Lighting control from remote control. Remote lighting control on standard wiring

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Throughout its existence, humanity has tried to surround itself with comfort. Upholstered furniture, carpets, music and television. At first I was glad that the TV was just there, but then I wanted more - and now an IR remote control for TV appeared. But technology has begun to reach lighting. Just 10–15 years ago, no one could have imagined that in order to turn the lighting on or off, you wouldn’t have to get up from your favorite sofa, but would have a remote light switch at hand.

Moreover, nowadays you can control the backlight or lighting in an apartment, being thousands of kilometers from home, using your tablet computer or even a smartphone. Progress does not stand still, and this can be seen in the example of light switches with remote control.

Light control devices

You can control the light switching modes in different ways. This could be subordination of all lighting fixtures in an apartment or house to one controller, which is installed at a certain point in the room, or it could be control of light in all rooms and spaces using an IR remote control.

It happens that it is necessary to transfer control to automation; this is possible if you write a mode script or trust a smart sensor that will “understand” when lighting is needed and when it is completely unnecessary. Even a simple single light switch with remote control can make life easier, adding comfort to it.

Of course, the largest number of light control options is concentrated in the smart home system. It can combine many modes, which are worth dwelling on in a little more detail.

But first you need to understand why remote control of lighting devices can be useful. For example, a person goes on vacation and is worried about the safety of his belongings in an empty apartment. This is where automatic light switching on and off comes to the rescue. Working according to the scenario specified by the owner, the automation will create the appearance of the owner’s presence, thereby eliminating potential thieves. And these examples can be given for quite a long time; we will dwell on the advantages of such systems later. What is more important to understand is what light control modes exist at the moment.

Centralized control mode

If the premises are located at a considerable distance, as happens in enterprises, it makes sense to install special electrical control panels. Any of the buildings, be it a separate workshop or a guardhouse, can be disconnected from the mains power using remote control of the light from the central console.

This type of control can also be used in an apartment if you install a common controller near the entrance. When you are in a hurry, leaving home for work, or simply not wanting to walk from room to room turning off the lights, you can turn off the power to the lighting devices by pressing one button. Fast, simple and convenient! Of course, you can centrally control the lighting by pressing a button on the computer, but this will be a completely different mode.

Remote control mode

Approximate location of signal receivers from the remote control

The remote mode can be implemented in various options.

The most affordable is a light switch with a remote control, which is similar in appearance to a similar device for televisions. Usually there are 2–7 buttons on the remote control, each of which “communicates” with its own group of devices. Such groups can unite up to 260 consumers. So, using such an IR remote control, it is possible not only to turn devices on and off, but also to dim the lighting, as is done with a dimmer. Of course, this lighting control mode has both supporters and opponents.

For example, what is a switch with a toilet lighting control panel for? After all, the switch is located at the entrance and there is no difficulty in pressing it, but there are so many people, so many opinions. In fact, this mode will be convenient for multi-level ceiling lighting with multi- or single-color LED strip. Well, remote control of street lighting is generally the height of convenience. Remotely turning on the illumination of necessary landscape objects or turning off lighting when unnecessary without leaving home will certainly attract anyone.

Computer mode

You can control the light from a computer, tablet or smartphone both without leaving home, while at work or even on vacation abroad. You only need to log in using your ID through a special program and, if exaggerated, the switch is already in your hands, you can perform any actions with the lighting - turn off individual system-controlled devices, if necessary, create the effect that there is someone at home, etc. .

Automatic mode

This mode is supported by 3 devices:

A motion sensor is indispensable in rooms such as a bathroom or toilet. Especially if there are small children in the apartment, who, due to their short stature, simply cannot reach the switch. The light will turn on the moment they enter and will go out within a minute after no one is left in the room.
Photocell – convenient for controlling the lighting of streets and local areas. When darkness falls, artificial lighting will turn on in the courtyard of the house, and with the first rays of the sun it will go out without the participation of the owner.
A timer is again an opportunity to create the effect of presence, or set the time at which, for example, outdoor advertising of a store will work. If it does not work from 22:00 to 6:00, then there is no need for advertising to consume electricity. Using a timer, it will be turned off for this time.

