Articles and whitepapers

Advanced Lighting Control for High-End Residential Applications (3/5/2004)

By John Niebel

There is undoubtedly a growing realisation that lighting can enhance an interior. The public's increasing awareness of the capability of technology, helped in no small part by use of computers and the Internet, combined with a wider visual vocabulary and awareness of design, has created a demand for products that satisfy the desire to improve the home.

There is far less design conservatism these days. People are prepared to experiment with decoration, and lighting controls are a very easy way for them to dramatically change an interior. It cannot be stressed strongly enough however, that lighting controls work best when combined with good lighting.

A one-button press on a keypad creates a 'path of light' in a dark hallway

Residential applications

Lighting control systems for residential applications essentially fall into three groups, namely single-circuit control, whole-room control and whole-house control. In order to understand the implications of each of these, we must first define some terms that are used extensively in the lighting control world:

Lighting circuit - a lighting circuit is the name given to all of the lights controlled by a single MCB (Mini-Circuit Breaker) in a distribution panel. A lighting circuit can be split into multiple lighting zones.

Lighting zone - (a.k.a. 'switched leg' or 'switched circuit'). A lighting zone can be made up of multiple lighting fittings all controlled together using a single switch or dimmer.

Lighting scene - a combination of zones set at independent lighting levels using dimmers.

Single-circuit control

Single-circuit control dimmers take the place of a standard wall switch, allowing you to adjust the brightness of one lighting circuit. The most common example of a single-circuit product is the dimmer that is probably controlling the ceiling lights in your dining room. You dim the light for an intimate dinner atmosphere, turn the lights to full to clean up, and set the perfect level for family dining. In fact, many people stop at the dining room when they think of buying a single circuit dimmer. But in a typical home with four or five bedrooms, there may be as many as ten to fifteen places where dimmers could be used to enhance your environment. Consider the following spaces:

Bathrooms - eliminate that shocking 'blast' of light at night, but enjoy bright light whenever you need it.

Children's bedrooms - dimmers make great nightlights! Wall dimmers and table lamp dimmers ease a child's fears in the middle of the night.

Landscape lighting - use dimmers to create a path to the door, or a soft outdoor glow at night.

Outdoor floodlights - reduce the intensity of light when you have guests, and increase bulb life to save money while also saving energy.

Kitchen/family rooms - these are true gathering places. Watch TV, entertain, clean up, or eat a meal in the perfect light.

Master bedrooms - dim bedside lamps or recessed lighting. Dimmers create the perfect, comfortable atmosphere in this essential room.

Hallways - leave lights at a uniform soft glow for quick egress during a nighttime emergency.

Whole-room control

Whole-room controls are designed to adjust several lighting circuits at the same time with the touch of a single button. Entire room controls work best in living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, home cinemas, master bedrooms, and for landscape lighting - areas that typically have more than one lighting circuit in the same space.

The different lighting circuits of a home cinema

Entire room controls allow you to create lighting scenes that are remembered by the control, and recalled by a simple press of a button on the dimmer. It is no different to recalling your favourite radio stations at the touch of a button, except in this case, the lights will fade to the perfect setting for entertaining, a family get-together, a dinner party, or every day use.

Whole-house control

Whole-house control systems represent the newest and most advanced overall product category. Whole-house lighting control systems use dimmers and switches that are networked throughout the home, providing enhanced security, added convenience, and improved aesthetics. The dimmers and switches work independently most of the time, but can also be controlled from central areas within the home with wall-mounted or tabletop 'master' controls.

Whole-house lighting

Whole-home controls are the ultimate in lighting control convenience, luxury, and security - a true 'wow' product category. The Lutron HomeWorks Interactive system for example, is designed specifically for high-end residences, and uses low-voltage wiring to network dimmers, switches, dimming modules, and other control systems throughout a home. The system can automatically turn on landscape and security lighting each night, and a built-in timeclock automatically adjusts for changing seasons, as well as for daylight savings time. It also provides homeowners with a 'panic button' that will turn all lights on instantly, using a single button on a keypad.

The HomeWorks Interactive keypad provides instant access to all areas of the home and landscape

For a realistic appearance of activity that standard timers cannot achieve, the HomeWorks Interactive system automatically memorises a home's actual lighting usage patterns, which can be replayed when the homeowner is away. It can also be linked to a home's security system, so that in the event of an alarm, interior lights can turn on, illuminating a safe exit, while exterior lights can flash, drawing immediate attention from passers by.

Advice

Whether considering a single-circuit, whole-room or whole-house solution, the following are some simple tips to follow:

Use dimmers wherever you can - a simple rotary control will allow you to change the ambiance of any room and is a relatively inexpensive way to enhance your décor.

Include table lamps when adding lighting controls since they are an important part of your lighting and are often overlooked.

Include a whole-room control when installing a home cinema, in order to recreate the feelings and atmosphere of that cinema experience.

Do not be afraid of technology, but make sure you buy controls that suit your requirements and that will be reliable. If you are replacing a switch that is very reliable, look for products that have long warranties. For a whole-house system, employ a specialist installer - a good first place to look is CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association) (note from the Editor: or the HiddenWires directory).

And finally, remember that good lighting controls only work well with good lighting!

John Niebel is the residential sales director for Lutron EA (Europe Africa). Lutron is a leading manufacturer of lighting controls worldwide.

www.lutron.com