ASL
Smart home technology is at its best when it simply works: lights that dim to a scene with one tap, a thermostat that learns your schedule, a doorbell and cameras you can check from anywhere, and switches that respond to your voice. Getting there reliably starts with the wiring. ASL Electric installs smart switches, dimmers, thermostats, hubs and connected devices in Orange County homes, wired correctly so they work every time.
Most smart switches and dimmers need a neutral wire, specific box space and correct three-way configurations, and many older homes were not wired with that in mind. As licensed electricians, we handle those details: adding neutrals where needed, choosing devices that fit your wiring and your ecosystem, and setting them up with your app or voice assistant, so you get the convenience without the troubleshooting.
Smart home services
⚡Smart switches and dimmers
Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, Zigbee and Matter-compatible switches and dimmers, including three-way and multi-location control, matched to your lighting.
⚡Smart lighting scenes
Grouping lights into scenes and schedules, such as morning, dinner, movie and away, controlled from an app, voice or keypad.
⚡Smart thermostats
Installing smart thermostats, including adding a common wire where required, so they stay powered and connected.
⚡Video doorbells and cameras
Hard-wired video doorbells and floodlight cameras, with the right transformer and power. See our Ring installation pages.
⚡Hubs, Wi-Fi and wiring
Locations and power for hubs, Wi-Fi access points and network wiring so smart devices stay connected throughout the home.
⚡Smart outlets, sensors and timers
Smart outlets, occupancy sensors, timers and motorized shade power, wired safely and to code.
Signs you need an electrician for smart home devices
Call us when:
- Your smart switch needs a neutral and the box does not have one
- Switch boxes are too crowded for smart devices
- Three-way switches do not work correctly with smart switches
- LED lights flicker or buzz with a smart dimmer
- Your smart thermostat needs a common wire
- Video doorbells or cameras keep losing power
- Devices drop off Wi-Fi in parts of the house
- You want scenes and whole-home control set up properly
Why smart devices need proper wiring
Smart switches and dimmers are small computers that need constant power, usually through a neutral wire, and they generate a little heat in the wall box. Installing them on the wrong wiring leads to flicker, devices that go offline, or switches that will not fit. Mismatched dimmers and LED fixtures cause buzzing and flicker. A licensed electrician installs the right device for the wiring, upgrades the wiring where needed, and keeps everything code compliant.
How we set up a smart home
Plan around your ecosystem
We ask which platform you use, such as Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa or a hub-based system, and choose compatible devices.
Check the wiring
We confirm neutrals, box space and three-way configurations, and add neutrals or larger boxes where needed.
Install and configure
We install devices, connect them to your network and app, and set up scenes, schedules and voice control.
Test and walk through
We test every device and show you how to use and adjust your new controls.
Smart home options
Room by room
Start with a few smart switches and a thermostat, and expand over time.
Whole-home lighting control
Smart switches throughout the home with scenes and schedules.
Security bundle
Video doorbell, floodlight cameras and smart lighting working together.
New construction pre-wire
Plan neutrals, box sizes, network wiring and hub locations during the build.
Why the neutral wire matters
Traditional light switches only interrupt the hot wire, so many older switch boxes have no neutral. Most smart switches need a neutral to power their electronics continuously. Some no-neutral smart switches exist, but they can cause flicker with low-wattage LED lighting.
In homes built in recent decades, neutrals are usually present in switch boxes. In older homes, we can often add a neutral or choose a compatible device. We check before you buy so you do not end up with a switch that does not work in your box.
Choosing a platform: Matter, Wi-Fi, Zigbee or Z-Wave
Wi-Fi devices connect directly to your router and are easy to set up, but many of them can crowd a network. Zigbee and Z-Wave devices use a hub and their own mesh network, which is reliable for larger installations. Matter is a newer standard designed to make devices from different brands work together across Apple, Google and Amazon platforms.
We help you pick a system that fits your home and the platform you already use, and keep everything consistent so it is easy to control.
Keeping a smart home reliable
Most smart home frustrations come from connectivity and power, not the devices themselves. Wi-Fi that does not reach the garage or backyard, hubs placed inside cabinets, and devices on circuits that get switched off all cause dropouts. Good placement of access points and hubs, and devices that are wired for constant power, make a big difference.
We consider coverage and power when we plan an installation, and we can add network wiring or power for access points where the signal is weak.
Planning smart home wiring during a remodel
If walls are open for a remodel, it is the best time to prepare for smart devices: deeper boxes and neutral wires at switch locations, network cable to the places where you will want access points, cameras or a media center, and power where smart shades, displays or a doorbell will go.
A little planning during construction avoids surface wiring and compromises later. We can rough in the wiring with the rest of the electrical work so your smart home is ready the day you move back in.
What affects the cost of smart home installation
Cost depends on the number and type of devices, whether neutrals or larger boxes are needed, three-way and multi-location configurations, network or hub requirements, and the time needed to configure scenes and integrations. We provide a free estimate and can phase the work to fit your budget.
How it works with ASL Electric
Share which rooms, devices and platform you have in mind.
We check the wiring and give you an upfront price for devices and installation.
We install, configure and test everything, and show you how to use it.
Smart Home Wiring across Orange County
Smart home requests are especially common in Orange County's newer communities. Homes in Irvine's newer villages, Ladera Ranch and Rancho Mission Viejo usually have neutrals in switch boxes and modern panels, making smart lighting, thermostats and cameras straightforward. Larger homes in Coto de Caza and Newport Beach often call for whole-home lighting scenes, landscape lighting control and multiple cameras, and searches for smart lighting installation in Coto de Caza show how popular it has become.
In older homes in Lake Forest, Mission Viejo and Laguna Hills, we often add neutrals or choose compatible devices so smart switches work properly. Whatever the age of your home, we make the technology reliable.