A Look at Various Home Automation Systems

Home automation systems help you remotely control electronic functions in your house for comfort, security, convenience and energy savings. You can run lights, thermostats, alarm systems and home theater components using one controller. If you set a program and press the code for "coming home," it can raise the temperature for evening comfort, turn on specified lights, open the garage door, disable the security system and put on relaxing music. When leaving your house, you can save energy and time by shutting off the lights, lowering the thermostat and setting the alarm with the push of one button.

However, home automation systems can't automate the complicated buying decision. Here are the pros and cons of the main home automation options.

The Original System

X10, created in the 1970s, was the first home automation standard. It uses your existing electric wires to carry signals between remote controls and devices. 

PROS: X10 systems are simple and cheap if you just want to install a couple of devices. X10 is also widely used, so a variety of products in several price ranges can be integrated. 

CONS: The aging technology is relatively slow and unreliable. The wired system also may struggle with interference from laundry machines and other energy-gobbling appliances.

Two-Way Communications

About 20 years ago, Universal Powerline Bus debuted as an upgraded successor of X10. The system also uses existing home wiring. 

PROS: UPB is faster and more reliable than X10, and it offers two-way communication. Devices relay signals back confirming that they received a command, and the relay is repeated if necessary. 

CONS: Several companies use UPB technology, but it is not as widespread or universally compatible as X10. It eliminates a portion of the X10 interference issues, but remains susceptible to some interference. The initial UPB system is more expensive than X10, but the system costs become more comparable as more similarly priced devices are added.

Wireless Automation

The Z-Wave and ZigBee home automation systems are wireless. There are also various other wireless protocols, including Wi-Fi networks, that may be versatile, fast and reliable, but are expensive to install. 

PROS: The wireless technology helps overcome the occasional interference issues that occur with wired systems. It is very reliable and has stronger signals over a greater distance. Many experts consider Z-Wave the best home automation system. 

CONS: Z-Wave and similar systems are also among the most expensive, and the most complicated to install. It may not be worth the cost for simple systems with only a few devices.

Combining Both Worlds

Insteon is the other popular new option. It combines the wireless and wired systems, but that means it has advantages and disadvantages from both systems. 

PROS: Installation and setup are very simple. The system is also reliable and widely compatible. 

CONS: Insteon is more expensive than X10 or UPB (though lower setup costs may offset the extra cost). It also retains some of the interference issues of the wired systems.

Z-Wave is widely considered the best home automation system, but those on a smaller budget or those who only need a small system may prefer cheaper X10, Insteon or UPB home automation systems.

Photo: Insteon