Smart light: intelligent lighting control systems

[ad_1]

Photo: Jung

An intelligent lighting system is a set of devices that allow lighting fixtures to work autonomously or with remote control. For example, to remotely turn on or turn off the light, instead of a wall switch key, they use a control panel, tablet or smartphone touch screen. In autonomous operation, the lighting system is usually controlled by various control sensors. For example, a motion sensor is installed, supplemented by a light level sensor in the room. These devices turn on the light when two conditions are met simultaneously: there is a person in the room and the light level falls below a certain value.

Photo: Insyte

Smart Home Components: Insyte DIN Rail Central Controller

If the system is supplemented with a dimmer and lamps of the appropriate design, then the automation will be able not only to turn the light on and off, but also to set the brightness level of the lamps. Such a solution is convenient (comfortable, not too bright or dim lighting) and economically justified, because the system will consume 20-30% less electricity.

In addition to the above devices, lighting systems are equipped with a variety of sensors and detectors. Let’s say, elements of security systems, when the lighting is turned on «on alarm» — when a window is broken or a suspicious noise is heard. «Not on time» turning on the light can demoralize uninvited guests.

Control panels (touch screen on the wall) are used less and less, since if you wish, you can install a tablet with a mount on the wall, which will cost much less, and the device’s functionality will even expand

The Benefits of a Good Script

Photo: JUNG

Universal KNX LED dimmer JUNG, designed to connect up to four groups of lighting fixtures

Another popular direction of intellectualization is the use of so-called scenarios according to which the lighting system will work. At the same time, the controls are configured in such a way that with one click on the “smart home” button, it performs several actions at once. If we restrict ourselves to lighting only, then the lamps are combined into a group and simultaneously work when the wall switch is pressed: “overhead light”, “working light”, “night light”, etc. Based on the task, the brightness and operating time are also set each element.

When developing a smart home, the cable system will be usable even in 10-15 years, and the wireless system will most likely become obsolete

Photo: Insyte

Wireless dimmer

The most common scenarios are “Guests”, “Day”, “Night”, “Cinema”, “Turn off everything”. The «Guests» mode includes all the light, music, TVs, audio system. «Day» opens the curtains and turns off the lights. «Night» turns off the main lighting and turns on the night light, closes the curtains. «Cinema» — the light slowly turns off, the screen opens, the curtains close, the projector and all other equipment automatically turn on. Well, the script «Turn off everything», respectively, turns off all appliances and all lighting in the home. It is used when you leave home.

Photo: Insyte

Wireless control module for loads up to 1000 W

Very often, other devices are connected to the lighting system, such as a curtain control mechanism. You turn on the light — and the curtains automatically fall in the living room (or, conversely, fall in the home cinema when the lights are turned off). When the remote control mechanism for the gate is activated, the garage lighting comes on. Or, say, the system is set to turn on the light when the front door is opened. It is very convenient, especially when you enter the house, and your hands are busy, for example, shopping.

Among the «anti-criminal» scenarios, various algorithms for simulating the presence of residents in the house are widespread. To this end, the control computer from time to time turns on and off different groups of lamps in certain rooms, misleading external observers.

Estimated calculation of the Jung touch panel lighting system for a small apartment (two to three rooms)

Jung system: touch control panel (16 points for eight channels). A four-channel dimmer actuator allows you to control the brightness and turn off the light.

Photo: JUNG

Gateway for combining KNX-Dal devices

An eight-channel relay station is used when a conventional switch, impulse button or shutter switch is needed. For each channel, you can program the desired function. The touch panel is a mechanism with illuminated dots (16 pcs). Each point is programmed with its own function or a set of functions (scenario). Panels can be joined. They are connected to the actuators by twisted pairs, the actuators are mounted on DIN rails.

Approximate cost of Jung equipment

product name	The cost of one product, rub.	Quantity, pcs.	Total cost, rub.
relay station	33 600	one	33 600
Dimmer station	55 090	one	55 090
Panel	17 600	one	17 600
TOTAL			106 290

Important Details

The intelligent lighting system, in addition to actuators (lighting devices, electric curtain drives, etc.), includes a central control unit (portable or wall panel), a set of devices that send signals to it (sensors, detectors), and a set of controllers that lead operating mechanisms. Such devices include dimmers, actuators for controlling curtains and blinds, controllers for elements of heating and air conditioning systems that activate fan coil units, fans, heating boilers, etc.

Photo: domotix.pro

Smart home controller Loxone Miniserver (eight digital outputs)

All controllers differ in the number of channels, that is, the devices that can be connected to them. For example, two- and four-channel dimmers are often used for lighting systems. The price varies depending on the number of channels, the data exchange algorithm (control protocol) used, the ability to connect via wired or wireless communication, and the availability of additional features. For example, a sequencer (switch) of light scenes can be built into a dimmer, allowing you to implement the most complex lighting scenarios. Some models require a separate power supply. Since each multi-channel controller costs up to several tens of thousands of rubles, it makes sense to entrust their selection to specialists.

