Thinking of Lighting Control Systems?
There are a number of different types and different brands of lighting control systems.
Many systems have the same baseline functionally whether it’s the cheap DIY (do-it-yourself) $40 - $80 per switch-leg system you saw online or the higher priced products that typically run more like $200 - $500 per switch leg and require professional installation.
If this is your first endeavor into lighting controls, there are a some key questions that you first need to answer in order to best determine the type of system you might ultimately end up with.
1) Why do you want the system in the first place or why is it being specified by your architect/interior designer?
Security reasons
Remote access to operate lights while away
All on/off features
Proper illumination of a room or area (meaning you actually use the multiple light dimmed legs the architect planned for; rather than just using 1 light switch that would illuminate the room too much under normal circumstances)
You want it tied in with a remote control or app that also operates many other systems; such as climate, security, entertainment systems, etc.
Because you think it's cool and/or you think your friends will also think it's cool (and no, there is nothing wrong with you feeling this way; ego is;after all; what drives us to want things nicer that go beyond pure utilitarian purposes)
2) How will the system be installed, programmed & supported?
I'm going to have a professional handle it from soup to nuts. Other than checking circuit breakers, I have no plans to service the system myself.
I'm going to have it professionally installed & programmed but want to have the flexibility to service & make programming changes myself if I choose to. If it has a problem, I’d like to be able to resolve it myself, but will likely hire a professional if I can’t figure it out quickly.
I'm going to have an electrician install all electrical-related components but otherwise I plan to do most/all the work myself. I still want to know I have the support of a local professional if I get into a jam.
I want to do it all myself. When it breaks, I’m totally cool with not having any support other than user forums or sitting for hours on the phone with a foreigner I can’t understand, trying to help me fix to problem based on what their computer screen says.
3) What level of tolerance do the people who will be using the systems have for issues when they occur?
It better be 99.999% reliable or heads are going to roll! If there is a problem, I expect someone will attempt to address the problem by the next business day.
We understand all technology is going to have an occasional bug so long as it can be resolved quickly by professional I’m good with that.
We’re pretty patient within reason and can deal with technology not always being perfect.
We’re all geeks who love technology and know things break… it’s part of life. If we can have the technology we’re happy, even if there is some bug that crops up that we can’t solve.
Once you’ve answered these questions; if you’re going to involve a professional; the next step should be to share your responses with someone who can help you begin the system design & budgeting process. If you’re not going to involve a professional, hopefully wherever you’re going to source your system from can guide you correctly based on these initial considerations.
For more info on lighitng control systems, system design and/or definitions of terms used in this post which you don’t understand, feel free to contact me or see the Lighting Controls section of this blog: http://smarthomeguru.tumblr.com/lightingsystems
While I can’t possibly respond to every request, if you’d like to discuss a topic in more detail, feel free to request.