Installer: Ken Thomas, Premises Manager at Hailsham Parish Church.
Ken Thomas, an experienced engineer with a background in electrical work, AV, and networking, has always been keen to explore the possibilities of scripting and IoT. When Ken attended a Shelly breakfast morning at his local CEF branch, he discovered Shelly devices. Realising their potential, he saw an opportunity to bring smart automation to Hailsham Parish Church, where he now works part-time.
The Challenge: A Star Beyond Reach
Location: Hailsham Parish Church
Hailsham Parish Church, a Grade 1 listed building with records dating back to 1230, faces unique challenges when it comes to integrating modern technology. One of the latest projects involved installing a striking “Bethlehem Star” light fixture in the west window above the main entrance. This window, standing 7 meters high and nestled in a narrow 600mm gap between outer and inner glass panels, posed significant accessibility issues for both operation and maintenance.
The church needed a solution that would enable remote control of the star’s lighting system without the need for precarious ladder work or complex access routines.
Enter Shelly: The Perfect Smart Solution
Product Used: Shelly 1 Mini Gen3
Ken chose Shelly for several compelling reasons. Each Shelly device features an embedded web server, allowing for operation without a dedicated hub or app. The church has Wi-Fi network with reasonable coverage but there are dead spots due to the thick stone walls. The ability of the Shelly devices to provide a repeater function also proves very useful.
Additionally, the use of webhooks enabled seamless wireless device-to-device communication. This was a game-changer for Hailsham Parish Church, where the need for reliable remote control without fobs or multiple apps was paramount.
Traditional wireless control systems often rely on key fobs – a less-than-ideal solution for a public building with multiple users. Shelly’s web-based control system offered a streamlined, efficient, and accessible alternative.
The Installation: Simple, Effective, and Reliable
For complete control over the Bethlehem Star, Ken integrated a Shelly 1 Mini Gen3 to control the mains power supply to the LED system. The lights are powered by a 300W Mean Well driver and managed by MiLight controllers. All components are securely housed in Wiska boxes, installed 3 meters above ground atop a cupboard in the church foyer.
Connecting the Shelly device to the church’s Wi-Fi network allowed for remote control via a bookmark set up on the church’s PC. The Vicar can easily adjust the lights without needing to climb ladders or disrupt services. To simplify the process further, Ken programmed daily schedules, ensuring the lights automatically switch on and off at preset times.
During operation, the LED system cycles through a full range of colours, adding a dynamic and festive ambiance. The system debuted during Hailsham’s “Christmas Lights Switch-on” event, perfectly synchronized with the town’s other Christmas decorations. The lights illuminated the church’s west window, visible from Hailsham High Street, creating a stunning display that helped to draw hundreds of visitors into the church for hot drinks and festivities. The event was a resounding success, showcasing both the practical and celebratory value of the new light display.
Expanding Smart Control
Ken has big plans for Shelly devices beyond the Christmas display. Current and future applications include:
- Controlling power to video monitors and projectors
- Dimming church interioor lights (once replaced with dimmable LEDs)
- Simplifying AV control through physical switches linked to Shelly relays
By integrating Shelly devices with the AV console, Ken ensures that routine tasks, such as powering multiple monitors, can be accomplished with a single switch. This avoids reliance on phones or PCs, streamlining operations and reducing complexity.
Feedback
“The possibilities with Shelly devices are endless, whether you’re installing them in your home, office - or even a grade 1 listed building! I’ll definitely be using them in my future installations. Not only this, NetXL have been very responsive to all of my technical questions - long term support from a reliable supplier is both crucial and rare.”
For more information, please visit https://www.hailshamchurch.org/
