Morban Intelligent Living - Blog

2010-09-09T13:14:00.013+01:00

Lighting Design, integrated control and more from Morban!

A Morban lighting design takes the available light, the size, the proposed use and the optimum furniture layouts of each room, into consideration, to provide both task and a variety of ‘mood’ and ‘Feature’ lighting options that are controlled via ‘Smart’ settings on elegant Revolution wall panels (the new alternative to the light switch).

The panel buttons are etched with setting descriptions once the client is fully happy with the light level combinations allocated to each area. This usually happens about three months after commissioning, giving the customer plenty of time to get used to their system, and making the adjustments they want.

We ‘design in’ the free-standing table and floor lights with wall and ceiling lights to maximize each setting effect. Special lighting can also be included like LED colour change features, discreet ‘hidden’ light sources, back-lit bed-heads, custom ceiling designs – in fact an unlimited number of options to help realize you aim of creating the home of your dreams.

Really ‘Smart’ wall panels

The Philips Dynalite control system is simple to use via a range of Revolution wall panels. These include single and double push button gang panels and special OLED panels that deliver precise settings and energy saving lighting control as well as combined zone heating display and control.

We can also integrate the control of devices such as blinds, drapes, remote windows and AV equipment along with the lighting settings.

Primary control of the system is via touch screen panels usually situated in Key Areas – near the front door, or in the Kitchen/dayroom - where you may wish to control or overview a number of zones, or different combined multi-functional and interoperable options. And, thank’s to Morban’s integration skills, all this functionality can be transferred or shared via the touch screens on the Opus 500 Multi-Room Entertainment system.

Always Safe and Sound!

The versatility of the Philips Dynalite system means that it can work with your alarm system to provide courtesy lighting when setting and resetting your alarm. By operating the ‘Away Mode’ the system combines security and interoperable lighting and device settings to create occupancy simulation while you are on holiday, controlling blinds and curtains and ‘random’ light setting throughout the day, evening and night.

The inter-operable system can also be set for night time pathway lighting between rooms at 5% levels, to light the way in the dark.

How it works – the technical bit…..

Each room has a number of lighting or multi purpose control circuits allocated to it, and the numbers of circuits vary from room to room. A kitchen may have four lighting circuits for areas such as cooking, general wall lights/wall wash, food preparation and breakfast bar, whilst a lounge may have a wall lighting circuit and a 5A circuit for free standing lamps to deliver ambient and relaxing light and a series of functional ceiling spots for reading, highlighting artwork or features etc. There may be additional circuits for feature walls with discreet or ‘hidden’ multi-coloured LED strip to create a party mood, or a romantic atmosphere while you settle down for night in at the movies!

Saving energy – lowering the Carbon Footprint

Because we are committed to low energy use, we always specify dimmable lower energy fittings. Most Halogen downlighters operate with new 35 watt bulbs that still provide 50 watts worth of light. Our default setting is 80% of the maximum output and this provides an automatic 20% energy saving which is greatly increased upon dimming. Most combined relax or easy living settings are between 30% and 40% of this already reduced level.

LEDs - the new revolution in domestic lighting

LED lighting has come into it’s own just this year. Forget about those useless blue lamps that you still see in the Do it Yourself Stores. The new generation of LED downlighters have arrived and with energy consumption between 4 and 15 watts per unit – they can easily outperform a 50 watt halogen! In addition to their uniquely low energy consumption the new generation of LED lights provide exactly the same colour of light as a halogen and can last up to 50,000 hours – or up to 15 years life in the domestic environment. Remember when you dim one of these by 50% your down to between 2 and 7 watts per lamp! The fact that these are virtually maintenance free for 15 years put’s their payback (they are generally twice the price of a high quality Halogen fitting) into a completely new light!!!

The system that ‘sees’ the light!

To ensure that the correct light levels are always maintained the system uses a ceiling based light sensor (or lux level indicator) that measures the available light to that room, and, working with the automatic daylight saving function, ensures that when the lights are switched on they only brighten to the required level. The Sensor knows when dusk/dawn has arrived because it is connected to the system’s global clock, and this is how it knows when to switch on and off the exterior lights and differentiate between automatic day and night settings.

These sensors also provide Infra Red send and receive signals that can be integrated with the remote controllers for devices and media.

Where possible we use PIR and automatic switching to areas such as utility rooms and WC's ensuring lights are not left on unnecessarily.

