Different Types of Lighting Control Systems
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“Light Up Your Home with the Best Lighting Control System for You!”
If you’re looking to add convenience and efficiency to your home or business, a lighting control system is an excellent way to do it with the highest ROI. A lighting control system allows you to control the lighting in a room or entire building from one central location. This can be done through manual light switches, dimmers, motion sensors, scene schedules or even from your smartphone. There are several different types of lighting control systems available, each offering its own unique advantages. Here, we’ll discuss the types of lighting control systems and how they can benefit you.
Manual Lighting Control
Manual lighting control systems are the most basic type of lighting controls. They consist of a series of switches, dimmers, and other components that are used to manually adjust the lighting in a space. This type of lighting control system is quite outdated, however still common in most residential spaces. Present day LEED certified buildings or commercial real estate are all specified with automated lighting control to meet energy saving requirements.
Automated Lighting Control
Automated lighting control systems allow the user to control the lighting in a space remotely, either from a wall switch, from a smartphone or tablet, using voice or scheduled scenes. This type of system is ideal for those who want the convenience of changing lighting settings, scheduling automated scenes, targeting energy savings or trying to meet LEED or green building certifications.
Here are a few single smart devices that can assist with basic lighting controls:
1. Connected Bulb Systems: Smart light bulbs can be controlled through a variety of protocols and technologies, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Z-Wave, and more. These bulbs can be controlled remotely via an app or voice assistant and can be set to turn on and off on a schedule.
2. Smart Lighting Strips: Smart LED strips are another great way to light up different areas of your home. LED strips can be controlled through an app or voice assistant, and can be used to create a variety of moods and ambiances.
3. Smart Switches and Dimmers: Smart switches and dimmers can be connected to any existing light fixture and allow you to control the brightness and on/off state of the lights. They are easy to install and can be controlled remotely from an app or voice assistant.
4. Smart Plugs: Smart plugs are a great add-on as you can toggle the plug on and off or set a timer, see your daily and weekly run time, and set it to vacation mode. For example, in vacation mode if you have a lamp plugged-in, it would turn on and off the lamp at random times to mimic someone being home.
What are some of the most common automated lighting control systems
1. Lutron: Lutron has a versatile line of automated lighting systems that can be integrated within homes, commercial and industrial lighting applications. They provide energy-saving options, like the ability to schedule lights to automatically turn on and off, dim lights, or move from one level of light to another. With Lutron lighting systems, you can also control lights from your smartphone or tablet. Lutron also easily integrates with voice-assistant platforms like josh.ai, Google Home, Alexa and Apple Homekit.
2. Philips Hue: A wireless lighting system that uses LED bulbs and is compatible with voice commands, timers, and motion sensors for a fully automated experience, Philips Hue is a smart home lighting system created by Signify (formerly Philips Lighting) that allows you to control your lights wirelessly - ideal for retrofit applications. The system consists of bulbs, switches, and a bridge that can be controlled using an app on your smartphone or tablet. You can use it to dim your lights, create schedules, and set custom scenes. Additionally, the system is compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit, allowing you to control your lights with voice commands.
3. Control4: A home automation system that allows you to control all of your home's lights from one centralized hub. It is designed to be easy to install and use, so that you can quickly create a lighting system that fits your individual needs. With the Control4 Lighting Solutions, you have the flexibility for panelized (all loads) or single devices (switch/dimmers) automation. The system can be programmed to create custom scenes, adjust the brightness of each light, or even integrate with josh.ai, Amazon Alexa or Google Home. Additionally, the system is able to integrate with other Control4 products, including audio/video systems, HVAC systems, and security systems.
4. Crestron: A comprehensive, integrated lighting control system designed to provide intuitive, efficient, and cost-effective lighting control for commercial, residential, and industrial applications. Crestron Lighting System is designed to meet the needs of installers, architects, and building owners alike, providing energy savings, convenience, and reliability. With its easy-to-use programming and graphical user interface, Crestron Lighting System can be customized to meet the needs of any environment. The system allows for control of individual lights, groups of lights, and entire zones, as well as the ability to control the intensity and color of the lights. Additionally, the system is able to integrate with other Crestron products, including audio/video systems, HVAC systems, and security systems.
5: Brilliant: A system that allows you to control your lights from anywhere using your smartphone or voice commands through virtual assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant. With the Brilliant Control panel, you can also easily adjust the brightness, colour temperature, and set schedules for your lights to turn on and off. The system is easy to install and can be integrated with other smart home devices, making it a convenient and customizable solution for automating your lighting. More importantly, they have several 3rd party integration partners like Lutron, Philips Hue and more.