Switches, locks, lights: the devices you must have to be in control wherever you are
Namrata KohliNew Delhi
Want to turn on the lights with your voice and control everything from thermostats to TVS, cameras and doorbells through automated systems. A smart lock can allow friends and family safe access to your home without having to leave a key under the mat, or a smart home automation system can allow you to warm your geyser or cool your AC using your voice or touch on tab from wherever you are.
Welcome to a smart home which can help you resolve simple things. A high-tech home ultimately means high tech convenience and comfort.
Recently there was a Smart Home Expo at Pragati Maidan with key brands in home automation participating such as Havells, Hogar, Panasonic, Polycab, Lutron, Osum, Smato, RTI, BenQ, Cavitak, Legrand, LG, Yale, InVAC, Marantz, Philips, TATA Home, GM, Gallo Acoustic, SONOS, Hybec, Cinebels, Casambi. According to Sandeep Singh – Director, World Media & Expo (Smart Home Expo), “The size of the home automation market in India is around 3 billion USD or Rs 247 billion, growing at the rate of 9 percent. Until recently, there was no show happening exclusively for the smart home industry in India and there were very few Indian companies in this segment until recently and 90% companies were international brands. However, it’s a different scenario today with the penetration of the internet and higher disposable incomes. At least people have started replacing basic things like Tik Tok switches with touch panels which can be operated by phone app or voice enabled applications such as Alexa, Google home or Apple home kit and security solutions. Today you have all big names in digital locks such as Godrej, Yale offering keyless access to your house. You can use your palm or your face and the door will open. You can also see the stats or data on the phone- how many times who has entered your home and at what time.”
How expensive is it to make your home smart? Says Singh, “Over and above the cost of that home, you can have your home become smart for anything from Rs 20,000 to Rs 5 lakh. A door lock is available for Rs 5,000 till Rs 40,000 and likewise a touch switches panel is from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh for one room. There are cheap and affordable products and then there are expensive, branded and imported products in each category.”
However if you want a basic home automation system, then it will set you off by a few thousands. What are the basics in home automation and what does it cost? “People are interested in making life more efficient,” says Chetan Mhatre- Head Systems Business, Panasonic Electric Works India (PEWIN)- “Today when we work in Indian market small homes and big homes but if you take the case of those staying in an average 1,500 sq. ft in metro, the cost of retrofitting smart home solutions will not be more than Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000. This will include light switches, VRV, and lighting control. A little advanced feature would be washing machine control. There will be a time when the government will start putting a variable tariff- let’s say if the electricity charges for running the washing machine was Rs 5-6 per unit from 9 am till 6 pm, then it will ve 3-4 Rs/unit after 6 pm. This multiple tariff is already operational in the US and will soon come to India. Home automation can help schedule your machine cycles. Ultimately, this not only deals with the factor of comfort and convenience but also provides the best possible way to make our homes and our lives more efficient.”
What’s Trending
Touch panels are fast replacing tik tok switches. Touch switches are modern and functional devices that integrate perfectly with domestic home automation systems, that is to say the intelligent management of home equipment and systems. According to Vivek Yadav, Executive Vice President, Havells India, “In conventional switches, the circuit is closed or opened with a lever that is raised or lowered, while touch switches work with just a touch of the fingertip. Touch switches are relay based, the switching works on actuators and not brass contacts like in conventional switches. They can be operated remotely using many different wireless technologies like Wi Fi, Zigbee, Z Wave, Matter and occupy less space as these can be created in many different configurations of single function or multifunction. They may be controlled in multiple ways via Voice commands using voice assistants, just touch, with remote controls or mobile applications. They can be programmed for scheduled or timer operations, these not only add a lot of convenience to the users but also help in saving energy.” Touch switches often score high on aesthetics as they are usually accentuated with the use of rich colours like black or gold with tempered glass.
Smart lighting and lighting controls are important because you do not want all lights switched on, at all times. The system adapts using AI and one can save 20-30% of the bill easily. Utilizing devices such as smart thermostats or bulbs can help reduce energy costs and track energy consumption as well.
As far as security is concerned, home automation works with alarm systems, doors and windows, locks, surveillance cameras, smoke detectors, and many other sensor-based types of equipment.
Godrej Security Solutions has some products. One is ACE Pro (Rs 3,999) which is a home security camera that provides live feeds directly to the smartphone screen. Says Avinash Bhasin, a 65 year old Delhiite, “My son has put up a home security camera so that he can check on us and our grandchildren. He says he can watch ys now from anywhere and during any time of the day.”
Then there are NX Pro Lockers by Godrej Security Solutions Digital and Biometric Lockers Ranges from Rs 9,699 to Rs 24,099. These are compatible with the I Buzz alarm which helps enhance the security of the locker. Spacetek Pro by Godrej Locks at Rs 47,250 comes with advanced, pro-safety features and has a super sensitive touch.
