The Heat’s Off – Now What?


Here’s a story from one of the few cold days we had this winter.

John was in Florida on business. While he was away, the heat went off in his home and the temperature inside began to fall

John has a Burns & McBride Safe, Smart Home system with its Smart Thermostat. We had set it up to notify him if the temperature in the house ever went below 45 degrees. As it got colder in the house, the temperature fell below 45 degrees. His Safe, Smart Home system noticed this and immediately sent him a text message that there was a problem.

John called Burns & McBride and we sent a technician right over to fix the problem. Since he had also installed a lock which was part of the Safe, Smart Home system, he was able to unlock the door from Florida and lock it again when our technician left!

It turned out to be a minor problem, easily fixed by our technician since we caught it in time. But if John had not called for service when he did, who knows what sort of damage could have occurred?

To find out more about this and other features of the Burns & McBride Smart Safe Home system call us at 302-656-5110 or visit our website at www.burnsandmcbride.com

Leave a comment

Filed under Energy Management, Home Safety, Uncategorized

Home Security 101 – Never Come Home to a Dark House!


No one likes to walk into a dark house.

With the Burns & McBride Smart, Safe Home system you don’t have to. Our system uses a technology called “Z-Wave” to control the lights in your home!

Z-Wave Wireless Lighting Control is easily included in your Smart, Safe Home system. Think of it as a system that allows you to use a hand-held remote to control overhead lighting, outdoor lighting, lamps, thermostats, and small appliances in your home! It looks like a normal on/off switch but it has been “smartened-up”. It includes a small radio which lets it use Z-Wave technology to be controlled by your Burns & McBride Go!Control.

Z-Wave is an exciting new technology for wireless home automation. Z-Wave was designed to allow various devices in your home to talk to one another regardless of the manufacturer, and to be controlled from devices like your Burns & McBride Go!Control or your Smartphone. No wires are needed. You control indoor lighting, outdoor lighting, appliances and more with this easy-to-install and customizable system.

Z-Wave Wireless Lighting Controls—like all lighting controls—promote energy savings by fine-tuning usage. Turn on only what you need, when and where you need it, all at the touch of a button.

Z-Wave-certified products are compatible across all brands and are designed to work properly alongside most wireless home computer networks.

By the way, no matter how many lights you decide to control, there is no change in your monthly monitored fee.

We can design your new Smart, Safe Home system to turn on a light when you disarm the system.That way when you’re standing on the driveway and opening the back door, the lights are on and you are not walking into a dark house!

For more information on this exciting technology, call us at 302-656-5110 or visit our website at http://www.burnsandmbride.com.

Product Details:The Z-Wave Wireless Lighting Control On/Off Switch enables wireless control of on/off functions of hard-wired incandescent, LED, xenon, halogen and fluorescent lighting. The on/off switch replaces your current light switch, uses your existing wiring and provides Z-Wave wireless and in-wall control of overhead lighting. The contemporary switch includes a blue LED indicator light to easily locate the switch in a dark room. It features a gloss white finish that matches modern wall plates.Features:

  • Wirelessly control on/off functions of overhead lighting
  • Provides Z-Wave wireless and manual control
  • LED indicator light allows easy location of switch in dark room
  • Requires in-wall installation with hard-wired connections
  • Easily connects using existing wires
  • Capable of controlling compact fluorescent lighting

Leave a comment

Filed under Energy Management, Home Security, Home Security 101, Uncategorized

Home Security 101 – The GO!Control Panel Makes Everything Work


Go!Control Panel

The Burns & McBride Go!Control panel offers an all-in-one security and home management solution. This is the heart of the Smart, Safe Home system.

  • Color Touch Screen Display
  • Built in Siren
  • Fully Self Contained
  • Snap-in GSM Radio Does Not Require Either a Telephone Line or a Cable Connection
  • Remotely Control Panel Settings
  • Two-way Voice Over cellular communication
  • Over-the-air Update Functionality
  • Built-in Z-Wave Home Control for Thermostats, Lights and Locks
  • Customer Messaging Capable
  • 48 Wireless Zones
  • 2 Hardwire Zones
  • Weather Information Display
  • 24-hour Backup Battery
  • 8 Usercodes
  • Quick Arm/Exit
Color touch-screen interface

Intuitive, user-friendly interface is found on the Go!Control panel, your computer (internet) and web-enabled phone – providing your customers with access when and where they need it.

GSM (cellular) radio

The most reliable communication option available in the industry.  No more concern with cut phone lines or the elimination of residential phone lines altogether.

Integrated two-way voice

Go!Control allows the central station to listen in and talk to the homeowner when a signal is received.

Built-in Z-Wave RF Protocol

You can now control lighting, HVAC, and other Z-Wave appliances in the home right from the panel, web-enabled phone, or the internet.  No need for extra hardware—it’s all contained within the Go!Control panel.  And this is just the beginning!  Numerous money- and time-saving applications are currently being developed for the Burns & Mc Bride Smart Safe Home System

The video below gives you some idea of just what this system can do

Dimensions and weight
  • Panel dimensions
  • Width: 8.5″
  • Front height: 6″
  • Back height: 5″
  • Depth: 1.25″
  • Weight: 2.2 lbs.
  • Screen dimensions
  • Width: 3.75″
  • Height: 2.25″
Specifications
  • 48 wireless zones
  • 2 hard wire zones
  • 8 wireless keys
  • 4 wireless pads
  • Built in Z-wave radio
  • Full voice response
  • Remote over-the-air downloading
  • 8 user codes
  • Chime by zone with multiple chime settings
  • Rechargeable backup battery
Electrical
  • Voltage
  • 120 VAC @ 60 Hz input
  • 14 VDC @ 1700 mA output
  • Battery
  • 2000 mA, 7.2V Ni-mh battery pack
  • Alarm sounder
  • ~85db at 10′

Leave a comment

Filed under Home Security 101, Uncategorized

New Energy Saving Thermostat Feature


We’re excited to let you know about a new, free energy-saving feature of the Burns & McBride Smart, Safe Home system. Now you can program your thermostat according to the actual activity patterns in your home, not just your best guesses. This lets your Smart, Safe Home system to be much smarter because it now understands your home’s day to day activity patterns.

To get started, access the new Smart Schedule Activity Patterns feature on the Thermostats page of your personal Burns & McBride online account. Simply check the box marked “Smart Schedule Activity Pattern” found on both the Heat and Cool Schedules tabs to see your daily activity patterns overlaid on your thermostat schedule. Then you can easily set the most energy efficient schedule by updating the temperature and times to match the likelihood of someone being at home each day of the week

This is just one more way that the Burns & McBride Smart, Safe Home system helps you to manage and control your home. For more information, call us at 302-656-5110 or visit our website at http://www.burnsandmcbride.com

Leave a comment

Filed under Energy Management, Uncategorized