The Zigbee system in smart homes enables wireless control, timing and programming of almost all lights luminaires. Smart control is used in all rooms and common areas of the home to automatically adjust the brightness, colour temperature and colour of the light, for example according to the time of day. Controls include remote controls, wall controllers and users’ own mobile devices. This article briefly outlines five things to know when designing smart lighting.

1. LedStore lights suitable for Zigbee smart lighting control

LED luminaires suitable for Zigbee smart lighting are those that can use a Zigbee transformer or Zigbee receiver suitable for smart control. All 12V and 24V LED strips are suitable for smart lighting. Our range of options includes single colour temperature (warm or neutral light) or colour temperature controlled LED strips, or CCT LED strips, with different wattages. Plus our popular RGB+W colour-adjustable LED strip, and a combination of both RGB+CCT.

Almost all our LED panels and LED spots (downlights) are Zigbee compatible. Zigbee receivers allow wall, pendant and yard lights to be smartly controlled.

Other smart home systems are also in widespread use, for example. programmable DALI transformers, of which we also have a wide range. We also have solutions for e.g. Schneider Wiser systems for lighting control using transformers transformers. It should be noted, however, that these systems are not compatible with each other.

All the lights in your home can be connected to the smart controller using transformers transformers and receivers.

2. Zigbee products, HUB and app

The most versatile Zigbee lighting control and programming is achieved by connecting the lights to the hub. The hub (or bridge) is connected to the home network and acts as a coordinator for smart devices in the home. The hub (or bridge) brings together all the Zigbee devices in your home, creating a MESH network that is not dependent on, for example, a mobile phone. the speed or slowness of your home Wi-Fi network. Schedules and automations are set via the hub application. Our best experiences so far have been with Philips HUE and Samsung Smart Things hubs and their apps.

A driver transformer can be selected for the Plafondi 160, making the whole set available for Philips Hue and for use with on/off switches in the home.

 

3. VaLO Zigbee smart lighting controllers

To operate the luminaires, we recommend VaLO Zigbee controllers for wireless or wired control, so that control is not left solely to mobile devices. Buttons and remote controls for lighting control allow you to control lighting even without a Zigbee hub and mobile app, if they are not available, e.g. immediately want to introduce. The controllers can also be used to override the timing in progress if necessary. For example. if the room needs more or less light than the automation settings. LedStore offers a wide range of Zigbee smart lighting controllers.

Zigbee smart lighting controllers
Wireless control button for wireless colour temperature adjustable lights on the top row from the front and back. On the bottom left, a mains-powered wireless controller for four groups of colour-temperature adjustable lights. At bottom right, a wireless dimmer for one group of lights.

4. VaLO Zigbee smart lighting drivers and receivers

The “intelligence” of the luminaire is generated by either a 24V Zigbee transformer (24V) or a Zigbee receiver(12-36V or 230V). A dedicated driver is typically chosen for LED strips. LED spotlights and LED panel lighting arrays for sliding colour temperature control also require their own Zigbee group transformer. Led lights with their own “non-intelligent” driver need a receiver for intelligent control.

From transformers or receivers, a wireless pairing is established with the controllers and also with the hub if mobile control is also used with mobile phones or tablets and automation is desired.

The
The “intelligence” of a Zigbee transformer is in its built-in receiver. A driver is selected for different sized groups of luminaires to match their total power.

5. Zigbee is the international standard for smart devices

Zigbee is a standardised open system that can be connected to any device in the Zigbee Alliance and talks seamlessly with other devices connected to the network (Note: Zigbee smart lighting usually works seamlessly, but there are always exceptions). The alliance includes. Google, Apple, IKEA, Amazon, Samsung, Bega, Panasonic, Philips and Somfy. LedStore devices are the latest Zigbee 3.0 standard. Zigbee is a wireless IoT system that uses MESH technology to ensure that commands are passed through even in larger locations. Read more

Zigbee smart lighting products also include a door sensor (right) that turns lights on and off when the door is opened.
Other Zigbee products include a door sensor (right) that turns lights on and off when a door is opened.

 

At LedStore, we help you with lighting design and lighting control design. We offer a wide range of tips and services for replacing LED lighting in a renovation project or designing new lighting in a new building. Contact us or come and visit us! The shop serves consumers and businesses!

Sanna Salmela

Lighting blogger and lighting consultant at LedStore since 2016. Background in marketing, sales and communications since 2006. I love how, one article at a time, we bring our lighting expertise to the public, opening up the world of light and its possibilities.

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