Indoor Parking

Urban areas often have parking that is on the upper floors dedicated to parking and some buildings are even entirely designed for parking. The lighting (including both the electricity bill and luminaire replacement) is often the largest cost, so if this cost can be reduced then that could contribute to a great reduction in the overall expenditure to building maintenance.

1. The entire area should be divided into 3 areas: areas adjacent to natural lighting, those that are are not daylit, and the main lighting.
2. Daylit areas should make use of the K40 monthly adjustable controller unit, the lights would turn on according to scheduled sunset times for each month; the lights would only turn off at off-peak times.
3. Areas that are not daylit should make use of regular timers to control all the lights in this area. Each day the timer would turn the lights on during peak periods and turn them off during off-peak periods.
4. The driveways, entrances, and elevator lobbies of a parking structure should keep the lights on all day long.
5. During off-peak periods, with only a handful of people left working overtime and their cars left in the parking area. For this reason, leaving the lights on just for these few people is not very economical. Thus, most of the lights should be turned off. Instead the lights should be controlled using motion sensors that would detect when a person leaves the elevator lobby and enters the parking area, then turn on the lights in that parking floor, which would then automatically turn off after a ten minute delay.

As such, it would be possible to save as much as 50% of the electricity cost and prolong the lifespan of the luminaries as well. For this, the LT3000 in conjunction with timers could be used, or a portion of the circuits could make use of the LT3504 together with the K40 (monthly adjustable timer) instead. If there is an attendant, then one could even add in the IS45 digital switch for easing the management of the lighting further.

Outdoor Parking

1. The lighting should be divided into the following. Small single lights should be grouped alternately, divided into circuit A and B. If there are instead large lamps, each set should have 2 to 4 lamp posts, and within each post, a K90 should be installed within.
2. The power for all the lights should be combined and controlled by a K40 controller, this way the lights can all be turned on together at the same time, and the turn on times would vary with the month, while the lights would turn off at the same time after business hours.
3. Circuit A and C would have K90 controllers installed to enable them to turn the lights off earlier.
4. Lighting for large shopping center areas that are away from the entrance are designated as D type areas. These areas are practically devoid of parked cars at night. As such, all the lights can be turned off during off-peak hours.
5. If there are attendants, then one could also have IS45s installed at the attendant’s booth to centralize lighting control for the entire area.

The above methods are more suited to making use of night sensors for group on and off.

1. If the practice before is to turn on the lights at dusk, and turned off after business hours.
   It is estimated that 35% energy savings can be attained. At the same time, lamp lifespan can be prolonged, which can reduce not just the need to replace the lamps more often but save on the labor costs for the replacement as well.
2. If the practice before is to turn on the lights at dusk, and to turn off the lights when the sun comes out. Then it is estimated that as much as 60% energy savings can be attained. There is also the additional benefit of prolonging the lamp lifespan which reduces the frequency of replacement, and with it, the savings gained from its associated labor costs.

The most basic premise of a highly practical lighting control system  is in its ability to help save energy, high quality management, labor saving and convenience as its starting point in planning a system.

1. In a public area, the control grouping can be divided according to the time of day and type of space.
   1. As for example, outdoor lighting can be divided into the main lighting, support lighting, ornamental lighting, grounds lighting, path lighting, and with consideration for different times of day to determine the control grouping.
   2. Pathway control group can be divided into daylit hallways, enclosed hallways, and hallways with consideration for the time of day.
   3. Elevator lobbies can have several circuits, there is the main circuit, mood lighting, energy saving lighting. Different lights can be turned on at different times of the day. At night, occupancy sensors can be used with its ability for delayed automatic off.
   4. Common areas can have the basic lights (LED lighting for small areas) the main lights, and the ventilation. During the day, only a portion of the basic lights are turned on. When evening comes, the main lights will come on. Late at night, when there are only a few people around, the main lights are turned off, and will only turn on when the sensors detect that occupants are present.
   5. Parking lot
      1. Outdoor parking: Only a small portion of the lights are turned on during the day. In the evening, the lights may be turned on earlier or later depending on the season. Late at night, when is practically no one around, only a few basic lights and those near the entrances remain on, while the others are controlled using sensors.
      2. Basement parking: During office hours when activity is at its peak, all the lights are turned on. During off-peak hours when few people are around, only a portion are turned on, while the others are controlled using occupancy sensors.
2. Small designated spaces should have local switches. These can be classic push button switches for use by the local user as desired.
3. Public hallways should have multiple push button switches along  its length to facilitate multiple access for the user.
4. An area close to the elevator lobby should be designed as a place to aggregate the digital switches to control the lights in the adjacent areas and even for the entire floor.
5. For large buildings, the lighting control system can be integrated to the central host of the building automation system through the Modbus protocol.
6. For the security desk of a small building, the building controls can be centralized using a bunch of digital switches; while for medium to large buildings with lots of circuits, a touch panel should be used instead.
7. The emergency help button found in public restrooms can also be incorporated into the control center.