There are also ultrasonic, infrared (IR), voice and microwave sensors that control lighting. There is no point in dwelling on them for the reason that the principle of their operation is similar to other sensors, and the price is much higher. But at the same time, such devices experience very frequent false alarms, which cannot be said about photocells or a timer.

Lamps with remote control

A very interesting option for lighting control, however, provided that the room is small. Such lamps are also controlled from a remote control, and depending on the cost, they can be single-color, colored, or even with a built-in battery, which is very useful in new buildings and very old houses, where power outages are a common occurrence.

Cheaper lamps of this type come complete with a remote control, which has only one button, through which you turn on and switch the device modes from brighter to moderate light. On more expensive devices, it is possible to switch color lighting modes, and the IR remote control has buttons of all colors to turn on one or another light.

Controllers come from China

For those who do not need too much functionality of a wireless control system, its budget option, which uses radio lighting control, is quite suitable. Most often, such devices include switch units (lighting controllers) in the amount of 4–5 pieces, to which the light sources are connected. They are also controlled via a remote control, which is included in the kit. The downside is that additional blocks cannot be programmed, as well as a second remote control. But the cost of such a system is often 10 times lower, and sometimes more, than more advanced options. It would be advisable to consider the technical data of such a light control system:

It is quite acceptable to install such remote lighting control with your own hands. The connection diagram is simple; any beginner with basic knowledge of electrical safety can handle it.

All of the above sensors, switching units and controllers make life much easier. If these are simple devices (such as a light switch with a remote control), they will not require replacement of wires or extensions during installation; you only need to change the switches or connect the lighting devices to a switching unit or controller.

Of course, to install more serious systems, it will be necessary to form an entire network that will unite consumers. But by installing even one of these devices, you can come a little closer to improving your quality of life, and besides, this is a huge experience that can be useful in the future. A remote lighting control system will not only delight you with convenience, but will also help save electricity.

Just recently, remote control of lighting seemed like something out of science fiction. It’s enough to remember what a sensation TV remote controls made on the market.

But progress does not stand still and more and more systems are appearing designed to make a person’s life easier or more interesting.

Various remote control systems are firmly integrated into our lives and no longer seem like something fantastic and inaccessible.

There is a desire to control, both automatically and forcibly, both street and home lighting.

A common method is to control lighting via a radio channel. This method has a number of advantages. The main thing is the absence of interference to signal propagation. In addition, using radio control, you can control the brightness of suitable types of lamps through special controllers.

In addition to adjusting the brightness, many people probably know another control - color. The simplest example is an RGB LED strip. In this case, it does not matter where exactly this tape is located and what exactly it illuminates. RGB lighting is not uncommon these days. And few people did not pay attention to them. The decorative function of being able to remotely control the color of lighting is especially noticeable in such interiors, where it allows you to completely change the mood of the room.

The development, perhaps, of this particular direction was the continuation of the possibility of changing the color of lighting using Wi-Fi means. Special remote controls and, of course, smartphones using a Wi-Fi signal allow you to remotely control RGB LED lighting.

There are controllers that can control via infrared.

Nevertheless, the principle of remote lighting control remains the same: a command is sent to the device, which it executes.

And if simple systems exist, then there must be complex ones. And they are. In fact, the possibilities of organizing remote lighting in the form of a complex system of interaction of sensors, controllers and programming are limited only by imagination.

In this case, the control itself can be carried out either directly by the remote control (simple or multi-channel), or in other ways:

By programming a specific algorithm

According to a predetermined period of time or according to a given schedule

Based on the response to sensors (motion or lighting)

Remote control (like a remote control, but via the Internet from a smartphone or computer)

Often, lighting control is part of an entire system, familiar to us as a “smart home”. And one of the popular programs in this case is to turn on the lighting as if the owners are at home, while they are absent. A kind of presence effect.

On the street you can more often see lighting that reacts to movement. If movement occurs within the sensor's coverage area and there is insufficient lighting, the lamp turns on. The light sensor works in the same way, turning on the street lights when it gets dark. Such sensors are available in FIREFLY brand LC.

Lighting control protocols

Lighting control occurs through various types of protocols. Since the need to control light arose, there have been many methods - analog and via the electrical network.

There are those that are most widespread. These include DALI, DSI, 1–10V, DMX.

0-10V is the most common analogue lighting control method. The easiest way to adjust lighting is by applying voltage from 1 to 10.

