How does smart lighting work?
Smart lighting is becoming a term more and more of us are familiar with these days as smart or connected devices become more common in our homes. Most of us understand that this involves some aspect of remote control for our standard switches; but what exactly does this involve and how does it work? In this article, we will take a brief look. To quickly familiarize yourself with the advantages of smart lighting.
How do smart light switches work?
The main starting point for most smart lighting systems that include smart switches is the "smart hub". The "hub" acts as a hub that enables wireless communication between smart switches or light bulbs in your home and your phone or tablet. It should just plug into a spare port on your wireless router. Some smart switches have the advantage of not requiring a hub, as they use your existing Wi-Fi network to send commands to each device; however, the downside of such systems is that they can also suffer from the same wireless range limitations common to local Wi-Fi networks.
Smart bulbs and smart switches
Beyond the central hub, there are two general approaches to smart lighting: smart switches and smart bulbs.
Smart bulbs are popular due to their simplicity, as no installation or wiring is required, and their relatively low cost. Wireless communication technology is built into the bulb itself, and many bulbs may also include dimmable or color-changing technology. However, the significant disadvantage of smart bulbs is that they cannot be controlled remotely if the circuit supplying them with power is turned off at the light switch. Therefore, smart bulbs may be best suited for applications involving table lamps powered by outlets or power sources without manual wall switches.
The more complete option is a smart switch or dimmer. This involves replacing standard light switches with a 'smart' version that has wireless technology built into the switch itself. The advantage of this approach is that remote and standard manual controls are provided, along with the ability to monitor the on/off status of the light even when it is turned off by the switch.
Smart applications (apps)
Not long ago, smart lighting systems were so complex that they required a dedicated professional to program them and then come back to reprogram them if you wanted to make even the simplest of changes. Fortunately, it's much easier these days, as everything can be set up with an app that can be downloaded to your smartphone in seconds.
Once your hub is up and running, most manufacturers simply require you to register and set up a personal account before you "connect" or "pair" your smartphone app with any smart device. This can be as simple as pressing the button on the smart switch and the one in the app to recognize it. Naming devices and basing each into a corresponding "room" in the app can help you organize your home's light controls for easy and quick access when you need them.
The apps can also be used to set up additional smart features, such as the ability to group smart dimmers (switches) and create 'triggers'. This means that lighting scenes integrating multiple dimmers can be triggered at the touch of just one "magic" dimmer button (switch).
What opportunities open up?
Once everything is set up, the real fun begins. While there may be some obvious benefits, many people don't realize how many smart applications there are for smart systems until they start living with them. Of course, it would be nice to have some security lighting on if you stay out late; but how about putting those lights on a random timer so you don't have to? Outdoor lights that turn on automatically but adjust daily to accommodate the changing hours of dusk and dawn? Or perhaps a light switch that can gently wake you up by gradually increasing the light level in the morning until it's time to get up? These are just a few examples and there are countless more options including power and heating.
Things to consider when installing smart switches
Most smart light switches are designed to be "rewired". This means you can remove an existing switch and replace it with a smart version without the need to change any of the existing cables. While this is usually the case, make sure your back boxes (the wall cavities where the light switches are installed) are deep enough for the new switch.
Some smart light switches may require a neutral wire. While in most truly retrofit solutions the installation of the neutral wire and grounding is optional, it is worth checking that the requirements and your chosen solution are similar, as most older lighting circuits will not include a neutral wire.
By far the most important consideration when installing smart dimmers is the compatibility of the LED lamps that are used with them. This is actually something that is common to all electronic dimmers, smart or otherwise, because unlike a regular, traditional incandescent light bulb, LED lights include their own electronics that don't always work the same way. Not all LEDs are "dimmable" (be sure to check the label) and even then they may not work well with every dimmer on the market. However, the latest offerings from the better brands have the ability to "self-calibrate" and will work well with most dimmable LED lights. It is always a good idea to check compatibility charts from such manufacturers available online to ensure the best results.
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