Air-Gap Switch. A mechanical switch or relay that disconnects power to a load by physically separating two contacts, resulting in an air gap between the contacts. The air-gap switch can be conveniently activated without removing the wall plate. When switch is in the Air Gap Position, power is completely removed from the device’s load circuit.

Amplifier. A signal strength booster inside the PLC Firewall that takes each PLC communication circuit and amplifies it to a full 7 volts.

Anti-Collision. A feature unique to the Compose PLC Firewall that verifies that communication signals being sent over the power line have a clear path to their destination. If the signal path is not clear, it holds the commands and resends only when it knows the signal will go through and receive a verified response back.

Ballast. An electrical device used in fluorescent and HID fixtures. It creates the starting and operating characteristics needed by the lamp for proper performance.

Branch Circuit. The circuit conductors between the final over current device protecting the circuit and the outlets. See NEC Article 100.

Canadian Standards Association (CSA). An organization that provides testing and certification services for manufacturers that wish to use the CSA markon products that conform to the appropriate CSA standard.

Channel. See definition of Zone.

Derating. Reducing the wattage capacity of a dimmer when metal fins (sidetabs) are removed.

Dimmer. An electronic or manual switch that increases or reduces the amountof voltage that reaches the lamp.

Electronic Low-Voltage. Electronic low-voltage lighting that uses an electronic (solid-state technology) transformer to convert normal line voltage (120 VAC) to low voltage (typically 12 VAC). This lower voltage is then used to power an incandescent low-voltage lamp. You should only use a dimmer-amplifier specifically designed for an electronic low-voltage transformer.

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI). The constant rise and fall of alternating current creating an electromagnetic field around the wire. This field can induce current and voltage in wires placed next to it disrupting the accuracy or the communication signal.

Fade Override. The ability to temporarily set fade times to zero for all lighting scenes.

Fade Rate. The time it takes each lighting zone to arrive at it preset light level.

Filter. An electrical circuit which is intended to reduce radio frequency interference, electromagnetic interference and lamp buzz.

GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt). A type of device, e.g. circuit breaker or receptacle, which detects an abnormal current flow to ground and opens the circuit preventing a hazardous situation.

Hand-Held Remote. An infrared transmitter that fits in your hand and controls either the lights in a room or preset scenes throughout the house.

Home Automation. Term used to describe the industry of automating control including; lighting, HVAC, security and audio in a home.

House Code. The first half of an X-10 address comprising letters A-P.

LED. Acronym for a Light Emitting Diode

Low Noise Lamp. A specially constructed lamp designed to produce less audible noise in dimming applications. See Rough Service Lamp.

Macro Strings. The sequence of commands that are sent from a keypad to a group of dimmers causing the whole-house or room to change in unison from one lighting scene to another.

Magnetic Low-Voltage. Magnetic low-voltage lighting uses a magnetic (core and coil) transformer to convert normal line voltage (120 VAC) to low voltage (typically 12 VAC). This lower voltage is then used to power an incandescent low-voltage lamp. You should only use a dimmer specifically designed for a magnetic low-voltage transformer.

Multi-Gang. Two or more controls mounted side-by-side in a series of connected wall boxes.

Multi-Location Dimming. Allows full-range dimming from unlimited locations.

Neutral Wire. The white wire on the back of all Compose PLC Dimmers and keypads. Used for communication within the PLC system and for zero cross reference.

Noise. RFI or EMI caused by electrical or mechanical interference that may block PLC communications signals. Often viewed as lines on a television or an audible hum over a stereo.

Non Dim. A Compose PLC capable decorator-style switch providing 0 or 120V output. You should use for loads that are not dimmed (i.e: fluorescent loads.)

Phase Coupler. A device designed to couple (bridge) the A and B 120V phases coming into a house creating a path for commands sent on one line to reach the other.

PLC Firewall™. The enclosure used in every PLC whole-house lighting control system for line conditioning and system  communication. The unit is an all-in-one filter, amplifier/repeater, anti-collision and whole-house block that ensures
only clean, valid PLC commands are transmitted throughout the home.

Power Failure Memory. Circuitry that ensures that the lights will return to their last state when the power is restored.

Preset Scene. The lighting “look” created in any room by raising/lowering zones of light to the desired intensity.

Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). An audible buzz or noise in some sensitive audio and radio equipment caused by
the dimmer’s rapid current switching in conjunction with sharp current rise.

Raise/Lower Controls. A button, slider, rocker, toggle, paddle, etc. which when touched increases or decreases the
intensity of light controlled.

Repeater. A device that repeats incoming PLC communication signals to all other lighting circuits inside the system.

Room Code. The second half of an X-10 address comprising numbers from 1-16.

Room Master Keypad. A six-button or eight-button Ellipse series button station that controls a group of dimmers that share its same address.

