In our article we will talk about how to independently make a remote control system for lighting in the house and on the street. This type is used quite actively not only in residential buildings, but also in offices, in production. The most popular today are control systems made with the help of radio switches. They put controllers with remote controls for lighting, motion detection sensors, computers and even smartphones. Thanks to modern technologies, you can control the lighting not only in your apartment, but also on the site, in the country, even if at that moment you are thousands of kilometers away. We will talk about some ways to implement such systems in our article.
Advantages of remote control system
Via remote controlWith Elektrostandard lighting, you can solve several problems at once:
- Save on electricity.
- The whole process of switching on and off the lights in the house will be very comfortable.
- You will create the effect of presence due to the fact that the light will turn on and off from time to time. This will deter potential robbers.
And now let's go directly to control systems.
Varieties of systems
There are wired and wireless systems, automatic, manual. It may also be possible to manipulate lighting from devices that operate on the principles of receiving and emitting waves of a certain frequency. They can operate in the microwave, infrared, radio frequency, sound, voice, ultrasonic ranges. Quite an interesting view - voice, lighting control is performed by issuing certain commands. Further in the article we will talk about such a control system. And let's talk briefly about the remote lighting control device.
Infrared control
It is worth mentioning that this type of lighting control is rarely used in practice. Typically, such systems operate over radio channels. But it is still worth considering such a design. In order to manipulate the lighting devices with IR rays, it is necessary to turn on the control unit between the lamp and the power supply. For example, you can use the BM8049M lighting remote control unit.
With the help of such a simple device, you can turn on or off lighting devices even with a simple remote control (for example, from a TV or air conditioner). To turn off, you need to point the remote at the device and press the appropriate button (any, but not the one that switches TV channels). After that, the command will be written to memory. And by pressing the button again, you can turn the light on or off in the room.
Disadvantages of the IR system
The main disadvantage of such a system is that you need to accurately point the remote at the receiver, since they can only work within sight. It should also be noted that the beam has a very short range, but this problem, by the way, can be solved with the help of repeater settings.
RF systems
Where more widespread are systems that are controlled by remotes, and the signal is fed at a certain frequency to the controller. The latter allows you to control the process of turning on and off lighting fixtures. Very often, such systems can be found in the design of remote control of LED lighting.
The demand for such systems is due to the following:
- The light can be controlled by both remote control and computer, mobile phone.
- The signal has a fairly long range - if there are no obstacles, then no more than 100 meters. If there are anyobstacles, the radius is reduced to 15-20 meters.
- It is possible to install a repeater or signal amplifier to better transmit commands from the control device.
Before you connect the remote control of lighting, you need to consider its design. Each such system includes the following components:
- Remote control.
- Battery.
- A light remote control controller (Y7 or similar) that connects to a household outlet and a lighting fixture.
You can install the controller in the glass of the chandelier or in the wall. Such a device allows you to control various lamps - incandescent, LED, halogen, fluorescent of any type. It is also possible to turn on several lamps at the same time. By the same principle, you can organize remote control of street lighting.
Infrared and RF switches
It is possible to meet infrared type devices on the market, but they are rare. Radio frequency is much more common. The design of the device is quite simple, it contains a signal receiver. Management is carried out using any remote control, you can even use a television. There is also a manual system control function.
With the help of a radio switch, you can control the lighting fixtures both manually and from any remote control. But it will need to be tied to the system in order to “train” the controller for remote lighting control. The design of the controller is practicallyno different from a standard circuit breaker, i.e. a circuit breaker.
Interact with the lighting devices of the device using a power unit that is connected to the load and the AC mains. The unit can connect both incandescent and halogen lamps. It is worth paying attention to the fact that halogen lamps must be connected using a ferromagnetic or electronic transformer.
Also allowed to connect fluorescent lamps. You can place the light switch in any place that is convenient for you. It is desirable to install all power blocks in a junction box, but mounting in a chandelier glass is allowed.
How to use sensors
If you look at the offers of various companies, you can see that a fairly large number of various sensors are used to control lighting. In particular, motion detection sensors allow you to remotely control lighting fixtures. Most often, motion sensors have infrared emitters. These are devices that close or open the power supply circuit of lighting devices if there is an increase in the level of radiation in the infrared range.
When a person enters the field of action, the light will turn on. The fact is that the body temperature of a living being is higher than that of inanimate objects. After a person leaves the zone of action of the including sensor, the light will turn off. Typically, motion detection sensors are installed inentrances, as well as above the entrance doors. Much less often they can be found in apartments.
