to control lights as the doors are opened in the closets and laundry area.

Project highlights

Location
West Chester, PA

Loxone Partner
Hirst Systems

Builder
McComsey Builders

Favorite Features
Advanced Lighting Control:
• LED Ceiling Light RGBW Tree
• LED Strips RGBW
• LED Spots RGBW Tree
•RGBW 24V Dimmer Tree

Simple Control:
• Touch Pure Tree
• Loxone App
• Touch & Grill

Night Mode by Presence:
• Presence Sensor Tree

I love that with Loxone I was able to use any light I wanted to get any desired lighting effects. For example, the third-party spots on the angled ceiling in the kitchen and dining area are controlled just as easily as any Loxone lights used in the home. This flexibility was possible inside and outside.

– Brent Celek, Homeowner

Problem & solution: lights in high ceilings

How is the Celek Smart Home unique to other installations you’ve completed?

Scott: The number of standard, third-party lights we connected to the system was a challenge presented with the 18 foot vaulted ceilings. The Loxone dimmers did an excellent job of making the interconnect easy. Working this closely with electricians was a bit new to us as well. I would say the guys with Argyle Electric had a big hand in helping us with the lights. I would recommend any installers on a Loxone install to develop a good working relationship with the electricians on the job.

Problem & solution: programming a text-to-speech alert

What challenges to the installation was Loxone able to provide a simple solution for?

Scott: After the install was complete, the owners had one issue: they needed an alarm on the door to the pool area. There were already speakers in the house tied to the Loxone system as well as a Door & Window Contact on the door. It was a simple programming change to have the door opening trigger a text-to-speech alert of the door opening. No additional equipment needed. The owners can even switch on or off right in the app.

Key takeaways from the project

What did you learn from this installation that will help yourself and others in the future?

Scott: A few things I learned from this installation is to lean on Loxone support and get comfortable with the electricians on site. Use the pre-wire brackets for the lights. They were not available when we wired this home and now I know they make a big difference. Use the light spacing Loxone recommends, it will look best. We used two main panels and sub panels in this install and we could have maybe used one more. Plan your subpanels out carefully, it will make wiring much easier.

Loxone Partner support

In what ways did the Loxone solution and team support you in this installation?

Scott: All the Loxone team was essential to this going smoothly. It was a big job and having the partner support and technical support available was a big help. It would have been much more time consuming if Loxone support wasn’t there for some of the more granular programming.

One of the benefits of the Loxone solution is the flexibility of the system. For example, there are dozens of ways to get from point a to b in the system. With that freedom of flexibility can come some complexity, but with the help of Loxone support we knew we were never on our own. It’s a nice feeling knowing they are there on a job like this.

One of the benefits of the Loxone solution is the flexibility of the system. For example, there are dozens of ways to get from point a to b in the system. With that freedom of flexibility can come some complexity, but with the help of the Loxone support team we knew we were never on our own.

– Scott Hirst, Loxone Partner