1 – The National Electric Code prohibits the use of conventional circuit breakers as a switch.  Using the handle on a circuit breaker repeatedly will reduce its protective rating and can result in nuisance trips and possibly increase the potential for a fire hazard.  Switch grade breakers or AC relays are required to add on/off control at the circuit level.

2- Eliminates “vampire” or “phantom” power loss by turning off your equipment at the circuit level and taking electronics out of standby mode.  Almost all electronic devices draw current even when you turn them “off”.  This is estimated to be approximately 11% of your electric bill.  Shutting equipment off at the circuit level eliminates this wasted energy.

3 –Heat is the enemy of electronics, so shutting them completely off will let them last longer.  This is true for any device with a processor or switch mode power supply inside. Taking electronics out of standby mode will actually reduce maintenance costs as well by allowing the circuit boards and power supplies to stay cool .

4 – Protects your AVL systems from electrical mishaps through defined powering protocols during start-up and turn-off.  This includes defining the order of powering, sequential powering to spread out electrical inrush, prevent speaker “thumps” or damage, as well as delayed turn-off to allow equipment to cool properly.

5 – Intelligent systems allow for the scheduled shut down of electrical systems.  Scheduling shut down will assure that anything accidentally left on will be turned off automatically even if no one’s around.

6 – Advanced systems offer Internet access to your control system.  This lets facilities managers check the status of their electrical system remotely, and can allow them to turn systems on or off without driving to the building.

7 – Zoning features give you the capability to power only the equipment or lighting that you need, and not the entire room.  Zoning can also allow you to turn off equipment with motors and/or fans during the spoken word to eliminate distracting background noise.

8 – Intelligent control systems can be integrated into your fire alarm system to automatically shut off amplifiers and turn on egress lighting.  This reduces redundant equipment and wiring which lowers the cost of meeting local fire codes.

9 – Under and/or over voltage protection can also be added for another layer of equipment protection by assuring “clean” power.  This feature automatically shuts down your electronics in case of electrical anomalies that can harm equipment.

10 – Monitoring current with your intelligent power control system allows your technical staff to identify equipment faults and the tracking of energy use/savings.  You can’t measure improvements or monitor energy savings if you can’t measure power usage.