Homeowners choose professionally-installed security systems in lieu of DIY devices because they are seeking quality, dependability and support for cameras, video doorbells, access control, sensors and other safety devices. No matter the features, security systems require stability, and integrators give homeowners peace-of-mind that any security and smart home system downtime will be resolved quickly. A stable foundation to do so often begins with the wireless network – it is well understood by both integrators and homeowners that connected devices will go offline along with the network if it is inadequate; however, even more impactful than the network are power conditions at the installation site which can impact any device.
Security systems are designed to fortify a home from the largest possible threat – attempted entry and/or burglary – but homeowners often opt for additional features and technologies, such as water, smoke, temperature and other sensors. The same principle is true for a home’s power foundation: While it is designed to protect from the worst-case scenario – large surges and lightning strikes – it also protects against smaller, more power common problems, such as power anomalies including spikes, sags and electrical noise.
These smaller issues can occur on a daily basis, and they can be difficult to pinpoint, and they are the root cause of 40 percent of system downtime, according to Florida Power. Power events like these can also cause more than downtime – they can shorten the lifetime of systems and connected devices or even be the source of long-term damage to the device itself.
Whether servicing existing clients or taking on new business, security integrators can benefit from considering and diagnosing an installation site’s power conditions. Proactively protecting the security system with a power foundation can help ensure that it runs smoothly without falling victim to daily power anomalies that can damage devices and repeatedly put the system offline.
For security integrators, in a problem installation that needs many post-installation on-site visits or frequent device reboots, power anomalies could be the culprit rather than the devices being assumed faulty when they repeatedly cause problems, go offline or completely break down. Thus, a solid power foundation can reduce truck rolls while also safeguarding the integrator’s relationship with the client and their reputation from power-related downtime and problems.
The Benefits of a Solid Foundation
If small power anomalies are affecting a system, the symptoms are not often apparent. The easiest way to notice a surge or sag is by seeing the lighting level change as large appliances cycle on and off in an overloaded room. Even a small spike or sag could put a single device offline that can cause a chain reaction throughout the system.
To prevent these issues and ensure a security system’s stability, integrators should proactively create a power foundation for installation sites. As home technology adoption advances, homeowners are becoming used to having a professionally-installed and monitored network, and the power foundation is the next feature requiring professional consideration and monitoring.
Implementing a power foundation can provide stability for security systems, protecting their longevity by preventing large surges and everyday anomalies from cutting their lifespans short. In some cases, it can also equip an integrator to more quickly troubleshoot system issues by identifying them as power anomalies.
Putting a power foundation in place safeguards the system, and proactivity can also cut down on wasted time and money on repeat “problem installations” that are actually experiencing downtime from anomalies.
Ensuring longevity can also protect the integrator’s reputation and their client relationships, where a slew of undetectable and seemingly unsolvable problems actually caused by power anomalies could wrongly place a poor reputation on the integrator. For example, if post-installation a security panel keeps acting up or breaking even after replacement, an integrator might first assume the product is faulty. After a few bouts of troubleshooting and product replacement, the homeowner could start to place undue blame on the integrator as they become frustrated, where the problems are actually the fault of power anomalies.
Evaluating a System
Integrators should address a site’s power conditions before installing a system. Just as a contractor would not build on top of a cracked foundation, an integrator should not install on top of a shoddy wireless network or on a poor power foundation.
Power analytics equipment enables integrators to diagnose and solve problems and resolve them before the system goes in – ensuring that anomalies do not compromise or damage the security system later on. A diagnostic tool can “prove” the presence of power problems like electrical noise or frequent power sags to show skeptical homeowners and help them create the right type of power foundation the home needs.
In a case like this, a power analytics device could be installed to monitor the power conditions in the home over the course of a month as the rest of the system is being designed to provide a detailed report of spikes, sags and noise that cause issues. These analytics devices can also help integrators navigate “problem installations,” where they cannot pinpoint a hardware issue but are repeatedly being called back to an installation site because the system goes offline or devices need frequent troubleshooting or replacement. Cases like this can often be attributed to power problems, and a positive diagnosis can be the first step towards solving them for good.
Creating the System
A power protection system comprises more than a wall outlet-surge protector or power strip. Surge protection equipment can be part of a rack installation to protect an entire system, and should include technology to handle massive surge energy, in addition to catastrophic over/under voltage shutdown, inrush current elimination, A-1-1 certified surge protection and multi-stage protection.
Multi-stage technology is the critical difference that professional power solutions provide, compared to power strips which rely on metal oxide varistor (MOV) technology that has a limited lifespan, and still lets damaging surge energy through to devices.
These features ensure that surges as well as other power anomalies don’t reach sensitive equipment to damage, degrade or cause downtime. For example, a SurgeX Axess Elite is a tool enables integrators to monitor and manage systems in addition to providing surge elimination and power conditioning.
In addition to using the right technology in an installation site’s power foundation, integrators should also guide their clients by providing education about power quality. Where networking is becoming more commonly understood as a necessary system foundation by consumers, the concept of power risks other than lightning is often new to them. Running power diagnostics before system installation can help integrators explain and prove the existence of problems for homeowners.
Lauren Simmen is Director of Marketing for SurgeX, an AMETEK company. Learn more at www.ametekesp.com.