Integrated Heating Control

The latest heating systems often incorporate Solar Panels, a Gas boiler, a Thermastore hot water tank and a wet underfloor heating system. With much improved standards of insulation and double (sometimes triple) glazing in newbuild or modern retrofitted buildings there is all the more need to ‘micro-manage’ the heating and cooling system in the house.

Without this the house can overheat, using much more energy than necessary.

Morban’s own heating control is combined with the lighting system and provides a one stop control point to each room. Gone are the ugly wall thermostats and the plastic display points, all that is visible is the wall controller and a discreet thimble sensor with an interface developed by Morban, and a Revolution OLED wall panel.

The control itself is quite different from a standard on/off flow control typical of most under floor heating systems. We have introduced a ‘pulsed flow system’ that allows for an extremely accurate method of achieving each zone’s set point temperature without any wasteful ‘over shoot’ of the required target.

This also means that the return temperature back to the Thermastore tank is higher, reducing the amount of energy needed to maintain the correct output temperature, providing another energy saving benefit.

The heat generated by the Solar System only kicks in when the panels are hot enough to provide a stable flow of hot water. Anticipating this requires a bit more help from Morban’s barometric and light sensing enhancements, which can help ensure the system is further optimized.

A fully balance system will rely increasingly more on the available heat from the Solar System and less from the primary Gas source.

Audio and Visual systems

Morban install the Opus 500 state of the art audio distribution system that lets the client listen to any music or audio source wherever they want it at the touch of a button. The TV outputs are through hi output ceiling or wall speakers rather than the built-in speakers in the TV and there are local inputs to allow portable source audio to be connected locally in each bedroom for MP3/ipod connection.

Ceiling sensors combine, light or Lux level monitoring, movement and IR receive and send, allowing a local remote device such as the Philips Pronto, to talk to the system, it can also be programmed to control the light settings. In the cinema room, select the ‘Movie’ setting that combines light level – maybe activating a colourchange LED feature, sound level, and allow the source of the movie to be selected such as your apple TV, Media server or Sky HD – it can even draw the blinds or close the curtains.

In-wall speakers are positioned to provide the perfect directional ‘surround’ effect, along with a substantial sub woofer.

We can provide a speaker screening service, allowing you to choose from a range of custom designed canvas prints that can be acoustically mounted across the front of the speakers – minimizing the visual impact of the installation. You can even provide us with images of the family to print and frame this way.

Morban Duet™ Heat Sensor custom interface with Philips Dynalite

2010-06-02T10:08:00.003+01:00

Morban announce the launch of their new Morban Duet™ Heat Sensor Custom Interface which works with the Philips Dynalite 'Smart Home' control system.

Morban provide the custom installer and HVAC professional with a tailormade solution for controlling zoned heating systems and switched air conditioning, that can be further integrated with other device control such as general lighting and mood setting control, remote window opening and closing, solar gain blind control etc.

Morban Duet™ is the company's brand for products and value added services, exclusively developed by the technical team at Morban to extend the functionality and depth of integration and control provided by their main product platform of Philips Dynalite Control products.

Morban are custom install system integrators, and provide the design, engineering and software knowledge necessary to accurately assess the specific system requirements of your customer’s project. As Philips Dynalite Dimension dealers Morban guarantees the highest levels of in-house Dynalite system expertise,

commissioning skills and comprehensive after sales service and support.

Trade and private customers simply send system requirements and HVAC schematics to Morban and the company will provide a custom designed solution of graphics based touch screen control panels, or stylish Revolution multi-function wall panels, thimble wall sensors, and controllers that can be installed independently or as part of a fully integrated Morban Intelligent Living Smart Home solution.

Morban and Philips Lighting at Grand Designs Live!

2010-04-20T12:03:00.006+01:00

Morban will be presenting a lighting seminar at the Philips Lighting sponsored House of the Future at Grand Designs Live! on the 7th May.

Under discussion will be how to create a lighting design for your home that can change the appearance of your rooms to reflect different moods or occasions - from grand entertaining, to snuggling down in front of a movie. Morban use Philips Dynalite lighting control systems at the heart of their Intelligent Living™ SmartHome residential control systems. This means that apart from creating mood settings you can also control heating and ventilation, curtains, blinds and windows, audio and TV settings all from an integrated system that can be accessed from your Dynalite Revolution wall panels (which replace your old fashioned light switches) or a remote control like your Philips Pronto!

