Lighting controller: application of light control panels, motion sensors and photocells

In large apartments and country houses, it can be difficult to control lighting with switches alone, especially if the lamps are divided into large groups. This problem is solved by the "smart home" system. It uses lighting controllers and remote controls to control lamps in different parts of the building. Such technical innovations make housing more comfortable.

Centralized and automatic management

You can adjust the light in different ways. One of them is centralized management. It is produced using panels and controllers that are installed in buildings and enterprises. So, if the light is not needed in a separate room, it is turned off from the central control panel.

Using the controller, they control lamps in the area near the house: illumination of flower beds, paths, fountains. Everyone does this without going outside. In apartments, the controller is usually installed at the entrance. It allows you to turn off the lights in all rooms at once. The device is convenient to use when the owners are in a hurry to work and they have no time to check whether the lamps are off in all rooms.

Another option is motion sensors, timers or photocells. These fixtures automatically adjust the luminaires. So, motion sensors installed in a bathroom or toilet will turn on the light when a person enters, and turn off when exiting.

This is very convenient if there are young children in the house who find it difficult to reach the switch, or very old people who can forget where it is.

Photocells control the light according to the intensity of the light outside. In the evening, when it gets dark, they automatically light up the lamps near the house and the lights on the paths, and in the morning they turn them off.

The use of timers is convenient when the light needs to be regulated by the clock. So, they can automatically turn on the lamps 5 minutes before the arrival of the owner, if he returns at the same time.

Remote controls and computer control

These are the most popular remote light control devices. The remote control looks like a television one. It contains buttons, each of which controls a specific lighting group. A group usually contains from 1 to 262 luminaires.

Using a lighting control panel in an apartment, you can turn on / off certain lamps or adjust their brightness. So, you can turn off the overhead light without getting out of bed, or dim the lighting during a romantic dinner.

Using the remote control is very convenient if the light is organized in several tiers: a central chandelier, ceiling and wall lamps, wall lamps and niche lighting. In this case, they can be operated from the comfort of the couch.

An effective way to use the remote control is to control outdoor lighting. With its help, it is possible to regulate the light on the territory and in outbuildings from the house. Instead of a common remote control, you can use a small remote control, which controls a small group of lighting elements. They can turn on, for example, lamps in the garage at the entrance.

The “smart home” system allows you to control the light directly from your computer. It has a program that regulates the lighting groups installed in the building and in the surrounding area.

They control light both from home and from anywhere in the world, which is also provided in the software. To do this, you need to enter your username / password and enter the home control system. If you turn on the lamps, then the appearance of the presence of the owners is created.

The light is also controlled from a smartphone through the installed application. This can also be done from a regular phone using SMS (GSM control).

Regulating devices

Various devices are used to regulate the light. These can be both devices that directly control lighting, and sensors that transmit a control impulse. These include:

1. Lighting group control unit. When the remote control button is pressed, it controls the switching on and off of the lamps, and also adjusts their brightness.
2. Controller. This is a highly functional device that regulates lighting in different modes: manual, automatic programmable, as well as by signals from the remote control and sensors. The controller is equipped with a liquid crystal display. Its setting is done on the keyboard.
3. Motion sensors. They react to infrared radiation from humans. The sensors of the sensors send signals to the control unit installed in the room. It turns on the lamps when people come in and turns them off after they leave. Infrared radiation does not enter through obstacles, so the sensors will not respond when someone enters the room behind the wall.
4. Light sensors. They react to street lighting. When its intensity falls below a certain level, they transmit a signal to the control unit, which turns on the artificial light. When the intensity of the street lighting exceeds a predetermined level, the device transmits a signal to turn off the lights. The sensors are equipped with photocells. They are installed in places where light from other lighting devices does not enter, so that it does not affect the operation of the devices. Such devices do not respond to short-term increases in the brightness of the lighting, for example, to the light of car headlights or a flash of lightning.
5. Time relays, or timers. These devices are equipped with a processor that provides a control signal to turn on the luminaires at a specific time.

IR and radio controlled switches

Modern manufacturers produce sockets, switches and dimmers that are remotely controlled. These include the following devices:

1. Devices that respond to infrared rays. They are controlled with a remote control, sending the signal directly to the receiver. Control cannot be performed from other rooms.
2. Radio controlled products. They can be monitored using a radio signal at a distance of up to 100 meters. The signal passes through various obstacles that only weaken its effect. Sometimes adapters are used that convert infrared rays into radio frequency ones.
3. GSM controlled. They are controlled from the phone using special programs.

Lighting control is carried out using remote controls. They are of 2 types:

1. Infrared. Often, a standard reprogrammed television remote control is used to control the switches.
2. Radio controlled. These highly functional devices are especially popular. They are equipped with 7-9 buttons. Each of them is tied to a specific lighting group with its own address. When the button is pressed, the radio signal spreads to all groups, but only one reacts to it - with the desired address. Such remote controls in the "smart home system" are used to control not only lighting, but also all home electronic equipment.

Lighting control systems make life easier and more comfortable. Using various types of control, it is possible to regulate the luminaires directly from home, outside, and even from anywhere in the world. This is done using a control panel, a signal from a computer or from a mobile phone.