Director - Tony Stewart
100 Memorial Drive, Greer, SC, 29650
864-848-5191 - Fax 864-848-5191

Re: Suggested change to Section/Paragraph 380-2 (a) Exception

Date: 10/22/97

ACTION REQUESTED: Speaking as a Director and representative of the Home Automation Association we request the panel to consider a small change that could become a large contributor to the growth of the automation industry and at the same time offer major lifestyles enhancements to homeowners. These lifestyles enhancements are made when lighting can be made to activate in response to fire or burglar alarm activation, in house modes like Awake or Asleep and automatically when occupancy is sensed.

SUBSTANTIATION:

Lighting control products and systems are now available that can be installed in any existing home or in homes under construction where the insulated neutral wire has been provided and properly connected in the light switch legs. These "intelligent" switches require the neutral in order to power the electronics inside the switch itself. Once a switch of this nature is installed, it can be "automated" by a security system or other compatible controlling device.

Until these type switches were available our industry was faced with total rewires of home wiring using proprietary low voltage schemes. This proprietary wiring practice is still available as one method of achieving lighting control. Normally this method of control is costly and is found in a very small percentage of homes as a result.

Non proprietary Intelligent switches of the type I am describing are currently available from many manufacturers among them are: AMP, Leviton and X-10. With these we see several advantages, a few of which are:

Ease of installation. Provided the neutral wire is available and connected, any home can install intelligent lighting.

Non proprietary wiring nature. These switches can be installed at time of home building or at a later date, or can be removed should the next home owner not want automated lighting.

Cost. - Possibly the greatest advantage to homeowners will be the low cost of these switches. Making some degree of safety lighting or other lifestyles enhancement lighting available to any homeowner.

There also exists a safety issue whereas this type of intelligent switch is currently being installed incorrectly using the ground wire when the neutral is not provided. I have asked one of the nations leading instructors of Home Automation installations techniques, a Mr. Gary Bridwell of Automation University to provide an independent report for this area of our request. You will find it included as an attachment.

In summary, I respectfully request your endorsement in this area to implement changes to support code guidelines that will require the insulated neutral to be provided for each switch leg and for same to be properly connected at each leg.

We are at an exciting time in the growth of enhancing lifestyles using lighting in the homes of America. Fortunately we are not asking for an engineering or design change. Nor are we asking for an expensive change. Instead we ask for an implementation of a simple policy change and really believe that this alone could do more to improve lifestyles than any other single electrical event in past years.

Thank you for your time

Tony Stewart