Paul Key’s client had a very specific problem. "If it could help get the kids going in the morning, that's the kind of automation I could use," she said, during one of the first meetings. Luckily, with the help of Control4, Paul knew he could create an automation solution that solved his client’s problem.

Making use of Control4’s scheduled events, Paul programmed an event called “School Prep” that serves as the wake up call for this family. The outside lights turn on, as does the light in the laundry room, along with the light in the stairway to the laundry room, because the teenagers are always "throwing in a load" the night before.

Then, each of the kids’ rooms have individual wake-up alarms that play their favorite radio stations and bring up the lights a bit. The parents elected to use radio stations instead of playlists so they could implement a 15 minute rule. The kids can lie in bed for awhile, but they know that after 15 minutes, the radio station will change if they aren’t up and moving. So how does the system track if the kids are moving?

The home has a GE Concord security panel installed. In addition to the door, glass break, and CO detectors, Paul added a motion sensor in each of the kids’ rooms, placed so that it wouldn't register movement if the kids are in bed. So, for example, once the sensors pick up movement, the favorite radio station will continue to play without interruption. If the kids don't get up after 15 minutes, the radio station will change. To ensure movement at this point, the station in the girls’ room changes to the boys’ heavy metal station, while the one in the boys’ room changes to the girls’ dance music. The parents found this made the kids get up, even if only to change the station back.

In the kitchen, as the parents are making lunches for the kids to take to school, they can watch the action through a 6-button keypad, with a pair of buttons for each of the three kids. For each room, the left LED goes blue when the music turns on in the room, and turns red if the radio station changed. The right LED stays off if the room light remains off and no motion is sensed. This LED turns red when the light comes on, blue when it detects motion, and then goes green when the light is on and motion is detected (meaning the kids up and going).

Before the wakeup is triggered, the parents have the option of enabling or disabling the event with the left button, while the right button turns off both lights and music in the room, saving the parents a trip upstairs. Following installation, we added a programming change that allows the parents to hold the right button to restart the radio with the music a bit louder.

Normally, Mom goes to check on kids who don't get up, but she found that some days, when the family is in a hurry, the system needs a way to let them know to get up NOW. An unexpected benefit of the motion sensor system is the ability to see what's happening at night. Because motion in the room and the status of the lights is shown on the LEDs, it's possible to see whether the kids have really gone to bed.

Sometimes, home automation focuses on the extras—front door security cameras or lighting control in the theater—without necessarily making every day easier. Paul Key’s solution for this family made home automation a daily benefit that they can experience every morning, hopefully making life less stressful.

Audiodyne created this system using the following products:
• Control4 HC-300 (Main Controller and Theater)
• (3) 3-button keypads
• (1) 6-button keypad Multi-Tuner
• (5) Wireless Dimmers (Kids rooms, laundry)
• (2) Wireless Switches (Outdoors)
• GE Concord 4 Security Panel Automation Module
• (3) PI6000 Motion Sensors
• Other Control4 equipment in the project:
– Home Theater Controller w/320 GB Hard Drive (Media Room and Music Library)
– (4) POE Mini Touch Screens
– (2) LCD Keypads
– Wireless Thermostat (with remote sensor)
– Multiple lighting loads

Wallace Hattenhauer wanted to make Halloween a night to remember for anyone who stopped by, especially trick-or-treaters. His home already automated to deal with everyday tasks, Hattenhauer decided to take full advantage of the Control4 system and turn his home into a spooky spectacular, complete with fog, lights, and haunting noises.

By combining a fog machine, a strobe light, a wireless contact/relay extender, and an in-home wireless motion sensor with a Control4 Wireless Ethernet Speakerpoint, Hattenhauer created an amazing Halloween experience. Trick-or-treaters were greeted with some cool Halloween tunes pumped to the front yard speakers through the Wireless SpeakerPoint. Once the kids pressed the doorbell, a series of programmed events would take place. First, the front porch light would turn off and the music would stop. A moment later, a deep, evil voice would say "Welcome. We’ve been expecting you....Ha.Ha.Ha.Ha." (Imagine an evil laugh here). Then, the Media Controller would activate the fog machine for about 20 seconds followed by the strobe light, providing a most terrifying trick-or-treat experience!

