Yet another Italian export has landed on our shores – this time in the form of a versatile and aesthetically pleasing home automation system. Angela Tufvesson visits the first full installation of the technology in Australia.

Unsurprisingly, the first full installation of the Italian-designed BTicino home automation system in Australia was commissioned by an Italian.

However, it was the look and versatility of the switches, rather than country of origin, that first attracted the client to the system.

“This technology allowed us to blend the switches into the walls in a couple of areas,” installer Craig Ross of CR Electrics says.

“In addition, the cover plates come off, allowing the client to paint or wallpaper them so the switches aren’t visible to the naked eye.

“My client also saw the BTicino range at friends’ houses and was impressed with the smooth functionality. So his decision was based on aesthetics and a desire to ‘keep up with the Joneses’.”

The My Home range is a suite of automated applications for home or commercial premises. It includes lighting and blind control, multi-room audio distribution, temperature control, audio and video intercoms, and security surveillance systems.

Providing a BUS wire is present, basic BTicino switches can be upgraded to automated devices simply by exchanging the mechanism.

With the BUS two-wire system, all devices are connected by a signal line dedicated to exchanging information and transmitting the power supply voltage.

The 80m² home is a work in progress, the mid-range project having been started more than two years ago. The $2.5 million project includes $40,000 worth of BTicino products and an electrical bill worth approximately $80,000.

“We have fitted the switchboard, switches and touch screens and we’re about to integrate the system,” Craig says.

“The integration will happen through a third-party touch screen that will control all the cameras and the intercom system.

“We integrated the BTicino section through the live control, then through the door entry system, and finally we added our cameras – resulting in the three systems joining together. So, all together three technologies have been installed in the house.”

The installation features six colour touch screens, 45 switches and a 15-inch colour touch screen.

“To improve the functionality of the system we’ve removed a lot of switches and installed touch screens and sensors. So when you walk into bathrooms and walk-in robes, the lights automatically turn on and off.

“In a large, open-plan area we’ve got a touch screen at either end, instead of having 10 switches to turn on 10 lights.

“So the touch screen on the balcony will turn on the balcony lights upstairs and downstairs, the swimming pool lights and the tennis court lights. We’ve eliminated power point switches and put in touch screens to compensate.”

Craig says the presence of touch screens in place of power point switches differentiates this installation from others he has done.

He says the modular system is one of the great assets of the range, as it allows for greater flexibility and improved aesthetics.

The BTicino range is distributed locally by HPM Legrand.