Smart home and security – How automation protects your home

The term “smart home” is often equated with convenient gimmicks – voice control for the stereo, colour-changing lamps or a robot hoover that tours the house on its own. Yet the true potential of an intelligent home lies in an area that goes far beyond convenience: security. A professionally planned smart home security system reacts automatically to dangers, protects your family and your property – around the clock, 365 days a year. In this comprehensive guide we show you how the Ajax automation system with up to 64 individual scenarios turns your home into an intelligent security stronghold.

What is smart home security really?

Smart home security does not mean controlling individual gadgets via an app. It means creating an integrated system in which all components – from the alarm system and lighting to the water supply – communicate with one another and automatically respond to defined events. The decisive difference compared with conventional security systems lies in automation: instead of having to act manually, the system handles the correct response at the right time.

A professional smart home security system rests on three pillars:

• Sensors: motion detectors, door and window contacts, smoke and water detectors capture the state of your home in real time.
• Intelligence: the control panel (Hub 2 Plus) processes all sensor data, evaluates scenarios and takes automated decisions.
• Actuators: switches, sockets, relays and valves carry out the commands from the control panel – from switching on the lighting to shutting off the water supply.

Only through the interplay of these three levels does genuinely intelligent security emerge. And this is exactly where the Ajax automation system from Protexium comes in.

The automation hardware at a glance

Three central automation devices are available for implementing intelligent security scenarios, each performing different tasks:

Ajax WallSwitch – For mains-powered devices

The Ajax WallSwitch is integrated directly into the existing electrical installation and switches devices running on 110 or 230 volts at a power of up to 3 kW. It is ideally suited to controlling ceiling lights, fan heaters, electric radiators or ventilation systems. Installation takes place behind an existing light switch or in a flush-mounted box – completely invisible and without any aesthetic compromise.

Ajax Socket (type F) – The intelligent socket

The Ajax Socket simply plugs into an existing socket and turns every connected device into a smart one. With a switching capacity of up to 2.5 kW and an integrated energy meter, it is perfect for floor lamps, televisions, small kitchen appliances or charging stations. The energy meter shows you the real-time consumption of the connected device – a valuable tool for identifying power-hungry appliances.

Ajax Relay – For low-voltage control

The Ajax Relay operates with 7 to 24 volts direct current and provides potential-free dry contacts. It acts as an interface to existing systems such as garage-door drives, electric door openers, irrigation systems or gate controllers. This enables you to integrate devices into your security system that are not directly Ajax-compatible.

Device	Voltage	Power	Typical application
WallSwitch	110/230 V AC	Up to 3 kW	Ceiling lights, heating, ventilation
Socket type F	230 V AC	Up to 2.5 kW	Floor lamps, TV, kitchen appliances
Relay	7–24 V DC	Dry contact	Garage door, door opener, irrigation

Scenario 1: Leaving the house – securing everything at the press of a button

You leave the house for work in the morning. Rather than laboriously going through every room to check windows, switch off lights and arm the alarm, you simply press a button on your SpaceControl remote or in the Ajax app. The following happens automatically:

• The alarm system is armed in full
• All WallSwitch-controlled lights are switched off
• The iron or fan heater socket is de-energised – no forgotten device ever again
• The heating switches to setback mode
• Standby loads are disconnected from the mains
• Optional: the garage door is closed via the Relay

This scenario combines security with energy efficiency. You save electricity, reduce fire risks from forgotten devices and activate full intrusion protection at the same time. If a window is still open after arming, you will receive a notification immediately – so security gaps are ruled out.

Scenario 2: Fire alarm – automatic life-saving

A smoke detector raises the alarm. Within fractions of a second, the system triggers a cascade of protective measures that go far beyond merely raising the alarm:

• All indoor sirens and the outdoor siren are activated at maximum volume
• All WallSwitch-controlled lights in the house switch on – emergency lighting marks the escape routes
• The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system is shut down immediately to slow the spread of smoke
• Electric roller shutters open automatically to free up escape openings
• The 24/7 monitoring centre is alerted and notifies the fire brigade
• All family members receive a push notification with the precise location of the triggering detector

This scenario can literally save lives – particularly at night, when occupants are asleep and precious seconds decide whether evacuation is safe. The automatic emergency lighting and the opening of the roller shutters create optimal conditions for a rapid escape. You can read more about our comprehensive fire protection concept on the services page.

