What are the common lighting system technologies?

There are a few different system technologies available for mainstream lighting control applications; “Power Line Carrier” or PLC, “Radio Frequency” or RF and Hardwired Communications.

Power Line Carrier lighting control systems provide flexible and relatively simple installation. However, since these systems utilize the home’s electrical wiring to transmit their communication signals, system reliability can be compromised by appliances that generate noise as well as outlet strips and consumer electronic devices that provide electrical filtering and suppression. In larger homes, signal strength may be lost when transmitting from one end of the home to another.

Radio Frequency controlled systems also provide relatively simple installation. However, the reliability of these systems can be compromised since these systems frequently operate at the same frequencies as many of today’s consumer electronic devices e.g., wireless telephones, remote controls, security cameras, baby monitors, etc..

Hardwired Communications lighting control systems typically communicate over a low voltage cable that has to be run during the homes construction phase. Hardwired systems typically provide the best reliability. Hardwired systems commonly provide operating speeds much higher than traditional power line carrier technologies. Due to the fact that hardwired systems are conducive to high speed communications, hardwired systems can be expected to respond instantaneously to system events e.g., a button press or door sensor activation, whereas traditional power line carrier systems may require multiple seconds or even minutes to respond in larger systems.