Specialty and Architectural Lighting — Controls
Occupant Sensor Lighting Control Provides Cost Effective Retrofit Options
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
When it comes to saving energy, OFF always wins. Lighting is no exception. At work, when you head to a meeting in a conference room that is used maybe three hours a day, are the lights already on even if you are the first to arrive, or, do they automatically switch on when you enter? And then switch off when the meeting is over and the room is empty? When you go down the hall...
- Posted in Controls, Energy Efficiency, Retrofits
LED Upgrades May Not Work As Intended If Existing Controls Are Not Compatible
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
When new LED lamps are used to replace traditional light sources or LED fixtures are part of a retrofit project, an important but often overlooked issue that must to addressed is the compatibility of existing controls. Lighting is a system. The light source is one component. Ballasts, transformers, dimmers, occupancy and photo sensors must be compatible or the new LED light source upgrade will not function properly. It’s not uncommon, after LED lighting has been...
Connected Controls: Built-In Fixture Receptacle for Outdoor Lighting Dimming Control
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
Among all the factors to consider when buying an LED outdoor luminaire – here is another: connected controls. Increasingly, commercial building codes are expanding outdoor lighting requirements to include automatic shutoff and modulated light levels based on occupancy or time of day. This level of control, common for commercial interior lighting, may or may not be a code requirement for all projects, but in the future, codes will be in place or user expectations will evolve...
- Posted in Controls, Landscape & Outdoor
Most Existing Incandescent, Halogen and Fluorescent Photocontrols Will Not Work with LED
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
It's not uncommon today for an incandescent, halogen or fluorescent light source to be replaced with an LED light source. Many LEDs are made to be direct replacements for traditional light bulbs and fixtures. In some cases, those traditional light sources have been controlled by photocells that are still in place. When this is the case, it usually results in an LED that does not respond to the photocell. Traditionally, photocontrol manufacturers only had to...
How to Make Sure Photocontrols Are Compatible With LED Lighting
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
Photocontrol devices use photocells to determine ON/OFF status of outdoor lighting based on the ambient light level. While generally understood as responding to visible light, some photosensors also respond to infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Normally used for roadway, area, parking, flood and security lighting, photocontrols automatically control the ON/OFF cycle to optimize the effectiveness of the lighting and maximize energy savings. In daylight harvesting applications, the photocontrol is mounted inside the occupied space...
- Posted in Controls, Energy Efficiency, Landscape & Outdoor, LED
LED Dimming: How to Ensure Smooth and Effective Light Output Control
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
Many LED lamps and fixtures on the market today include a dimming capability. While certainly a beneficial feature, often a necessary one, dimming LED lamps can be an adventure unless some basic steps are taken to ensure compatibility between the LED lamp and dimming control. In the world of tungsten filament lighting (incandescent / halogen) virtually every light bulb operating on AC can be dimmed effectively by simply trimming the voltage. Lower voltage produces less...
Time Switches Offer Effective Lighting Control For Time of Day Driven Applications
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
Time switches, or timers, for lighting control allow for time of day ON and OFF scheduling for individual lights or lighting systems. Generally, time switches work best with outdoor lighting where the time of day, along with sunset and sunrise, determine when lighting is on or off. Indoor applications for timers might include basic residential control of a single fixture to provide the "lived-in" look when the occupants are away from home. There are three...
- Posted in Controls, Energy Efficiency
How Do Motion Sensors Work? Two Types of Motion Sensors
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
Someone once wisecracked that the most energy efficient lighting was when the lights were turned OFF. A variation of this clever turn of phrase has become one of the most useful tools to increase building lighting energy efficiency. By automatically controlling the ON/OFF status of lights based on the presence of humans in a space, a tremendous amount of energy and money can be saved in commercial buildings. In addition, for medical settings utilizing germicidal...
- Posted in Controls, Energy Efficiency