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Let There Be Light
Published June 2022
If Thomas Edison were to come back and see how lighting has evolved into smart lighting via hands-free voice and Wi-Fi controls, what might he think? Who could have ever imagined that his development of the first incandescent light bulb in the 1840’s would evolve into such grand technological innovations − making lighting controls the most critical component in the residential market?
Today, residential lighting controls are selected based on the homeowner’s needs, budget and, of course, the electrical competencies of the home itself – old and new. Leviton’s lighting control solutions have been bringing innovative designs since its founding in 1906 when Isidor Leviton, the company’s founder, began by manufacturing brass mantle tips for the natural gas lighting infrastructure. Leviton’s current residential lighting controls provide precise, dependable control, for any residential application, while offering the potential for significant energy savings. |
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Lighting The Way Through History
Lighting controls have had an interesting path to get us to the sophisticated lighting control methods and devices of today. The first lighting control was actually a push-button switch developed in 1884. It has two buttons -- one that closes the contacts and one that opens the contacts. Today push-button switches are rarely used, some reproductions can be found for vintage or authentic styling.
Another light fixture that is still in use in some homes today is the pull chain lamp holder, which was patented the following decade in 1896. Even though the pull-chain lamp holder didn’t enter the marketplace until 20 years after the push-button. Today most pull switches operate a combination of light and ceiling fan controls. Once the ceiling fan was connected to a pull switch, it became a multi-position switch to allow for different fan speeds and lighting options. |
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| The toggle switch was patented in 1916 and is still prevalent today. Its workings which seem simple like the classic knife switch are actually a bit more complex. The toggle lever actually does not control the contacts directly, but through an internal arrangement of springs and levers. When the toggle passes over the center point of the switch, the spring energy is released and the spring drives the contacts to the open or closed position with an audible "clicking" sound. |
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An alternative design to the toggle switch is the rocker switch. This product was introduced by Leviton in 1973 and is preferred over the toggle for its ease of use and style. Rocker switches are widely known by Leviton’s trademarked “Decora®” name. “Decora” has become a household name and over the years has become a genericized trademark like “Kleenex” is to “tissue.” It’s ease of use is due to its “rocking” mechanism which is a flat (almost flush) switch versus a protruding up and down toggle actuator.
Leviton’s Decora line has expanded to a full collection of products today. Decora has set the industry standard by enhancing home décor with distinctive style and superior performance. From dimmers, switches and outlets to in-wall USB chargers, sensors and timers, the Decora collection adds contemporary elegance and a finishing touch to any room in the home. |
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Setting the Scene
Dimmer lighting control was originally developed because of the high heat and electrical power required to keep bulbs burning. In 1959, the first solid state dimmer was developed by using technology known as “triac.” The triac enables less electricity to flow and allowed the dimmer to turn the light on and off so many times by per second, that the human eye couldn’t detect this process happening and just saw lower light levels. In addition to giving the user the ability to control the setting, other benefits included reducing energy costs and extending the life of the bulb.
Dimmer technology has evolved with newer bulb types and different control types. Most dimmers fall into these four bulb type categories:
- Incandescent and halogen bulbs
- Dimmable compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL)
- Magnetic Low Frequency (MLV)
- Electronic Low Frequency (ELV)
- Light Emitting Diode (LED) (Electronic LED Driver)
In comparison with incandescent light bulbs, compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs give off less heat and use up to 75 percent less energy. They also last as much as 10 times longer. Furthermore, light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, generate light without heat, requiring much less electricity and lasting about 50 times more than incandescent light bulbs. When selecting a dimmer for an energy-efficient lights (such as Compact Fluorescent and LED light bulbs), you will first want to make sure that the lights themselves are capable of dimming. Keep in mind, not all dimmable CFLs will work with incandescent and halogen dimmer models.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that all light bulbs can be dimmed, or that all new LED lights work with all dimmers. This is not the case. Incompatible bulbs may flicker or not dim. Although there are applications where LED lamps will operate with an incandescent dimmer, in general, an incandescent dimmer will provide inconsistent performance. Over the past several years, the National Electrical Manufacturer’s Association (NEMA) has established basic testing standards for dimmer and bulb manufacturers to help improve performance by addressing common compatibility issues such as flickering, buzzing, humming or limited dimming range. |
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Through our own proprietary testing method and online LED Compatibility Selector Tool, Leviton assists our channel partners and installers with the tools to navigate this confusion and choose the best bulb/dimmer combinations for optimal performance every time. Pairing the right bulb to the right dimmer, can be made simple when using the Leviton dimmer compatibility tool.
