The concept of "smart home" is increasingly applied to the arrangement of housing, during which the main emphasis is on the use of an abundance of high-tech devices that can improve living comfort. One of the main systems that needs automation is lighting. The most important element here is a remote light switch with a remote control.
Principle of operation
In order to adjust the lighting parameters at a distance using a light switch with a remote control, specialized signal transmitters are built into the electrical network. The latter exchange with the remote control data packets, which include codes responsible for a specific command. To increase the reliability and responsiveness of a remote medium, information is transmitted sequentially several times.
Each remote light switch with remote control has its own unique address. In other words, individual signal transmitters only respond to commands issued from a fixed control.
Functionality
The basic skills that a remote light switch with a remote control possesses include the activation and deactivation of chandeliers from a distance. Thus, to control the main lighting, the user does not have to get out of bed or get up from the workplace.
Modern electronics is able to control individual segments of the chandelier. Such an opportunity becomes useful, for example, if it is necessary to dim the light while going to bed or when there is a need to create too bright lighting.
A remote light switch with a remote control can weaken or increase the brightness level of all light sources that are connected to the electric circuit of the chandelier. That is, the user gets the opportunity at any time to change the saturation of lighting in the room of his own free will.
What other possibilities besides closing and opening the electrical circuit of lighting devices does the wireless remote control have? The light switch with a built-in dimmer allows you to remember all kinds of settings, which contributes to the creation of a particular atmosphere in the room at the touch of a button.
To save the user from the need to find a lost remote control, most devices have light and sound alarms that can be activated by contact with a wall-mounted radio transmitter.
Specifications
The standard remote light switch with a 220V remote control has the following technical characteristics:
- power - about 10 mW;
- frequency - from 430 to 870 MHz;
- operating range - from 30 to 500 m;
- switched power - from 200 W to 5 kW.
When choosing the appropriate tool for remote control of lighting parameters, it is extremely important to pay attention to the ratio of the power of the transmitter and receiver of the signal. The performance and responsiveness of the system depends on this characteristic.
Benefits
Using a remote light switch with a remote control, the photo of which is presented in this material, the user receives the following advantages:
- There is the possibility of combining all the lighting elements into a single system.
- When connecting, there is no need to install additional wiring.
- The overall comfort of controlling light sources is increased, in particular for people with disabilities.
- Installation is not particularly difficult.
- If necessary, you can upgrade the installed system.
- The safety of operation of lighting devices in the room is increased.
disadvantages
Along with the obvious advantages, the use of remote controls has some disadvantages. First of all, it is worth noting the rather high cost of most functional systems.
Using a remote light switch with a street remote control, you have to put up with the limited possibilities of its use inside the house. Ultimately, the radio signals that come from the remote control negatively affect the functioning of communication lines that are located close to the object.
Smartphone Control
There are remote lighting control systems that allow you to synchronize data transmitters with mobile devices. In this case, the smartphone will play the same role as the remote. However, by controlling the functions from the display, the overall usability of the system will increase significantly.
Special applications can be downloaded to your mobile phone. Thus, relying on a regular smartphone, the user gets the opportunity not only to turn off and on the lighting, but also to adjust the intensity of individual light sources. Typically, the transmission of commands occurs by sending a signal to the radio in the form of encoded text messages.
Connection
The principle of connecting a remote lighting control element differs based on the type of light source for which it is intended. If you have to work with a system that interacts with standard incandescent lamps, installation will occur similarly to connecting a conventional switch.
The bulk of the remote lighting controls work with LED and energy-saving lamps. Connection here has its own nuances. To ensure safe, correct operation of the system, the organization of proper nutrition will be required. A mandatory requirement is the presence of phase and zero. Such remote switches are mounted in close proximity to the light source.
For the yard and garden, the most powerful radio-controlled remote means are used, which make it possible to control lighting at a distance of about 100 m. The latter, most often, support work with various types of lamps. To control the LED lighting elements in the controllers, the output stages must be made in the form of semiconductor transistors.
If we talk about remote systems, where control takes place not only with the remote control, but also with voice commands, their connection is possible on the site of the old standard switches with an additional power cable.
Do-it-yourself remote light switch with remote control
The task of organizing the lighting control system with the hand switch both from the switch and via the radio channel is feasible, but rather complicated. To implement the project, you will need the following:
- set of radio transmitters MP325M;
- PW1245 brand power supplies;
- single-button switch without contact closure locking.
For starters, the section of the circuit on which the modification will be de-energized is de-energized. The first step is to remove the standard switch. Bare wires are interconnected, and then insulated.
Understands one of the radio transmitters. Pieces of wire are soldered to the control button . The received contacts are cleaned and connected to the contacts of the switch.
If the housing is equipped with suspended ceilings, designed modules can be hidden in the space between the panels. In the absence of such an opportunity, the system units should be placed in the niche of the plafond, after preliminary isolation of the power supply and the receiver module.
After implementing the above tasks, you can switch to lighting control from a wireless remote control or use the standard manual switch. If after some time the system ceases to function, do not panic. To restore operability, it will be sufficient to replace the transmitter battery.
Finally
Remote control of light sources is first of all practicality, convenience and a tribute to the present. It is enough to install the simplest system for adjusting the light, and the problem of changing its brightness, saturation , turning on and off at a distance will forever cease to worry homeowners.
The most rational installation of a remote lighting control system looks when arranging country houses, which differ in an impressive number of rooms, utility rooms, and the presence of a spacious garden.
Only a small controller makes it possible to control large-scale lighting systems. Therefore, it is not surprising that remote switches are increasingly used in enterprises where there is a need to control light sources in vast areas under control.