Electrical Industry Article

A decade ago, LED lighting was still fighting for acceptance among designers, contractors and consumers. Early product generations suffered from quality control problems, flickering and light that was too far into the blue end of the visual spectrum. Today, with those previous issues addressed, LED products rule the residential lighting market and manufacturers have been able to focus on new features that take advantage of the lighting source’s digital foundation. Controllability is at the top of this list, and it seems each new generation of LED lamps and fixtures is only growing both easier and more sophisticated to use.

Bluetooth is at the heart of many of today’s manufacturers’ offerings. This wireless communication technology allows devices to connect and exchange data over short distances, using proprietary chips or modules. This capability is now built into everything from wireless computer mouses to smart thermostats and digital speakers – and, of course, smartphones, which now can serve double duty as the remote control for much of our lives, thanks to Bluetooth.

Lighting control offers a natural market for Bluetooth technology, which is quickly revolutionizing how we interact with the lamps and fixtures throughout our homes. The latest LED products offer options for shifting color temperatures as well as brightness levels – which is one more variable than traditional dimmer switches are designed to manage. With Bluetooth enabled, consumers now can create customized lighting scenes from their phones. And these plans can incorporate both dedicated LED fixtures and individual table lamps, so a whole room can be dimmed uniformly. Making adoption even easier, these features are available without the need for a dedicated smart hub, which is often a necessity with Wi-Fi-powered controls. This makes incorporating a truly smart lighting system into your home both easier and less expensive.