Leviton offers a large selection of dimmer types. Decora® has set the industry standard for style and performance. For traditional homes, classic toggle and rotary dimmers offer the ideal way to upgrade functionality without compromising the existing character of the décor. Leviton’s newer dimmers include DecoraSlide, Decora digital, IllumaTech® and SureSlide® which offer contemporary style to every room. For dimmers controlled by the MyLeviton app or voice command, Leviton offers DecoraSmart® Wi-Fi dimmers, switched and controls. For more specific and specialty dimming sensors, there’s Plug-In and Table Top lamp dimmers, and the popular Renu® dimmer, which is available in 20 colors. For more detailed information on Leviton’s complete line of residential dimmers, click here. |
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Lighting Innovations for a Bright Future
Since the first rotary push ON/OFF dimmer for a one-way stand-alone fixture, lighting control technology has come a long way. Today consumers have a variety of ways to control lighting by using their voice, such as directing through Alexa, or remote control through the MyLeviton WiFi app, or through motion sensing or even good old-fashioned manual switches. Whether you’re using a single plug-in to control a table lamp or connecting dozens of dimmers, switches, outlets, wall controller and more, Leviton has your home covered.
The newest in lighting control technology is “smart” dimming. To use these dimmers, the Decora Smart™ dimmer with the compatible Wi-Fi®, HomeKit™ or Z-Wave® technology and use voice command or your smartphone or tablet to dim and time lighting from inside your home or while away. The Decora Smart™ complete line of Wi-Fi dimmers, switches, plug-ins and more let you control lights, electronics, and appliances from anywhere including scheduling lights and other devices to turn on when you want them. Leviton offers truly smart lighting where schedules can run even during temporary internet outages. Connect to your favorite smart products and services including Alexa, Google, SmartThings, August, IFTTT, and more. All you need is Wi-Fi and internet, no hub required. Smart dimmers come in wall mount and plug in options. |
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Leviton’s Smart Wallbox Sensors combine occupancy/vacancy sensing with 0-10V dimming or ON/OFF switching to provide a simple solution for easy energy savings, local control and code compliance. Smart Wallbox Sensors offer easy programming and configuration. This includes an out-of-the-box default mode for auto-ON/auto-OFF operation with a 10-minute timeout as well as convenient pushbutton programming for common room settings. The Smart Sensor App can also be used to configure and enable additional features like sensor sensitivity, timeouts, daylighting and more.
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With decades of innovation, Leviton is known for their advanced technology and is constantly adding to their portfolio. The newest addition to the Decora Smart line of lighting controls is the Decora Smart Wireless Anywhere Companions. These switches can be placed anywhere within a 50 ft. range of a hard-wired Decora Smart Wi-Fi (2nd Gen) switch to control the same lights. Up to three Anywhere Companions for each Decora Smart switch can be installed by either sticking it directly to the wall, screwing it into the wall or to an existing wall box.
Count on Leviton lighting control solutions to continue to bring innovative designs with next-generation features to residential applications and the options are unlimited -- from distributed controls, daylighting controls, wireless controls, dimmers, fan speed controls, occupancy/vacancy sensors, relay panels, timer switches and more. |
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| Leviton Mfg. Company Inc. |
201 North Service Rd.
Melville, NY 11747
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