How PDL adds a smart touch to an off-grid rural home

After spotting an idyllic lifestyle property for sale on the outskirts of Auckland in late 2021, they sold their home and decided to make the big move. Their new home featured a large sun-soaked open plan living area, floor‑to‑ceiling windows, a high-pitched roof, and majestic views over tranquil farmland and Rangitoto Island. An impressive pool and spa area also offered easy outdoor entertaining, surrounded by the distinctive sounds of farm and bird life. Additionally, it was close enough to school, work, and all the family’s essential commutes.

“It’s the lifestyle, it’s got everything here, it’s nearly off-grid. That was a dream of mine — to go off the grid. And we’re nearly there with that. The challenges are that we’ve had to learn to live off tank water again, but it brings back those childhood memories. It’s been a nice challenge — refreshing, actually,” Chantelle says.

“At this house we had a lot of single switches, so rather than running extra cabling it was just as easy to put in a couple of Wiser smart mechs and then programme them so that the lights come on together. There was an area of the home where the roof was really low and it was going to be really hard to get wiring in there — very labour intensive. With the smart mechs this whole procedure was finished within about an hour.”

“The good thing about Wiser is it can be done slowly. You might have budget for the kitchen area or main hallway or something. It doesn’t need to be done all at once. It’s the building blocks basically. You don’t have to rewire the whole house.” Chris says.

With safety and security top of mind for the family, Chris also included a few surprise extras to help the home operate more efficiently. A smart motion sensor is used to automatically turn on the lights in areas of the home, helping Chantelle who is an early morning riser safely navigate around the house. There is also a sensor on the front door for added security. All these solutions are compatible with the PDL Wiser Smart Home system for easier installation and control.

“One thing Chantelle and the kids probably don’t realise I’ve done is the wireless sensor on the front door, so that when the door opens in the evening, the hallway lights automatically turn on. It’s great for if you’ve got guests coming or for the kids if they’ve been out somewhere, they open the door, and the lights are just on,” says Chris, highlighting the convenience and versatility of using PDL Wiser Smart Home.

Another major benefit the French family has experienced since the home was updated is energy efficiency. “We have now managed to automate the entire house, and I’ve got it so that at ten o’clock in the morning each day, all the lights and anything plugged into the smart power points are turned off. So, the cost-savings are quite good.” Chris mentions.