Case Study - Nero System Replacement

Expanding Apple HomeKit Control to Lights, Gates, Garage, Blinds, and Music

Canny Electrics removed one discontinued Nero automation system from a 4-year-old residential home and replaced it with a new platform integrated into Apple HomeKit.

The migration restored core lighting automation and added four major new control categories the old system could not support: entry gates, garage doors, blinds, and music.

The result was an expanded Apple HomeKit environment with local and remote control via phone, voice commands, and pre-set scenes for the whole household.

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  • Client Type: Residential homeowner
  • Industry: Residential electrical services and home automation
  • Location: Not specified
  • Project Date: 30/07/2024
  • Project Type: Legacy automation replacement and Apple HomeKit migration
  • Property Type: Residential home, built 4 years earlier
  • Trigger for Project: Nero automation system was discontinued and no longer available on the market
  • Primary Services: Legacy system removal, lighting module replacement, controller retrofit, Apple HomeKit integration, smart home capability expansion
  • Technology Stack: Nero removed, replacement automation platform installed (Fibaro), Apple HomeKit integration
  • Integrated Functions: Lighting control, entry gate control, garage door control, blind control, music control
  • Company: Canny Electrics

The Challenge

The homeowners were using a Nero automation platform that had been discontinued.

This leaves the property tied to an outdated ecosystem with no long-term pathway for support or expansion. Because the home was only 4 years old, the replacement needed to work within a relatively recent built environment rather than as a full rebuild.

The main technical challenge was removing all existing Nero lighting modules and retrofitting replacement controllers across the house. The new system had to restore reliable automation while fitting into the existing installation without unnecessary disruption.

The project also required functional expansion. The old Nero setup could not support entry gates, garage doors, blinds, or music, and the homeowners wanted these added to the new platform. Since all family members were Apple users, Apple HomeKit was the required control environment.

The Solution

Canny Electrics delivered a full retrofit migration and platform expansion with the following scope:

  • Removed all existing Nero lighting modules
  • Retrofitted and replaced existing controllers with a trusted replacement system
  • Installed a new automation platform using Fibaro as the replacement brand
  • Integrated the new system into Apple HomeKit
  • Restored lighting automation on the new platform
  • Added entry gate, garage door, blind, and music control
  • Enabled access through phone control, voice commands, and pre-set scenes
  • Delivered a broader automation environment than the previous Nero system could support

Key implementation entities:

  • Nero system removal and Fibaro replacement platform
  • Controller retrofit and lighting module migration
  • Apple HomeKit integration
  • Entry gate, garage door, and blind automation
  • Music control and scene-based smart home control

The Results

  • 1 discontinued Nero system fully removed
  • 1 new Fibaro-based automation platform installed
  • All existing Nero lighting modules replaced
  • 4 new automation functions added beyond the legacy system’s capability: entry gates, garage doors, blinds, and music
  • 1 full Apple HomeKit integration completed
  • Local and remote control enabled through phone access, voice commands, and scenes

Summary

  • Canny Electrics replaced a discontinued Nero home automation system in a residential home.
  • The property was 4 years old at the time of the retrofit.
  • The replacement platform used Fibaro and integrated into Apple HomeKit.
  • All existing Nero lighting modules were removed and replaced.
  • The new system added entry gates, garage doors, blinds, and music control.

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If you have a discontinued system or a legacy setup that needs an upgrade, our team can help. We specialise in seamless migrations and expanding your home’s smart capabilities.

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