The presentation will also cover the new and exciting possibilities of using LED light sources which are replacing the old incandescant lamps that are currently being phased out.

Using a Philips Dynalite system, Morban can help you ensure that lights are only switched on when they are needed, that they can be automatically switched off when rooms become empty, and that they never burn at a 100% - which lowers the cost of the energy consumed as well as lengthen the life of the bulb.

And when your away the system can be set up to emulate home occupation by switching lights on and off and opening and closing curtains - automatically, Check out the video to get an idea of what you can do with an Intelligent Living™ SmartHome solution from Morban!

Morban get the Xmas lights going at Burlington Arcade

2009-11-24T16:10:00.003Z

Morban received an emergency call last week to help get the Dynalite System at London's fashionable Burlington Arcade up and ready for their big Christmas switch on. The original people who'd installed the system couldn't be found, but the company managing the electrics on site had the bright idea of looking for a Dynalite Dimensions dealer on the Philips Dynalite web site and Morban's name came up top of the list! The result was two nights hard work reconfiguring and re-programming the system and just in the (St) Nick of time everything was working ready for the switch on by Camilla Parker-Bowles.

Dynalite tests Philips Ledino range for dimming

2009-08-28T14:31:00.004+01:00

Dynalite have started to test the Philips Ledino range of LED light fittings to ensure that they comply and work with their lighting control systems. First to pass with flying colours have been the top of the range, super stylish suspension lights.

For information about the full range of fittings are fully tested and compatible give us a call at Morban 0870 141 7042 or e-mail david.rose@morban.co.uk

Morban were the first company in the UK to be acredited as Dynalite Dimensions Dealers, for more information about Dynalite, Ledino, and the full range of 'Smart Home' products available, visit our on-line store - www.shop.morban.co.uk

2009-07-08T10:21:00.003+01:00

Check out the complete range of Philips Ledino and Ecomoods lights, and special Dynalite lighting control packs at www.shop.morban.co.uk

Lighting Up Your Home with Morban

2009-06-08T22:10:00.032+01:00

Once upon a time lighting your home was as simple as installing a single pendant in each room and adding a couple of table or standard lamps for reading. Bulbs were limited to a single type (incandescent) and that was that!

Today we have developed a much greater awareness of how lighting the home can enrich our lifestyle and improve the daily enjoyment of our living space. Lighting can create a mood, show off your home design and décor, it can even be a focal point simply for its own sake.

Lighting is also undergoing a transformation because of the need to conserve energy. And if you are to make the most of lighting up your home, you need to understand how the correct mix of lighting is required to achieve the look and feel that matches your lifestyle, as well as ensure that your not using more energy than you need to.

This brief guide will help establish a few principals that you may find useful as well as clarify new legislation with regard to energy usage. If you have any specific questions about lighting, lighting design or control please call us directly on 0870 141 7042, where we will be delighted to answer your queries directly.

Lighting Control

A lighting control system will allow you to design your home lighting set-up down to the minutest detail.

Lighting control is achieved by installing a number of separately controllable circuits for each room rather than the old way using a lighting ‘ring’. These are programmed to create a range of lighting levels to suit different tasks, features or moods. You control these circuits through multi function wall plates (like your light switch but smarter) or via a hand held remote controller. You will require separate circuits for ceiling lights, wall lights, spotlights and occasional lamps. You will need to ensure that the fittings you buy, where dimming is required, are all dimmable.

The installation of light and motion sensors in conjunction with the circuits and wall plates, can help manage the levels of lighting automatically. Sensors register the light levels in the room, and if they fall below the required level of brightness, can switch the lights up to the correct level to compensate. But they will only do this if the room is occupied, because as well as sense light the equipment can also tell if there are people in the room.

This level of lighting control will help save energy because lights are rarely turned up to maximum, (in fact we advise you to set 85% brightness as the maximum for all lamps immediately ensuring a 15% saving on lighting costs).

Where dimmable control is nor required is areas such as utility rooms or cloakrooms and loos, we recommend a standard circuit switched by a discreet ceiling based sensor, that switches lights on automatically when you enter the room and the light levels are not adequate. This again ensures that lights are not left on and wasting energy.

