How to do lighting control in a smart home system

Lighting control in the "Smart House" - it is not just turning on and off the equipment. This feature is rich and allows you to control both lights and outlets, even when a person is far away. It is important to understand all the features of the system to choose what works best for you.

With a clever system, you can regulate lighting in a wide range.

Lighting systems in the Smart Home - features

This segment of the control is called "Smart Light", it refers not only to lighting, but also the means of its control and management. Also, the system often includes outlets, so that you can control their work as well. The most commonly used light sources are LED or fluorescent lamps - the safest and most economical today. As for the features, they are as follows:

1. The equipment is controlled by on/off relays, microcontrollers, sound and motion sensors and other nodes that help regulate lighting.
2. You can use all the functions individually, or you can create scenarios that will work by individual groups of devices. This simplifies operation and reduces the time it takes to make settings.
3. The elements can be switched on and off in different ways, and it is not difficult to find an option for any user.
   The control panel of the system in the house.
4. The system not only turns the lights on and off, but also adjusts their brightness, allowing you to adjust the light the way you're most comfortable.
5. Energy-saving modes can be set to reduce electricity consumption and automatically turn lights off if no one is in the room for a long time.
6. If necessary, the presence mode is switched on if the occupants are away for a long time: the light will be switched on in the evening in different rooms, simulating that someone is in the house.
7. There is an option to turn on the light in the morning to use it as an alarm clock.

By the way! Many people note the convenience of the "turn off everything" function, when leaving the house, you can cut off the power to all the lights and outlets with one touch and not think whether the iron is off or not. The main thing is not to include outlets that supply power to the refrigerator and other equipment that must run all the time.

Ways to remotely control it

Smart light in an apartment or a house is good by the fact that there are several variants of control and you can use the one which is more convenient at a certain moment of time. That is, it is not necessary to choose one solution, you can apply all. The basic methods are the following:

1. The control panel for all systems of the "Smart home" is usually located near the switchboard or in any convenient place. The touch screen has all the information and you can enter any settings or change scenarios if you need to.
2. It is possible to install the application on a smartphone or tablet and control the system remotely from anywhere in the world, the main thing is to have an Internet connection. Different developers have different applications, it is worth to understand the features in advance to quickly find the right controls. It is important that the application is russified.
   It is convenient to control the light from a tablet.
3. Another convenient option is control from a computer or laptopThis also requires an application from the system developer, which is installed as an ordinary program. On the computer it's most convenient to deal with the system, you can set precise settings and create any scenarios.

It's better to put a password on the app on your smartphone or computer to protect it from small children who can accidentally change the settings or turn off the light.

Types of switches

Smart lights can be controlled in different ways. When choosing a kit, it's worth deciding in advance what types of switches will be used:

1. Traditional push-button models. Most often serve as an insurance solution in case the system fails. They can also work without a controller, which is very important. A great option is a switch at the door that cuts off the power to all the lights and outlets in the house so you don't have to check them when you go out.
   Classic two-key and single-key light switches.
2. Touch controls controls look unusual and turn on lights at the touch of a finger. A more modern solution that looks stylish and suits modern interiors. It can be a single-action or multi-purpose module.
   A touch-sensitive 4-button switch.
3. KNX switches. A new solution that is characterized by the fact that the panel has several segments and each of them triggers a different lighting scenario. That is, you can program the system in advance and afterwards do not waste time on settings. In addition, such models look unusual.
   KNX switch controls not only the light, but also other systems.
4. Motion and sound sensors. You can install them at the entrance to the room so that the light comes on automatically. In this case, you do not need to put traditional switches, which will greatly simplify the installation and give the interior a more stylish look.
   The motion sensor should cover exactly the part of the area that is needed to trigger the light.

By the way! Switches can be both traditional - connected through wires, and standalone. The second option works through a wireless network, which simplifies its installation, in it you will have to change the batteries from time to time, this is the main disadvantage.

Outdoor automatic lighting

If you use a "Smart House" system, the lighting can be adjusted not only in the building, but also in the surrounding area. In this case, it is necessary to think through what options will be used on the site and how they will be controlled:

1. The simplest solution is to install sensors on the gate and gates. When you open them, they will automatically turn on the light in the whole area or only on the track, it all depends on the settings. You can change them at your discretion, which is very convenient.
2. Using motion sensors also allows you to set the light to turn on when a person approaches the gate or a car drives up to the gate. This is a convenient option, the main thing is to properly set the motion sensors and adjust their sensitivity so that they do not turn on when a cat or other small animal runs by. The position of the sensor can be adjusted.
3. If you want to turn on facade lighting or decorative site lighting, the easiest way is to use a light sensor. It will automatically start the lights when the lighting is below a set limit. It is common to use a timer to extinguish facade lighting at 23-24 hours.
   Controlling backlighting outside is no more complicated than it is in the house.
4. For those who leave for a long period of time, the option of remote control via an app on a smartphone is suitable, to ensure the effect of presence and exclude intruders from entering the house.

Scenarios can be set up through the app without using sensors, further simplifying the system and allowing it to be controlled from any mobile device.

Installing a smart lighting system

It's best to plan for smart lighting while you're still building your home or before you renovate. Then you can rationally organize the work and install only the wiring that is necessary. As for the options, they are as follows:

1. Control with a controller - a central unit that coordinates not only the smart lighting, but also all other systems. It receives signals from sensors and controls operation.
   When installing a controller, it is important to make a detailed wiring diagram.
2. Using smart equipment with microcontrollers and its own memory. In this case, each lighting element is controlled separately.
3. The connection can be made either by traditional wired or wireless networks. The second option is easier due to the fact that it is necessary to lay fewer wires, but it is important to make the right settings for correct operation.
4. It is also possible to use lights that run on rechargeable batteries, they do not need electricity. The solution has both pros and cons, as you will have to constantly monitor the charge level.

It is best to buy a ready-made set from one manufacturer, it can be completed later, if necessary.

Video: Implementation lighting "Smart home" in an apartment or house.

Lighting in the "Smart House" system is not difficult to arrange, if you use the recommendations from the review and choose those options that are optimal for a particular room. You have to choose the controls and switches that provide the most comfort.