Hattenhauer kept the setup simple, for example, by connecting the fog machine to a wireless outlet switch and programming it to turn on at a specific time, giving the machine time to heat up. Through the CardAccess in-home wireless relay, he had remote control of the fog machine, allowing him to trigger the machine for any event. Then, he connected his strobe light to the second output of the wireless outlet switch, treating it like a lamp. With the doorbell connected to the wireless contact/relay extender, every time someone rang the bell, it “tripped” all the events into motion.

After a successful Halloween, Hattenhauer is anxious to see what he can create for Christmas. Hattenhauer’s results are proof that it doesn’t take a team of special effect artists to “dress up” your home for the holidays. Beyond making everyday tasks easy, Control4’s whole home automation allows you customize your experience and your home throughout the year.

HomeTroniX created this system using the following products:
• Control4 Media Controller
• Control4 Contact/Relay Extender
• Conrol4 Wireless Outlet Switch
• CardAccess In-Home Wireless Relay
• Control4 Wireless Ethernet SpeakerPoint
• Control4 Wireless Dimmer Doorbell Relay
• Fog Machine
• Strobe Light
• Outdoor Speakers

The hardest clients in the world are usually the ones that live under your roof. Alan Guyes of Audiotronics faced the challenge of convincing his tech-agnostic family that total home automation was a good thing. The plan? Start with the basics.

The family grudgingly agreed to experiment with dimmer-style light switches. Then, Alan slipped in wireless contact devices, followed by a programmable thermostat. Initially, the kids refused to let Alan add any lighting control to their rooms. He won them over by suggesting that the LEDs in the light switches match the colors of their favorite sports teams. After that, they couldn't wait to add the switches. His wife had different concerns.

Worried about saving energy, she was intrigued to learn how Control4’s system helps conserve energy by turning the front yard lights on and off based on a dawn/dusk schedule. Plus, all of Control4’s dimmable lighting switches are default programmed to 85% brightness, saving enrgy and extending light bulb life.

Then, like most kids, Alan’s have a hard time remembering to turn the lights off. So the system turns off all lights automatically at 9 a.m. and at night when everyone goes to bed. Wireless contact sensors also gave Alan the option to double-check whether all his doors are closed—a necessity in a house full of kids.

The Control4 system triggers the hallway light to blink if his door to the garage isn’t shut tight. And by installing motion sensors, lights in the laundry room and back hallway turn on automatically after sunset when someone enters from the garage, a great option for the times when arms are filled with groceries. After a few minutes without sensing any motion, the lights switch off.

In addition to helping put the house to sleep at night, Alan’s Control4 system helps his family get started in the morning—especially the 13-year-old. Alan programmed this particular child’s bedroom light to ramp up to 85% brightness. Mornings are much easier on everyone now. Besides monitoring lights and doors, Alan’s automation system manages his furnace fan activity, too, an option he couldn’t find on other thermostats. Now it’s programmed to turn on at 10 p.m., then off at 9 a.m. when the family is gone for the day.

Alan’s family went from unwilling guinea pigs to enjoying Control4’s everyday easy features. By starting small, Alan helped his family adjust to home automation and to see how efficient and useful such features are in today’s modern home.

Alan Gueyes and Audiotronics of VA created this system using the following products:
• 1 Control4 HC-300 controller
• Multiple ZigBee enabled light dimmers/switches and keypads
• CardAccess motion sensor/contact sensors

We know parents like to check on their kids. But now, our aging population has kids checking on their parents as well. One daughter, facing this very issue with her elderly father, turned to Executive 411 for help. She constantly worried about her father when he didn’t answer the phone. Rather than run over every time he didn’t pick up, she wanted an affordable alternative.

