Remote lighting systems are seeing increased adoption following a recent surge in demand due in part to their affordability, the sheer convenience they bring and the integration on offer
Controlling the lights in your home or office from anywhere in the world can be a great convenience and vastly improve your quality of life. You can also create different lighting scenes for different occasions to suit your mood and preferences. A remote lighting system is a technology that enables you to do all these things, by allowing you to adjust the brightness, colour and timing of your lights from your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
A remote lighting system uses wireless communication protocols, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, or Z-Wave to connect your lights to a central hub or controller. This controller can be accessed through an app or a web browser.
In the next section, we’ll briefly take a closer look at the components of remote lighting control and how they work together.
Remote Lighting Systems in Action
Remote Lighting Systems work by sending signals from your controller to your lights, either directly or through a hub. A hub is a device that acts as a bridge between your controller and your lights and it can also extend the range and reliability of the wireless connection. Some smart bulbs require a hub to work, while others can connect directly to your Wi-Fi network without a hub.
The control processor is a device that you use to interact with your lights and it can be a smartphone, a tablet, a computer, or a dedicated remote. The controller supports an app or a web interface that lets you access various features and functions of your lights, such as:
- On/off: You can turn your lights on or off with a simple tap or swipe.
- Dimming: You can adjust the brightness of your lights to suit your mood or activity.
- Colour: You can change the colour or temperature of your lights to create different atmospheres or effects. For example, you can choose warm colours for relaxation, cool colours for concentration, or vibrant colours for fun.
- Scenes: You can create and save preset lighting configurations for different occasions, such as a sunrise scene, a sunset scene, a reading scene, or a party scene. You can also activate these scenes with a single tap or with voice commands.
- Schedules: You can set timers or schedules for your lights to turn on or off automatically at certain times of the day or week. For example, you can program your lights to wake you up gently in the morning, to turn off when you leave for work, or to welcome you back home in the evening.
- Routines: You can link your lights to other smart devices or services, such as sensors, cameras, thermostats, or music players and create routines that trigger your lights based on certain events or conditions. For example, you can make your lights flash when someone rings your doorbell, when you receive an email, or when your favourite song plays.
- Geofencing: You can use your smartphone’s GPS to track your location and make your lights react accordingly. For example, you can make your lights turn on when you approach your home or turn off when you leave your home.
In the next section, we’ll take a quick look at how to set up a remote lighting system and what benefits it can provide.
Putting Together a Remote Lighting System
Setting up a remote lighting system is not very difficult and it can be done in a few simple steps.
- Choose your lights: You can either buy smart bulbs that are compatible with your controller or hub or use smart plugs or switches to make your existing lights smart. You can also mix and match different types of lights, such as table lamps, ceiling lights, or strip lights, to create a more diverse and dynamic lighting environment.
- Install your lights: You can either screw your smart bulbs into your existing sockets or plug your smart plugs or switches into your existing outlets. You can also use adhesive tape or clips to attach your strip lights to your walls, furniture, or other surfaces.
- Connect your lights: You can either pair your lights with your controller or hub using the app or the web interface, or you can scan a QR code or a barcode on your lights to connect them automatically. You can also name your lights and group them by rooms or zones for easier management.
- Customise your lights: You can use the app or the web interface to adjust your lights’ settings, such as brightness, colour, scenes, schedules, routines and geofencing. You can also use voice assistants, such as Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri, to control your lights with voice commands.
In the last section, we’ll take a look at the benefits a remote lighting system brings and where the technology is headed.
Why Invest in a Remote Lighting System
A remote lighting management system offers users the convenience to control lights from anywhere, anytime, without having to get up from their couch, bed, or desk. Users can also use voice commands or gestures to control their lights hands-free. It offers users the comfort of coordinating lighting fixtures to create the perfect lighting effect for every occasion, mood, or activity, enhancing well-being and productivity. Users can also use their lights to simulate natural light cycles, such as sunrise and sunset and improve their sleep quality and circadian rhythm.
It offers some security features where users can use their lights to deter intruders, by making their home look occupied when away, or by making lights flash or change color when motion or sound is detected. Remote lighting management systems can also alert people to emergencies, such as fire, smoke, or water leaks. Finally, it allows people to save energy and money, by using LED lights that can automatically turn off using sensors and consume less electricity thereby last longer than conventional lights. It can also use lights to optimise heating and cooling, by using warm colours to make a home feel warmer, or cool colours to make a home feel cooler.
This makes remote lighting systems a great investment affording some serious quality of life improvements. The technology behind it has rapidly evolved leading to an increase in affordability and subsequently demand.