Lighting control modules
Introduction
A lighting control system is a control solution based on communication networks between several components, designed to regulate a lighting system programmed, monitored and managed from one or more central computing devices. Lighting control systems work to distribute the appropriate amount of artificial light in the necessary space and time, and are widely used both indoors and outdoors in residential, industrial or commercial spaces.[1].
Lighting control systems were initially used for aesthetic purposes. However, with the development of home automation and the IoT (Internet of Things), these types of systems constitute the basis of contemporary lighting and undoubtedly of the future. As technologies advance, control systems have directly affected the quality of lighting in a space and have become an essential element to achieve good lighting design. That is, actively regulating and controlling a lighting system, something that goes beyond the traditional on/off switch, allows us to adapt the light in the space to any situation, which in turn translates into improved comfort and optimization of energy consumption.
On the other hand, they have been related to their capacity for energy savings and efficiency, thus complying with official lighting standards and requirements necessary to obtain recognition and contribute to sustainable or energy management programs such as LEED certification.[2].
Today there are many lighting control systems on the market. Each system has its own peculiarities, however, there are common characteristics:
· A lighting control system consists of a regulation system (dimmer) that allows you to control the intensity of the light.
· It can integrate the automation of the space in general.
· It is efficient and allows light control from a smartphone or tablet.
· They have keyboards, which replace conventional switches. These keypads allow you to control the lighting in different areas.
A scene is created by controlling the light level of any zone or grouping of zones, lighting control not only allows lighting to be adjusted to visual requirements but also allows you to configure and interpret the architecture. Light scenes are easily configured using the appropriate software and can be recalled via an interface. Lighting control systems with sensors or time programs also help to adjust the energy consumption in a room to its use and thus optimize the economic efficiency of a lighting system.[3].
The atmosphere in a room or space can be changed by controlling a number of variables. These include basic functions such as turning circuits on and off through automatically synchronized color progressions. Programming light scenes means that settings are saved but can be redefined and adjusted to suit changing requirements.