Photo: HDL

Four-key control panel KNX HDL with LED backlight

Protocol. For the exchange of data between the elements of the «smart home», a certain computer algorithm and message encoding method are used. There are dozens of coding options, among which the KNX protocol is most widely used in Europe, and the Modbus protocol is very popular in Russia. It is best to select such system components that support a particular protocol. If this is not possible (for example, you want to integrate an already installed air conditioner into the system, but it supports, say, the LON protocol), then additional devices, gateways, are used to switch almost all common protocols.

Wireless or cable system? Today, both options are available and cost about the same. The cable system, of course, is much more difficult to install and practically does not give the right to make a mistake. It must be foreseen at the earliest stages of construction or design. If you are thinking about an intelligent lighting system after the completion of construction work, then it is more practical to choose a wireless option.

With the help of the Internet, you can control your home lighting even from another city or from abroad

Estimated calculation of the INSYTE system for a cottage (wired solution, 20 groups of lighting devices and four groups of curtains)

Photo: Insyte

Smart home components: non-latching light switches

The system provides the possibility of voice control of lighting, modes, scenarios, brightness. It also allows you to adjust conventional and dimmable lighting from a single remote control (set the percentage of brightness, turn on / off speed), create light scenarios depending on the time of day, date, event, sensor response. The light is able to automatically turn on when the owners enter the house and turn off when they leave, you can also set various lighting modes, for example: “Day”, “Night”, “Guests”, “Cinema”, imitate the presence of the owners, automatically control the brightness depending on the intensity sunlight, operate sun protection (curtains). In addition, there is the possibility of remote GSM control of all system functions from a wireless panel and via the Internet from tablets and smartphones.

Approximate cost of INSYTE equipment

product name	The cost of one product, rub.	Quantity, pcs.	Total cost, rub.
Programmable GSM controller SPIDER2	37 750	one	37 750
Dimmer LD2-D400RD, 400 W	6 550	eight	55 090
Relay module LD2-R8D, eight relays	37 550	one	37 750
Light sensor LD2-LS	4 150	one	4150
Free Insyte SmartHome mobile app for smartphones and tablets	0	3	0
TOTAL			131 850

Economy and Savings

Modern lighting technologies are economical, but their installation costs sometimes scare away buyers.

In order to design a “smart light”, it is not at all necessary to invest millions of rubles in apartment renovation. If you are ready to replace some expensive components (for example, American Crestron control panels) with cheaper analogues, then, say, installing a lighting and curtain automation system in a small apartment will cost 150 thousand rubles. Having paid another 15-20 thousand rubles, you can add protection against leaks and a simple security system (motion sensors and door contact). Thus, together with cable work, the final price tag will be about 200 thousand rubles.

Photo: domotix.pro

The Loxone controller can also be controlled using wall switches. In this case, binding to any communication protocol is not required, it is permissible to use any switches

Estimated calculation of the Loxone system for a one-room apartment or studio of 50 m²

Wired Solution. Functions: light control 12 groups (four dimmable) or 10 (four dimmable) + curtain / screen with drive. There is also a temperature sensor for monitoring and a motion sensor for light (when the owners are at home), and it is also for protection (when no one is there). The system is flexible, and if you do not need so many groups of light, you can connect ball valves to water (one relay), a contactor to warm electric floors (also one relay).

product name	The cost of one product, rub.	Quantity, pcs.	Total cost, rub.
Loxone Miniserver controller (eight 5A relays, four dimming outputs, eight motion and switch inputs, four temperature inputs + KNX port)	49 900	one	49 900
Switches Schneider Electric M-Plan assy	1 195	7	8 358
DSC motion sensor	740	one	740
Temperature sensor PT1000 Loxone	5015	one	5015
Mobile application Loxone App	0	Unlimited	0
TOTAL			64 013

Photo: HDL

HDL smart home system components on DIN rail: universal six-channel dimmer, maximum load 1 A per HDL-BUS channel

Today, all engineering systems do not just become manageable (including remotely), but interact with each other. I removed the house from protection — the lights turned on, the curtains opened. I turned on the “Kino” scenario — the curtains closed, the light dimmed, the screen went down. In our system, you can develop lighting scenarios directly in the application. Now it is not necessary to put separate sensors on each system. At the moment, the home automation market is dominated by KNX equipment, and there is also its Chinese counterpart HDL. But in the last 5-7 years, new players began to appear. We work with one of them — the Austrian Loxone. The main feature of such systems as ours is that they are not tied to any communication protocol. So the system becomes much more affordable — 1.5-2 times compared to KNX products. Savings are achieved through the use of free application programs (I bought a smartphone / tablet, downloaded the program in the application store), as well as any electrical installation products.

Gennady Kozlov

CEO at domotix.pro