Lighting ControlsIn the majority of houses, little thought is given to the switches used to control the lights. The most common light switch is the toggle, officially known as a single-pole switch. When switched on they complete a circuit and allow electricity to flow to a bulb causing it to illuminate, conversely when switched off, electricity no longer flows and the circuit is broken.Most light switches are set in the wall approximately 20cm from a room’s entrance and roughly 4 foot from the floor. In most cases a light is operated by a single switch, however in rooms with more than one entrance (such as a hallway), multiple switches are needed. In these instances, 3-way switches can be used; they allow a single light to be operated from multiple locations and so are ideal for use in stairways and hallways etc. Although toggle light switches are a simple and practical way of controlling the lighting in your home, there are other options which can reduce energy usage and save you money. Dimmers are excellent replacements for regular toggle switches, although they can only be used with regular incandescent light fittings. Low voltage and fluorescent lights require specially designed dimmer switches. Dimmers provide you with a great deal of flexibility over the level of lighting used within a room. They can be turned up when bright task lighting is required and then dimmed so as to produce a more atmospheric level of lighting. Additionally, dimmers are a more efficient choice than regular toggle switches. They only use the amount of energy needed to provide a certain level of illumination. This means that energy usage is reduced by approximately 40% when lights are dimmed to half brightness, so you can see the energy savings are quite dramatic. The use of a dimmer switch also increases the longevity of a bulbs life; by dimming a light by 10% the bulbs life will double. Dimmers operate in a different way to the constant flow of single pole switches; they pulsate on and off approximately 120 times a second. This is too fast for a human eye to detect so instead of flickering we perceive a constant light. The longer the light is on during each pulse, the brighter the light is perceived to be. Motion detectors can replace regular toggle switches in the entrances of rooms or to cover greater areas, they can be implanted at ceiling level. They operate by detecting changes in either infrared or ultrasonic waves within a room. There are a number of varieties available which are suitable for use in different locations around the home. Motion detectors which switch lights on when a presence is detected and then off again after it disappears are ideal for use outdoors, in porches and in entrance hallways. Installing motion detector switches in these locations will mean that the entrance to your home will always be illuminated as you enter, contributing to the security of your home and saving energy. Motion detectors which need to be physically switched on but then turn off automatically after a person has left a room are more suitable for the inner, more frequently used rooms of the home. This not only helps to save you electricity but avoids the problem of pets causing lights to be illuminated. Research suggests that having lights on inside the home during the evening can deter criminal intrusion. Timer switches can be set so that certain lights in the home come on at a certain time, giving the appearance of occupancy even when no one is home. Timers can also be used in rooms in the home which are only visited for short periods and where lights are often left on accidentally, such as cupboards or utility rooms; the majority of timer switches intended for this use will need to be physically switched on and will then automatically go off after a programmed length of time. Centrally controlled lighting systems are becoming increasingly popular. These enable you to control all of the lights within a house from a single location and allow you to program light configurations for different areas of the home, often these can be operated remotely. These are more popular in new homes where they are installed as part of a completely automated system which includes functions other than just lighting. As you can see there are a huge variety of lighting controls available, the majority of which are more energy efficient than the regular toggle switch although their installation would be equally as simple. With a little planning, changing the lighting controls in your home can give you more flexibility over the level of illumination you choose and save you money on your electricity bills. |
Home Light Sources: Ceiling Lights Chandeliers Chrismas Lights Energy Saving Lights Fan Lights Fibre Optic Lights Garden Lights Grow Lights Lamps LED Lights Mood Lights Neon Lights Night Lights Pendant Lights Rope Lights Salt Lamps Sconces Security Lights Solar Powered Lights Spotlights Under Cabinet Lights Lighting The Home: Bathroom Lighting Bedroom Lighting Children's Lighting Dining Room Lighting Hall Lighting Home Office Lighting Kitchen Lighting Living Room Lighting Outdoor Lighting Security Lighting Lighting Tips: Light Bulbs Lighting Controls Types of Lighting Methods of Lighting Room Lighting Christmas Lighting Suggestions Fibre Optic Lighting Suggestions |