When it comes to running your business, you probably make use of a lot of electronics. From computers to networking systems and everything in between, these devices are critical to keeping your business alive and running. Naturally, you’ll want to protect these investments from becoming damaged or running inefficiently. That’s where a PDU system comes in.
Protecting Your Electronics
A power distribution unit, or PDU, is a piece of equipment that distributes electricity evenly between multiple devices at once. A PDU does not produce power—rather, it translates large amounts of electricity from a power source into smaller, safer amounts for the electronics that are plugged into it. This protects your devices from receiving too much power at once and shorting out. There are a multitude of types available with different outlets and connectors to support the many devices your business may use.
Managing Efficiency and Operations
Along with basic surge protection, some PDU systems can also be used for power monitoring, to see how your electronics are using power and where performance can be improved. Amongst the types of PDU available to monitor your equipment are:
- Basic monitored PDUs, capable of remotely monitoring the system and complete with upgradeable firmware and an SNMP interface.
- Switched and switched metered-by-outlet PDUs, with advanced options for controlling power usage and safely adding devices to the system.
- Metered auto transfer switch PDUs, with redundant power options for equipment that requires less power than other devices.
- Maintenance bypass PDUs, designed to improve uptime for your devices with a seamless transfer of UPS power to utility power.
Your business is important, and so are the electronic devices that are keeping it afloat. Protecting your electronics is simple with a PDU system to keep them safe from power surges as well as to help them operate at maximum efficiency. No matter what kind of business you’ve created, there is a PDU system available to perfectly suit your needs.
4 Smart Light Features to Improve Your Home
The future of home management is becoming clearer by the day, and smart objects are the leading development in this type of futuristic technology. Many different parts of your home can now be controlled with smart devices: one voice command, a tap on a screen and other simple actions can completely change how your house is managed.
While the choices may seem overwhelming, one of the easiest adaptations you can make right now is switching out your conventional lighting setup with smart lights. These LED lights are controlled over the Wi-Fi and come with a variety of options and features which can completely change the way you manage your household.
1. Schedule Lights On and Off
Probably one of the most beneficial things you can set with smart lighting is putting them on a timer. This can ensure you don’t waste energy or have to remember to switch everything off. If you don’t get home until late, you can have lights on for you once you get home.
2. Fully Automated Dimmer
Smart lights give you full control over the brightness when they’re on, so you can keep things dim when needed at the perfect level.
3. Voice Commands
One of the best things to come from recent smart home devices is the development of voice commands. If you have a smart home device set up, you can tell it to turn on and off lights, set brightness, schedule lighting, etc. With just a few words, you can control the lights across the house.
4. Remote Access
Many smart lights can work with apps on your phone, meaning you can check to make sure you didn’t leave any lights on when you left. If you’re regularly worried about that, you can turn them off even after leaving the house using your phone. If you’re running late, you can also turn lights on so you’re not coming home to darkness, especially in the case of outdoor smart lights.
Update Your Access Control to Protect Your Business
Controlling access to your vital business assets and information is possible with a modern access control system. You can keep detailed records of employee and visitor movements with the right setup.
Provide Access Control at the Front Desk
Your front desk personnel should be provided with an access control system that is easy to operate. You can even offload some of the work to your visitors by requiring self-registration at a kiosk.
Badges for Employees, Vendors and Visitors
The key to an access control system is (almost literally) an ID badge. Photo ID badges can be economically printed for employees and visitors alike. If a badge is lost it can be deactivated as soon as this is known. Photo ID badges also foster name recognition between employees and visitors. A visitor badge should be printed in a different, recognizable style so that employees are aware of their different status at a glance.
Install Readers at Critical Entrances
Maintaining compliance for data centers and other critical areas requires that you maintain access logs. These logs can be automatically maintained when you install badge readers at entrances and require that all employees and visitors scan them on the way in.
Maintain Time and Attendance Records
Integrating time clocks with your employee ID badges solves a number of problems related to both time and attendance and building access. Employees are sometimes prone to “surfing” in behind other employees who have already opened access doors, and time clocks can easily be punched by other employees who are clocking in fraudulently on behalf of others. But photo ID badges are kept with employees at all times, especially when they double as the key to the building, with the result that time clock fraud is much more difficult to pull off.
A modern access control system has multiple benefits. By installing one you’ll be protecting your company assets, building, and employees.
Install a Commercial Alarm System to Protect Your Business
Your employees, customers, and property are all important to you. Keep them all safer by getting a customizable commercial alarm system installed. Improved security can benefit you with better morale, lower insurance, and fewer losses due to fire or theft.
Advanced Controls
Commercial alarms are different than residential systems. You may have multiple alarm zones with different requirements for offices, warehouses, and outdoor yard areas. You may also choose to give different access to different employees. Someone who may need to work weekends in the office may not need access to the warehouse, or vice-versa.
Card Key Access
With card key access you can give your employees the ability to enter precisely the areas that you want them to have. Best of all, you don’t need to go through expensive and disruptive lock changes if an employee is fired or leaves suddenly under adverse circumstances. Simply disable their individual card.