With the development of technology, more modern and functional protocols for two-way data exchange were required. The most famous among them and have earned international recognition are:

RDM has become a more advanced extension of digital DMX. The protocol allows, without interfering with the operation of DMX devices that do not support the new Remote Device Management, to control those that do, as well as read various indicators. RDM systems are capable of controlling individual devices or an entire group, updating via the RS485 interface, recognizing lighting fixtures automatically, and applying intelligent control elements using preset scenarios for certain types. However, despite all the advantages, the number of drivers supporting this protocol is small, as is the number of controllers capable of supporting the increased power of devices with RDM support.

IP systems allow you to connect devices into a network and manage them. Since many modern devices, including lighting ones, are directly connected to the Internet, this method of remote control is in great demand. It is not limited by the number of networks it can connect, quickly exchanges data, and is relatively easy to configure. Each device receives its own unique identifier, by which the system identifies it and a list of its capabilities. Therefore, it is not surprising that work is constantly underway to improve it.

Digital Serial Interface became the digital continuation of the analog 1-10V. Unlike the analog method, a digital signal is sent here. As a consequence, this protocol requires expensive equipment. The number of ballasts in the chain is limited to one hundred pieces. At the same time, the adjustment is more pleasing to the human eye than with the analog method. The protocol allows you to group luminaires and control them according to simple scenarios. The length of the bus does not matter; the signal is not distorted and does not require strict polarity.

DALI protocol

The DALI protocol is a digital lighting interface, in the development of which leaders of the lighting market and well-known manufacturers of lighting equipment took part. Since 2002 it has become an international standard, capturing more than half of the European lighting control market.

The new two-way protocol replaces the analog "0-10V" and less advanced digital DSI.

Digital Addressable Lighting Interface is an addressable protocol. Each channel can support up to 64 unrelated devices. Using the DALI protocol, you can control both lighting and power loads.

To create a complex system, you can use a whole range of DALI devices at once - routers, modules, power supplies, sensors, etc. Using DALI, you can organize lighting control as part of a building automation system.

The connection can be made using any known types, since the DALI protocol does not have special connection and polarity requirements, like DSI. But at the same time, the maximum length of the bus is limited (300 meters of wire in 1.5 sq. mm). The maximum number of DALI devices connected to one bus is 64.

DALI provides extensive control capabilities for devices included in the system. The signal is sent to the device address in the form of a command code.

There are ready-made control solutions based on DALI protocols:

DALI Compact (autonomous control)
Everything needed for control is contained in one built-in housing with factory settings.

DALI System is an already scalable system for organizing lighting control in accordance with a specific project, depending on its scale:

DALI System single room (control for one room)

DALI System multi-room (for several rooms at once)

DALI System building solution (solution for building automation)

DALI is a flexible lighting control system with settings and script programming capabilities. At the same time, the system is easy to commission and further support.

In any locality there are lighting fixtures on the streets. Typically, these are high-power lights installed according to infrastructure requirements. Turning on and off lighting devices at the right time is made possible through the use of a time relay. In a similar way, you can automate the lighting of your garden plot and easily make optimizations - in some places add motion or presence sensors - this will significantly reduce energy consumption.

Control cabinet

The heart of the lighting automation system is the control cabinet. Circuits are installed here that are responsible for monitoring loads, for power distribution, for protecting lamp relays from voltage surges and from short circuits. This is a kind of automated control panel.

Control cabinet equipment must be maintained and updated from time to time to ensure safe and reliable operation of cables and circuits. During routine maintenance, the cabinet is de-energized and those parts that are time to be updated are replaced.

The task of the control cabinet is mainly to control the operation of the correct relay depending on the current situation (depending on the time of day, on lighting conditions, on the state of the presence sensor). In addition, the control cabinet allows a person, using a remote control, to quickly adjust the intensity of the lights during their operation, after the photo relay has already worked.

You can basically connect anything to the cabinet. Starting with street lamps on poles, which will be activated by means of or from a remote control, continuing with LEDs along the garden paths, which light up at dusk, ending with garlands on the facade of the house and a lamp above the main entrance to the house. In principle, there are no restrictions; a sufficient condition is that this or that lighting device on the street falls within the range of action of the cabinet and remote control.

