Expert Electrician, EJ Barnes proprietor of EJ Electrical Works, Reveals Top Trade Secrets for Smart Homes in the Gold Coast & Northern Rivers, NSW Region

Why Consumers Need an Electrician for a Smart Home

Gold Coast residents love their tech just as much as anyone in today’s world, and the Internet of Things (IoT) is the big wave that everyone’s keen to ride. Imagine operating a home’s systems remotely. Yet finding a qualified electrician for a smart home could be difficult. EJ Electrical Works gives us a rundown of what consumers need to know.

The problem with DIY, according to EJ Barnes, proprietor and at-the-coalface working tradie of EJ Electrical, there are plenty of things consumers can DIY. Specifically, if it’s just plug and play, go ahead and get that device online!

However, consumers should be careful about what devices they choose: “If consumers get multiple devices, there’s often overlap in what they do,” says EJ, “and then things start getting a bit weird. Smart Home specialists recommend consumers think carefully before choosing and try to limit overlap. Consumers need to be sure that their devices will work together and not against one another.”

The key to knowing what consumers should and shouldn’t attempt on their own comes down to what needs to be wired in. “Some smart home features need to be hardwired in. Even though they work on wireless technology, they need to communicate with things that don’t do so. For example, dimmers or light switches, consumers need an electrician to do the wiring that allows control or the automation of them.”

“In short, as soon as consumers see wiring, they’re looking at a job for an electrician. Consumers performing their own wiring when they’re not qualified to do so is illegal for very good reasons, all of which involves consumers safety and the safety of precious family members.”

Sometimes, consumers know what they want, but don’t want to spend a lot of time getting it. EJ says he’s ready to help: “If consumers want to go beyond one or two simple devices and like the idea of going all out for a smart home, it can be a time-consuming project.”

“If consumers are likely to enjoy the process of transforming their home into a smart home, go ahead and do everything but wiring. But if consumers are short on time and just want the results without having to work out how to get them first, an electrician can help them to choose the right systems and get everything set up.”

Remember, technology dates fast. At the moment, smart homes on the Gold Coast are still relatively rare. But more and more people are going to be interested in this new tech. What worries EJ is obsolescence. “Tech advances fast. consumers need to be careful about seeing the latest device as being a long-term investment.”

“Next year, there’s going to be something cheaper that does an even better job, and the year after that, there’ll be something else, and so on. That’s not a bad thing, but you need to know that your smart home is going to become a dumb home unless you update your tech fairly frequently.”

Talk to EJ about your plans for a smart home, consumers can reach him via his Local Electrician website, or call him at 1300 DIAL EJ, that’s 1300 342 535. EJ Electrical Works serves the Gold Coast, QLD and Northern Rivers, NSW region.

Written & Syndicated by Baxton Media.