Types of Lighting Control Systems for Creative Work

Full range, manual lighting control is available with slide controls. When the lights are turned on, some are equipped with a touch switch that enables you to return to the previous lighting level. Others have lights on them so you can quickly locate them when you enter a dark room. The way they operate is identical to regular dimmers, but instead of having predetermined lighting configurations, you have complete control over how much light you want in the space you are in.

You can adjust the brightness of the illumination with a little slider that is located next to the flip switch thanks to preset lighting controls. You can turn the lights on and off using the switch, and you can change the brightness of the light using the slider. Likewise, you can also use preset dimmers, which means you can set them to a favorite setting that will remain at the preset level each time you flip the switch on. Having said that, these dimmers can also assist you with saving energy when a particular section of your home doesn't require a lot of light.

There is a manual on/off switch included. With these kinds of lighting controls, the building's tenants must remember to switch it on when they enter the room and off when they depart to save money. Electric bill reduction can be achieved by utilizing basic switches and energy-efficient light bulbs like LEDs and CFLs.

Using dimmer switches is a slightly more sophisticated way to control room illumination. Unlike switches that are either fully on or entirely off, these switches allow a person to slide the switch to the amount of lighting they prefer while using less electricity. These switches can aid in reducing your building’s energy expenses when used in conjunction with LED lamps.

Lighting controllers using motion sensors are used for security and utility lighting. When it notices motion, it turns on the lights, and a short while later, it turns them off. If lights must be turned on in the dark when people are present, consider using motion sensor controllers.

Although there are many different occupancy detection methods, infrared, microwave, ultrasonic, and video image processing are the most used. The sensors are typically connected to a building's Internet of Things (IoT) network and provide data to building management and booking systems. These systems can automate lighting, HVAC, and ventilation control while also understanding workstation usage, meeting room efficiency, and space utilization.

An electrical switch called a touch dimmer allows the user to adjust the brightness of a light source by touching it. Touch dimmer switches are frequently used in lighting applications, allowing users to regulate the brightness of the lights. Touch dimmers require special components to replace all of the physical switch's functions because they rely on human touch sequences rather than physical switch positions to dim the illumination. 

You can use them to create various pre-set lighting scenarios inside a room. You can flick a switch on a box or use a handheld remote control. Some manufacturers have even started producing lighting controls that you can operate using a smartphone or similar mobile device, making them more adaptable. In the long term, this might help you save a tonne of time and money.

This sophisticated lighting control system can be created as a standalone system or as a component of a Building Automation System (BAS) package. Networked lighting control systems give the operators the ability to operate the lights from their computers or portable devices that are loaded with the lighting control software. To accurately track energy usage, sophisticated software packages can even provide usage charts.

You can incorporate voice-activated assistance technology into your lighting design, such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa. This enables safer navigation through your home at night by enabling you to turn your lights on with a voice command.

Once everything is set up, you may issue commands like "Okay Google, turn on the kitchen lights”. Or, “Okay Google, dim the kitchen lights”.  Even more specifically, you can say to Google “Okay Google, set kitchen lights to 50%”.

A photo-diode is the main component found in the majority of light-level sensors used in lighting control applications. As lux levels in the environment rise, so too does the output from the photo-diode, which is why photo-diodes are commonly used in lighting control applications. Photo-diodes are designed to respond to the same wavelengths as the human eye. The kind seen on streetlights is the most widely used standalone light level sensor. 

A time switch is a device that manages an electric switch. It is sometimes referred to as a digital timer or an electronic timer. The time switch regulates when electrical equipment is turned on and off. A relay or a contactor, as well as an electronic timer switch, can be integrated into an existing power circuit and connected to the main supply. As an alternative, a plug-in timer switch that is integrated into the piece of equipment itself can be inserted into a power socket and used with an appliance.

Plug-in Time Switches

A memory chip that enables the time to be set within 24 hours or at various times is frequently found in plug-in time switches, which are also referred to as digital timers. Conversely, mechanical timers signify a specified duration, such as 15-minute intervals.

DIN Rail Time Switches

Timer-controlled DIN rail time switches are excellent for promoting energy conservation. They only turn on the power when it is required, such as when water pumps, irrigation systems, and vacant building lights need to be turned on. They are frequently used for barrier control, shift-change sirens, and other purposes in factories where automatic machinery needs to be turned on or off appropriately at certain times.