Switched Lighting

Switched electric lighting has remained largely unchanged for over 100 years, from when it was first introduced.

Everyone understands how to use a simple light switch, and it appears difficult to think of a way of improving it.

But in fact, relying on light switches alone does have some disadvantages;

• Once a light switch is switched on, the light stays on until you switch it off (obviously!) but this can be inconvenient if, say, a light at the top of the house is left on, and you want to leave the house

• You cannot easily incorporate a hardwired lighting circuit into a system for simulating occupancy to deter intruders – you end up with table lamps plugged into timers, which fools nobody.

Instead, Hometronic can be used to automatically control the switching of each circuit. Lights can be switched on or off on a timed basis, or made part of a Hometronic Lifestyle. The Wireless Remote Control handset can be used to switch individual circuits, or to set a “scene”.

Signals can be taken from your Intruder Alarm, so that different actions could happen in the event of, say, the alarm being triggered – all the lights could be brought on.

Better still, when you set the alarm, or hit the “away” lifestyle button on the Hometronic Manager, you can make just some, or all of the lights work in the “Presence Simulation” mode; this “learns” your normal pattern of living, and “plays it back” by turning on and off lights at the right time.

Couple this with control of the blinds or curtains, and the house really will look “lived in” when you are away.