View ChannelsFeatured: Finance
View ShowroomsFeatured: Radiantec - Radiant Solar Heating

BobVila.com

Home

Installing Wireless Interior Lighting Controls

This 1920s-era house had almost no exterior lighting and not even a place to plug in the Christmas lights. Electrician John Schiavone installed new lighting outlets for the exterior and interior of the home. The lighting fixtures and table lamps in the living room are all operated by wireless control. Ben Wilson Jr. of Lutron/Keyes North Atlantic reviews the features of this system. The control unit has five settings for the homeowner to set, which will control various lights in the house. The system seeks out and uses wireless frequencies that are not currently in use and will not impede the use of other wireless devices in the area. Each room of the house is equipped with a dimmer switch that for manual operation.

Get Adobe Flash Player to see this content.

Chapters from this episode

A Complete Basement Remodel Now Playing

A Complete Basement Remodel

Interior Decorating to Reflect a Room's Character Now Playing

Interior Decorating to Reflect a Room's Character

Installing Wireless Interior Lighting Controls Now Playing

Installing Wireless Interior Lighting Controls

Installing Exterior Lighting Now Playing

Installing Exterior Lighting

Creating More Space in a Child's Bedroom Now Playing

Creating More Space in a Child's Bedroom

Choosing Light Fixtures for the Home's Exterior Now Playing

Choosing Light Fixtures for the Home's Exterior

Clip Transcript For:

Installing Wireless Interior Lighting Controls

computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" So besides having hardly any closet space this little 1921 house. Basically had almost no exterior lighting and not even a place to plug in the Christmas lights. Our electrician John -- only changed all that as well as adding some great fixtures to the inside of the house which is really undergone a big facelift. Now in the living room itself we're gonna talk about all the changes and admitted but. The light fixtures the table lamps are are all under a control that's wireless. In an old house like this you don't want to have to run from table lamp to table lamp turning switches off all the time when -- it's nighttime so. We learned how this one radio control can help not only turn the -- but also create different moods watch."

" The master control unit is the heart of the neutron radio -- system here. We program five buttons to accommodate the homeowner's lifestyle. Here we have the welcome scene. And this controls. Exterior light pull. Other runners that they're one as. -- TV. And this button is for when they're watching TV. You don't want every light on and I also have some on the lights to turn off and some don't. The brain of the -- trying radio -- system is RF signal repeater. Which seeks out a signal not being used by wireless devices such as wireless phones or baby monitors. He seeks out this signal to secure it so that it's only used by -- Tron radio rod system. The master control box is not the only way to control all the lighting in each room there's a wall dimmer switch which will allow you to. Turn it on our off or in between."

" I especially like the dimmer features."

[-]

More Videos »Related Videos

Energy-Wise Lighting Fixtures

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. We all know that switching to fluorescent lighting saves energy and money. But if it s such a good deal, why aren t we all doing it? One reason is the bad rap that fluorescent lighting has gotten from those old-style fixtures we all remember from schools and commercial buildings of decades past. T-12 type standard fixtures are infamous for humming, buzzing, flickering and giving an unflattering cast to everything they illuminate. Those older fixtures can be upgraded with an electronic ballast. They can also be replaced with the new t-8 type fluorescent fixtures that eliminate humming and flickering. T-8 type fixtures last just as long or longer because they weigh less and run cooler, and they save 40 percent on electricity. Installing them on timers or occupancy sensors saves even more energy, and that s very good for business. At home, a lighting upgrade is much simpler. Now you can find a compact fluorescent bulb to fit almost any fixture in your home. While they may take a few seconds to warm up, they produce more accurate color and less glare than standard bulbs, which reduces eye strain and headaches. A new generation compact fluorescent bulb will cost more than a regular incandescent bulb anywhere from $5 to $25. But each one can save you $100 in electricity and last up to 13 times longer. As if that weren t motivation enough, some utilities offer free light bulbs or rebates for homeowners who are willing to make the switch. Best of all, upgrading your lighting saves greenhouse gas emissions. Replacing just one 75-watt light bulb with an 18-watt compact fluorescent can keep one ton of carbon dioxide emissions and 20 pounds of sulfur oxide out of the atmosphere. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

Kitchen Lighting

Lighting design is an important part of any kitchen. A single overhead fixture can make a room seem flat. You want to try and highlight those areas you use the most. One way is to install task lighting under the cabinets or use it to uplight objects. For ambient light, use track lighting to open up the room. You can adjust the levels by using a dimmer switch. This allows you to accent certain areas to complement any occasion.

Mood Lighting

If you're looking for ways to add some character to your house, try designing some mood lighting. A single overhead fixture can make a room seem flat. To really brighten up a room, try using wall washers and uplighting for ambient light. Hiding lights inside casework or with sconces is great for accenting certain areas. For a more romantic scheme. bring down the ambient levels and try uplighting plants or other objects.

Track Lighting

Track lighting is a great option if you want versatility in a lighting scheme. Tracks can be hung at different levels and are held in place with set screws to support the weight of several fixtures. The track heads themselves can be redirected at different angles to achieve the desired effect, and because the track itself is electrified, you can swap fixtures in and out with just a twist.