Legacy lighting · Sydney
HPM iControl / OSCAR replacement
An ageing lighting system needs a clear diagnosis before a new one is specified. HTI assesses older HPM iControl / OSCAR installations, records what is there and helps you plan a practical replacement around the home.
Identify first
The name on the panel is only the starting point.
This page concerns the older HPM iControl lighting and automation system, also referred to as OSCAR or PAELEX. It is not a guide to other products or platforms that use a similar iControl or OSCAR name. Equipment labels, model details and the installed arrangement need to be checked before advice applies to your home.
The older HPM system is discontinued. Availability of suitable parts and access to existing programming must be checked for each installation. HTI provides assessment and integration services; this page does not imply affiliation with HPM or its manufacturer.
Assessment
Understand the equipment, circuits and faults.
We begin with the symptoms you have noticed and an inspection of the installation. A useful record separates a failed component from a circuit, load or programming issue, so replacement decisions are based on evidence rather than the age of a keypad alone.
- Identify controllers, dimmers, relays, keypads and any connected interfaces.
- Document accessible equipment, circuit schedules and the lights or loads they serve.
- Record intermittent faults, failed controls and any available drawings or programming backups.
- Check condition, access and load requirements with the electrical contractor before specifying work.
Replacement options
Keep what is suitable. Replace what is not.
Inspection may identify infrastructure worth retaining, or hardware that needs replacement. Cabling, circuits, enclosures and lighting loads must be assessed for condition, safety and the proposed design. Reuse is an option to investigate, not an assurance that every existing wire or device will suit a new system.
- Consider targeted fault work only where suitable parts and a supportable solution are available.
- Compare replacement controls and hardware against the documented circuits and household needs.
- Identify electrical alterations, access requirements and any equipment that cannot be retained.
- Agree a changeover plan, expected interruptions and commissioning checks before installation.
A possible next system
Control4 can provide a new everyday experience.
Where the assessed design is suitable, Control4 can provide lighting scenes, keypads and a shared interface with other supported home systems. That may involve replacing the old lighting hardware, not simply connecting a new controller to HPM equipment. Compatibility is confirmed device by device during design.
- Plan room controls and scenes around how the household uses the lights.
- Specify appropriate dimming or switching for the actual lighting loads.
- Assess the network and any proposed links to entertainment, climate or shading separately.
- Test the installed controls and provide documentation and a household handover.
In detail
A useful starting record
01
Equipment
Photographs of accessible labels and panels, plus any existing equipment schedule.
02
Symptoms
Which lights or controls fail, when the issue occurs and whether anything changed beforehand.
03
Documentation
Existing drawings, circuit lists and programming records, if you have them.
04
Access and timing
Occupied rooms, access constraints and any renovation programme that affects the changeover.
Questions
What homeowners ask us
- Does every HPM iControl fault require a complete replacement?
- No conclusion should be made without assessment. A fault may be local to a component, circuit or load. Whether targeted work is practical depends on the diagnosis, parts availability and the condition and supportability of the remaining system.
- Can the existing wiring and lighting circuits be reused?
- Some infrastructure may be suitable, but reuse depends on inspection, condition, safety, circuit arrangement and the requirements of the replacement hardware. Electrical changes may be needed; we do not assume all wiring can stay.
- Is Control4 a plug-and-play replacement for HPM iControl / OSCAR?
- No. Control4 is a possible replacement experience, not a universal compatible controller for every HPM installation. The design may require new lighting modules, keypads, wiring alterations and networking, followed by programming and testing.
- Will the lights remain available throughout the changeover?
- The sequence and likely interruptions are discussed after assessment. Work on circuits can require lighting outages and access to occupied rooms. A staged plan may help manage the impact, but uninterrupted operation cannot be guaranteed.
- What determines the replacement cost?
- Circuit count, lighting loads, equipment condition, access, required alterations and the chosen controls all affect the scope. We establish those details before preparing a proposal rather than quote a universal replacement price.
- How do I know this page describes my system?
- Check for HPM iControl, OSCAR or PAELEX identification on accessible equipment or existing records. Similar names are used elsewhere and are not evidence of compatibility. Share the model details with HTI; do not open electrical enclosures to obtain them.
Plan the next step
Tell us what your HPM system is doing.
Describe the faults and share any equipment details or drawings you already have. We will discuss an assessment and the information needed to plan the work.
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