A smart-home or building-automation system is installed once and then expected to work for a decade. When a controller, a dimmer module or an intercom fails, the question is whether the hardware can be repaired without disturbing the configuration the integrator spent days on. That is usually possible, and it is worth much more than the repair.
Blue Apple repairs smart-home and building-automation equipment in Amsterdam. The smart-home and building automation page lists the brands we work with, what typical repairs cost and how to send us a request.
What usually goes wrong with smart-home and building-automation equipment
- Power supply fault. A controller or module that is dead or restarts in a loop often has a failed supply or an overloaded bus supply.
- Control board fault. A controller that powers on but does not run, or loses its configuration state.
- Bus or network interface fault. A module that no longer talks on the bus or the network, while its power is fine.
- Input or output module fault. Inputs that do not register, outputs that do not switch.
- Relay or dimmer module fault. A dimmer that flickers, a relay that sticks or a channel that is dead.
- Intercom camera or speaker fault. A door station with no picture, no sound or a button that does not work.
Brands and models we look at
These are the building-automation brands we list, and some of the models with their own pages, each with an estimate of what a typical repair costs.
Brands: Control4, Crestron, Lutron, Gira, Jung, ABB, Schneider Electric, Somfy, DoorBird, 2N, Paxton, HID, Axis Communications.
Popular models: DoorBird D2101V IP video door station, Control4 CORE 5 controller, Gira X1 smart home server, 2N IP Verso 2.0 door intercom, Crestron CP4, Lutron HomeWorks processor, JUNG Smart Visu Server, ABB Welcome IP indoor station.
Repair or replace?
A repair is usually worth it, because replacing a controller means reprogramming the system. This is hardware repair only: programming, commissioning and system design are not part of it. Ask your integrator for a copy of the project or configuration before the unit comes out, so it can be restored afterwards.
Looking after your controller
- Keep a copy of the configuration. It is the one thing a repair cannot give you back.
- Protect it with a surge protector or UPS. Spikes are what kill controllers and modules.
- Do not mix up modules when you take them out. Label them before removing, so they go back in the right place.
How a repair works at Blue Apple
The prices for these devices are estimates until we have seen them. Send a request with the model and what is wrong, and we tell you what a repair is likely to cost and how to get the device to us. The final price is confirmed in writing after the diagnosis, before any work starts. You can use the custom repair form, or call 020 239 11 93.
Common questions
Will the system need reprogramming after the repair?
Not if the unit is repaired and keeps its configuration or you restore it from your copy. We tell you after the diagnosis what to expect.
Which brands do you work with?
Control4, Crestron, Lutron, Gira, Jung, ABB, Schneider Electric, Somfy, DoorBird, 2N, Paxton and more, on the smart-home page.
In short
Supplies, boards, interfaces, modules and intercom hardware can be repaired in smart-home systems, but the configuration is yours to keep a copy of. See the smart-home and building automation page for the models and repairs, or send us a request. You will find us at Rijnstraat 76-H in Amsterdam, and you can call 020 239 11 93 with a question first.
