| In the past, home automation was considered the | | | | - Saves Energy: Lighting control can help to save |
| trend of the elite. Today, home automation technology | | | | electricity and improve the life span of the light fixtures. |
| is becoming more common among the masses. Home | | | | - Easy installation: The light dimming systems can be |
| automation gives automatic control of all the devices | | | | easily installed by an electrician. It reduces the number |
| and gadgets to the house owner, and enables him to | | | | of light switches and cabling, thus saving time and |
| control the workings of the security, lights, heating and | | | | money. |
| cooling systems of the house with the help of an | | | | - Enhances Interiors: Lighting helps to beautify the |
| interface like the computer or the phone. | | | | space and enhance the interiors of the house. |
| There are many advantages of installing a home | | | | - Convenience: It is easy to operate through a remote |
| automation system. It is convenient for a person with a | | | | control and also convenient for use. |
| busy schedule as it takes off the pressures of doing | | | | The light dimming concept may appear to be simple to |
| the daily household chores and provides him ease and | | | | most people but it is much more complex than merely |
| comfort. Secondly, home automation systems create | | | | replacing a wall switch. For example, incandescent |
| a sophisticated impression of your home on other | | | | lamps can be dimmed only when voltage is low. As |
| people. It can combine the security, lighting and all other | | | | the voltage decreases, lamp powers decrease. The |
| systems in your home by using remote control. | | | | human eye observes the intensity of light based on the |
| One example of home automation device is a light | | | | on-time to off-time proportions. This means that 240 |
| dimming system. This system different moods and | | | | volts is the actual voltage but the average voltage is |
| adds elegance to the room with the help of lights. You | | | | reduced. There are two categories of cut dimming: |
| need not change your furniture or interiors, but just use | | | | 1. Forward phase cut dimming: This energizes the lights |
| a light dimming system to create an amazing effect to | | | | only during the final half-cycle portion of the power line. |
| enhance the interiors of your home. | | | | This uses electronics suited to various loads and is |
| It is possible to use the dimming system for neon, | | | | cheap. |
| halogen, fluorescent and incandescent lamps. Compact | | | | 2. Reverse phase: It energizes the lamp during the first |
| fluorescent lamps need outer dimmable ballast | | | | half-cycle portion of the power line. It operates silently |
| whereas metal halide lamps cannot be dimmed. The | | | | and is expensive because of the complicated |
| light settings can be programmed into the system to | | | | electronics used. |
| create great looking spaces in your home. You can | | | | The dimmers are either Triacs or Thyristors. These |
| also use the light dimming feature to conserve | | | | may be used for resistive or inductive loads like cold |
| electricity. | | | | cathode, low volt incandescent lamp sources. |
| The following are the advantages of using the light | | | | Depending on the load and application, the analog or |
| dimming system: | | | | digital method of dimming lights can be used. Light |
| - Mood Lighting: As mentioned earlier, you can use light | | | | dimmers can create a wonderful ambience in your |
| controls to create the proper ambience in a room with | | | | home. |
| the correct amount of light, thus reducing eyestrain. | | | | |