Lighting control system
A device, typically an embedded processor or industrial computer, that controls electric lights for a building or residence. Lighting control systems usually include one or more keypads or touch panel interfaces. These interfaces allow users the ability to toggle power to lights and fans, dim lights, and program lighting levels.
A major advantage of a lighting control system over conventional lighting is the ability to control any device from any interface. For example, a master touch panel might allow the user the ability to control all lights in a building, not just a single room. In fact, any light might be controlled from any location.
In addition, lighting control systems provide the ability to automatically power a device based on programming events such as:
- Chronological time (time of day)
- Astronomical time (sunrise/sunset)
- Room occupancy
- Events
- Alarm conditions
- Program logic (any combination of events)
- etc.
Chronological time is a time of day or offset from a time. Astronomical times includes sunrise, sunset, a day, or specific days in a month or year. Room occupancy might be determined with motion detectors or RFID tags. Events might include holidays or birthdays. Alarm conditions might include a door opening or motion detected in a protected area. Program logic can tie all of the above elements together using constructs such as if-then-else statements and logical operators.
High-End Commercial Lighting Control Companies
Though most Lighting Control Companies have a wide range of products capable of many things they each known for a particular area, they are further differentiated by whether the "intelligence" of the system is just in a powerful central controller or distributed amongst all the devices connected together.
- Z-Wave http://www.zen-sys.com - A Wireless Protocol for Home Automation and Lighting Control based in Mesh Networks and oriented to retrofit
- AMX Corporation http://www.amx.com - A cenralised control system, prime market corporate room automation
- Crestron Electronics http://www.crestron.com - A cenralised control system, prime market corporate room automation
- Dynalite http://www.dynalite-online.com- A distributed control system, prime market building automation
- Lutron http://www.lutron.com - A cenralised control system, prime market lighting control
- Watt Stopper/Legrand http://www.wattstopper.com - A distributed control system, prime market building lighting control
- Clipsal http://www.clipsal.com/cis - A distributed control system, prime market building lighting control
Low-Cost Lighting Systems
There is an inexpensive standard for sending control signals over power lines called X10. X10 is generally not a suitable solution for large buildings or businesses due to reliability issues and limited functionality. It is a low-cost alternative for residents in apartments or small homes.
Other Lighting Systems
INSTEON www.insteon.net - INSTEON is a newer standard in home automation. It uses both the existing electrical wiring in the home as well as wireless RF signals to create a reliable network available and is backwards compatible to X10. Lighting control is one of the many uses for INSTEON, including whole-house lighting scenes.