CUSTOM LIGHTING

Good lighting design not only makes a room comfortable and functional, but it can create moods just like music. Having the ability to control lighting levels and create scenes throughout your house lets you create just the right atmosphere for dining, entertaining, reading, or watching a movie.

WHAT IT DOES FOR YOU

Set individual lights or groups of lights to the exact brightness you want for a particular activity � and recall that setting at the touch of a button.

You can integrate lighting control with other functions of your home electronics system, like having the lights dim automatically when you start a movie, or having them turn on when you come into the house.

You can monitor and control lights in other rooms, for instance from your bedside table. So when you hear that 'bump in the night', you can turn on exactly the lights you want, before you even go downstairs.

HOW IT WORKS

There are basically two types of systems: hardwired and wireless. Hardwired systems are usually installed in new construction. Wireless systems use infrared or RF (radio frequency) remote controls and are used in both new and existing homes.

In both systems, normal switches and dimmers are replaced by ones that can receive commands from a controller. In good systems, even if the controller fails, you can still use the switch or dimmer manually.

Pressing a button on a handheld or tabletop remote control, or a wall mounted keypad, sends commands to the controller, which in turn sends commands to individual lights or groups of lights.

Good controllers have a memory so that you can set a group of lights to particular settings, then recall the settings for use again later.

Your lighting system can be integrated with other systems, like security or home theater. Pressing a button to start a movie, for instance, could also send a command to dim the lights in an area.