Rough Service Lamp. A lamp with extra filament support, which can help reduce lamp buzz.

Single Gang. One control mounted in a single wall box

Single Pole Dimmer. Provides full-range dimming from one location only.

Square Law Dimming. Dimming with direct correlation between the position of the slider and the light perceived by
the eye is known as Square Law Dimming. With Square Law Dimming, gradual raise/lower of the dimmer results in
a proportional change in the perceived lighting level allowing for easy, precise adjustment of the light setting.

UL Listed. A product adhering to standards of Underwriters Laboratories, an independent, non-profit testing laboratory organized for the purpose of investigating products and materials with respect to hazards affecting life and property.

Voltage Compensation. Reduces changes in lighting levels that occur when air conditioners, refrigerators and other electrical appliances switch on/off.

Wallbox Dimmer. A self-contained dimmer that fits into a wallbox.

Whole-House Keypad. A six-button or eight-button Ellipse series button station, without an address, that controls
whole-house scenes, individual rooms or triggers a instant on condition.

X-10 Address. A unique identifier for a keypad dimmer or a group of dimmers comprising two sections, a house code (see House Code for definition) and a room code (see Room Code for definition). Together, they provide 256 valid addresses in every PLC system.

Zone. A light or a group of lights that are controlled together or as a group.

Some of the more valuable benefits of installing your own home lighting are:

• convenience of having lighting levels controlled automatically.
• aesthetic benefits of enhanced lighting.
• security. If outdoor lighting is done well, it can be a good deterrent for crime.

Lighting control systems can also be integrated with other systems in the home that provide  automation, security and entertainment (e.g. home theatre).

How Expensive And Complicated Are Lighting Control Systems To Build?

Like most technology, lighting control systems have become more and more affordable while their capability and features have dramatically improved. Today’s products are also easier to install and simpler to use than ever. Many functions can be used either manually with one touch control or programmed to happen automatically and require no user operation. The home owner is in control of what to control and how to do it.

Updating Your Lighting Control Systems As Your Need Change

Today’s lighting control systems are very scalable. This quality provides you with the ability to select a system that is tailored to the size and use of your home. Additionally, smaller systems typically have the built-in ability to grow, so expanding later is usually an option.

You know what it’s like if you live in a house with other people. Sooner or later one of you – and it might even be you – leaves a room with the light still on and that light remains on needlessly for hours. What a waste of energy and money!

If you are looking for lights with significant energy saving benefits, then you could do worse than to consider compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs. This bulb, in fact, uses as little as 25% of the of energy consumed by traditional incandescent bulbs of comparable light output. But even a compact fluorescent lamp is an energy-waster if left on when it isn’t needed.

Homeowners now have another energy-saving, quick-payback tool to add to their arsenal: vacancy sensors. Vacancy sensors are ideal for bathrooms, bedrooms, closets, garages, hallways and utility spaces, and install just like a standard wall switch and also function like one. To turn the lights on, just flick the switch. However, if you forget to turn off the lights, the sensor will detect when the room is unoccupied and turn off the lights automatically after a preset period of time. The result is energy savings – ongoing cost savings on the homeowner’s electric bill.

Basic Features Of Vacancy Sensors

Residential vacancy sensors are typically passive-infrared (PIR) devices that fit into a single-gang electrical box and simply replace a traditional wall switch. They work by sensing changes in heat (such as body heat) against background radiation. If human occupancy is not detected, the sensor waits for a period of time, and then shuts the lights off.

The sensor uses a lens that determines the coverage area (the sensor’s field of view), sensitivity (its ability to detect different levels of motion such as body or hand movements) and range (distance from the sensor that motion can be detected). Well-designed sensors can see a full 180° and detect motion areas of up to 600 square feet. Note that PIR sensors need a direct, unblocked line of sight to detect whether there are people in a room or not.

Vacancy sensors feature adjustable time-delay settings that allow the homeowner to specify the amount of time that the sensor waits between a room becoming unoccupied and the lights being turned off. There is a balance to be reached when setting this time delay: the sooner the lights are turned off when a room becomes unoccupied; the longer the time delay, the lower the risk to user safety as lights won’t suddenly go out if the homeowner doesn’t move for a few minutes.

Also, different human behaviour is evident in different rooms, and that will affect the sensor’s sensitivity. Ina bathroom, for example, bathers may stay in the bath for 30 minutes at a time, so the sensor should wait at least that long before turning the lights off. A hallway, on the other hand, could use a shorter delay as it is unlikely that people will linger there.

In addition to the direct cost savings CFLs bring, they also tend to last much longer than traditional lights. The average rated life of a CFL is between 8 and 15 times that of incandescents. Compact fluorescent lights typically have an average lifespan of between 6,000 and 15,000 hours, whereas incandescent lamps are usually manufactured to have a lifespan of 750 hours or 1,000 hours.

