Microworks Designs, an architectural lighting design and lighting controls company in Vermont and New York

For a home beyond a certain size or with a significant amount of lighting, the 100+ year-old technique of "wall-box" switching (and dimming) is no longer practical. This unfortunately does not stop people from doing it. The basic problem involved is the inability of conventional techniques to control ONE thing from MANY places, MANY things from ONE place, change things or various combinations of the above.

The purpose of a centralized lighting control system is to eliminate wall box switching and dimming. Once all the load control is centralized, it can be decided - at any time - what is to be controlled from where. Also, various sorts of "automation" can be added at a minimal cost (handy in a vacation home) and changes can be made without re-wiring (handy in any home).

wall acne versus a lighting control station

With wallbox switching and dimming, the number of switchlegs or lighting circuits equals the number of boxes and knobs on the wall. So if you have a large room that needs 9 lighting circuits, you have a 9-GANG plastic monstrosity on the wall in one or more locations. If you desire to control the lighting in that room with a lighting control system, the number of lighting circuits is essentially irrelevant. It could be 213 loads controlled by one button.

What else can you do? You can do things that SHOULD be simple. Walk in the door and turn on all lighting in your 3-room entry area or walk out the door and turn off ALL of the lighting in the house.

some features of a lighting control system

"On" and "Off" don't need to mirror - "Kitchen On" can be the general lighting and "Kitchen Off" could include a fan, a hood light, a toaster oven outlet, or anything that may be turned on at some point and not left on after the kitchen is vacated.

The list of utterly rudimentary things you cannot do with standard lighting control is endless. Want to control your porch lights from a few places and didn't run the wires? Forget it.

And how about energy savings? Who says that fluorescent lighting is the best way to save electricity in a home? Dimming a room to 50% does not look half as bright but uses 40% less energy; if the lamps are incandescent, dimming increases lamp life up to 10 times.

Homeowners cannot be expected to understand the complexities of lighting controls. It is often up to the architect or interior designer to inform them. So why don't more homes have these systems? Because things like controls are frequently presented to the homeowner as a LUXURY instead of an appropriate technology. A luxury is something which - by definition - people don't need. However -- If you are driving a 4200lb Mercedes - a V8 engine is NOT a luxury. Likewise, if your ceeds a certain size or complexity you really need a lighting control system.

Site last updated Dec. 2006
©2006 Microworks Designs

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	LIGHTING CONTROL
	For a home beyond a certain size or with a significant amount of lighting, the 100+ year-old technique of "wall-box" switching (and dimming) is no longer practical. This unfortunately does not stop people from doing it. The basic problem involved is the inability of conventional techniques to control ONE thing from MANY places, MANY things from ONE place, change things or various combinations of the above. The purpose of a centralized lighting control system is to eliminate wall box switching and dimming. Once all the load control is centralized, it can be decided - at any time - what is to be controlled from where. Also, various sorts of "automation" can be added at a minimal cost (handy in a vacation home) and changes can be made without re-wiring (handy in any home).



	With wallbox switching and dimming, the number of switchlegs or lighting circuits equals the number of boxes and knobs on the wall. So if you have a large room that needs 9 lighting circuits, you have a 9-GANG plastic monstrosity on the wall in one or more locations. If you desire to control the lighting in that room with a lighting control system, the number of lighting circuits is essentially irrelevant. It could be 213 loads controlled by one button. What else can you do? You can do things that SHOULD be simple. Walk in the door and turn on all lighting in your 3-room entry area or walk out the door and turn off ALL of the lighting in the house.

Some of the convenient features available in a lighting control system
	"On" and "Off" don't need to mirror - "Kitchen On" can be the general lighting and "Kitchen Off" could include a fan, a hood light, a toaster oven outlet, or anything that may be turned on at some point and not left on after the kitchen is vacated. The list of utterly rudimentary things you cannot do with standard lighting control is endless. Want to control your porch lights from a few places and didn't run the wires? Forget it. And how about energy savings? Who says that fluorescent lighting is the best way to save electricity in a home? Dimming a room to 50% does not look half as bright but uses 40% less energy; if the lamps are incandescent, dimming increases lamp life up to 10 times.

	Compact lighting control stations that can be mounted near or in a door jam, next to trim, or even inset in furniture.
	Homeowners cannot be expected to understand the complexities of lighting controls. It is often up to the architect or interior designer to inform them. So why don't more homes have these systems? Because things like controls are frequently presented to the homeowner as a LUXURY instead of an appropriate technology. A luxury is something which - by definition - people don't need. However -- If you are driving a 4200lb Mercedes - a V8 engine is NOT a luxury. Likewise, if your ceeds a certain size or complexity you really need a lighting control system.
	Site last updated Dec. 2006 ©2006 Microworks Designs	TOP OF PAGE

LIGHTING CONTROL