5 Reasons ZigBee is Ideal for Smart Homes

As energy costs continue to spiral, one of the persistent demands of smart home consumers is lower utility bills. The smartest way to cut down the expense of managing home appliances as well as heating, ventilation and air-conditioned (HVAC) units is by leveraging remote-operated devices which help consumers save time, effort and energy in managing multiple devices.

A regular on/off switch can no longer bring in the desired levels of power efficiency – it’s more practical to use a smartphone app or a web tool which is closely integrated with all electrical devices and sensor interfaces. This is where wireless communication protocols become necessary to drive efficient communication between home appliances and the main server of house.

Some of the popular Ethernet protocols currently being used are BACnet, Z-Wave, ZigBee, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. In this blog, I will discuss the specific advantages of building wireless home automation system networks based on ZigBee.

Why ZigBee is ideal for communication in home networks

ZigBee – a specification of high communication protocols uses small, low-power, low data rate digital radios based on IEEE 802.15.4 standards for wireless personal area networks, such as wireless headphones connecting with cell phones via short-range radio. The technology is intended to be simpler and cheaper than other WPANs, such as Bluetooth. ZigBee is targeted at radio-frequency (RF) applications which require a low data rate, long battery life, and secure networking.

For any system being used in home automation, the main goal is to reduce human effort by operating various appliances remotely. This is where the various parameters of ZigBee in Home Automation enable key benefits such as:

1. Lighting control – Lighting controls play a central role in implementing the overall design of a wireless home automation system (WHAS) right from build to furnish stage. To provide this wireless automation facility, ZigBee network lends itself as more efficient as it depends on low power requirements. The lighting controls are achieved easily with faster access facility.
2. Single touch without obstructions – Various domestic appliances can be controlled and operated using ZigBee according to control parameters and requirements. The data to operate the appliances can be sent via radio (ZigBee module) to the receiver (microcontroller) and based on that, relays will be controlled to operate the devices.
3. One app to control everything – ZigBee helps achieve a system that can be integrated as a single portable unit allowing all of them to control lights, fans, air conditioners, television sets, security cameras, electronic doors, computer systems, audio/visual equipment’s etc. and turn on/off any appliance that is plugged into a wall outlet.
4. 4.Security attributes of ZigBee – ZigBee in home automation leverages the security model of the IEEE 802.15.4 MAC sub layer which specifies the security services such as access control for devices to maintain a list of trusted devices within a network and data encryption
5. Multi-source products – The standard specification for up to 254 nodes includes one master device managed from a single remote control. Practical usage examples of ZigBee includes home automation tasks such as turning lights on, setting the home security system, or starting the VCR. With ZigBee, all these tasks can be achieved from anywhere in the home at the touch of a button.

eInfochips offers expertise in sensor integration and wireless connectivity in ZigBee that drives interoperability for developing home automation solutions. We have deployed ZigBee as a Retail site intelligence (RSI) solution for one of our clients, which is one of the largest grocery chains in North America. To know more about eInfochips expertise in ZigBee implementation, email us at marketing@einfochips.com