Automated Lighting, what is it? Do I need it?
Who Makes Automated Lighting, and What Are The differences?
There are three to four main automated lighting companies including Lutron Electronics, Control4, Crestron and Savant. They each have their advantages and each works well within their eco system. For this article we're going to focus on Lutron Electronics.
Lutron Electronics was founded in 1959 by Joel Spira and created their first product in 1961. Since then they have grown their company to one of the largest lighting manufacturers in the world and currently have between 15,000 and 17,000 unique energy saving solutions. The company is still private and is now run by Joel Spira' daughter Dr. Susan Hakkarainen.
Lutron has several residential lighting platforms including Caseta, RadioRa3 and Homeworks QSX. Caseta, we find, is best suited for smaller homes and condos. RadioRa3 is perfect for homes up to approx. 2,500 Square feet while Homeworks QSX is designed for large homes and often has numerous lighting panels in the mechanical rooms.
Each platform has it's unique styles for dimmers and/or keypads. For example Caseta has one style of dimmers called the Caseta Dimmer. Where as RadioRa3 has two styles SeeTouch and the most recent style Sunnata. Homeworks QSX being the flagship platform has numerous styles including SeeTouch, Palladiom, Sunnata, Alisse and their most recent product the Aviena Toggle Keypad.
Keypads, keypads and more keypads!
The main way you interact with your automated lighting is by pressing buttons on the keypads. It's important to pick your desired keypad style for your home, but don't be limited to just one color or style. There are lots of selections to choose from. Mix and match to your heart's content!
EVS believes in a strong design philosophy, when you enter the room there should be keypad at arms reach to easily control the lights and set different moods with the touch of a button. By having just a single keypad at the entrance to each room, it lets the room's decor shine and tell a story. EVS believes all the dimmers and lighting panels should be tucked away, hidden from view.
EVS has been designing lighting scenes and creating easy to use systems for over 17+ years. We still use Lutron's L3 design philosphy for creating the best lighting scenes.
SeeTouch vs Sunnata vs Palladiom
Lutron has several different dimmer and keypad styles. Below we review several popular models and give real world illustrations to show how people interact with their lighting systems every day.
SeeTouch Keypad
seeTouch Designer keypads provide homeowners with a simple and elegant way to Sperate lights, shades / draperies, motorized screens, thermostats, and many other devices. seeTouch Designer keypads feature large, easy-to-use buttons, plus a unique backlit engraving option that makes the keypads readable any time of the day or night. seeTouch keypad buttons are rounded, allowing engraving to be displayed at an upward angle, increasing readability.
Sunnata Keypad
Sunnata keypads provide homeowners with a simple and elegant way to operate lights, shades / draperies, motorized screens, and many other devices. Sunnata keypads feature large, easy-to-use buttons. LED bars on each button aid in locating the buttons in low light conditions. Keypads are available in a variety of finishes allowing the color to complement the aesthetics in a space.
Palladiom Keypad
The HomeWorks wired Palladiom keypad allows the user to control lights, shades/draperies, temperature, and 3rd-party equipment. The keypad is wired to a HomeWorks processor on the QS link. Large buttons are easy to use and button engraving is easy to read. Buttons with white, backlit engraving make it easy to find and operate the keypad in low light conditions. Keypads are available in a variety of colors, finishes, and button marking options.
Automated Lighting Tips
- Select your desired keypad syle.
- Choose your favorite keypad colors.
- Let EVS use their extensive programming knowledge to design the best lighting scenes for your home.
- Easily control your room or entire house with the press of a button.
Regardless of your home's decor or your preferred style, Lutron has the perfect keypad in a color that will match your home. From the tried tested and true seeTouch keypad that's been installed in tens of thousands of homes over 30 years, to the new Sunnata keypad or even the premiere Palladiom keypad.
Contact EVS today to see how we can help design and install an automated lighting system for you.
