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Wireless lighting controls offer many benefits. Lighting designers should be aware of these advantages, and take note of any drawbacks.
Commercial wireless systems currently on the market echo the benefits of smart home lighting techniques. Using a sleek and, most importantly, user-friendly app for controls, they are flexible and scalable and advertised by manufacturers as "so easy, even your teenager could use them."
Chris McRae, a lighting control expert at Gas-ser Bush Associates said, "The biggest benefit to adding wireless controls is that they provide features for the clients that aren't possible with wired systems, such as easily configured daylighting, adjustable dimming parameters and retrofitting into existing locations. As energy codes continue their evolution, requiring more and more from lighting controls, wireless systems are becoming a more viable option for counteracting the cost impact for clients."
To reiterate McRae's statement, wired applications typically are not conducive to routing new wiring and concealing new devices to adapt to evolving lighting solutions.
Wired versus wireless
Traditional wired lighting control systems consist of an input device such as a photocell or occupancy sensors that observe conditions in a space and communicate back through dedicated low-voltage wiring to a power controller. The power controller then manipulates the output of the luminaires based on the input of the sensors. Once placed, these hardwired sensors and wall switches are pretty much locked into place. The grouping of fixtures that a sensor or switch operates is not easily modifiable.
Wireless systems operate similarly, but instead of having a hardwired low-voltage connection between the input device and the power controller, a radio signal provides that connection. The controller also may be connected wireless-ly to a remote power pack that provides dimming or switching direction to a group of luminaires. Beyond the line-voltage wiring required in both wired and wireless system, wireless systems are not truly wireless if there are still low-voltage control wires between luminaires back to the controlling power pack. Sensor or switch locations can be changed fairly easily, but fixture groupings can be difficult to update or modify. Lighting designers should consider wireless open protocols. Otherwise, an owner could be locked in to a manufacturer's product line.
Some fixture manufacturers are beginning to bundle wireless sensors into their fixtures, further...