2/27/2012 3:34:00 PM by Homelife Technology
What is lighting control?
Intelligent lighting control is the ability to control lights individually or in a group (known as a lighting scene) with a keypad, touch screen, remote control, mobile device, Mac, PC or through the internet. Lighting control conserves energy by making it easy to ensure that lights are turned on or off in individual rooms, floors or even the entire home with little or no effort.
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Example of the lighting control interface on a Touch Screen
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Eliminate clutter.
Lights need to be controlled, but the controls don't need to be seen. For example, kitchens have a mixture of task, general and accent lighting such as:
- Island pendants
- Over cabinet
- Toe kick
- Under cabinet
- General purpose cans
- In cabinet
- Bookshelf
- Cook top
- and more
In a traditional home, each light load in the kitchen would need a switch on the wall. With all these switches, how do you know which switch controls what light? Expecting all of these switches to make sense to a homeowner when standing in front of them is no easy task. Each additional switch creates more of an eyesore on the wall. Add in 3 & 4 way switches at other entrances to the kitchen and you've created an unsightly mega-gang switch box.
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| How many times have you seen the dreaded Mega-Gang? |
Electricians try to eliminate mega-gang switch locations by breaking up where each light is operated from, but this often makes things even more confusing to the end user. For example, to get the proper lights turned on to cook a meal might require the homeowner to go around to 3 or 4 different switch locations. For this reason, many of the lights that can create a dramatic effect & were so thought out in the lighting plan sit idle, and are never used.
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These are examples of easy to use keypads that provide a much cleaner look
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Lighting control is a different mind set. Lighting control gives you lighting scenes, which make it easy to control a group of lights when setting the mood. Lighting scenes eliminate the need to chase down and turn on/off individual light switches. When a lighting scene in the Kitchen such as "Cook" or "Relax" executes, the lights that are part of that scene are automatically set to a pre-chosen light level automatically and in unison.
Look ma, no hands!
Lighting systems can incorporate sensors which allow for a completely hands free experience. Simply walk into a room or down a hallway & the lights turn on automatically at the right light levels based on the time of day or ambient light.
We utilize micro sensors that are so small they're hard to spot and through predictive logic, even the most complex floor plans can take advantage of this amazing and green technology.
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For comparison, here is a micro sensor
near a slim line smoke detector. |
Want to see some Smart Homes in action?
Simply go to www.HomeLifeTechnology.com or click on the image below and check out the Smart Home tour featuring 6 Smart Homes.
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