Scenario 3: Water leak – immediate shut-off

A water sensor under the dishwasher detects escaping moisture. As described in our in-depth article “Preventing water damage”, the system automatically triggers the following measures:

• The Ajax WaterStop closes the main water supply within 7 seconds
• A special water-alarm signal tone sounds via the indoor sirens
• You receive an immediate push notification indicating which sensor has triggered
• Optionally, the tradesperson emergency service is informed

Because the system distinguishes between different alarm types (intrusion, fire, water), you know instantly – without even looking at the app – what kind of danger is present. This enables a targeted and rapid response.

Scenario 4: Night mode – securing the perimeter, controlling the lighting

When you go to bed in the evening, you activate night mode. This scenario strikes a balance between security and comfort for the night-time hours:

• Perimeter protection is activated – all exterior sensors and ground-floor door and window contacts are armed
• Exterior lighting with motion detectors remains active – any approach is illuminated and acts as a deterrent
• Interior motion detectors in the sleeping area remain deactivated so that you can move around freely
• Hallway lighting switches to dimmed orientation lighting – perfect for nocturnal trips to the bathroom
• The heating switches to night setback mode
• Standby devices in the living area are switched off

Night mode is a perfect example of how smart home security and living comfort go hand in hand. You sleep in the knowledge that your house is fully protected from outside while you can move freely inside. Should a perimeter sensor trigger, you are woken immediately and the exterior lighting switches to full brightness.

Scenario 5: Presence simulation during the holidays

Empty houses are a prime target for burglars. Presence simulation is therefore one of the most effective measures for protecting your home during a long absence. The Ajax system offers sophisticated options for this, which we also describe in detail in our article “Travelling safely”:

• Timed lighting scenarios: different lights switch on and off at different times – just as if you were actually present
• Random variations: the switching times vary slightly each day so that no discernible pattern emerges
• TV simulation: a socket switches a television simulation device that produces flickering TV light
• Roller shutter control: shutters are opened in the morning and closed in the evening – adapted to the season
• Full arming: the alarm system works in full-protection mode with all zones
• Water supply locked: the WaterStop closes the main valve to prevent water damage in your absence

Saving energy and monitoring consumption

A frequently underestimated benefit of smart home security automation is the considerable energy-saving potential. Through intelligent control of lighting, heating and standby devices, you can noticeably reduce your energy costs.

The integrated energy meter of the Ajax Socket shows you the consumption of each connected device in real time. This enables you to identify hidden power-hungry appliances quickly – for instance an old fridge that consumes significantly more than a modern one, or entertainment electronics that draw unexpectedly large amounts of standby power.

Through automated shutdown when away and during the night, savings of 15 to 30 percent on electricity costs can be achieved, depending on the household. At current energy prices in Germany, this can amount to several hundred euros per year – savings which quickly recoup the investment in the automation system.

Integration into the zone protection concept

The automation scenarios unfold their full effect only in combination with the Protexium zone protection concept. This concept divides the protection of your home into several lines of defence, each with its own sensors and responses:

• Zone 4/3 (perimeter): exterior sensors detect approaches before the building is reached. Automation activates floodlights and outdoor sirens to deter intruders.
• Zone 2 (building envelope): door and window contacts and shock sensors monitor all openings. When triggered, additional deterrent measures are launched.
• Zone 1 (interior): motion detectors and room sensors detect unauthorised presence inside. The system can automatically capture photos and transmit them to the monitoring centre.

Each zone can be armed independently or in combination. Night mode, for example, activates zones 4/3 and 2 but leaves zone 1 in the sleeping area deactivated. When leaving the house, all three zones are armed simultaneously. This flexibility enables tailored protection for every life situation.

Conclusion – Security that thinks with you

Smart home security is not a luxury – it is a logical evolution of classic intrusion protection. With the Ajax automation system and up to 64 individually configurable scenarios, your home becomes an intelligently reacting safe haven that adapts automatically to every situation: whether you are leaving the house, going to bed, heading off on holiday or a genuine emergency occurs.

The combination of WallSwitch, Socket and Relay enables almost every electrical device to be integrated into the security system. Together with professional planning and installation by Protexium, a tailor-made overall concept emerges that unites security, comfort and energy efficiency.

The key point: all these automations work reliably in the background. You do not need to think constantly about your security system – it thinks for you. And that is precisely the essence of a truly intelligent home.