Imagine retrofitting a 20-year-old facility. The wiring still works, but the lighting controls are outdated. You want energy-efficient features like occupancy sensors, but a full wireless system would mean tearing into walls, disrupting tenants, and blowing past your budget.

That’s where a hybrid lighting control system comes in. But what is it, and is it truly worth the investment?

What is a Hybrid Lighting Control System?

Hybrid lighting control systems integrate wired and wireless systems into one platform through a central controller or bridge that manages communication between the two systems—combining the stability of wired systems with the flexibility of wireless systems.

A true hybrid approach enables any site to scale from a standalone room to an entire building, or even a multi-building campus.

Pros of Hybrid Lighting

Utilizing a hybrid lighting control system allows lighting designers, electrical contractors, and facility managers to simplify their lighting upgrades; the wired infrastructure remains in place, and wireless devices—such as sensors, dimmers, and switches—are easily added to expand control capabilities without overhauling the entire system.

Advantages of hybrid lighting control systems include:

Cost-effective upgrades: Keep existing wired infrastructure and layer in wireless technology where it adds the most value.

Flexibility: As your building’s use or layout changes, you can easily add or reprogram wireless devices.

Minimal disruption: No need for major electrical overhauls or extended downtime. Additionally, while wireless controls require battery updates, wired controls do not—providing a backup in case batteries are not changed in time.

Energy savings: Add wireless occupancy sensors and scheduling features to reduce waste.

Compliance-ready: With ever-changing energy codes, a hybrid solution enables you to stay up-to-date without requiring a full system replacement.

If you’re looking to modernize your building’s lighting system without committing to wireless technology or relying on outdated manual controls, a hybrid lighting control system may be the smart and cost-effective solution.

A Quality Hybrid Lighting Control System

Flexible. Connected. Secure.

While hybrid lighting controls are a great solution, it is vital that they are implemented correctly.

One great example of a hybrid lighting control system is WaveLinx by Cooper Lighting Solutions, one of the simplest systems to design, install, and commission. WaveLinx is a lighting system designed to help organizations reduce energy costs and lighting retrofit budgets with unparalleled choices in wired and wireless lighting control products, ranging from simple switches to advanced automation.

With WaveLinx, you experience the next level of aesthetics and personalized ambiance. Even better? The data generated by WaveLinx sensors can be utilized to enhance occupant comfort and reduce building energy usage.

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