Integration
Pixel Control
The development of addressable (also known as pixel or digital) LED has increased the diversity of applications for LED and specifically with LED strips, which is our area of expertise. Until the development of the Maxilux C-Box pixel control was an area of experienced lighting engineers or committed hobbyists. The C-Box makes it possible to bring dynamic colour change lighting to any setting, be that a home, hospitality and entertainment venue or in retail and exhibition display.
Visit the C-Box technical page for more information on how it can be integrated into third party systems with simplified operation of digital LED.
Smart Home Automation & Control Systems
Seamless integration of LED lighting to a smart home (or other building management) is essential. For the majority of control systems, operating a white LED is a simple process, usually using a mains dimming protocol and we are able to design systems around the technology you are opting to use. As colour changing LED, whether that is Red/Green/Blue/White or white (temperature) tuning, uses multiple neutral outputs some additional components are required.
DMX & DALI
The two main lighting protocols in use today are DMX and DALI.
DMX (Digital Multiplex) is a unidirectional control signal from a controller to a light source (piece of LED) which has a unique “address”. This means that each section or group of sections of LED, with the same address, will operate synchronously. It is possible to operate multiple addresses on a single circuit, that is to have a single controller operating several addresses at once. This protocol tends to be preferred for use with colour changing LED. It is used widely in the entertainment industry as other stage-features can also use DMX controls. It is a well established and reliable method.
DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) is a bi-directional control system for lighting. Each piece of LED is given a digital address which allows a central control panel to identify that element and operate it from the central point. The bi-directional feature then allows the central control know, should a fault occur. As DALI is a digital control method, the precision of the operation is far higher.
WiFi
The most common way to use WiFi as the means of communication to a section of LED is through an App called Tuya (also known as SmartLife). Each piece or group of pieces is operated through a dedicated interface with a power supply attached. That interface will then join a WiFi network and become a ‘zone’ of lighting, that is to say all of the LED connected to that interface will operate synchronously. The App will then allow for voice control, automations or remote (RF) control, see below.
It is also possible to use WiFi to operate pixel LED using the Maxilux C-Box. This device also joins a WiFi network. It has a dedicated user interface that is opened using a browser such as Safari or Edge. As it sits on a network it can take instructions from a third party with specific command lines assigned to it.
Radio Frequency
The benefit of RF is that it does not require line of sight to operate. A single, paired, controller can operate multiple interfaces at the same time. An interface, as with WiFi above, will operate multiple sections of LED, when the correct power supply is also attached. The interface is paired with the remote control (this could be a handheld remote, an App based remote or a wall plate remote control), when paired the interface will respond to signals sent by the controller. As a controller can be paired to many interfaces it is possible to operate LED over a wide area from the press of a single button.
