Good lighting design includes the design of good control. Lighting controls play a critical role in lighting systems, enabling users manually or automatically to:
- Turn the lights ON and OFF using a switch; and/or remote controlling system
- Adjust light output up and down using a dimmer or a remote dimming system.
Benefits of Lighting Control systems
- Flexibility to satisfy user visual needs; and/or
- Automation to reduce energy costs and improve sustainability.
Additional capabilities of modern Lighting Control System
- Adjust light source color, including shade of white light; and/or
- Generate data via measuring and/or monitoring.
By adjusting the intensity of one or more layers of lighting in a space, lighting controls can:
- Change space appearance;
- Facilitate different functions of the space;
- Alter atmosphere and mood;
- Reduce glare; and/or increase user satisfaction by providing users the ability to control their lighting.
Effects of Lighting Control Systems
- Producing the optimum amount of light by use of dimmers for managing intensity of light fixture/s
- Controlling as to where the lighting is required by zoning the luminaries to controllers
- Controlling the timing as to when the lighting is required by automatically switching on the lights when the area is occupied and vice versa.
- Producing Light of required shade by separately dimming arrays of LED with different colors or white light correlated color temperature.
- Enhancing Lighting management capability by allowing remote programming and control.
- Monitoring performance of Lighting via centralized intelligent control systems with measuring/monitoring and alarm capacity.
Types of Lighting Control System
1. Basic Lighting Controls
Manual on/off switch. These are conventional type control systems and have been used for ages.
2. Dimmer Switches
Dimmer switches are a slightly more advanced way to control room lighting. These switches allow an individual to slide the switch to their desired level of lighting, When combined with LED light bulbs, dimmer switches can help control your building’s energy costs.
3. Motion Sensors for Outdoor Lighting
With a motion sensor, the light turns on when movement is detected and turns off after a certain number of minutes have passed without motion. In order for this to work well, the light bulbs need to produce light as soon as the light starts receiving power.
4. Occupancy Sensors for Indoor Lighting
Occupancy sensors are designed to turn on the lights as soon as someone enters a room and turns off after a certain number of minutes of no movement. Occupancy sensors are great for bathrooms, storerooms, etc where space is occupied for a minimal duration.