Lighting Controls Podcast

Thomas works at Color Kinetics. With a name like that, they obviously deal with color changing lighting, which also means they have to deal with lighting controls, and that has led to the cloud. Thomas explains that many people ask for the cloud solution. Why drive to the office to change the color on the outside of the building when you can just do it from home? Tom Barber joined Color Kinetics i...

Jason joins us from the DLC. What is the DLC? In Jason’s words, the Design Lights Consortium is “a bridge between the lighting world and the energy efficiency world.” The LED revolution for energy savings is pretty much over, so what’s the next step? Lighting controls, naturally. The DLC just published an impact report on the use of LED’s over the last 10 years. Jason wants you to know that he mis...

Want to learn about lighting controls technology and applications? The Lighting Controls Association is offering that FOR FREE! Go to https://aboutlightingcontrols.org/EducationExpress . But, before you do, check out this episode with Craig DiLouie, Education Director at the association. Craig explains that the LCA has educated up to 46,000 students with over a million learning hours. Jump in and...

Peter explains that Casambi chooses to partner with hardware companies (like McWong who happens to be sponsoring this episode), so that they can focus on software. That has resulted in sophisticated controls that can handle DMX, DALI, 0-10V, PWM, reverse phase etc. And they’re big time into wireless. Entering the North American market from Sweden during the pandemic, Casambi has flourished. Contac...

Do you own a bowling alley? Bill will integrate strikes with lights! Hit the jackpot at a casino? Bill can make sure everyone in the building knows. Bill’s definition of an integrator is “the glue that puts the pieces together.” This kind of integrator isn’t needed on every project, but Bill and Candela Controls have found a niche pulling together the lighting designer, the electrical engineer, an...

Javid was with us way back when we started on the Conversation Series on Get A Grip On Lighting. Javid is back with some DMX512 standard updates (For all you geeks out there, here’s the link to all published ESTA standards mentioned on the podcast today: https://tsp.esta.org/tsp/documents/published_docs.php ). Javid also discusses the pros and cons of using wireless and the surprisingly positive c...

Our hosts have asked many guests their take on the state of the lighting controls industry, but have they ever asked each other? In this special Short Edition, Webster and Ron do just that. They discuss how and when they are brought into a project and how to balance all the relationships when problems have to be pointed out. Webster asks Ron the scary question, “Have you ever turned someone down w...

As a manufacturer, the need to maintain quality products is a no-brainer. But a quality “experience?” It’s Steve’s job, as “Director of Quality” at Touché to ensure that BOTH of those things are maintained. Steve and Touché support and like to get feedback from both end-users - the contractor and the day to day user. Basically, Steve makes sure it all works and everybody’s happy. Steve’s experienc...

Are Lighting Controls in their adolescent period? Can we be blindsided by the shortcomings of lighting controls systems? These are a couple of questions that come up while chatting with Shoshanna Segal. Clearly written intent is how Shoshanna thinks we can get to better lighting controls. If you want a “multi-layered, visually compelling environment,” Shoshanna can help you design it with a thorou...

In this episode Ron and Webster hit the big 5-0! In this milestone episode they're turning the spotlight on their producer, Scott Griffin, the 'Expert Layman.' Yes, you read that right! Take a listen to the questions Scott has after listening to 49 episodes of lighting controls conversations and maybe find out how better to reach end-users on your next project. After all, it's not just about the s...

It’s hard to get to the end-user. When you’re designing a lighting system for a space, wouldn’t it make sense to talk to the people who will be using that space, like a teacher in a classroom? Mark Olerud, a sales agent for Kore Controls, is always striving to find that path through the Architects, General Contractors, Lighting Designers, and Engineers. It’s not always easy but often you can save...

Listen up Project Managers: Casey has no skin in the game. If DMX or DALI or even 0-10V is the right choice, he’ll put it in the specifications. That’s what you hire these people for, to make sure it’s done right. Casey is a proponent of the DALI protocol because, in many cases, it makes sense. It is available in North America, so all you specifiers, take a look at it and if it’s right, specify it...

Advanced and interoperable. That’s McWong’s thing when it comes to controls. So when the L-Prize came along, looking for those exact values, McWong was a shoe-in! Not so fast. It’s not easy to win an L-Prize. It requires a serious commitment, hard work, and a talented team. McWong won the Prototype Phase Lighting Prize with a Bluetooth mesh wireless lighting control solution. It took a team at McW...

Renovations aren’t just for kitchens! We’ve talked a lot about system integrations in new projects, but don’t discount retrofits. Daniel tells us that much of the work that comes his way lately is from existing projects. As he says, if you want to test your mettle, take on a renovation project. But don’t forget, good relationships and communications with the rest of the team and the owner are stil...

First of all, Lyn won the Benner award from The Building Commissioning Association. That’s a big deal! So she is someone worth listening to. Lyn talks with Webster and Ron about looking at the industry as a team sport. As Lyn likes to say, it’s not about how fast you get across the finish line, it’s about how many people you bring along with you. Lyn is an MEP Coordinator for DPR Construction. She...

Paul has been nicknamed “The DALI Lama” for good reason. He’s a big proponent of the DALI (that's Digital Addressable Lighting Interface if you didn’t know). That’s no surprise as he is the General Manager of the DALI Alliance. Paul talks with Webster and Ron about interoperability, misconceptions, and the challenges of DALI gaining traction in North America. Maybe he'll be able to challenge your...

Emergency Lighting Controls primary purpose is to provide sufficient illumination during emergencies for building evacuation and maneuvering. So just transfer the circuitry from utility power to emergency power. But wait, it’s not that simple. As Steve reveals in this episode, there are many considerations, like what kind of emergency is it? Power failure? Fire? Security? Steve points out the iron...

Illuminart and Peter Basso Associates collaborated and integrated very successfully 7 years ago. Robert discusses, with Webster and Ron, the advantages of being part of both a lighting design firm and a larger MEP consulting firm. Are you sensing the “collaboration” theme here? Here’s a direct quote from Robert in this episode: “The controls people out there - they are worth their weight in gold,...

From a European perspective, breaking into the North American market is daunting unless you’ve got someone like MJ and Global Lighting & Controls on your side. They're helping North American projects take advantage of European systems and they know how to sell it on this side of the pond. North America is a unique market with lots of quirks and GL&C has a network of local sales agents that...

Dan talks about the need to focus on data management within building management systems and lighting controls. He emphasizes the significance of collecting and storing data, the potential for machine learning and predictive models, the need to break down data silos, and the importance of providing control and intelligence to various types of buildings. Daniel Hollenkamp Jr. is responsible for Togg...

“Spec Rep” Anthony Guerriero started out as a sales rep then transitioned into controls which now puts him in the pretty unique position of being able to talk to engineers, architects, interior designers, and lighting designers. In this episode, Anthony talks with Webster about the need for clear responsibilities and intent in lighting control projects, emphasizing the role of a specification sale...

Mary Beth admittedly is not an expert on lighting controls, but when someone with her experience and knowledge of the lighting industry is in on the conversation, you should listen. Isn’t it interesting that Mary Beth, as someone from outside the controls section of the industry, has seen the same frustrations as insiders Webster and Ron? Perhaps people don’t know that behind color changing, color...

Kaleb is a Field Service Coordinator with ETC. What is a Field Project Coordinator you ask? Well, you’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out, but suffice to say, it is a unique perspective on the industry. If you’re a designer, you’ll want Kaleb on your side. He doesn’t think you need to know “how the sausage is made” - that’s ETC’s job. Just tell him what you want and he and his team will f...

Can’t we all just get along? Specifiers, integrators, engineers, manufacturers, contractors, end-users… Bryan, with Webster and Ron, decries the lack of communication between entities. And it’s not just people. Where’s the cohesion between the different types of controllers, control platforms, fixtures, and connections? And then there’s the lack of education and standards. How can anyone be expect...

Who’s responsible for the lighting controls on a project? Who’s qualified? Who’s certified? We can tell you this - Darren is qualified! He brings up some interesting questions and he talks with Webster and Ron about communications between teams, education, the future of lighting controls, and much more. Darren Lapsley is a Business Development and Specification Sales professional with Clarus Light...