CE Pro May 2024 - 46

LIGHTING CONTROLS & FIXTURES: DESIGNER PERSPECTIVE
play well in the sandbox,
but what we've found is
that lights don't always
perform at the level that we
need for our clientele, which
can show up in a number
of ways. The most common
is flicker when lights are
dimmed down, or they don't
dim down far enough.
Another challenge is
when one linear strip dims
down while the rest do not.
In projects where a driver
is running multiple length
sources, it's not uncommon
for the closer, shorter light
source to be brighter than
the source farther away.
There are a lot of
technology problems that
lighting designers and integrators
must resolve. For
this reason, we test lighting
fixtures and controls in
the office, with the actual
lighting control system we
intend to use. We also lean
heavily on light fixture and
lighting control manufacturers
and are very selective
about the brands we
choose and rely on.
Given the number of
protocols - forward
phase, reverse phase,
PWM, 0-10V, 1-10V, DMX,
DALI, Zigbee, Casambi,
BubblyNet, Z-Wave - as
well as the protocols for
the equipment to communicate
with each other,
partnering with manufacturers
that understand the
lighting designer's role and
what it is that we need is
essential. More importantly,
having a direct relationship
with a controls manufacturer
who understands
46 | CE Pro May 2024
Lighting designers value relationships with integrators because working together, they can
combine their specialized skill sets and create an experience that offers simplified controls.
and appreciates what we
achieve for our clients is
sacrosanct.
For example, we have
leaned on Vantage more
as our preferred lighting
control vendor, because
the company has brought
balance and understanding
between the lighting
designer and the custom
integrator.
Rather than be restricted
to certain fixtures from one
manufacturer, Vantage has
given lighting designers the
freedom to design around
fixtures that will meet
clients' needs and lifestyles.
Many of the fixtures I use
are from companies in Vantage's
LHUMAN Light Fixture
Alliance, which are tested
to be interoperable with
its LHUMAN human-centric
lighting solution.
With client expectations,
providing advanced dim
to warm or color tuning
options is critical. Similar
to entertainment lighting
fixtures, the company has
even gone as far as creating
a growing library of fixture
profiles that have passed
the specs of both the fixture
manufacturer and Vantage.
These profiles take the
guesswork out of achieving
smooth dimming and the
color temperature, so that
all the fixtures in a room and
over a house are in alignment.
The less obvious benefit
is that they smooth the
communication between
designer and integrator.
Inside the Install &
Commissioning
The lighting designer's
job is to factor in all these
scenarios so there's one
very clear system that will
work with the myriad light
fixture manufacturers that
we select. Like all things, it
sounds much easier than it
is to accomplish.
We believe the handoff
to the integrator takes
place after we have established
the lighting plan and
keypad locations. Both our
specifications and the lighting
plan identify the protocol
for each light, and how
many channels are needed
for digital addressing.
The integrator, who is
responsible and often is
running the low-voltage
wires, takes over as means
and methods. They build
and locate the backend
with panels and interfaces.
As they take ownership
of the system, they determine
the correct addresses
they want to use for each
device. They work with the
cepro.com
MATTHEW TIRSCHWELL

http://www.cepro.com

CE Pro May 2024

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