Whether you use traditional lighting control devices or newer systems such as networked lighting controls (NLCs), you have to communicate and document how you want those devices or systems to behave. This documentation should include a Control Intent Narrative and Sequence of Operations.

“In the lighting controls industry, are we at an inflection point where vendors are starting to embrace the idea of cross-vendor interoperability?” asks Steve Mesh.

In this guest post by Steve Mesh, he argues that while networked lighting control systems are getting far easier to set up and operate, they are still inherently complex, and that’s a good thing.

In this episode of The Lighting Controls Podcast co-produced by the Lighting Controls Association and NAILD, Steve Mesh talks about his journey to becoming a lighting controls specialist and what can be done to formalize education of future specialists, among other topics.

In this special lighting controls edition of the Get a Grip on Lighting podcast, C. Webster Marsh and Ron Kuszmar interview Steve Mesh about the state of lighting controls.

In designing and specifying a lighting control system, part of the work involves configuring control zones to meet code requirements. This is an incredibly important step for two reasons…

Unless you’ve been living on a deserted South Pacific island prior to March 2020, you know that COVID has been the biggest issue facing mankind in the past year and a half.  You also know that lots of people, governments and industries have developed methodologies and technology to mitigate the effects and spread of COVID. What do these things mean for lighting control?

Actually – this isn’t just for electrical contractors!  Just about anyone can learn how to commission a networked lighting control system (NLC), writes Steve Mesh.

Are you an electrical contractor?  Are you new to the world of Networked Lighting Controls (NLCs)?  Are you looking for new opportunities to strengthen your business in these uncertain times?

Because of the new features provided by many lighting control systems, such as the ability to change colors, some drivers now available in the market are also “programmable.”  What does this mean?  And why would you want to use programmable drivers?

The previous post on Tunable-White Building Blocks talked about differences between using low-level analog control technology as opposed to networked lighting control (NLC) systems that employ digital communication between components. Analog technology such as 0-10V dimmers can in fact be used to control certain color-changing luminaires. Let’s be specific about which types. There are actually three main types of color-changing lighting systems – “dim-to-warm”, “tunable-white”, and “RGB.”

“Tunable-white and other forms of color-changing lighting have added an extra dimension of capability, flexibility, and complexity to the lighting industry,” writes Mesh. “It’s almost as though we’ve gone from a 2-dimensional world to a 3-dimensional world based on the added complexity of controlling the luminaire’s coloration (typically measured by Correlated Color Temperature ) separately from the luminaire’s lumen output. Don’t be scared! Even though this has exponentially increased the complexity of the equipment and technology, you still don’t need a PhD in lighting to understand this new landscape.”

Different types of dimming curves may be incorporated in dimmers, software for lighting control systems, and output devices like LED drivers irrespective of the actual protocol used to communicate between them.

Let’s talk about dimming and dimming curves, and a variety of attributes that you should consider, inquire about, then specify what you actually want.

In this engaging guest post, Steve Mesh describes the lessons learned from the “Living Lab,” an ambitious installation of networked lighting controls in an existing building.

“Over the past decade, I have taught many classes on networked lighting control systems (NLCs)… Over the years, I’ve seen some recurring themes in terms of questions asked by attendees, such as…”

Last year, the Lighting Controls Association published the first version of a generic Troubleshooting Guide for Networked Lighting Control Systems. This guide is primarily meant to address issues that may arise with Networked Lighting Control (NLC) systems. There are plenty of things that differentiate one vendor’s NLC system from those made by other vendors. Different systems have different UIs (user interfaces), and a specific NLC system may or may not have exactly the same features or benefits as any other system. Having said that, enough similarities exist to have made the creation of this manufacturer-agnostic Troubleshooting Guide worthwhile.

Space utilization and indoor positioning are key non-energy benefits of networked lighting controls, writes Steve Mesh, adding that they can provide additional value in a project beyond simple energy savings.

As the commercial lighting industry continues its steady move towards more advanced controls and lighting solutions, for many experts, all signs point to networked lighting controls. And when it comes to truly intelligent, flexible lighting with non-energy benefits, the future could be Luminaire Level Lighting Controls (LLLCs). A subset of networked lighting controls, LLLCs include integrated sensors and control in each luminaire. To better understand this trend, Anne Curran, Senior Program Manager for the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance’s Luminaire Level Lighting Controls initiative, interviewed Steve Mesh, Principal at Lighting Education & Design. Here’s the transcript.

Guest post by Steve Mesh, LC What is a “network”? One definition of “network” (from the Merriam-Webster app on my iPhone!) is … “an interconnected or interrelated chain, group, or system.” What kinds of components exist in an networked lighting control (NLC) system? That can vary from system to system. Are there basic elements that [...]