Of course, CFLs are more expensive. However, while the purchase price of an integrated CFL is typically 3 to 10 times greater than that of an equivalent incandescent lamp, the extended lifetime and lower energy use will more than compensate for the higher initial cost.

Since lighting can represent as much as 25% of your electricity bill, it’s an excellent place to start the cost cutting exercise. Among the most effective and enjoyable options to save energy is with a home lighting control system. Given the exorbitant – and rising – costs of energy, today’s lighting control products can pay for themselves over a very short period of time while providing additional benefits of comfort, convenience and security.

Dimming Lights

One of the simplest, most cost effective ways to reduce your electricity bill is by introducing a dimmer switch. Reducing lighting levels when you simply don’t need as much light really adds to your bottom line. By how much? Simply dim your lights by 25% and you pocket 20% in electricity savings. Dim lights by half and you increase your savings by 40%.

Dimming your lights not only reduces energy consumption, but significantly extends the life of your bulbs. Dimming
by 50% not only saves nearly that much in energy but the bulb life is extended by as much as twenty times. As an added
convenience, this also decreases the amount of times you need to change your bulbs. Though dimmers cost more than a conventional toggle switch, their installation costs are the same.

Vacancy Sensors

Another ingenious energy saving device is the vacancy sensor which combines hands free switching with energy savings. Typically installed in areas such as a bathroom, walk in closet, or garage, vacancy sensors turn lights on when a person enters the room and off when they leave. Most useful of all, they do it automatically and even when people forget. Vacancy sensors can also be set to turn on manually. Like dimmers, they are relatively inexpensive to install and come in a variety of colours.

Fluorescent Lighting

Today, 85% of all light bulbs used in residential applications are incandescent bulbs. Though fluorescent
lights have been around since the 1930’s, they have never been as popular in homes as incandescent lighting
due to their higher initial cost, the harsh white light they emit and poor colour rendering. Fluorescent technology has made great strides however and is an increasingly popular option due to their lower operating costs, improved
performance and extended bulb life.

The compact fluorescent light (CFL) is an especially popular option for homeowners for general lighting that will
be on for several hours per day. Even when dimmed, some find the harsh white light to not be as pleasing as that of
the soft warm glow of an incandescent. To get the best of both worlds, you might consider using lower wattage halogen
incandescent lamps that offer the energy savings from standard incandescent lamps in addition to the colour and
ambience of a dimmed incandescent.

The most effective lighting control systems utilise incandescent, halogen and fluorescent bulbs for the
best combination of energy savings and convenience.

Key Points About Home Lighting Control Systems

• Dimmers can save significant amounts of energy while providing ambience
• Dimmers can greatly extend bulb life. 50% power extends bulb life 20X
• Vacancy sensors offer additional savings plus wonderful convenience
• Affordable systems can pay for themselves in reduced energy costs

With so much focus on energy conservation, home lighting control is very much the Next Big Thing.

One reason is that Lighting Control systems are not just for technophiles or the “rich and famous” anymore. In fact, today’s products are more flexible and reliable and easier to install than those of just five years ago. And they are more affordable too, representing exceptional value.

Lighting makes the difference in creating atmosphere, sparkle, depth and shape in a living space using a selection of light fixtures. And when combined with dimming controls, lighting can impact how you feel, act and live within a space. To make your house show its true beauty with the tap of a single button, use lighting scenes and layers of light to set the mood.

Also, the introduction of lighting control into your home could lead to a massive reduction on your energy bills. Ontelligent sensors detect when a room is not in use and turn off the lights, saving you money.

Many Lighting Control systems can also be integrated with other “smart systems” in the home. Integrating your Lighting Control system with other whole-house “sub-systems” such as HVAC and security, allows you to have greater control of your entire home. As more homes become “smart”, savvy homeowners and installers are receiving even greater benefits from their Lighting Control system.

Ambient (or general) lighting uniformly lights the space, typically avoiding dark corners and putting some light on walls. However, if only ambient lighting is used, the lighting may be uncomfortable to experience because there is no contrast. The eye needs to be led around a space. Without any focus point, the eye is constantly roaming, which can cause eye fatigue.

To increase visual interest, accent lighting is used to highlight items such as works of art, floral arrangements, and interesting architecture.

The eye tends to focus on the brightest point in the field of view, so accent lighting should be strategically placed to grab attention by producing brightness contrast. Well designed decorative luminaires, sparkle elements, colours, textures and interplays of light and shadow are also important factors in creating points of interest.

Task lighting (functional lighting) is then used to provide supplemental lighting for specific activities requiring more light, such as preparing meals and personal grooming.