Power and control circuits

In lamp power supply circuits in combination with relays, magnetic or induction ballasts are traditionally used. Less commonly, electronic ballasts (since they distort the radio signal and give unstable operation). Most often - timers for control by calendar and time of day (including holidays and weekends). One way or another, three types of automated street lighting control devices can be distinguished: a photo relay for controlling the level of illumination, and a system based on an astro-timer.

Turning lighting devices on and off based on the level of current illumination is the principle of operation of devices based only on photo relays.

In theory, this approach allows you to ideally control outdoor lighting depending on weather conditions and the time of day: in cloudy weather the light will turn on earlier than on a clear day. But in reality, many external factors influence such a system, for example, dirt getting on the sensor or a change in the temperature of the circuit - this is how errors arise in the normal, as a person would like, operation of the relay.

Triggering at a certain time is the principle of devices exclusively based on a timer. It doesn’t matter what the weather is like, whether it’s raining or snowing - the night illumination light will be turned off in the morning, and will be turned on in the evening - in accordance with the user-specified parameters of the customizable timer. But what about the fact that daylight remains in the summer, but decreases by winter? This is the disadvantage of circuits that are simply on a timer; adjustments will need to be made from time to time.

If you need to automate the lighting of your garden plot, then, with certain financial resources, you can lay a separate cable with its own photo relay to each of the lighting devices. Install control cabinets inside the house and near the gate. The shield will work in such a way that the consumption of each block will be proportional to the number of cable channels.

In order to optimize the system, one of the control cabinets is placed near the gate, and devices with photo relays and are connected to it, so that its controller controls, say, only the lighting along the garden path. The second cabinet (for remote control) is installed inside the house. The scheme turns out to be simpler: the lamp channels come to the control unit, and control is carried out from the remote control.

Units with many optional features are popular, such as remote control of a photo relay or when commands are issued from the switchboard, such as “de-energize the perimeter.” A standard cabinet may simply have 6 channels, of which not all can be used, but as many as needed, for example 2 or 5.

In the process of setting up the system, first the cables are pulled from the lighting fixtures to the control cabinet. Then the system can be improved. The first step of improvement is to equip each flashlight with a battery-powered controller for remote control via radio from a remote control. Another option for remote control is to install sensors to receive the radio waves from the remote control.

One of the most popular solutions is garden lights on solar panels. No cables or control cabinets are required here; it is enough to install sensors for the remote control. Lighting zones may differ in control frequencies, but together will be able to cover the entire area.

Methods for remote control of street lighting

Remote control of site lighting is often associated with the mandatory installation of a distribution board. The transmission of the controller signal can be organized in various ways, and not just in an automated digital way, but also:

RF signal via cable to a separate device with an individual relay;

by controlling from a smartphone via GSM, especially over a large area;

finally a radio signal.

In any case, the circuit in a hierarchical sense is built on the basis of the following algorithm: a panel for controlling a group of lights or relays, then a control cabinet for a certain area, and finally the main panel for controlling the smart lighting network of the area.

Andrey Povny

In modern conditions, electronic control devices (switches) are increasingly used in a wide variety of areas of human activity, including the daily living environment - the home. This implementation also affected such an important area as the lighting system for living rooms, in which special devices are installed complete with a remote control that remotely controls the light on and off. The appearance and operation of such devices can be seen in the figure below.

A modern remote light switch with a remote control is a rather complex electronic system consisting of a number of functional components. This review article will be devoted to an examination of the features and operating procedures of the entire complex of lighting control equipment.

Principle of operation

A typical light switch with a remote control operates on the principle of transmitting a coded signal towards a special receiver built directly into the lighting fixture. To realize the possibility of switching the actuator from the remote control, the “transmitter-receiver” system uses classical wave radiation of the infrared or radio range.

To establish a direct communication channel between the transmitter and receiver equipment, the following important conditions must be met:

The control panel must have a built-in IR or radio generator with the ability to encode the transmitted message (by modulating the signal in one way or another);
A receiver or remote lighting switch is installed on the response side, capable of receiving, amplifying and deciphering the incoming signal, and then sending the decoded command to the appropriate actuator;
To power the transmitting device, you will need an autonomous source, which is usually used small-sized cells or batteries (see photo).

When deciding to make your own remote control system, it is important to determine the type of radiation (IR or radio signal) that will be used to transmit the signal to the remote switch.

