Planning to do an Automation or Smart Home System? This one’s for you
The Importance of a Proper Automation Distribution Panel & Enclosure For all of our integrations we use Metal Distribution Panels fabricated exactly to the requirements and size of our Automation DB. Wanted to share a quick lists of do’s & don’t we have run across in our job sites incase you are planning to install a centralized automation system in your space:

1. Do not make the distribution panel out of plywood or any other flammable material. This distribution board will contain high voltage electrical
wiring. Incase there is a short circuit or a spark the entire panel can catch on fire if made out of a flammable material.
2. Do not compromise on space our ventilation. As a customer or interior designer we understand every inch of space is important. But so is the
equipment you are housing considering your automation system is dependent on it. Using sub standard spaces limits you from any future expansion
and makes it difficult for your integrator to systematically configure and set up your equipment as per industry standards. This will only cause you
frustration and limits the life of your equipment going forward.
3. Do give sufficient ventilation. Think of this as the nervous system of your lighting, havoc control, shades control and other smart technologies. To prolong their life just like we as humans need oxygen, they require moving air so they do not get over heated. Simply putting a cooling fan inside and shoving it inside a closed cabinet will not help. Proper louvers, or open shutters which will allow hot air to flow out and cool air to come inside is a
must.
4. Do use a systems integrator who has experience doing professional cable management and systems integration as per industry standards, Your local electrician may be great at laying cable and creating an electrical distribution board, but connecting smart systerns requires training and
knowledge of how each device needs to be correctly connected inside the system. Don’t be afraid to ask for pictures from their previous installations or even visit any of their existing projects to get an idea of their work.