What’s New in Smart Panel Technology - 2023

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[remyb]

People should be really carefull with this SPAN stuff. If they go out of business, there will be no mobile apps and no servers to turn on and off your things. Making it a dumb expensive electrical panel. It's also a security risk to have someone (a server) able to control your home, I really hope they offer some "local" only controls and apis to be able to use the panel without their fancy mobile app.

[CaptEagleBeak]

As a student of cybersecurity, I am constantly gaining a deeper understanding of the trade-offs between convenience and security in the context of smart devices. One of the challenges I have identified is the long-term support provided by manufacturers for these devices. Specifically, there is a question of whether companies such as SPAN will continue to provide updates to their older panels when new panels are released. Currently, most residential electrical panels are not connected to the network, thus rendering them immune to cyberattacks. However, this situation may change in the future as the number of connected devices continues to grow.

[jamespetersiii]

CJ over talks the people he's interviewing. I like that he's excited but he should have just talked about each product himself instead of having the people he's interviewing just stand there shaking their heads in agreement

[gardnervanier]

CJ is obviously enthusiastic but needs to allow the supplier to speak about the product

[sumitbirla]

Given that people own their homes for decades while companies come and go, smart breaker panels should be based on open industry standards. Perhaps using local Modbus control, with cloud-integration being an optional add-on.

[Rudy-C]

Video started great! Smart panels in IBS 2023. 10mins on Span, 3 mins on Eaton smart breakers, then 3 mins on hafele cabinet lighting, and 4 mins on Halo lighting... Meanwhile you can see a power related booth in the Span video behind CJ that says smart energy and power systems. I was fully expecting him to walk right over to the Savant booth but he went to Eaton. Then didn't go back to any smart panel products...

[primistandem]

Why were the people being "interviewed" even there? It was basically just CJ doing a monologue.

[ocko]

So many "smart" products all based on chips, wifi and apps. What happens when A) chip production stops, B) ISPs collapse and C) apps aren't updated?

[DaveDugdaleColorado]

If I have an Eaton panel (which I do) why would I buy a Span panel when all that is required it buying new Smart Breakers for my existing Eaton panel? I sure hope the Eaton Smart Breakers work on my panel board from 1995. I just emailed Eaton to see if it will work for me.

[jt]

I can't tell you how many hours I have spent wanting to look at an app for my electrical panel. I'll be out at dinner with friends and I can't even focus on the conversation because all I can think about is "I wish I could remotely turnoff the circuit to my toaster" or "I wonder how many amps my fish tank is pulling right now" or "When is Jennifer going to stop talking about that mole she had removed so we can move on getting dessert ordered." This stuff will be a game changer for me.

[randalllawkin]

what about hacking on span? having a source from outside the house take over the unit. This is something I am cautious about because house will be on batteries with backup generator.

[jrbigger]

These devices are useful if you live in an area with a poor electric grid and use backup generators and/or batteries and solar power. Security and continued support would be a major concern.

[harrisonbergeron]

Don't' put this stuff in your house it can be controlled and shut down remotely if you do something certain entities deem problematic.

[TheElectrician]

Lots of great stuff out there. As the #1 electrical contractor channel on YouTube, I don't think electricians take advantage of all the. Add on and residual income there is out there by installing smart panels, low voltage, solar etc.

[crispusattucks]

In the process of getting Span certified now, took too long to be able to install in the current passive house were doing. looking forward to trying them out.

[shubinternet]

So, for the Span panel, what happens when the company web servers go down? What happens when my WAN connection goes down? I know I'm screwed when the power goes out at my house, unless I install a battery pack or generator. But if I do have a battery pack or generator and I can't talk to the company servers for some reason, am I still screwed? And what happens when Span goes out of business?

I work for AWS, so I'm all-in for the cloud and the data -- For normal operations. But I'm also all-in for backups. And for continuing to operate in the face of multiple failures, including when the cloud is no longer accessible.

[jaredledvina]

I would love to see SPAN come out with a larger panel. 32 spaces is too few in my opinion and ultimately why I just went with SquareD for now main and sub panel replacements. The price is really steep for a panel that doesn't fit my 1977 200A circuits even with the dedicated sub panel in the garage. 

I'm pretty lost as to who their target market actually is, as a fully electric home would have more than 32 circuits, and smaller homes likely have a smaller budget. I guess extremely custom/large homes in wine country in CA might just go for two panels but, the SPAN app has a really clunky multi-panel integration setup (treated as different homes entirely). I don't know, just hoping they polish it all up in a few years and don't go out of business.

[joelwalsman]

Thanks for the interview, Matt! Your channel does so much benefit to builders and contractors everywhere. I’ll be in Texas in June. See ya then! 😊

[alexpaden]

let the salesman sell the products dude... just ask questions. we don't care how much you think you know.

[steven]

A quicklink wafer is MORE than a traditional wafer. Even though it doesn't have a driver, box and like 50% less components. Their profit margin is insane on these