Important! This choice will determine not only the size of the upcoming costs, but also the efficiency of the control system made by yourself.

Despite the fact that electrical devices traditionally use a radio channel, systems with infrared radiation are often used to control household appliances.

Features of remote control systems

Infrared IR devices

Household switches with remote control, operating using infrared radiation, are distinguished by the following design features:

Remotely controlled switches are installed in a break in the line supplying the lighting circuits;
As such devices, as a rule, standard modules such as BM8049M or similar circuits are used;
To control their operation, ordinary remote controls for television receivers of certain brands can be used (this option must be indicated in the instructions for this device).

If it is necessary to turn on the lighting, the diode emitter of the control panel is first pointed at the receiving and switching unit, and then by pressing a specially dedicated button, a command is sent to memorize this function.

Upon receipt and decryption of the parcel, it is recorded in the memory of the actuator, after which the light can be turned on via an established communication channel directly from the remote control (see figure below).

Helpful note. The main disadvantage of systems with IR radiation is the need to very accurately point the remote control at the receiver, since these systems operate only within the line of sight.

Let's add to this the not very long range of the emitter, which in some cases can be increased by installing expensive repeaters.

Radio controlled

It is much more convenient and practical to use a switch with a remote control that operates in the range of radio emissions transmitted from the remote control to a receiver with a built-in controller.

Using a radio channel to control modern lighting equipment is much more expedient for the following reasons:

It becomes possible to control the lighting switching system not only from the remote control, but also from a personal computer, tablet, mobile phone and other similar electronic devices;
In this case, the range of the radio channel increases significantly and reaches 100 meters in the absence of obstacles (15-25 meters if there are any);
In this situation, it is possible to install special signal amplifiers on the receiving side.

Note! For infrared control systems operating in the high frequency range, using amplifiers to remotely turn on the lighting will be too uneconomical.

The remote control switch control system consists of the following main parts:

Portable remote control;
Power battery;
Control controllers (switches) that are part of the executive module (which, in turn, is integrated into the load line).

The end module with the controller, as a rule, is mounted directly in the glass of the chandelier, in a distribution box located near it, or in a plastic socket housing (see photo below).

Thanks to this placement, the executive part of the system is reliably hidden from prying eyes and does not disturb the general order of installation wiring in the confined space of the room.

Overview of remote switches

Among the most well-known models on the market, we especially highlight the IR remote light switch of the Sapphire-2503 type, produced in Belarus, as well as a system with a radio-controlled channel of the Nootekhnika Noolight brand. The product of the first of these companies can be seen in the photo below.

Another type of wireless switches and switching devices for lighting equipment over a radio channel is produced by such a well-known manufacturer as the CoCo company. These include such common models as AWST-8800, AWST-8801, as well as the portable key fob “CoCo” AKCT-510 and the built-in transmitter AWMT-230.

Models from the last two manufacturers of remote control systems are more practical and convenient than similar switches with signal transmission via an IR channel. With their help, it is possible to simultaneously control all lighting equipment in the house from almost any point (from the most remote rooms). The presence of special dimmers in the set of these devices significantly expands the capabilities of the system and allows you to adjust the illumination of internal spaces.

The portable control panels included in their composition allow the possibility of choosing one or another scenario of actions leading to the connection of light. More “advanced” products from the considered manufacturers may contain a special RGB controller capable of performing a number of operations, namely:

Turn on lighting at a given address or in the entire house at once;
Adjust the brightness level of the lamps;
In accordance with the given program, set the desired ratio of different color gamuts with LED backlighting and sort through them sequentially.

Due to the fairly compact size of the electronic part of these devices, the remote switch can be placed inside the glass of a chandelier or lamp. When controlled from a remote control, it can be switched over a radio channel from a distance of about 30 meters.

Most of the considered control system samples are capable of working with household consumers designed for power up to 3.5 kW. To connect them yourself, you must perform the following mandatory operations:

First, a load with a suitable operating power for the device is selected;
After this, the voltage from the house or apartment is removed automatically by the introductory machine;
At the final stage of the work, a power unit responsible for turning off the light is installed into the break in the supply line.

All details of connecting the final execution device can be found in the next section.

Self-connection procedure

Work on installing the receiving device on the terminal side of the radio channel must be carried out by a qualified specialist or user who has thoroughly mastered the basics of electrical engineering and electronics.