One of the most striking changes to the 2019 code version is the addition of Section 130.1(f)1-130.1(f)7 – “Control Interactions.”

“Luminaire-Level Lighting Controls” (LLLCs) – this relatively new term in the lighting controls industry indicates that every fixture controlled by a networked lighting control system (NLC) incorporates two specific things: 1) a “controller”, and 2) sensors. This article by Steve Mesh describes the utility and application of this control approach, which is starting to be adopted by model energy codes.

Steve Mesh writes, “According to Wikipedia, a communication protocol is a ‘system of rules that allow two or more entities of a communications system to transmit information via any kind of variation of a physical quantity.’ That’s a mouthful! What does that mean in terms of networked lighting control (NLC) systems?”

In this guest post, LCA contributor Steve Mesh describes the “non-energy benefits” of connected lighting, which can add extraordinary value far beyond energy savings.

“If you are a regular reader of Lighting Controls Association blog posts, then you know that networked lighting control systems (NLCs) are really computer networks – they just happen to control luminaires, occupancy sensors, photosensors and light switches. The paradigm shift for lighting control systems has occurred at lightning-fast speed in recent years … However, once you decide to piggyback onto an existing IT network, you are in the domain of the IT staff who works for the building’s owner.”

This guest post by Steve Mesh introduces the new Lighting Controls Association troubleshooting guide for networked lighting control systems.

California has been a historical leader in terms of state energy codes. California’s Title 24 has led the way by restricting allowable LPDs (Lighting Power Density) as well as mandating specific types of lighting controls. This article by Steve Mesh introduces the Title 24 energy code and its lighting control requirements.

If you’re installing a lighting control system in 2018, you have to be concerned about cyber security. Why? Very simply – because many current lighting control systems are networked.

Power over Ethernet (PoE) lighting is part of a brave new world. The ascendance of LED fixtures has given rise to some new methods of providing and controlling light in our environments. Since LEDs are low-voltage devices that use direct current, they are a good match with a system that provides low-voltage DC power over Ethernet cables. Guess what? That’s a computer network! For several years, lighting (and computer) companies have been developing the idea of powering LED fixtures from what is essentially a computer network switch. As you might imagine, this gives rise to a host of questions about a variety of issues.

In this LCA column, Steve Mesh takes an in-depth look at power over Ethernet (PoE) systems.

Guest post by Steve Mesh, LC A relatively recent trend in the industry is to embed “luminaire-integrated” (embedded) controls into each fixture. This can be done in different ways, with different types of components, and with different types of control systems. The most basic version of “luminaire-integrated” controls consists of on-board sensors that tell the [...]

By Steve Mesh This article on emergency lighting and controls was very much a collaborative effort. Many experts in the field—including Rick Miller, Craig DiLouie, and several manufacturers—provided extremely valuable input in reviewing and fact-checking the content. Egress and emergency lighting are critical elements of building design. During periods of occupancy, a clear, unobstructed path [...]

The Lighting Controls Association was founded as a council of NEMA back in 2001 to promote adoption of lighting controls through education. Today, the association continues to make a demonstrable difference in supporting public expertise in selecting, designing, installing, and operating lighting control systems. This article outlines the LCA’s accomplishments in 2022 and offers a preview of what’s to come in 2023.

The Lighting Controls Association’s Education Express is the lighting industry’s leading online platform for free, instant, 24/7 education about lighting controls. The LCA is pleased to announce that a majority of courses now feature downloadable one-page summary sheets students can download, print, and use as a quick reference.

My blog post from April 1, 2020, entitled “Lessons Learned from Living Lab” describes a research project about retrofitting existing spaces with networked lighting control systems (NLCs). It contains recommendations for how to avoid typical of problems that may be encountered on an NLC install. This post will elaborate on some of those “lessons” and recommendations.

The Lighting Controls Association (LCA) has published Part 3 of  EE302: A Year with a Networked Lighting Control System, a new learning module in its popular Education Express online education program.

The Lighting Controls Association (LCA) has updated EE103: Dimming Controls, Section 1 Part 2: Dimming Controls and Systems, a popular learning module in its Education Express program.

Current stay-at-home regimes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on how the construction industry works, including education, with online distance-education becoming more popular. The Lighting Controls Association is proud to offer Education Express, a free, robust series of courses covering all aspects of lighting control, including technology, application, design, and commissioning.

On April 18, from 12-1 PM ET, the Illuminating Engineering Society will present a webinar on the topic of networked lighting controls, developed by the Lighting Controls Association and presented by educator Steve Mesh.

The Lighting Controls Association (LCA) now offers EE301: Wireless Lighting Controls, as a new course in its popular Education Express program.