Frequently Asked
Questions
What exactly is the Centralite®
Lighting Control System?
Does the Centralite
system really save on energy cost?
What is included
in our basic Structured Wiring Package?
What additional
capabilities can one achieve with this system?
Can all our systems
be installed retrofit into an existing home?
What is an Integrated
Facilities Management System?
Will the Omni™ system
really and truly save money?
What kind of savings
might one expect with facilities management?
What is meant by
“high-tech security system?”
Are there any other
features provided by the security system?
What is included
with the GrafikTouch™ touch screen system?
Is there a limit
on the number of touch screens that can
be added?
Tell
me about the CCTV system and the remote
viewing capability?
Should I upgrade
my cameras to color?
Can American Industries
integrate a multi-source, stereo system?
How do family members
in different bedrooms utilize the system?
Is the Home Theater
one of the five rooms included w/ your system?
Will American Industries
provide the wiring for a Home Theater room?
Does American Industries
sell and install Home Theater systems?
What
exactly is the Centralite® Lighting
Control System?
The Centralite
system offers true Architectural Lighting
Control. That is to say, all the lights
(and some appliances) are automatically
controlled. This means that all the
lighting in the home is controlled via scene
lighting macros.
There are specific
lighting schemes designed and executed for
Good Morning, Good Night, Dinner, Entertaining,
Home Theater, Away, Vacation, and Pathway
Lighting, Landscape Lighting, and many others.
Example: When one pushes a single
button at bedtime, the system can slowly
(over ten seconds to two hours) lower the
light in the master bedroom, provide pathway
lighting to the kitchen or bathroom, flash
the lights for the kids to go to bed, adjust
the outside landscape lights, etc. Even
fans and hot tubs have automated control.
Does
the Centralite system really save on energy
cost?
This system definitely
saves on the cost of energy used in a given
home. It does this by automatically
turning off lights and turning lights on
at preset dimmed levels of your choosing.
Example: A dimmed level of 90% is virtually
indistinguishable from full on, yet saves
10% energy. If set at a comfortable
80% illumination, the energy savings is
17%. Lights set at 50% illumination
save 50% energy. Now multiply this energy
savings by your entire house.
What
is included in our basic Structured Wiring
Package?
Most homeowners
install our 8-Zone package, however we can
easily expand it to include additional zones.
We run what we affectionately call a “six-pack” to each zone,
which includes 1 CAT5e cable with 4 telephone
line capability, 1 CAT5e cable for computer
and Internet access, 2 RG-6 Quad Shielded
Coax cables, one bringing video into the
zone and one taking video out of the zone.
In addition, we run two multi-mode fiber
optic cables for future applications. Normally
we run the fiber optic cables in the walls
“cold” without terminating
them. Since fiber optic services are not
presently available, it makes no sense to
pay for expensive termination connections
and labor. This is especially so since across
America the industry has not settled on
any one type of connector.
In
this package we also install an electronic
distribution panel. This panel comes standard
with a Service Input Hub, an 11-zone Telephone
Hub, and a 4-source In and 12-zone Out Video Distribution
Hub. It is without question the finest panel
of its type manufactured in America. Now
you will be able to observe HBO, DVD movies,
and/or video cameras on any television in
your home plus enjoy High Speed Internet service in each
room.
What
additional electronic capabilities can one
achieve with this system?
There are several
electronic Hubs one may purchase, which
are designed to install into additional
expansion slots on the main distribution
panel. The following is a laundry list of
Hubs and their capability:
- 8-zone
Whole-House Stereo Hub
- Modulator
Hub/creates in-home television channels
for DVD, Laser disk, VHS tapes &
Cameras
- Cable
Modem Hub / provides high speed Internet
connection
- Web
Safe Internet Router Hub / 4-zone stackable
100 mbps Ethernet switch, creates Firewall,
content filtering, and hacker protection
- 4 location
DBS Distribution Hub / provides distribution
of one dual LNB DBS digital satellite
dish to four zones
- Front
door Intercom on any telephone in the
home
- Integrated
Facilities Management System Hub
- Touch
Screen Control System (includes Audio/Video
control)
- Security
Hub
Can all
our systems be installed retrofit into an
existing home?
It depends
on the home being retrofitted as to whether
or not a particular system can be installed.
As always it boils down to access in the
attic, under the house, and/or between walls
etc. Have one of our technology consultants
look at your home.
Why is
the Omni™ referred to as an Integrated Facilities
Management System?
It is aptly
named because it manages direct and automated
control of the facilities (house) systems
such as the security, air-conditioning,
architectural lighting, A/V, and surveillance
cameras. In addition, it extends this control
and home surveillance remotely to any telephone
or computer in the world.
Will
the Omni™ system really and truly save money?