By simply dimming the lights, the owner can affect visual comfort, change contrasts, create mood and alter perception of the space. When using a preset scene control system, different lighting scenes can be created and recalled whenever desired with the touch of a button.

• Good lighting design uses layers of light to create visual interest
• Layers are created via ambient, task, accent and other lighting techniques
• Preset dimming can enrich a design by allowing easy creation of visual scenes
• Preset dimming enables more flexible, muscular lighting designs

By consolidating the dimming of different lighting techniques (switches) into a single keypad control, more switch-legs can be added to make the level of control more granular or expand the lighting. This provides greater functionality of the space while enhancing the visual appearance.

Making layering work requires decisions regarding the direction, intensity and color of light. Below are basic techniques related to light’s direction.

Task lighting

Task lighting is a basic component of lighting design in that it provides sufficient light levels for people to perform visual tasks. Examples range widely from under cabinet lighting to portable table lamps. The advantage of using portable lights, of course, is that the user can easily change the position of the light source. Since the light source is typically located closer to the user, care should be taken so that the lighting is not glaring.

Downlighting

Downlights typically produce a soft uniform ambient lighting effect. Some downlights with reflector lamps can create harsh shadows, particularly on people’s faces, so it is best avoided or used with other lighting techniques in spaces where a lot of social interaction occurs. Downlights should be placed in an organised layout that does not call attention to itself. Be sure to select and place downlights properly to avoid an irritating glare and ugly scalloping on walls.

Wallwashing

Wallwashing entails evenly lighting a wall from top to bottom using light fixtures such as track lighting and ceiling-mounted fixtures. This technique washes out shadows and therefore visually flattens texture, which can be very effective for hiding imperfections. To evenly light a wall, the fixtures, which have quality optics, should be placed at a suitable distance from each other and the wall; consider some overlapping of light to avoid dark spots.

Grazing

Grazing is another wall lighting technique that, instead of washing out detail, enriches it. This is particularly desirable when the wall has an interesting texture such as stone or brick. The effect is achieved by placing light fixtures closer to the wall and reducing the angle of the light aimed at the wall.

Accent lighting

Accent lighting is used to highlight focal points by creating a contrast in brightness between the focal point and its surround. Be sure to arrange focal points so that they are uncluttered and make sense while avoiding extreme brightness contrasts that can be glaring (a three to one ratio is suggested). Note that if the point of interest might be relocated in the future, the light fixture should be able to be moved or re-aimed.

Indirect lighting

Indirect lighting, such as uplight pendants and torchieres, uses room surfaces such as ceilings and walls to reflect visually comfortable ambient light into the space. Indirect lighting brightens the ceiling, which can make a room appear both brighter and more spacious. Room surfaces should have a high reflectance to maximize overall efficiency and a suitable color to achieve desired color quality.

Cove lighting

Creating cove lighting involves concealing linear and point-source light fixtures in perimeter coves to create indirect lighting. Be sure to avoid shadows in the light pattern that call attention to light sources that are intended to be concealed.

Take Control Of Lighting

Good lighting, lighting design and lighting control can combine to enrich the appearance of people, furniture, fabrics and surfaces in a room. Divide a room’s lighting into layers or similar groups of lights, and assign them to separate switch-legs (dimmers); for example, indirect fixtures used for ambient illumination should be separately circuited from track lights used for accent lighting. Each switch-leg is controlled by a single control device as its own control zone. Control zones can be as easy to plan as using colored highlighters on a lighting plan.

If a preset scene control system is used, a large number of control zones can be designed because instead of adding multiple dimmers on the wall, all of these zones can be controlled by single or multiple keypads, enabling the user to create and recall lighting scenes with the simplicity of pushing a button.

The result is a richly layered lighting design that can satisfy any desired mood, look or function in a room using a single control device.

• What is Home Lighting Control?
• Scaling lighting controls: From Single Switch to Whole House Lighting Control
• The Energy Act of 2007: its impact on General-Service Light Bulbs and Lighting Controls
• The Energy Act of 2007: its Impact on Reflector Light Bulbs and Controls
• Compact Fluorescent Dimming: Buyer Beware
• The basics of Home Lighting Design: Layering with Light
• Layering with Lighting Controls: a Kitchen Example
• Vacancy Sensors: Big Energy Savings to be had by Turning Off Your Lights—Automatically

For Integrators:

• Design Centers: Key Tool for the Sale of Lighting/Home Controls

Resources For Home Lighting Control

Downloadable brochures in PDF format, that teach homeowners about how lighting controls can transform their lifestyle by adding the convenience of push-button control.

• Homeowners’ fact sheet
• Homeowners’ brochure

Home Lighting Control Organizations

The following are are industry authorities on home technology, home automation and residential lighting design:

• Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)
• CEA TechHome
• Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA)
• Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA)