Finding the Right Lighting Solution: Understanding 3-Way, Multiway, and Whole House Control Options - Home Automation

Finding the Right Lighting Solution:
Understanding 3-Way, Multiway, and Whole House Control

Premal Ashar

Founder, Nuro Technologies

Light Switch
A device used to turn on or off an electrical light source. Usually installed on a wall at a height that is easy to reach for people sitting or standing, typically at 48 inches.

Dimmer light switch
A type of light switch that can adjust the brightness level of a light source that is designed to be dimmable.

Traditional 3-way

A pair of switches used to control the same light source. One of the switches can be a dimmer switch that is compatible with dimmable light source, while the other switch is a standard on/off switch used to turn the light on or off at the dim levels set by the dimmer switch.

The diagram above illustrates the typical wiring used for a 3-way switch. The 3-way switch is used in conjunction with a primary switch to control a light source. While the primary switch can be a dimmer switch, the 3-way switch is usually a standard on/off switch, as traditional 3-way wiring does not support dimming at both ends.

Modern Smart Switches

Like the BriteHome solution features advanced technologies that allow for dynamic dimming at both ends. Additionally, BriteHome’s solution enables sharing of sensor data across the 3-way group, which means that motion or ambient status information from either switch can be used to control the light source.

Traditional Multiway

A multi-way setup is used when more than two light switches are required to control a single light source. Like traditional 3-way switches, one of the switches in a multi-way configuration can be a dimmer switch that is compatible with dimmable light sources, while the other switches are standard on/off switches that turn the light on or off at the dimming level set by the dimmer switch.

As the number of switches in a multi-way setup increases, the wiring becomes more complex and expensive.

Whole House Control

Whole-house lighting control systems allow you to control all the lights in your home from a single light switch or multiple switches. These systems typically involve a central control panel and require extensive wiring.

While these systems offer comprehensive control over your home’s lighting, they require professional installation and management.

BriteHome Whole House Light Control Solution

BriteHome’s lighting solution offers advanced features that you’d expect from a high-end lighting control system, and even more. Using sophisticated sensors and software intelligence, it goes beyond traditional whole house light control to provide:

Touchless lighting automation that senses your presence, understands indoor and outdoor environment and adjusts the lighting accordingly.
Machine learning algorithms that learn your lighting preferences and adapt to your habits over time.
DIY contextual security that gives you peace of mind to secure a room, a floor or whole house and notify you when you’re away from home.
Aging in Place features that help seniors and people with disabilities live more independently.
Historic graphs that show you how you occupy and utilize your house and help you track of energy usage and identify areas for energy savings.
Customizable events that can be triggered by user-defined rules, such as send an alert if somebody enter a room during unwanted period or when abnormal air quality is detected.

All of these features are available through a light switch, without the need for extensive wiring or a central control panel, making it an affordable and accessible solution for anyone.

Source: California Energy Commission