Video Surveillance
Unlike a home security situation, you may need to monitor employees just as much as you need to monitor potential intruders. Video cameras with recording capabilities allow for storage of high-resolution video to provide proof if employee conduct such as fighting or theft requires termination for cause.
Fire Monitoring
Fire is a very real risk in a commercial office or warehouse. Heat sensors and smoke detectors can help detect a fire before it becomes a total loss for the office, warehouse, and business. Knowing in what zones a fire event is occurring can also buy valuable time for the fire department.
Monitoring Services
A security system is only as good as the monitoring system behind it. Commercial monitoring ensures that if there is an event, a system breach, or damage to any components the fault is detected. An appropriate level manager and the authorities are then contacted.
A commercial security system is quite different than a home system. Make sure it’s installed and configured properly to maximize your protection.
5 Ways a Home Audio System Can Improve Your House
You may have experienced walking into someone’s house and hearing music without any speakers in sight. This is likely due to them having a home audio system, which allows for the streaming of music and other audio all throughout the house! There are many benefits to having one of these systems set up by a professional, giving many opportunities and features to your household that can be used for fun and convenience.
1. They’re Fun at Parties!
If you’re the type of person to enjoy throwing house parties, you may find it difficult to get the music going throughout your home. Either the music has to be limited to blasting loud in one room, or every room has different music playing. However, with a home audio system, the same music will play perfectly timed in every room. Of course, if you need a quiet room, you can turn the music off for that room, but the rest can all rock out to the same tune.
2. Have an Enjoyable Alarm Clock
Wouldn’t it be better to wake up to some of your favorite music rather than a loud alarm? This could be used for one room or the entire house if everyone is on the same schedule.
3. Keep Wires and Boxes Out of the Way
A home audio system is built into the walls, typically with camouflaged speakers, so all the wires and bulky boxes for speakers are completely hidden. There would be no more tripping or clutter, because things are neatly compacted into the house itself.
4. Have an Intercom System
Whether your house is big or you have people who just like to keep to themselves, using a home audio system to contact someone across the house can be incredibly helpful. You can announce to the entire family that dinner is ready or let everyone know when it will be time to leave. The possibilities are endless.
5. Outdoor Speakers for Summer Hangouts
Electronics outside can be a hazard, but home audio systems often include outdoor speakers to allow you to also play your music outside.
Commercial Networking Systems: Meet Your Present and Future Demands
Nowadays, computers and technology have a firm place in a business. Technology increases productivity, convenience and efficiency in nearly every industry. From schools to healthcare facilities and everything in between, a commercial networking system is crucial to success. Now, as a business owner, you’re not expected to have the tech savvy to set up your own system. Likewise, you may not know how to set it up to meet your future demands. Here is how you can use a commercial network to suit present and future needs.
Commercial Networking Demands
Every business has its own needs. The networking that a hospital needs is going to be far different from a small office or data center. Commercial networks have a variety of purposes. Some of these include:
- Data protection
- File sharing
- Remote access
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Printer sharing
When your network system is all set up, you may even find more uses for it than you initially thought. A technician can help you with ideas on how to use the commercial networking system for your business demands and needs.
Scalable Networking Systems
Scalability simply means the ability to handle a change in size or volume. For computer networking systems, this is crucial. If the goal is for your business to grow, then eventually, you will be asking more of your network. A high quality cable or fiber optics networking build is important because a skilled technician will consider these future needs. Speed and connectivity are crucial when you run a business. You don’t have time for it to slow down or to have the system rebuilt.
You don’t have to have a network system that simply meets your demands right now. If your plan on an expansion of your business or if you know changes are in your future, you can discuss the work with your technician. He or she will be able to work out the best options available.
Modern home surveillance systems are a far cry above old-fashioned security cameras. While they provide all the old features (except the grainy, barely discernable images you are used to), they bring a great deal more into the package, including full customization, high-definition video and remote viewing. The new systems just now coming on the market have seen their prices plummet recently while their options and enhancements skyrocket, so there’s never been a better time to consider them. Here’s 4 benefits cutting-edge systems now offer.
They Deter Crime
The majority of thefts may be crimes of opportunity and chance: a passing criminal sees an easy target and strikes while the iron’s hot. Studies show that homes with obvious surveillance systems are around 300% less likely to be burgled.
Evidence for the Police and Against Frivolous Lawsuits
If an incident occurs anywhere within view of the system, it’s preserved and can be reviewed by anyone you choose. Not only does this help after a crime has occurred in your neighborhood, it can prevent your suffering from today’s all-too common fake lawsuits. Strangers and even delivery persons have been caught lying in open court thanks to high-definition video from quality home surveillance systems.
Keep an Eye on Your Family From Almost Anywhere
If you have a smart device and an internet connection, you can view your cameras regardless of how far from home you are. Custom zones can be set up to watch for unusual motion, giving you real-time alerts so you can zero into the area and see what’s going on. This also allows you to keep an eye on your kids or pets while at work, on your way to a conference or on the beach.
Save Money While Gaining Security and Convenience
Besides preventing crime and lawsuits, many insurance companies offer premium reductions for homes with customizable surveillance systems. Some homeowners have seen up to a 20% savings on their insurance, meaning the systems can quickly pay for themselves just from savings on your premiums. It’s hard to justify not having one anymore!