Pros and cons of infrared sensors
The disadvantages include the possibility of false positives. It is worth noting that the sensor reacts to sunlight and warm air. When installed outdoors, it will not be able to function normally, as it is adversely affected by precipitation. Also, the device may not work if the person is wearing clothing made of a material that does not transmit infrared radiation.
Also, the lighting will turn off permanently 10-15 seconds after a person's physical activity decreases. But there are also benefits. With the help of such devices, you can control the consumption of electricity. You will be able to reduce your energy costs. And these devices are quite convenient to use.
How to connect infrared sensor
In order to connect a motion detection sensor, you just need to use the diagram shown in our article. In order to implement it normally, you need a cable with three cores. With it, the entire control system will be powered from the AC mains, and also connected to the load. Moreover, everything must be connected to the controller for remote lighting control.
Phases must be connected to a similar output of the sensor. All neutral conductors must be connected together. The luminaire must be connected to the sensor in phase. Then you need to check the functionality of everythingmechanism, for which you will have to supply voltage.
How to choose an infrared sensor
In order to choose an infrared sensor, you need to pay attention to the following parameters:
- The location where the device will be installed. It should be noted that the devices have a different degree of protection - from IP20 to IP55 inclusive. You can also find mounted and built-in appliances. In an apartment, it is best to use built-in appliances, while the degree of protection does not matter. But if you need to install the device on the street or in the entrance, it is recommended to pay attention to models that are protected from water and dust. It is desirable that they be mounted on a bracket.
- Range. You need to know that infrared sensors can detect temperature changes at a distance of no more than 20 m. In the event that you want to put the device on the street, you need it to have a large range. If you put the device in the apartment, you do not need this parameter.
- Maximum power of connected load. Before purchasing a sensor, find out what kind of load you will connect to it. Depending on this, you must select the correct device.
- It is necessary that the vertical viewing angle be up to 20 degrees, and horizontally up to 360, but not less than 60 degrees.
Microwave sensors
It is worth noting that not only infrared sensors are used to control lighting fixtures. Quite often you can findmicrowave devices that emit and receive electromagnetic waves. While there are no obstacles, the device works so that the length and frequency of the waves that are emitted and reflected from all objects in the room are the same.
As soon as a person or other creature enters the coverage area, the parameters will change, the switching of the lighting system circuit will be activated. Of the advantages of such sensors, it can be noted that this is a high-precision device, it is able to work perfectly even in bad weather conditions. But there are also disadvantages. These are false alarms, high cost, and if the sensors have a very large coverage radius, then they can harm your he alth.
Ultrasonic type probes
These devices are similar to those discussed above. A sound wave generator is installed inside, its frequency is not more than 60 kHz. In this case, ultrasound is studied and reflected from all objects that are within the range of the device. As soon as a person or animal enters the coverage radius, the sound wave that arrives at the sensor changes.
The device immediately starts to register movement. However, these devices do have their drawbacks. Among them, it is worth noting that they do not always respond to the smooth movement of a person or animal. In addition, they can cause discomfort to pets.
But there is a clear advantage of these devices. You can highlight the low cost, as well as the ability to work at high humidity, large temperature changes, and theyregister movements regardless of what material a person's clothing is made of.
Sound and combination sensors
Sound devices allow you to respond to a quick and abrupt change in sound, its level must be set by changing the sensitivity of the sensor. Surely everyone saw how the lights are turned on / off with the help of claps. One type of sound sensor is voice switches for lighting devices.
As for the combined sensors, they combine several technologies at once that allow you to detect movement. In other words, both a microwave sensor and an infrared sensor can be installed in one device. You can find a combination of ultrasonic and microwave, such devices very well perform the task that is set for them.
Light control
In recent years, it is very common to find a "smart home" system. It is in them that there is voice control of lighting devices. To do this, voice sensors-switches are installed, which can also be switched by a computer or smartphone. On the latter, you must install a special program.
Voice-type lighting switches can be divided into those that require adjustment, as well as those that work without it. If you need to configure, then you have to teach the device various commands. You give a command, the microcontroller system remembers it. You also indicate what exactly this command shouldmake system. If the setting does not need to be carried out, then this means that the commands are already in the device’s memory, it is enough to study the instructions to learn how to control the lighting. Just don't mix up the voice commands.
