Lighting Control Options for Existing Homes
In new homes, lighting control systems are typically installed with dedicated low-voltage wiring connecting a central controller with devices such as dimmers, switches and keypads. The homeowner pushes a button on the keypad, which sends a low-voltage control signal along this wiring to the central controller, which either switches the controlled lighting on or off or dims it up or 
down.
In both new and existing homes, eliminating the control wiring reduces the cost of lighting control for the owner while reducing labor and installation time for the installer. In existing homes, it also reduces downtime, dust and disruption. Photo courtesy of Watt Stopper/Legrand.
The advantage of using low-voltage wiring is it’s considered “bullet proof.” With wiring 100% dedicated to control signals, it would be like having a highway built just for your daily commute. And there isn’t any potential for electrical noise or other interference with the control signal.
Setting up the low-voltage wiring network takes planning that begins early in the design of a home. After the home is built it is harder and more costly to make changes. And if the home was built without a low-voltage wiring scheme for lighting, the cost and hassle of pulling wire to retrofit the home for automated lighting control is an obstacle for many people.
RF wireless controls by Watt Stopper/Legrand.
Many people are unaware of convenient and economical lighting solutions that are wired for power the same way as typical control devices but without the added low-voltage wiring for control signal communication. In both new and existing homes, eliminating the control wiring reduces the cost of lighting control for the owner while reducing labor and installation time for the installer. In existing homes, it also reduces downtime, dust and disruption.
As requirements change in the future, which tends to happen frequently, the lighting control system can be easily reconfigured without rewiring.
Basically, there are two popular options for lighting control that do not require any new wires: power line carrier (PLC) and radio frequency (RF). 
A PLC system uses existing power wiring to connect switches, dimmers and other devices together in a control network. Each device in the control network contains a unique address to allow logical, rather than physical, connections between devices. Intelligent devices throughout the home can be connected or bound together to form groups for scenes or other events in the home. Master controls and different user interfaces can be added for preset scene control and managing the system.
PLC wireless control by Lightolier Controls.
An RF system uses radio-frequency signals traveling through the air between lighting control devices. A typical system consists of dimmers, switches, keypads, handheld remotes, keyfobs, etc. Devices can be programmed to integrate the system with other home systems. Each control device has a unique address that is accessible via RF signals. Communication has distance limits but the signal can be repeated and amplified if needed.
Graphic courtesy of Lightolier Controls.
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