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Lighting
Control - contol the mood with lighting
Introduction
Today, when even the smallest capital expense requires approval
from the top, electricity is an easy place to cut costs. New lighting
control technologies help you light the workplace appropriately
and save money along the way.
Lighting
control has come a long way from the early days of the simple
toggle switch. Now lighting designers have devices like passive
infrared detectors, solid-state contactors, ultrasonic devices,
and photosensitive controls at their disposal. In fact, manufacturers
are developing new lighting control devices and systems at such
a rapid pace; few new projects will incorporate the same components.
Control
Strategies
The most prevalent modern lighting control strategies can be divided
into four categories: occupancy-based, schedule-based, light-level
control, and load shedding.
Light-level
control switches between the following three types of control
to adjust the light output in response to defined objectives:
• Delighting allows natural light that enters a building
or structure to supplement electric lighting systems.
• Tuning allows the adjustment of light levels to match
the different activities conducted in a space.
• The lighting system is set to a predetermined dimming
level when the lamps are initially installed, and the light level
is increased incrementally as the lumen output of the lamps decreases
over time.
Control
Mediums
Lighting system control signals can be distributed throughout
a facility via a low-voltage communications bus or a power-line
carrier system.
A
low-voltage communications bus uses a set of twisted-pair copper
conductors to carry data to and from control panels and other
equipment. The bus control system simplifies wiring, which means
that individual, group, or pattern switching of lighting can be
easily changed or added.
Equipment
Review
Lighting control devices are classified as on/off devices or power
level setting control devices. Those that provide on/off-switching
control include:
A
wall switch can control a branch circuit directly or a contactor
or relay operating coil to achieve multiple-circuit control in
a single action. In a space where a number of lighting circuits
are installed, it's standard practice to group a number of wall
switches in a single location, such as a doorway. This will permit
selective use of specific lighting loads in the space and allow
different light levels to be established.
Locations
with more than one means of entering or leaving an area, such
as a passageway or corridor, commonly call for 3- and 4-way switches.
A number of NEC rules must be observed in this case, such as the
requirements on the identification of travelers.
Hence
lighting control is all about light saving.
There
are many more appliance articles in our fixture
section. There is more specific information in the links at
the beginning of this article. They can guide you where you need
to go.
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