Brilliant, provider of smart home control, smart lighting and home automation systems, recently launched a new plug-in version of its Smart Home Control Panels that has now finished a beta test with a few security dealers like Guardian Systems and LOUD Security. The solution is being sold through a partnership with Resideo Technologies via ADI Global Distribution, a Resideo company.

“The new offering from Brilliant — the low-voltage, plug-in version of its smart home controller — allows security dealers without high-voltage electrical licenses to now bring this combined solution to their customers,” said Quentin Gunther, leader of the Resideo Premier Security Dealer Program. “Since Brilliant integrates with Resideo’s professional security solutions — panels, cameras, touchscreens — it gives the professional security installer an easy way to expand a homeowner’s system by offering enhanced security along with smart home features. It also helps them expand their own businesses by being able to offer a fully-integrated smart home solution that can work with products already in the home or that homeowners purchase after.”

Keith Adams, senior account manager, Guardian Systems, Smyrna, Tenn., said the controller has helped them meet some of their homeowner’s needs as well as their own installation needs. “A lot of them needed a secondary keypad somewhere in the home, or a lot of them wanted to be able to live stream the doorbell camera from the product,” Adams said. “The installation side is seamless now that we’re able to plug it directly into a power outlet versus the low-voltage world of running wiring for the secondary keypad for the alarm system. It’s made installation a lot easier for technicians — it takes a lot less time, and it causes a lot less issues.”

The Smart Home System features touchscreen panels with built-in voice control that can be accessed and controlled through the Brilliant mobile app. And now the panel can be utilized in multi-family living situations where permanent installation is not always an option.

“Now, people who live in apartments who don’t have access to their wiring can have a smart home system,” said Michael Williams, vice president of marketing, Brilliant Smart Home. “We got a lot of feedback from people who live in urban areas — Manhattan, San Francisco, Boston — that their landlord won’t allow them to access their electrical box or install electrical wiring in their homes. Now they can have a smart home system and access their smart bulbs, their music, and their ring doorbell or security cameras.”

Williams also highlighted the ease of installation for dealers and integrators, “And lastly, professional installers and security dealers who aren’t licensed to perform electrical installations. This is a huge opportunity for them now to address every single home that they’re in right now.”

Eric Widner, general manager, LOUD Security Systems, Kennesaw, Ga., echoed the importance of this aspect. “This solution allows a low voltage integration to offer a complete automation solution, whether tied to a security system or not, to our customers without the need for additional licensing,” Widner said. “And since it can integrate to a First Alert security system, it can even replace the cost of additional keypads making it more affordable to the average consumer.”

While Brilliant offers each of these control options, the panel allows users to access all of the smart devices in their home with the use of a phone, app or voice commands. The control panel offers touchscreen menus, voice control, customizable home automation scenes, programmable touch sliders/switches, and an app to control the entire home.

Gunther added, “My teenagers are not standing at the doorway, they’re on their bed or at their desk. It’s a lot easier to communicate with that control panel when it’s closer to the most functional area in the room. And it’s much easier for a technician to deploy than having to wait for an electrician. It requires way less training to get your technicians prepared to physically install this controller.”

Williams concluded, “Before we launched our home control system, it was super cost prohibitive to have a true smart home. All these smart homes required professional installers and they were only accessible to the top 1 percent. I feel like Brilliant and Resideo have really come up with a good one-two-punch. We’ve been able to disrupt the market by launching a smart home control system that feels like it belongs in both high-end luxury homes, but also at lower-end homes, too at a price point that was previously unheard of in the space.”

“We’re proud to work  alongside innovators like Brilliant to  identify powerful new solutions to cater to the needs of the dealer community and consumer alike,” Gunther said. “These partnerships and integrated solutions increase installation efficiencies for dealers and builders, expand their offerings, simplify compatibility for homeowners and provide long-lasting value to all parties.”