There are many automated lighting systems on the market today. Each company that develops their own 'unique system' seeks to sell you not only their product but a lifetime obligation to their services. First, the system will have to be installed by one of their professionals and then you must pay to 'unlock' new features. All the while, the cost effectiveness of an automated lighting system seems to go out the door. So before you commit to a state of the art product and service, consider building your own automated lighting system with individual components. If well executed you can create a luxurious, convenient lighting system on the cheap that will provide energy savings for years to come.
First you must become familiar with what technology is out there. There several types of wireless communications, two in particular are most commonly used in lighting. The first is infrared technology. Infrared light is electromatic radiation that has a wavelength longer than visible light. These wavelengths are communicated by a corresponding frequency range. Each frequency communicated signals a different function or command to the end user lighting component. The other type of wireless communication is a wireless local area network (WLAN) or Wi-Fi. Each component within the automated lighting system will have an IP address on a network and transmit communications resulting in lighting controls and responses. The main benefit of Wi-Fi communications over infrared is that communications are relayed over the network and each component can send signals both forward and backward. Also all activities can be monitored by a base station on the network. This could be your home computer with Wi-Fi access or your smart phone. The base station logs onto the network and can monitor all signals being transmitted and even schedule activities. This is very helpful in creating an automated lighting system.
Now you can shop for lighting components that communicate on one of the two platforms and start to assemble a
unique one of a kind lighting system. One lighting component that is crucial to any lighting system is an occupancy sensor. While occupancy sensor switches are not ideal for all spaces and applications they can automatically turn lights off when not needed in areas of your home or office where you usually leave the lights on. This will help you save tons of money on your energy bills. Occupancy sensors are available to fit in a wall switch junction box or for a ceiling mounted application. There are
also a variety of lamps and LED fixtures that come fitted with occupancy sensors built-in. This option adds an extra dimension of flexibility to your DIY automated lighting system design; allowing you to place sensored lighting in areas where conduit had never been installed.
First you must become familiar with what technology is out there. There several types of wireless communications, two in particular are most commonly used in lighting. The first is infrared technology. Infrared light is electromatic radiation that has a wavelength longer than visible light. These wavelengths are communicated by a corresponding frequency range. Each frequency communicated signals a different function or command to the end user lighting component. The other type of wireless communication is a wireless local area network (WLAN) or Wi-Fi. Each component within the automated lighting system will have an IP address on a network and transmit communications resulting in lighting controls and responses. The main benefit of Wi-Fi communications over infrared is that communications are relayed over the network and each component can send signals both forward and backward. Also all activities can be monitored by a base station on the network. This could be your home computer with Wi-Fi access or your smart phone. The base station logs onto the network and can monitor all signals being transmitted and even schedule activities. This is very helpful in creating an automated lighting system.
Now you can shop for lighting components that communicate on one of the two platforms and start to assemble a
unique one of a kind lighting system. One lighting component that is crucial to any lighting system is an occupancy sensor. While occupancy sensor switches are not ideal for all spaces and applications they can automatically turn lights off when not needed in areas of your home or office where you usually leave the lights on. This will help you save tons of money on your energy bills. Occupancy sensors are available to fit in a wall switch junction box or for a ceiling mounted application. There are
also a variety of lamps and LED fixtures that come fitted with occupancy sensors built-in. This option adds an extra dimension of flexibility to your DIY automated lighting system design; allowing you to place sensored lighting in areas where conduit had never been installed.
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