Important! Before connecting the executive module to the power line, it is first necessary to de-energize it using an appropriate circuit breaker.

Note also that the order of insertion into the line in this case is somewhat different from the traditional method of inclusion. The fact is that only a phase wire is supplied to a conventional keyboard product, into the gap of which the mechanism itself is connected.

In order for the executive module of the system with remote control to work correctly, it is necessary to connect not only a phase to it, but also ground or a neutral wire. Only with such eyeliner is it able to fully cope with all its functions. Therefore, before installing a remote switch, it is very important to first completely understand the wires that go to it (including the wires going to the load).

Note! The concept of “load” in this situation means any lighting device (fluorescent lamp, lamp, indoor chandelier or a whole complex of lighting devices).

With a large number of individual loads connected to the control system, the phase wire of each of them is connected to the corresponding output terminal of the executive module.

In this case, their wiring must correspond to the diagram shown in the figure below.

Upon completion of self-installation (before applying 220 volts to the power line), it is recommended to check the electrical connections again and make sure that all working contacts are reliable.

In conclusion, we note that remote switches are increasingly used in the arrangement of lighting systems in modern residential premises and offices. Designs of the considered class, when placed discreetly, create comfortable conditions for controlling light in the house, and also provide the possibility of combined use of backlights based on multi-colored LED strips.

Video

This type of lighting is actively used in residential, office and even industrial premises. The most popular today are control systems implemented using radio switches, motion sensors, controllers with control panels, smartphones and computers. Modern technologies make it possible to control or control a local area while being hundreds of kilometers away. Some of them will be discussed in the article.

Advantage of remote control

The use of remote control devices allows you to solve a number of problems:

Use energy economically;
Make the process of turning on/off lamps as comfortable as possible;
Secure your home or apartment from attacks by intruders (presence effect).

Types of remote control

Remote switching on of light can be wired and wireless, manual and automatic, with the ability to manipulate light from devices operating on the principle of emitting and receiving waves of certain frequencies: infrared, microwave, radio frequency, sound, ultrasonic, voice (control of specific commands). In this article we will dwell in detail on lighting control using various types of radiation, voice and sound commands.

Infrared and radio wave control of light from the remote control

Infrared lighting control using a remote control is used extremely rarely. Basically, such systems operate on the principle of transmitting a signal over a radio channel. To be able to manipulate lighting devices using an IR beam, a remote lighting control unit, for example BM8049M, is connected to the open circuit. It allows you to turn on the lamp switch using a regular TV remote control. To do this, point the remote control at the unit, press any key (which is not used to switch channels), after which the command is recorded in memory and now you can control the switching on of the light without getting up from the couch.

The main disadvantages of using IR remote control lights are the need to accurately point them at the signal receiver, since they only work within line of sight, and the short range of the beam, but in this case repeaters can be used.

Light control systems using a remote control have become much more widespread, in which a signal is transmitted from a control device to a controller that regulates the process of turning on/off the light at a certain radio frequency.

Light control via radio is more in demand for several reasons:

The ability to control the light not only from the remote control, but also from a computer, smartphone and other devices;
The signal range is about 100 meters in the absence of obstacles, 15-25 meters in the presence of obstacles;
Possibility of installing signal amplifiers and repeaters for better transmission of commands from the control device.

The lighting remote control system via radio using a remote control consists of:

Remote control;
Battery;
Remote control controller connected to the network and load.

Install the controller into the wall or glass of the chandelier (see photo). It can control incandescent lamps, compact and conventional fluorescent, halogen, and LED lamps, and not only individual lamps, but also a group of them.

Review of remote lighting control units, made in China, using a remote control, via radio, video:

Remote control of light using infrared and radio switches

Infrared switches are a rarity in the lighting market, as it is smarter to control the light using radio devices. One of the most popular switches is “Sapphire” from Nootekhnika (Belarus). The same company produces many wireless lighting control devices, including those mentioned below. The switch is controlled by any remote control, for example, a television remote control or manually. The signals are received by a receiver located inside the device on the touch panel. The light switch with remote control is shown in the photo.

Review of the Sapphire IR switch, video:

A remote-controlled light switch is placed in any convenient place, power units are placed in a distribution box or chandelier glass.

