There are many variables that can impact the performance of a lighting control system. The amount of sunlight your home receives, the layout and size of the residence and even how the buttons on the controls all deserve careful consideration.
Here are a few key things you’ll want to do (and not do) when your ready to invest in a lighting control system for your house.
Do plan for 3-way switches. In a hallway or staircase, for example, put a keypad at both ends—so you can turn the lights on or off whether you’re coming or going.
Do integrate shading into your system. You’ll be able to take blend natural and artificial lighting for a pleasing effect that’s more energy efficient than lighting your house completely with light bulbs.
Do experiment with the settings of the lights before you have your keypads engraved. Give yourself at least a month to tweak the system, using temporary labels on the keypad buttons.
Do expect your installer to offer follow-up visits to adjust the settings of the lights. Inevitably, your lifestyle will change over the years; you’ll want the lighting to adjust accordingly.
Don’t let your installer leave at 5 p.m. Lighting looks much different at night than during the day, so you’ll want to be sure some of the programming happens in the evening.
Don’t get too personal or esoteric with the labeling of your keypad buttons. It may date your house or make it difficult for other people to use your system. Having scenes like “Dave’s favorite,” or a “dance fever” may seem like a fun way to distinguish the lighting scenes, but they’ll make no sense to your friends or future homeowners should you ever sell your house.
Don’t worry about leaving a room(s) off the system. Most lighting control system are modular so that they can be easily expanded as your budget allows or your needs change.
Don’t forget about the exterior lighting. Weaving those fixtures into certain scenes can have a huge impact on the appearance and functionality of your home.
What is the point of traditional 3-way lighting in a new home designed to be automated with lighting control?
Every lighting control point can be programmed to communicate with a group of lights, which makes 3-way unnecessary. Not to mention, 3-way can introduce additional complexity and cost of installation.
Thanks for the great article Lisa!
Don’t forget to consider how integrating the lighting with other house systems can provide more control opportunities. Like using the security system sensors for doors and motion to control the lights.
2-way status of the lighting is critical to applying these advanced features. If you don’t have 2-way feedback, the automation system does not know that you have manually selected to change a lighting level and may try to override it.
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I think the “plan for 3-way switches” has to do with the fact that some systems require an extra controller switch in the 3-way locations. With all the wireless options the electrician does not need to run the expensive 3-way wires, just need to make an extra gang slot and be sure it has power in