Smart Home Automation | Lutron, Hue, KNX, Shelly Specialists | C-Lec Electrical
Smart Home • Automation Specialists

Smart Home
Automation Specialists

Smart home automation that actually works. Lutron, Philips Hue, Shelly and KNX systems for lighting, heating, blinds, AV and security. Wired in properly with neutral at every switch, scene programming included and full app and voice control set up before we leave site.

Call Today Get a Quote
From: £995 Smart Lighting Starter
Systems: Lutron, Hue, Shelly, KNX
Approval: NAPIT & Part P Approved
At a glance

We design and install smart home automation systems for homes and businesses. Lutron RA3 for whole-home premium control, Philips Hue for affordable lighting automation, Shelly for retrofit smart switching and KNX for the highest-end full-property automation. We wire smart correctly: neutral at every switch position, sufficient back box depth, dimming-compatible drivers and proper scene programming. App, voice (Alexa, Google, HomeKit) and traditional wall switch control all work side by side. NAPIT registered, BS 7671 certified.

Why this matters

Most smart home installs are done wrong by amateurs

Smart home kit looks easy on YouTube. In reality, most DIY installs end up flickering, lagging, dropping off WiFi or refusing to dim properly. The reasons are almost always electrical: no neutral wire at the switch position, the wrong driver type for the LED load, back boxes too shallow for the smart module or a dimmer mismatched to the bulb.

We design smart home installs from the wiring up. Every switch position gets a neutral. Every back box is the right depth. Every driver is matched to the LED load. Scene programming is done properly so a single button press sets a whole room's lighting, blinds, heating and music. App, voice and physical switches all work together.

  • Neutral at every switch position so any smart switch will work
  • Back boxes 35mm deep minimum for proper module clearance
  • Dimmer-compatible drivers verified before quote
  • Scene programming for the rooms you actually use
  • Hub fitted properly (wired to the router, not WiFi mesh)
Wired Right Smart Done From the Cabling Up, Not Bolted On Top
NAPITRegistered
Part PApproved
LutronRA3 Specifier
2 YearWorkmanship Warranty
BS 7671 18th Edition Certified
Smart home essentials

The numbers that
actually matter

Smart home gets oversold on features and undersold on the basics. These are the specs that decide whether your install will work in 5 years time.

35mmmin

Back Box Depth

Smart switch modules need 35mm deep back boxes. Most older homes have 16mm or 25mm boxes which need swapping for smart switches to fit at all.

100%neutral

Neutral At Every Switch

Modern smart switches require a neutral wire at the switch position. Older lighting wiring loops the neutral at the rose, not the switch. Rewire required.

Wiredhub

Hub Connection

Smart hubs (Hue Bridge, Lutron Caseta, KNX gateway) should always be wired to the router via ethernet, not WiFi. Cuts lag dramatically and prevents drop-out.

3protocols

Common Standards

Zigbee (Hue), Clear Connect (Lutron) and KNX wired bus. Avoid pure WiFi smart switches as they overload your router and lag badly.

What we install

Every type of smart
home automation

Smart Lighting Control

Lutron RA3, Philips Hue and Shelly relay systems. Scene programming, dimming, colour temperature control and full app and voice integration with Alexa, Google Home and HomeKit.

From £995 starter

Smart Heating & Climate

Hive, Tado, Honeywell EvoHome and Drayton Wiser zoned heating systems. Per-room thermostats, schedule programming and integration with smart home hubs for full automation.

From £395 fitted

Smart Blinds & Curtains

Motorised blinds and curtain tracks with app and voice control. Schedule by sunrise / sunset, dim with the lights or open as part of "Good Morning" automation.

From £545 per window

Smart Security & CCTV

Smart doorbells (Ring, Nest), keypad door locks, integrated CCTV with the alarm system, app notifications and remote arming all wired into the smart home hub.

Quoted on scope

Multi-Room Audio

Sonos, Bluesound and KNX-controlled multi-room audio. In-ceiling speakers, hidden amplifier locations and integration with the lighting scenes for cinema-style scene control.

From £995 per zone

Whole-Home KNX

For larger properties: full KNX wired bus automation covering lighting, heating, blinds, AV, security and access control. The premium standard for high-end new builds.

Quoted on plans
Smart home packages

Three packages by
scope and ambition

Three honest packages covering the most common smart home scopes. From smart lighting in a few rooms through to a full whole-home automation system.

Essential

Smart Lighting Starter

£995 From, 3 to 4 rooms
  • Philips Hue or Shelly relay
  • 3 to 4 rooms covered
  • Wired hub to router
  • Scene programming included
  • Alexa, Google Home, HomeKit
  • App walkthrough on completion
  • 1 year warranty
Choose Essential
Best Value Premium

Whole-Home Smart

£3495 From, typical 3 bed
  • Lutron RA3 or full Hue system
  • All rooms covered
  • Smart heating zoned (Drayton Wiser)
  • Smart doorbell + 2 smart locks
  • Multi-scene programming
  • Voice control on all systems
  • 2 year warranty
Choose Premium
Pro

Pro KNX Automation

£9995 From, full KNX bus
  • Full KNX wired bus system
  • Lighting, heating, blinds, AV
  • Multi-room audio (Sonos / Bluesound)
  • Touch panel control
  • Custom scene engineering
  • Integrated CCTV and access
  • 3 year warranty
Choose Pro
How it works

From concept to commissioned
in five clear steps

1

Free Consultation

We talk through what you want to control and how you actually use the rooms. Lighting, heating, blinds, music, security or all of the above.