How many circuits is needed for a lighting control system to be economically viable? Under what conditions should one consider adopting a smart lighting control system?

The basic premise for DAE’s lighting control system is one in which there is no central processing unit and incorporation of classic switches. As a result, adoption is economical even for an application with the number of circuits in the single digits. So the real consideration is not simply how many circuits there are, but rather the following factors are more relevant:

1. Is there a need to save energy or to create a mood or atmosphere through lighting?
2. Is there a need to control the same lighting circuit from multiple locations?
3. Is there a need to centralize the control for the lights (such as in a control room, or front desk)?
4. Is there a need for a form of automated schedule control or daylight sensing control?
5. Is there a need for remote control through the network or in using a touch panel for control?

If any one of the above conditions is satisfied, then one should consider adopting a lighting control system. In reality, the cost of adoption is quite reasonable and not prohibitively expensive. It should be emphasized that having smart lighting control is not the same as having an extravagantly expensive high class luminaires. But rather it is merely having a very practical and new fangled form of lighting control.

Lighting control can be divided into the following purposes:

1. Spatial mood control
   There are lots of lighting circuits in any large space, some of them are dimmable, while others can simply be turned on or off, but together they are an indispensable aspect of creating the mood and atmosphere of any space. With a lighting control in place, the different scenes can be preset and assigned to individual buttons to allow the desired scenes to be recalled instantly when needed.
2. Multiple points of access
   Any single lighting circuit will often need to be controlled from more than one location, as is often the case in a large room. The user enters from location A and turns on the lights, but they leave at location B and so turns off the lights from that location instead of having to travel back to A. Having multiple access also means that one can centralize all controls at one locations for easy management of the entire facility.
3. Energy saving control
   This applies to different types of spaces. Each type of space has its own characteristic that requires a different approach to energy saving. Often this requires the use of local switches or motion sensors in conjunction with the right type of smart controller or switch to achieve the energy saving effect.
4. Remote control
   The controls can be aggregated into one central location. This way all the lights can be remotely monitored and controlled from this one location for the convenience of the building staff or operator. But in order to achieve such a form of centralized control, the prerequisite requirement is that there must be some form of feedback that will allow the operator to know the real time condition of the lights.
   Remote control need not however be limited to one fixed physical location such as having a touch panel on a wall or PC on the desk, it can also be portable as well, such as in using a mobile phone.
   It should be emphasized that lighting control allows for local control together with remote control at the same time. Which means that both local and remote control would always be synchronized.
5. Scheduled or conditional control
   Automatic control can be achieved through a schedule or using local sensors.
6. Integration with high tech equipment
   Since the system is now digitized, the system can be integrated with other digital devices such as an IR remote control unit, mobile phones, touch panels or linked to the Internet and viewed with a web browser.
7. Forced and Authorized Control from the Control Center
   A public facility sometimes need to be disallowed from being controlled locally, but other times the local user should be free to control the lights as needed.
   As for example, a highly trafficked corridor should have its light always be on during the day, and so local control is disallowed during the day. But in the evening or during holidays, the lights are turned off but local control is allowed so that any local user can turn the lights on as needed.
8. Gradual fade in and out effect
   A touch of elegance can be made even to simple process of turning the lights on or off by making the transition process gradual by fading the lights in or out.

The automated scheduling capability is among the most important feature of a lighting control system. It is very much like an alarm clock; it is not forever fixed but rather needs to be adjusted from time to time.

1. The schedule must be changed to accommodate impromptu events or cancelled workdays such as during typhoons.
2. The schedule must match the seasonal lighting changes
   The building manager must be allowed to freely adjust the schedule settings, and these should be done easily without too much of a hassle such as needing special tools, complicated software or technical knowledge.
   Setting of the schedule can be done directly on the touch screen of the user touch panel device by the administrator themselves, it is clear and intuitive, which is very much unlike that of other traditional full 2-way lighting control system wherein changing the schedule requires hiring a technical specialist with a special setting tool to make changes.
   Most lighting control system vendors would claim that their system would have the best features in their sales and promotions, but it is only when the system is being implemented that one would find out that the reality is that they forgot to mention that the technology is very complicated and the cost to adopt the system is prohibitively high. In contrast, with DAE’s system, the complicated logic and programming have all been built into each controller module so as to simplify the user interface as simple as possible.