According to
the Association
of Building Contractors, the largest energy cost
in a given home is the heating & air
conditioning system, hot water heater, refrigerator,
and of course lights and other appliances
left on. The Omni™ System has direct control
over three of the four culprits reducing
energy cost. Reduce a light’s illumination
by 10% and save 10%…reduce the light by
20% and reduce the energy used by 17%.
What
kind of savings might one expect utilizing
integrated facilities management?
An expected
savings of approximately 35.5% on an electrical
bill of $200 per month would amount to $71
per month or $852 annually. If money cost
8.5% per annum the system would pay for
itself in about ten years and make money
thereafter. In addition, the system already
includes a high-tech security system.
What
is meant by “high-tech security system?
The Omni™ provides five levels
of security:
- Motion
detectors sense an intruder’s presence
before they ever reach the home, causing
the computer to run a program designed
to convince the burglar the family is
home and they should burglarize some
other house.
- When
the homeowner is AWAY, the system runs
a 24-hour program of turning radios
and lights on and off at random making
the home “looked
lived in”.
- When
an intruder actually breaks-in, the
system will go into the alarm phase
then capture the individual’s image
as data on a hard drive. Then it will
notify the homeowner immediately so
they can observe from a computer at
work.
- It
will contact the police if you subscribe
to the monthly monitoring service.
- The
system will sense non-threatening violations
of security zones like the temperature
in the wine cellar heating up and contact
the homeowner.
Are
there any other features provided by the
security system?
Yes, there
are two very helpful features provided to
the homeowner.
- Utilizing
the “Status” remote call-in feature,
the homeowner can be briefed on the
entire status of the home including
the inside temperature.
- Utilizing
the “events” remote call-in feature,
the homeowner can retrieve the days
events such as who has activated or
deactivated the system, by-passes a
particular zone, and what time they
did it. In other words, what time did
the kids get home or what time did the
maid or nanny check in with their distinctive
code?
- Look
into your home remotely from any computer
in the world.
What
is included with the GrafikTouch™ touch
screen system?
- A 40Gig
Dell™ computer with a 3-year on-site
warranty.
- One
flat screen touch screen installed in-wall
or desk free standing.
- One
Gefen™ transmitter & receiver set
to amplify data from computer to screen.
- Custom
designed programming for home theater,
all electronic equipment, and integration
with the Omni™ system.
Is
there a limit on the number of touch screens
that can be added to the system?
There may be
a limit, however we have not come across
it yet. We did install eleven touch screens
in a very large house.
What
are the features of the CCTV system and
the remote viewing capability?
Here are some
of the capabilities that are routinely attained
with this system.
- When
a visitor, mailman, or burglar walks
up to the home, the area camera records
streaming video as data on the computer
for whatever time the homeowner desires
(normally 1 minute) to be viewed later.
- The
homeowner can look into the home from
any computer in the world and can record
streaming video on the remote computer.
Examples: recording
the maid, nanny, or kids (angels) doing
homework or getting into mischief at
home.
- Grafik
Touch™ as part of the system, the homeowner
can activate the “Zone Tracker” feature. This
feature pops up each particular zones
camera image on the touch screens as
a small child or elderly person travels
around the home. As an example, it will
even make an announcement to get Mom’s
attention if a child went through a
gate headed for the swimming pool.
Should
I upgrade my cameras to color?
Color cameras
produce images that people are used to seeing.
However, color cameras performance is subject
to the available light within the surveillance
area. Black & White cameras generally
have a lower "Lux" rating meaning
that they perform well under a variety of
lighting conditions.
Can American
Industries integrate a multi-audio source,
multi zone stereo system?
Yes, we install
one of the best systems available made by
Kustom™ (of the Kustom™ guitars fame). It
will integrate 6 sources of audio and deliver
it to six zones (can double the system to
service 12 zones. Each zone has it’s own
amplifier and volume control with IR window
for remote control from bed.
How do
different family members in different bedrooms
utilize the system?
Picture these
three scenarios taking place at the same
time in a home. Mom and Dad are watching
an HBO movie in their bedroom in stereo
at the volume level they prefer. Jr. is
watching a DVD movie in his room in stereo
at a different volume level. The daughter
is in her room with a friend listening to
CD music at a volume level everyone would
agree is toooooo loud.
Is
the Home Theater room one of the five rooms
included with your system?
No, this room
requires at least one dedicated high-wattage
amplifier and most often two because of
the number of speakers involved and the
demand for heavy bass.
Will
American Industries provide the wiring for
a Home Theater room?
Yes, dedicated
high quality Monster™ stereo cable is run
to the room a customer chooses as the Home
Theater room.
Does
American Industries sell and install Home
Theater systems?
Absoultely!
Please go to the Home
Theater
section of our website.
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