Panamax has begun shipping the MD2-ZB SmartPlug ($119.95) and...

Panamax has begun shipping the MD2-ZB SmartPlug ($119.95) and BB-ZB1 BlueBOLT gateway ($99.95) through the custom integrator channel and will extend the line to select Panamax dealers within the next six months, John Benz, director of power and accessories, Core Brands, told Consumer Electronics Daily Tuesday. The devices are part of Panamax’s MD series of products for the custom installation market that provide energy monitoring, individual outlet control, scheduled energy conservation and surge protection. Panamax positions the line as a low-cost way to reduce energy usage and service calls for installers. The smart plug plugs directly into a standard 120V/15A outlet and using ZigBee wireless communications can be monitored, controlled, programmed, and remotely accessed via Panamax/Furman’s cloud-based BlueBOLT energy management and control platform through the wired BB-ZB1 gateway. The smart plug has two discrete AC outlets that can be remotely controlled by installers, Panamax said, saving service calls in situations where a set-top box or other devices require a re-boot. The platform also provides real-time and historical power data, including energy consumption in kilowatt hours per outlet, enabling integrators to schedule conservation periods to cut down on wasted energy and lower utility bills, the company said. Questions about how the consumer versions will differ from the products for the integrator market and which retailers will carry the products weren’t answered by our deadline.