Justin Tsuchida of Executive 411 discussed the different options available. They eventually settled on a wireless system, accessible from anywhere through the Internet. Executive 411 installed three Panasonic wireless IP cameras in the main areas of the home, and gave the daughter remote access via 4Sight, Control4’s secure, internet-based home monitor. Now, whether at home or work, she can see what’s happening in her father’s home.

In addition to the cameras, Executive 411 enhanced the father’s personal safety by setting up a wireless necklace with two buttons. The first button sends a text message to the daughter saying, “Everything is OK.” The second, a “panic” button, calls her for help and flashes the home’s exterior lights until the front door opens. (This is handled by Card Access contact plates.) Both messages are sent within 10 seconds of pressing either button.

Small enough to fit in a pocket or wear around the neck, this setup can stay with the client at all times, as opposed to carrying a phone everywhere. Plus, the battery doesn't need to be charged or replaced very often, a common issue with cell phones and cordless units.

Executive 411 also included the power-saving, safety feature of turning the porch light on and off at sunset and sunrise, by including a dimmer set for 10:00 p.m. The entire system took little over an hour to install (on the client’s lunch break, actually) and cost just $2,000. Peace of mind was included at no extra charge.

By combining Control4’s products and software with other wireless options, Executive 411 created an affordable and effective solution for grown children who are caring for aging parents.

Executive 411 created this system using the following products:
• 1 Control4 Home Theater Controller
• 1 Control4 Wireless Dimmer
• 4sight remote access
• 1 Visonic Wireless Receiver
• 1 Visonic Wireless Panic Button
• 1 Card Access Wireless Contact Switch
• 3 Panasonic IP cameras w/ Pan/Tilt

Richie Harris tackled the task of replacing a client’s PHAST system with a new, whole-home Control4 system. This individual setup includes everything from entertainment to security. For example, he programmed the system to alert the homeowners if their daughter came home after curfew by changing the LED color. And they no longer need to hassle the kids about taking care of the fish tank. Using Control4’s Wireless Outlet Switch, it was programmed it to manage the tank’s light and pump.

Beyond managing the kids and the fish, the system includes 20 custom audio zones throughout the home. An installation of Composer Home Edition allows the owner to create multiple playlists from the 50 gigs of MP3s loaded in the Media Controller. Then, since each bedroom is set as a separate zone, each child wakes up to the music of his or her choice and a custom lighting scene. Plus, with nine Mini Touch panels installed throughout the house, anyone in the family can easily browse the music and photo library.

This music library also allows the client to customize his doorbell, reflecting either the season or his mood. Besides customizing the doorbell, the homeowner enhanced his security options by programming outdoor lighting to go on and off based on sunset and sunrise.

In addition, the system includes CCTV cameras. So while the family is watching a movie from their home collection or a rental, the owner can easily swap screens and view the security feed from outside. We also set up the system to notify the owner via his cell phone if the motion sensors are triggered. For longer trips away from home, the owner relies on 4sight to check for any notifications.

4Home made mealtimes easier, too. With the press of a custom button on in the kitchen’s mini touch, the entire family will hear an audible announcement that dinner is ready in all audio zones. And there’s no more worries about leaving the garage door open. A customized button will appear red and with one push, the door closes. Part of the good night button program includes checking that the garage door is closed, too. If it’s open, the system closes the door and then activates the nighttime lighting scene, both indoors and out.

Relying on Control4 products and software, 4Home Control created one, easy-to-manage system that pulls together all the pieces of a busy family, making life everyday easy.

4Home Control created this system using the following products:
• 4 HTCs
• 1 Media Controller
• 1-16x16 Matrix Audio Switcher
• 2 Contact/Relay Extenders
• 9 Mini Touch Screens
• 10-6 button keypads
• 150 dimmers and switches
• 400-Disc DVD player
• Channel Plus Modulators
• 42" LCD television