Articles and whitepapers

The Need for Scene Setting (4/4/2005)

By Caro Hill, Leax Lighting Controls

Since the dawn of time, both fire and then candlelight have been used by people to set and enhance their domestic scene. Romance blossomed in the caves just as it does in a Notting Hill brasserie today. The food may have improved, but the basic lighting principles remain unchanged. Nothing can alter our mood as effectively or swiftly as a change in the lighting. Whether it is the anticipatory excitement of lowering the lights to blow out our birthday candles, or experiencing irritation at the surly waiter raising the lights in a restaurant to signal his desire to bring you the bill, a change in the lighting scene can bring about an immediate effect. Ask Sean Connery - even James Bond would struggle in 1000 lux!

Setting the scene using automated lighting control of multiple sources

Modern requirements

Scene setting has its uses beyond the romantic and seductive. Pressure on living space has ensured that our homes are required to be multifunctional. A single living area can perform many roles - dining space, home office, entertainment, food preparation and somewhere for children to do their homework. Designers and architects are able to design the space to cope with this multi use, but a scene setting system used as a support tool can make the job so much easier.

Specifying scene set dimming is more of a necessity now than ever before. In the past, designers have been able to 'get away' with using rotaries. A sophisticated client simply will not put up with this any more. You cannot easily 'two way' a rotary - what good is that in a bedroom or entertainment space? What about the aesthetics? Six lighting circuits in a drawing room means six rotaries on the wall, not a pretty sight. There is only one solution - and even the large developers are regularly using it now.

Scene setting systems

Essentially there are two types of scene set system. Firstly there is the remote dimmer racks sited away from the designated area usually by the distribution board, or in a cupboard. The lights to be controlled are rewired to these racks, a signal cable is run from the racks to the local control plates, and scene setting or programming is done either by laptop or from the control plate itself. This type of system can be networked, and can control high loads and a variety of lamp types. It can also drive blinds and screens, offer time clock functionality, daylight linking and touchscreen control.

The more basic, but equally effective and budget-sensitive system is the wall dimmer. This uses existing cabling and provides programmable scene setting in one area at a time.

Whichever system is specified, it is important to remember who will be using it. The client will not care what the programming software is like, they will not be interested in how easy or complex the installation process is, they will not even care how the system addresses the technical specification for the job. At the end of the day, the most important concerns for the client are:

* Does the control plate look good?
* Is it easy to programme and recall a scene?
* What sort of after sales service will I get if it goes wrong?

Design considerations

Because of the fundamental importance of lighting to any project, it is vital that a dimming system is considered as part of the lighting design. There are wiring implications when specifying a system, whether it is a remote dimmer rack sited near the distribution board, or a local wall dimmer. Both systems are likely to have slave plates and too often we see projects where not enough of these have been allowed for. If a room has more than one entry point e.g. garden doors, ensuite bathrooms etc, there must be a control plate by every door. Do not skimp on the budget and put only one plate beside the double bed! The whole point of these systems is that they are user friendly, add value to a project and are 'a bit special', something to be shown off by clients and estate agents alike.

Any decent dimming company would welcome the opportunity to be involved in the system design and specification at an early stage, and while we seldom get to meet the end users, we have a lot to offer a custom installer in terms of programming services and design options.

Options for installers

Lighting control systems can do more than their given brief. It is commonplace for the lighting to link via RS232 to automation systems such as those by Crestron and AMX, and various products have been designed specifically with the custom installer in mind. Indeed standard dimming product can be used to drive blinds, screens, curtains or drop down projectors, with the control plates adapted and engraved accordingly. This adds serious value to any project, allowing the custom installer to extend the range of a system throughout the house, or alternatively to design a system within tight budgets.

Lighting and audio control using the Leax Light and Sound Master LXS 8806

No reasonable property should be wired today without providing for future technology. Even if a budget does not provide for scene setting and distributed audio, it makes perfect sense for contractors and architects to make provision for future choice. Alternatively, a client may want to add to a specification in future, but if the cabling is not there, how can they upgrade their lighting in other areas of the house to scene setting?

We are not yet at a point where we can throw away the need for cable. Whilst wireless front-end programming is an option, there is an inherent drop in signal speed and reliability, not to mention the interference caused by other wifi equipment within the home.

Government help

With the Government actively promoting energy-saving technology through its Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) scheme, there has never been a better time to install dimming and lighting controls on any project. The ECA scheme enables businesses to claim 100% first year capital allowances on investments in energy saving technologies and products. Businesses are now able to write off the whole cost of their investment against their taxable profits of the period during which they make the investment. This will have a hugely-positive effect on the lighting market, with time-clock software ensuring manufacturers can prove the efficiency of their systems.

Caro Hill is Director of Leax Lighting Controls, a British manufacturer of architectural dimming and lighting control systems. Leax is a member of CEDIA, the British Interior Design Association and The Lighting Association.

www.leax.co.uk