Which is the best selling smart home solutions in the Indian market. Says Havells’ Vivek Yadav, “The bestselling smart home solutions are the very expansive Buspro Wired automation solutions. These are extensive and robust solutions offering automation for practically every device at home and suitable for large independent bungalows, Penthouse and large apartments over 4,500 square feet and commercial spaces. The price range largely depends on the extent of automation but would be typically in the price range of Rs 3 lakh plus for a small villa. The Crabtree Signia Smart and Smart H Wireless solutions are fast catching up and are very popular solutions for small apartments and retrofit jobs. These modular automation solutions are available in both gateway and without gateway versions. Both solutions offer high end premium finish with a choice of 13+ face plates that can completely uplift your home décor & are full featured solutions which work with most Voice assistants. These solutions are full retrofit solutions and can be installed into any pre-existing structure without having to change the existing wiring or modular GI boxes. A minimum BOQ for Crabtree Signia Smart will be in the Price range of Rs 60,000 for a 3 BHK apartment and for Crabtree Smart H approx. Rs 1 lakh + for a 3 BHK apartment.”
Home theatre systems are a must have in today’s luxury homes for an immersive sound and sight experience in watching movies, web series, music, games. According to Naman Shah- Marketing Head Pan - India, ViewSonic, “The audio video and home theatre solutions start from Rs 60,000 till Rs 4 lakhs, depending on resolution. Some of the premium ones include the ViewSonic X1- Smart LED home projector available at Rs 1,99,000 and ViewSonic X2- Smart LED home projector at Rs 2,25,000. Post covid, the Indian consumer has been spending a lot of time-consuming content on home theatre with the average being 2-3 hours even on a working day.” He adds that these projectors are integrated with Smart connectivity via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB-C giving an ultimate viewing experience with 4K HDR and True-to-life colours, the projector is highly compelling with the theater-like experience. It has exceptional features like lens shift control knob that vertically modify the image 125% Rec. 709 colours wide colour gamut, both projectors deliver bright and true-to-life visuals.
| Home automation devices | ||||
| Segments | Products | Brand | Min price (In Rs) | Max Price (In Rs) |
| Lighting | LED Bulbs & Lamps | Havells | 1,299 | 1,999 |
| Panasonic (Anchor) | 3,900 | 2,3990 | ||
| Philips | 1,999 | 8,999 | ||
| MI | 999 | 4,999 | ||
| Batten Lights | Havells | 320 | 960 | |
| Panasonic (Anchor) | 450 | 900 | ||
| Philips | 390 | 850 | ||
| Downlights | Havells | 345 | 2199 | |
| Panasonic (Anchor) | 199 | 7,500 | ||
| Philips | 985 | 1,365 | ||
| Spotlight | Havells | 215 | 450 | |
| D’Mak | 460 | 680 | ||
| Crompton | 149 | 250 | ||
| Security | CCTV Camera | Godrej | 2,358 | 2,699 |
| Sparch | 1,099 | 2,999 | ||
| Zicom | 1,450 | 26,232 | ||
| Smart Locks | Qubo | 19,990 | 35,990 | |
| LAVNA | 10,999 | 19,999 | ||
| Godrej | 43,000 | 29,700 | ||
| Security Alarms | Godrej | 4,274 | 17,999 | |
| VRV and air conditioning | Daikin | 30,000 | 1,50,000 | |
| Samsung | 25,000 | 2,50,000 | ||
| Blue Star | 50,000 | 6,00,000 | ||
| LG | 33,000 | 5,00,000 | ||
| Carrier | 30,000 | 5,50,000 | ||
| Home Theatre | Sound bars | Sony | 10,990 | 1,99,980 |
| LG | 6,990 | 1,39,990 | ||
| JBL | 17,999 | 1,29,999 | ||
| Projectors | Samsung | 55,990 | 5,10,000 | |
| Benq | 19,000 | 6,50,000 | ||
| LG | 54,000 | 5,90,000 | ||
| Screens | Elite | 7,350 | 5,37,000 | |
| Samsung | 14,300 | 27,500 | ||
| LG | 9,200 | 3,13,500 | ||
| Audio and Video | TV | Samsung | 18,900 | 22,99,000 |
| LG | 21,990 | 44,990 | ||
| Sony | 34,900 | 14,99,900 | ||
| Laptops | HP | 32,279 | 2,69,990 | |
| Dell | 47,790 | 2,03,826 | ||
| Samsung | 47,990 | 3,52,990 | ||
| Lenovo | 47,290 | 2,37,215 | ||
| Smart Display | Lenovo | 14,999 | 24,990 | |
| Amazon | 8,999 | 28,298 | ||
| 7,999 | 7,999 | |||
| Switches - Touch Panel | HomeMate | 4,990 | 19,990 | |
| Kamonk | 2,600 | 15,000 | ||
| Leccy & Genesis | 4,163 | 5,243 | ||
| Protium | 3,199 | 9,999 | ||
| Sonoff | 9,000 | 12,500 | ||
Source: TechSci Research
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