Wednesday, March 26, 2014 - 4:52pm
One of the most common polarizing arguments that I hear quite often is whether or not to let a property owner have full or very limited control of their lighting. This is a balance that is wagered among the designer, installer, and ultimately the person paying the bill. There are a few things to consider when looking at this subject.
Why would a property owner need to have control of the light?
Many people think of lighting as a switch that turns on and off. When we look at an outdoor lighting system, it is not necessarily a matter of lights just being “on” or “off,” but more of a schedule for most areas. If it is a seating area or activity space that is illuminated, there is a definite need for the end user to have control most of the time.
Every property owner needs some sort of control of their lighting system.
When it comes down to it, the designer or installer is not going to be on hand in times of need, so it’s best to give a user some sort of control of their entire system. That being said, it needs to be easy and straightforward, and the installer needs to review the functions with the user. In addition, there should always be a way for the user to operate the entire system from an accessible location.
Develop a system to cater to the needs and aptitude of the users.
Once you do decide how and where the user is going to have access, it’s time to look at the tools available. Much of the market is demanding the use of their smartphones and tablets for their home automation, but there is still a large majority who just want a simple physical switch.
You will also need to determine how the user will interact with the system:
- Do they want control all night long, or just at certain times?
- Does it need to happen quickly, or do they have time to make detailed decisions about the lighting levels?
- How do the users interact with other lighting controls or devices within the house?
Overall, the market is demanding more control of home automation, now that it’s more accessible from more devices that people already own. Discuss options with users and investigate how and when they interact at home with their current systems to make a seamless addition with their outdoor lighting.