2

System Design

We pick the right system (Hue, Lutron, KNX or Shelly) for your scope and budget, design the scenes and write up a fixed quote.

3

Wiring & Hardware

Any rewiring needed (neutrals at switches, deeper back boxes, hub feeds) carried out first. Then hardware installed and connected.

4

Scene Programming

We programme scenes for the rooms and routines you actually use: morning routines, movie night, dinner, bed time, away mode.

5

Walkthrough & Handover

App on your phone, voice setup with Alexa/Google/Siri tested, traditional switches still working, full walkthrough given before we leave.

Want a smart home that works?

Free Design,
Fixed Quote

Most smart home jobs are designed within a week of the initial consultation. We will pick the right system for your scope and budget. No upselling, no overcomplicating.

Lutron RA3 specifier • Hue, Shelly, KNX • 2 year warranty
Call Today Get a Quote
Common mistakes

Smart home mistakes
that cause years of frustration

A snapshot of issues we are most often called to fix on existing smart home installs. Most are wiring related.

!No Neutral At SwitchModern smart switches won't work
!Back Box Too ShallowSmart module won't fit
!Cheap WiFi SwitchesLag, drop off, overload router
!Hub On WiFiShould be wired to router
!Mixed Ecosystems3 apps for 3 rooms, no unification
!Wrong Driver For LEDsFlicker, buzz, can't dim low
!No Scene ProgrammingJust on/off, none of the value
!Voice Only SetupNo physical switch backup
!Single Point FailureHub dies, whole house dark
!No Local ControlInternet down, no lights work
!Cheap Smart BulbsSlow, dim, dead in 2 years
!No User TrainingFamily can't use it, reverts to manual

If your existing smart system has any of these issues. We can re-engineer it properly.

Why C-Lec

Designed properly,
built to last

Wired

Wiring First Approach

We get the wiring right before specifying smart kit. Neutrals at switches, deep back boxes, dimmer-compatible drivers. The smart kit then just works.

Local

Local Control Always

Every system we install works locally without internet. Hub dies and the lights still work from the wall switch. No single point of failure.

Scenes

Real Scene Programming

We programme actual scenes you will use: movie night, dinner, kids bath time, away mode. Not just on/off but actually useful automation.

Train

Family Walkthrough

Walkthrough with everyone in the household before we leave. The system has to be usable by family members not just the tech enthusiast.

Areas we cover

Local cover across
Bedfordshire, Bucks & beyond

We are based in Bedford and cover the wider region for domestic and commercial work. The majority of our jobs come from these towns:

MKBedford & Surrounding Villages MKMilton Keynes (All Postcodes) MKKempston & Wixams MKAmpthill & Flitwick NNNorthampton NNWellingborough & Rushden LULuton & Dunstable LULeighton Buzzard SGBiggleswade & Sandy PESt Neots & Huntingdon HPAylesbury & Tring CBCambridge Outskirts
Frequently asked

Smart home questions, answered fast

How much does smart home automation cost?
A smart lighting starter (3 to 4 rooms with Philips Hue or Shelly relay) starts from £995 fully installed including hub, programming and walkthrough. A whole-home smart system covering lighting, heating and security typically £3495 to £5995. Pro KNX whole-home automation £9995 and up. Always quoted on actual scope after a consultation.
Lutron, Hue or KNX: which should I choose?
Philips Hue is the affordable choice for smart lighting in existing homes. Easy to expand, good for casual users. Lutron RA3 is the premium standard for retrofit smart homes, more reliable and more elegant than Hue. KNX is the highest-end, used in luxury homes and superyachts: full wired bus that controls everything from lighting to AV to access. We help you pick the right one for your budget and home.
Will my existing wiring work with smart switches?
Sometimes yes, often no. Modern smart switches typically need a neutral wire at the switch position. Older UK lighting wiring loops the neutral at the ceiling rose, not the switch. We survey your wiring first and tell you if any rewiring is needed before smart switches will work. Around 60 percent of homes need some rewiring at switch positions.
Does smart home need WiFi to work?
Good systems work locally without WiFi. We always wire the hub directly to your router via ethernet so it has the most reliable connection possible. The system itself runs on Zigbee, Clear Connect or KNX bus locally. Internet drops out and your lights still work normally. Internet only matters for remote app control when you are away from home.
Can I use Alexa, Google Home or Apple HomeKit?
Yes, all major voice platforms supported. Most systems we install (Hue, Lutron, KNX) work with Alexa, Google Home and Apple HomeKit out of the box. We set up the voice integration as part of the install, test "turn off downstairs lights" type commands and walk through how to add new rooms or scenes via voice later.
What if a family member doesn't like smart switches?
Smart switches still work as physical switches. The wall switch always controls the lights even if no one ever opens the app or speaks to a voice assistant. Family members who prefer regular switches can keep using them exactly as before. Smart features sit on top, not instead of the basics.
Can you integrate Sonos and multi-room music?
Yes. Sonos, Bluesound and KNX-controlled multi-room audio all integrate with the lighting and heating systems we install. Movie night scene dims the lights, drops the blinds and starts a Sonos cinema playlist with a single button or voice command. We design the audio install to fit alongside the rest of the smart home.
Do you do commercial smart automation?
Yes. We work on commercial smart automation across Bedfordshire, Bucks and Northants for offices, hotels, restaurants and showrooms. Lutron commercial systems for offices, KNX for premium retail and hospitality, full integration with HVAC, AV and access control all available.
Book your smart home design

Smart Home Automation,
Done Properly

Free design consultation, NAPIT registered, real scene programming included. Most smart home installs designed within a week and installed in two to five days depending on scope.

Call Today Get a Quote