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Wireless System Remotely Monitors Home 'Heartbeat'
Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation has developed Home Heartbeat™, a wireless home awareness system that enables home owners to monitor and receive updates on the status of their home through a network of wireless sensors.
The sensors can communicate status alerts around the clock via a one-touch Home Key device, text messaging, e-mail and a unique personal Web page.
The product is a good fit for an empty home during the workday, children who arrive home before their parents, caregivers monitoring an elderly relative or owners of a vacation home or a rental property.
Currently available at select Home Depot Smart Home test stores, the product line includes a Starter Pack featuring a base station, a Home Key and an open/closed sensor. The pack includes everything needed to begin monitoring the status of the home right “out-of-the-box.” Additional sensors are available, including open/closed, water, power, motion, attention and more.
 The Home Heartbeat wireless sensors are the backbone of the system. They monitor and alert home owners to a wide range of status updates around the home, including water leaks, open/closed doors and windows, appliances that are left on or are without power, and even routine maintenance schedules.
The water sensor has an added feature that can wirelessly communicate with an installed water shut-off controller to interrupt the main water supply to the home if a leak is detected, preventing further damage. The system is entirely customizable, allowing home owners to only add the sensors that make sense for their home.
Installation takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes and breaks down into three easy steps: activate the base station, train the Home Key and use the sensors to monitor the home.
The base station, the brain of the system, communicates wirelessly with the Home Key, and sensors alert the home owner to any changes in sensor status throughout the home. Once the home owner leaves home, the “Call Me” awareness feature can be enabled on Home Heartbeat to allow for remote monitoring.
The Home Key features a liquid crystal display, which flashes alerts and pertinent information regarding the home. There is also a scroll wheel on the Home Key that allows easy navigation of the menus, whether adding a new sensor, receiving an alert or changing the setup of the system or a sensor. The main purpose of the Home Key is to provide home owners with important alert information inside the home and act as a bridge to add new sensors to the system.
The Home Key also captures a snapshot of the current state of the home as soon as it is out of range (up to 150 feet in open air) of the Base Station or a range extender. This feature enables the home owner to have an update of the status of the home as they’re leaving — on whether the garage door is open, a bedroom window has been left open, an iron hasn’t been unplugged.
Home Heartbeat is ZigBee™ ready. With the ZigBee wireless networking standard, the system offers long battery life, built-in network security and easily upgradeable components and sensors.
The ZigBee Alliance is an association of companies working together to enable reliable, cost-effective, low-power, wirelessly networked monitoring and control products based on an open global standard. This rapidly growing, non-profit industry consortium includes semiconductor manufacturers, technology providers, original equipment manufacturers, integrators, application developers and end-users worldwide.
Located in Moon Township, Pa., Eaton Electrical is a member of the National Council of the Housing Industry — The Supplier 100 of NAHB.
This feature is solely for educational and informational purposes. Nothing on this page should be construed as policy, an endorsement, warranty or guaranty by the National Association of Home Builders of the featured product or the product manufacturer. The National Association of Home Builders expressly disclaims any responsibility for any damages arising from the use, application or reliance on any information contained on this page.
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