An example of “binding” a lighting control unit to a radio switch, video:

Using sensors to control lighting

Various motion sensors for remote control of lighting are widely represented on the lighting market. The most common of them are infrared. They are devices that close or open the lighting circuit when the level of infrared radiation increases in their “visibility” zone. As soon as a person or animal whose body temperature is higher than the background temperature enters the sensor’s field of action, the light turns on. As soon as a person leaves the sensor’s coverage area or remains in a stationary position for several seconds, the light turns off. Motion sensors are most often installed in entrances, above the front door, and less often - inside the apartment.

Disadvantages and advantages of infrared sensors

The disadvantages of using motion sensors include the possibility of false alarms (reaction to warm air, sunlight), deterioration of work on the street due to precipitation, failure of the device to operate when a person’s clothing does not transmit infrared radiation, constant turning off of the light after 10-15 seconds as soon as motor activity decreases.

The advantages of sensors include the ability to control electrical energy consumption and, as a result, reduce financial costs, safety for human health, and ease of use.

Connecting motion sensors is not difficult; the installation diagram presented below is very common. To implement it, a three-core wire is required, with which the lighting control device is powered from the network and connected to the load. The phase wire of the network is connected to the phase wire of the sensor. The neutral conductors of the lamp, power supply and sensor are connected together. The lamp is connected with a phase wire to the remaining sensor wire.

Selecting infrared motion sensors

When choosing IR sensors, pay attention to the following parameters:

Place of application. Sensors are available with degrees of protection from IP20 to IP 55 and are available in built-in and mounted versions. For use in an apartment, a built-in sensor looks more advantageous, and the degree of protection practically does not matter. To install the device on the street or in the entrance, it is better to choose a model with protection from dust and water, mounted on a bracket;
Maximum range. IR sensors detect changes in background temperature at a distance of 10-20 meters. Those of them that are planned to be installed on the street must have a larger “coverage” radius. Indoors this parameter is of no use;
Detection angle. In the vertical plane, the viewing angle of the sensors is 15-20 degrees, in the horizontal plane – from 60 to 360 degrees;
Load power. Before purchasing a sensor, you need to know the power of the load connected to it and select a device based on these indicators with a margin.

Using other motion sensors to control lights

In addition to infrared controllers, microwave, sound and ultrasonic, as well as combined sensors are sometimes used to control lighting.

Microwave sensors

Microwave sensors operate on the principle of emitting and receiving electromagnetic waves. In normal mode, the frequency and length of the waves emitted and reflected from objects are the same. When a person enters the sensor’s coverage area, these parameters change, after which the light circuit switching mechanism is activated. The advantages of microwave sensors are that they are high-precision devices and work well even in bad weather, while the disadvantages are the possibility of false alarms, high price, and harmful radiation for sensors with a large coverage radius.

Ultrasonic sensors

Ultrasonic sensors are similar in operating principle to microwave sensors. Inside these devices there is a generator of sound waves with a frequency of 20 to 60 kilohertz, which are emitted and reflected from objects located in the field of action of the sensor. When a person or animal enters the coverage radius, the frequency of sound waves arriving at the sensor changes, which the device immediately registers. Disadvantages of ultrasonic sensors: they may not respond to smooth movement and cause discomfort in animals. Advantages of sensors: low cost, work in conditions of high humidity, temperature changes, react to movement regardless of what material the person is wearing.

Combined sensors

Combination sensors combine several motion detection technologies. They may use microwave and ultrasonic radiation or infrared and microwave radiation. Such devices perform their assigned tasks most efficiently.

Sound sensors

Sound sensors respond to sudden changes in sound, the level of which is set by changing the sensitivity of the sensor. Most often, the light is turned on and off by clapping your hands. Voice switches can also be considered a type of sound sensors.

Voice control of light

Voice control of lighting devices in an apartment is implemented using voice sensors-switches, often used in Smart Home systems, as well as computers or smartphones on which a special program is installed.

Light switches with remote control (voice) are divided into two types: with the need for adjustment and without it. In the first case, you need to teach the device the commands to activate, turn on and off the light, in the second case, all the commands are already written in memory and indicated in the instructions, you just need to use them for control. Often such switches can be controlled not only by voice, but also by any remote control. These include "Jaco" and "Servi". You can get acquainted with the features of their work on the manufacturers’ websites.