In today’s highly competitive markets, even a small improvement in a business’ bottom line can have very attractive long-term impacts. With recent incredible advancements in commercial automation – along with a corresponding and dramatic drop in price – many companies are investing in this amazing new technology to increase their control while reducing costs.
What Is Commercial Automation?
It’s not only new technology, it’s really a new paradigm, incorporating artificial intelligence, innovative energy-saving strategies and management of working and meeting spaces to both save money and create a more enjoyable and productive environment for employees and customers. Automation can control and integrate many individual components, including
- Audio/video, including conferencing equipment
- Energy management and environment control
- Lighting control, including both artificial and natural light
- Your security and surveillance system
How Does It Work?
Commercial automation uses advanced AI to anticipate, adapt and allocate resources in a custom blend to match your needs. During setup, technicians work with your company to determine how the software will best suit your needs and tailor it to fit comfortably and seamlessly. It learns as it goes, adapting to conditions and remembering the minor adjustments you make. And it allocates heating, cooling and lighting as needed for energy savings and creature comforts.
What Does It Actually Do?
That depends on your needs! For example, in a restaurant, employees opening up will spend time adjusting lighting, televisions, music, HVAC and even raising or lowering window shades. Commercial automation does all that by pushing a button. This is a basic example; the system operates 24/7 and can control many devices, with new ones being added to the list monthly.
And This Saves Real Money?
You bet! Employees aren’t cheap and neither is energy. One government study indicated that businesses waste around 30% of their energy costs from poor environmental control. In the simplified example above, even eliminating half an hour a day would save the average business around 130 hours a year in labor costs – and that’s the tip of the iceberg. Imagine how quickly these savings will add up for you.
We’re surrounded by smart devices these days; our smartphones are almost a part of us and it’s hard to remember the ancient days when we weren’t constantly connected. Possibly the quintessential piece of smart technology in the internet-of-things is the smart thermostat, a connected device that allows hands-on – or off! – control of your environment.
The Beginnings of Smart Control
As the internet became ubiquitous, engineers realized that connecting all sorts of common devices could bring customization and control that had existed only in the minds of science fiction writers a few years ago. By 2013, most Americans owned smartphones and the opportunities for innovative development exploded.
Smart thermostats were among the first common devices. They grew organically from programmable thermostats, offering the same features but with many new ones added. They rapidly became even more feature-rich and dropped in price to the point where virtually anyone can afford them; indeed, they now usually quickly pay for themselves in energy savings and convenience.
The Amazing Features of Modern Smart Thermostats
Engineers being engineers, they weren’t satisfied with a better device; they wanted all the bells and whistles in one package. Some of the main benefits of today’s smart thermostats include
- Remote access from any connected smart device.
- Built-in firmware that is simple to use and saves energy.
- Incredible new features including machine learning and minute-by-minute system monitoring.
You can access your smart thermostat from anywhere in – or orbiting around – the world if you have an internet connection. Never worry again about ruining a vacation by having left the heat on! The firmware uses an intuitive, friendly interface, giving you the option of very detailed control, while also allowing those who prefer a hands-off approach to leave it up to the device. It’ll learn what you expect and how much control you want and adapt to your needs.
They also carefully monitor both system condition and energy usage. Dirty filter notifications and maintenance reminders help you avoid costly repairs, while energy-use graphs instantly show you where you can save more money without giving up any comfort. Average savings often exceed $100/year, paying for the initial cost in very little time.
Audio-video systems today are truly technological marvels. Every year that passes brings about newer, higher resolution monitors and TVs, and crisper, clearer sound from speaker systems. Unfortunately, even the best system in the world is limited if you aren’t using the right accessories with it. No peripherals are more important for your home or business audio-video set up than the cords and cables you use to hook them up. You wouldn’t put weed wacker fuel into a corvette and expect it to work right, so why are you using bargain rate cables with your audio-video gear?
Connection is Key
The name of the game when transmitting audio or video data is minimizing resistance in the system. The more resistance there is, the lower quality product you’ll receive on the other end. The best way to ensure you have the minimal possible resistance with your cables is to invest in options with gold-plated connectors. Gold has very low electrical resistance so it offers the best results.
Poor Conductivity has Consequences
You need to protect data transmission at the connection points, but you also need it to be sent clearly down the wire. As a simple and general rule, the thicker the cable you use the better transmission you will receive for high-quality signals. A reliable oxygen-free, multi-stranded copper cable is your ideal choice for any cables in your audio-video system. It will keep the highest fidelity possible every time.
Shielding is for Showtime
Ensuring that your data is being transmitted with minimal resistance is important, but it’s also absolutely vital that you keep outside sources of electromagnetism from getting in the way and distorting your signal. While any cable worth its salt will have insulation like a foil or braided shield, you should opt for at least two layers of protection on all your cables to get the clearest transmission.
Once you get your system set up with the best cables you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them. Everything is crisper, cleaner and simply better with high quality cables. If you’ve got a system which needs wiring, opt for the best now so you don’t regret it later.