Lighting
Debunking electrical contractor lighting myths
Matt Jacks, experience centre manager at Lutron Electronics, shares the most common lighting myths encountered by electrical contractors.
I
f you ask any electrical contractor, they will probably have a long list of common misconceptions about their industry and the installation process. Firstly, an electrical contractor doesn’t just
fix broken fixtures. More often than not, they need to educate the customer throughout any
project, walking them through the process from lighting selection and installation, to the set-up process and management. Homeowners often have little to no knowledge of lighting control and need constant consultation, whether on logistics and timeframes or aesthetics and post- installation personalisation. Today’s electrical contractors must be aware of the other key misconceptions in the industry. Only then can they help the general public navigate their installation projects successfully.
Misconception 1: Wireless means Wi-Fi This could be one of, if not, THE most common smart lighting misconception. Many homeowners are put off smart lighting systems because they wrongly assume that wireless lighting runs on Wi-Fi and therefore if the Wi-Fi drops out so do the lights. Generally, homeowners underestimate the technological capabilities of wireless lighting. The most advanced technology operates on a quiet frequency band that
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is essentially free of interference. The benefit of a dedicated network is that it ensures that communication between system devices are reliably delivered alongside group commands, which guarantees a smooth, simultaneous system response. It is essential for EC’s to squash this misconception as soon as they enter a new property.
Misconception 2: Smart systems are complicated Smart lighting systems don't stand alone - they can be integrated with heating, sound and audio. By investing in integrated smart home systems, homeowners can save their future selves some significant spending on electricity and heating bills. However, when it comes to the topic of integration, many are reluctant to explore its possibilities, believing these systems have to be established and connected at the same time with a high-level integrator. Today, this doesn’t have to be the case. Knowledgeable professionals understand which technologies are compatible. Some homeowners assume there’s an all or nothing approach when it comes to smart home integration - in reality smart systems can be treated like buildings blocks. Homeowners have the flexibility to add and remove different systems, at different times to create a tailored smart home system to suit their home and lifestyle. With intuitive smart systems it is possible integrate new
Continued over September 2020 electrical wholesaler | 25
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