Morban are Dynalite Dimensions partners. As such we are trained to design, integrate, programme and support all Dynalite installations and provide pre-programmed packs for domestic installation. Dynalite was recently acquired by Philips as their major platform for lighting control in both the domestic and commercial markets.

Lighting for purpose

There are three main types of lighting, task, feature and mood.

Task lighting

The most obvious task setting for households is the maximum light level required for cleaning, especially on overcast or dull days. Task lighting is also required for localised tasks such as food preparation, making up, reading, desk/office/home work etc.

Some rooms like kitchen/diners, or family rooms and lounges have the potential for multiple combinations of lighting, and will require more circuits than other, less intensively used spaces.

In a kitchen you will require task lighting over the preparation areas, work islands, sinks and eating areas. This can be from recessed ceiling lights, or from the increasingly popular ranges of energy efficient compact fluorescent (CFL) fittings like our

Philips Ecomoods range or from the latest, super low energy, LED lights like our Philips Ledino collection (featured above). See below for information on the different types of light sources.

Low level corridor and stair lights can fall into this category, as can exterior lighting for pathways, entrances and gate areas.

Feature lighting

This falls into a diverse category which includes using lighting to enhance fittings and furniture around the house. Feature lighting can provide discreet lighting effects or literally ‘highlight’ features like architecture, artwork, sculpture, drapes or floral displays.

Examples of feature lighting may include the inclusion of low level LED lights incorporated into kitchen unit plinths, colour change or discreet LED strip lighting to create ‘floating’ staircase features or ‘invisible’ light sources such as those that may be used in bedroom or bathroom design.

Feature lights might be major additions to a room where they dominate the scene, as in the use of chandeliers in dining rooms and bedrooms or designer centrepieces in hallways or reception areas. Feature lighting can also reside outside the house, when used in conjunction with garden design and architectural lighting.

Mood lighting

Mood lighting allows you to fine tune the appearance of your home to suite specific occasions and room usage. For example, selecting the relax setting on your wall panel ceiling lights and wall lights switched off, low level diffused lighting over your drapes may be about 30% with the main source of lighting coming from dimmed occasional lamps. The effect is of the light emanating from within the space of the room, creating a warm and soft glow.

Selecting the 'watch movie' button could combine dimming the lights as well as other related functions like switching on the TV and sound system ready for you to select a title, closing blinds or drapes, and switching on some low level discreet LED uplighters, set to a warm red glow.

In the kitchen diner you may have an ‘entertain’ setting which creates an ambient mood including a cool, funky play list selection over the sound system, while you add finishing touches to the meal and entertaining guests ‘open plan’. Then select the ‘dine’ button, the music switches to sophisticated dinner jazz, the kitchen lights dim right down and the dining table is lit by the feature pendant over the table with subtle halogen downlighters providing sparkle to the crystal, china and silverware.

Types of lighting sources

The European Council issued the directive two years ago that spelled out the end of the incandescent light bulb. By 2010 the 100 watt bulb will be obsolete soon to be followed by the 60 watt bulb. This fundamental shift has stimulated a huge amount of development in the lighting industry, providing exiting new light sources, but we will have to change the way we look at lighting our homes.

Halogen
Over the last twenty years the biggest change in domestic lighting has been the proliferation of the 50 watt halogen downlighter. Often peppering the ceiling with up to ten apertures per average sized room, this has led to an energy extravagance that is quite literally costing the earth.

But now the manufacturers have responded with a wider range of halogen lights which still provide the highly desirable, high definition, warm lighting that we have grown to love, but at lower wattages, with specific bulbs and fittings created for special feature applications.

Halogen comes into its own when it is lighting beautiful reflective objects like crystal and china, or flowers. It also enhances the look of a room by creating pools of light over furniture or feature rugs and carpets. So by positioning it very carefully, and only using it when we really want to enjoy special features, a good case can be made for including it into your lighting design.

LED
LED is the new hyper low-energy technology in domestic lighting that is gaining ground in it’s areas of application thanks to the research and development of companies like Philips who are re-defining domestic lighting design through ranges like the Ledino lighting collection.

LED provides very good, but slightly more diffused, quality light when compared to halogen. It is now widely available in warm white, which is amply suited to domestic requirements. Philip’s Puck technology, which combines 3 Luxeon Rebel LEDs, guarantees a uniform light output, with a strength and clarity which is comparable with a typical 40W halogen light bulb, yet consumes only 7.5W, therefore saving 80% of energy.

