Lighting Controls and Scene Management

Lighting controls are often combined with home cinema to create an optimum viewing environment, and can help to put the finishing touches to Custom Install and Home Automation installations. Just as importantly, though, lighting controls and control systems can be used for a variety of practical and security related reasons. For example, to provide comprehensive whole house lighting systems with control based on the time of day, occupancy (lights on when you walk into a room, off when you walk out, etc.), or in conjunction with a security system (e.g. can flash the house lights when an alarm event is generated). Many different switch and control panels or wall point types are available to suit the setting – LCD touch screen, Palm PC, wireless tablet PC, mobile phones, organisers, multi-button panels, switch plates, etc.

Switch Plates and control panels can be finished in Chrome, Brass, Stainless Steel, Brushed finishes, many other different colours and finishes, and just plain old white plastic!

Azantian are able to supply lighting controls and automation products from most suppliers, including all the major manufacturers, but take pride in providing the correct solution to the client’s requirements. We will provide ideas, help you work out your needs and design a system, with you, to suit your application and your decor. We can work through an entire project with you, or just supply to your requirements.

Convenience

Automation and control switches allow you to control any lights from any point in the home. Lighting control panels or switches can be configured to control as few or as many lighting circuits as you want. For example, a single button can offer an “all lights off” function for the whole house. Ideal for making sure you didn’t leave the back bedroom or kitchen light on!

Lights can be operated in a pre-programmed sequence and also be activated via sensors to light up a series of locations at one time. For instance, a single button or remote can be used to light a path to the bedroom or kitchen, via stairs, landing, hallways, etc., and the control system will turn off lights as you go past, saving energy. Lighting controls can also be operated via remote control and offer the same functionality.

• On entering the house, the hallway sensor will activate the hallway lights and can light up a pathway to key locations in the house
• On leaving, a single button at the exit can ensure that all lights are off
• On leaving you can get lighting systems to simulate occupancy by switching pre-selected lights on and off in a recorded or random pattern
• On arrival, drive, porch and hall way lights can be turned on from sensors
• Garden, Pool or Architectural Lighting can be turned on remotely, by a single button press, or from a timing or light sensing product

Efficiency

A lighting system can utilise time of day, daylight sensors and occupancy sensors to determine whether or not any lighting is needed. This can eliminate the possibility of any lights being left on when not required and saves energy by not lighting when conditions do not require it. All of our control systems contain circuit dimming hardware; this can be employed both for lighting effect and for saving energy. By reducing the operating current, you can also increase lamp life significantly, in addition to providing the energy savings:

Architectural Lighting

Decorative lighting can be used to enhance architectural features, such as an ornamental or imposing tree, building facades and ponds or water features. These can all be tied in to the lighting control system and offer the benefits already described, such as dimming control, fade up/down sequences, energy saving, bulb life extension and visual impact.

Assisted and Disabled Lighting

Flexible lighting controls can be particularly useful for people with mobility problems. We are happy to work with householders and organisations to help find solutions for clients with mobility difficulties or disabilities, and modify existing, or provide new, systems and switch products which allow easy access to controlling lights, either at the wall or using remote controls or fobs, or other methods, which mean you don’t have to get to the switch to turn things on and off.

Mood Lighting

Lighting can be decorative as well as functional. A single button can activate various lighting circuits in a location simultaneously, and this can be used to effectively cater for differing requirements, by using combinations of up-lighting, down-lighting, wall-wash, concealed lighting and feature lighting to create the appropriate effects. Dimming up and down and fade-up, fade-down timed sequences can make all the difference to your dinner party or Home Cinema event …

• Home Cinema
• Dinner / Entertaining
• Reading and Relaxing
• Board Meetings
• Presentations
• Stairwells and Walls
• Pictures and Features

Retro Fit Lighting

You can have a new lighting control solution without rewiring your property ….

A whole house lighting control system has traditionally required extensive wiring throughout the property in order to connect the lighting circuits, control hardware and lighting control panels, making this a viable option only for a property undergoing major refurbishment, or a new build. It is now possible to deploy a wireless lighting control system, which can be installed with minimum disruption, by utilising existing wiring and wall points (back boxes). Other wired dimming and scene control systems are also available for a retrofit application; these are used in place of an existing switch.

Both wired and wireless retrofit products can provide many of the benefits listed above, but can be added to an existing installation without major alterations.

Azantian have carefully chosen selected products for retrofit application from several manufacturers, including RAKO Controls, Centralite and Lutron. We are able to design, advise, install and supply to your requirements

Security

A lighting control system can also offer significant security benefits. Lighting sequences can be pre-programmed to turn indoor and outdoor lights on and off and set times of day in order to simulate occupancy and deter intruders. Some control systems also offer a “vacation mode” that will record and replay actual light activity by the occupants, providing a more realistic simulation of presence.

A lighting control system can be connected to the house alarm system and offer an additional means of intruder deterrence. On detection of an alarm event, the alarm system can notify the lighting system which can then flash all the house lights repeatedly. This would be in addition to all the normal alarm functions, such as an audible alert.

Lighting control and alarm systems can be operated in conjunction with network cameras, which can offer additional motion detection capabilities – see our Network Cameras page (link).

Remote access to your house lighting, security and automation system is possible via the Internet, and even via mobile telephone. Systems can be configured to telephone, email or SMS (text) you when specific events occur. You may then have the choice to connect in and see what is happening via camera systems, or via connection into your lighting and security control systems.