With an average bulb life of up to twenty years the extra costs associated with LED can rightly be justified. And one thing that is certain, the costs will drop dramatically as usage increases.

LED is a highly controllable light source. Some less expensive fittings are supplied as simply on/off fittings to save cost. But when incorporated into a controlled lighting infrastructure like Dynalite, most LED fittings can be dimmed down as far as 1% of total output!

Get your electrician to talk to us about the potential provided by LED.

LED is also available in cool white, and RGB configurations. Cool white is often used in architectural or garden settings. RGB configurations allow a spectacular array of colour changing possibilities, and are often seen in bars and restaurants where the change to environment can be most dramatic.
In the home, colour change has a place, although it generally requires professional design to implement it subtly and to greatest effect. Morban are always happy to discuss the creative possibilities of integrating RGB LED lighting.

Compact Fluorescent
One area of lighting that has had a really bad press has been the advent of Compact Fluorescent lighting. Initially, and for many years until investment was recently put into it, CFL lighting was infamous for slow starting, a poor quality and colour of light, and no ability to dim it.

Well, thanks to new developments from Philips the bar has been raised for CFL lamps and fittings.

Philips’ Ecomoods is a collection of sleek, contemporary designed fittings, that have quite literally taken the market by storm. Many Ecomoods models now include CFL bulbs that can be dimmed, and all offer flicker free, immediate start up.

Philips claim that with normal use their latest range of bulbs can last up to 12,000 hours and offer up to 80% energy savings over equivalent incandescent lighting levels.

But what really makes the Ecomoods range stand out is the sheer quality of design and detailing, combined with very attractive pricing!

Pulling a design together
The Code for Sustainable Building requires all new residential buildings to include at least 25% low energy (CFL) fittings, and have recently acknowledged LED as a viable alternative to traditional lighting. Until recently this could have created something of a compromise in terms of lighting design, for some of the reasons outlined above in the section on CFLs. Although the code only applies to new buildings right now, it is just as well to use these standards when thinking about a major refurbishment project, as similar standards are sure to be introduced for refurbs in the not too distant future.

It is now possible to really consider CFL or LED fittings as a realistic alternative in many areas of the home, cutting down the need to install halogen throughout. In the kitchen for example, Ecomoods or Ledino suspension fittings look fantastic over island units, preparation areas or breakfast bars.

Use discreet LED strip incorporated to the underside of kitchen cabinets. The strips give off little or no heat, and are resistant to steam.

There are stunning CFL and LED centrepiece designs for installing over dining tables. And here, along the span of the dining table, you can afford to install a discreet number of small halogen downlighters to add that special sparkle to crystal, china and silverware.

Halogen still has an important role to play – especially in lounges and reception areas. Here the luxurious hues and textures of furnishings and floor coverings can be given a special lift.

Use halogen downlighters to create pools of distinctive light to increase drama and focus. The narrower the beam the more intense the effect can be. Areas to consider positioning recessed halogen downlighters - over dining tables, to highlight sculptures, floral arrangements and artwork, over sofas, armchairs and feature rugs.

Occasional table or floor lamps create light from within the centre of a room, and have a vital role to play in softening the rigid lines of walls and ceilings. ‘Lighting from within’ is soft, relaxing and romantic, and creates a comfortable ambience for after dinner entertaining.

The use of soft lamp-light and diffused or ‘invisible’ light sources come into their own in the bedroom setting. Or if a more dramatic look is required sharp shafts of narrow beam, vertical light from recessed ceiling fittings can create an impressive frame or ‘four poster of light’ around a sumptuously styled and dressed divan.

Welcome to the Morban Blog

2009-05-18T16:19:00.005+01:00

It's our aim to share ideas and inspiration drawn from out clients and their projects as well as explore new directions in the design and installation of Intelligent Living™ 'smart home' systems, focusing on new ideas, products and technology.

We look forward to hearing from you too! In this first chapter we're focussing on Lighting. There are lots of exciting new ideas and products out there - but you need to be careful as in our experience not all that glisters is necessarily golden!!!

You'll find lots of exciting new lighting ideas - all tried and tested by our technical team, at Morban i-Light our brand new on-line lighting shop. So if you are looking for a really sustainable alternative to the old style incandescant bulb, and can't bear to think about using standard CFLs click the link and start exploring the new choices available. But first read our latest tips... (Please note link not currently active).