One of the most prominent and effective application of the Internet of things in our daily life is its use in smart energy saving for buildings, and within this domain, the part that most exemplifies the interaction between man and object is the lighting control system.

The Internet of Things strives to save energy and convenience in operation through the interaction between object to object and object to man, and the best example of this is a lighting control system and smart meters.

The reason that a lighting control system is able to provide such convenience in operation to user is because of the significant built in support for such a structure through the peer to peer network among the objects themselves. Another way to describe this is the connection between the digital switches, the controller modules, with the bus network and other devices on the system.

1. Various types of LED fluorescent lights
   The LT3704 is the ideal choice for controlling the high starting current needed by LED fluorescent lights to operate. This is because most LED fluorescents have their own internal power supply and has a very high starting current.
2. Metal halide lamps for retail shops
   Metal halide lamps is a type of gas discharge lamp and causes great harm to relays because of its large surge currents. So it is suggested that the LT2504 be used with the external LR02 relay or as an alternative, the LT3100 be used with magnetic contactors.
3. Regular fluorescent lamps
   The L3604 with built-in relays can be used.
4. Outdoor lighting
   Lighting for building facades, billboards, streets, ornamentation, stadiums, ball courts and other outdoor venues which uses high powered LED lights or metal halide lamps should make use of the LT3100 in conjunction with magnetic contactors.
5. Business venues (e.g. shopping centers, showrooms, public buildings) and distant areas.
   Modules with built-in relays is not recommended, instead the modules with the external LR02 relay or the LT3100 with magnetic contactors should be chosen instead for the following reasons:
   1. The load is too large for internal relays, external relays is better able to withstand the surge currents.
   2. There is a backup manual control just in case.
   3. When the external relay or contactor is damaged, it can be replaced more easily.
6. Hallways, elevator lounges, restrooms and basement parking
   Unless LED fluorescents are used, then one can choose to make use of the LT3604 with built-in relays.
7. Fans, air conditioning and ventilation for basement parking.
   The LT3100 controlling the magnetic contactor should be used.
8. Pumps and drainage control
   Most buildings commonly have a control and monitoring system for the lighting, basement parking ventilation fans and drainage pumps.
   For such a system, a full-fledged building automation system is not necessary as all of these elements can be covered through the ACS50 available from DAE.
9. Retrofitting for energy saving
   One can make use of the LT3000 or the LT3384 with built-in relays; with the option to make use of the K15 sensor switch, push button switches or digital switches in order to achieve some form of local energy saving effect.

The three generations of lighting control:

• First Generation – N+1 signal control: cables consists of multiple wires (origin of the N+1 designation), emphasis on dual access control from both local and central, complicated signal wire wiring, and unable to expand.
• Second Generation – evolved into digital trunk: wiring method changed to full 2-way system consisting only of 2 signal wires, all controllers are now addressable, with configuration groups and patterns. Digital switches have also changed much compared to first generation. Application capabilities can be programmed through software.
• Third Generation – evolved into energy saving, touch panel and networkable: integration of classic switches and ordinary sensors, controllers have built-in interactive energy saving logic programming, controller programs are designed to be easy to setup, centralized control have touch panels to replace walls of digital switches.

Viewing a Lighting Control System in the Proper Light

A lighting control is not merely a high technology ornament to be placed for showcasing the technological sophistication of a building, but rather it is a very fundamental part of the building. For the following reasons:

1. It is the most practical method for wiring the lighting circuits in any large open public space.
2. It satisfies the building owner’s need to save on energy, at the same time allowing for ease of use by the local user, without contradicting each other.
3. Intricate control of lighting greatly improves the quality and stylishness of any space.
4. The correspondence of the switches to the lighting can be reconfigured to match the varying needs of the space.
5. To match the energy saving policy of a country, a smart energy saving lighting control system becomes the most important player to fulfill such a mandate.
6. In order to save on costs, having a lighting control system is a must have with its ability to reduce the needed wiring, less manpower needed, and saved electricity bills.

Requirements for Centralized Control

• Realtime feedback: The status of the lights at the central control should be synchronized with the local site.
• Ease of Management: With a touch panel, management is easier than ever, expansion is also easy as there is no need for additional wall space nor wiring.
• Multiple central control: A single system should be able to allow for multiple centralized control locations for multiple access and mutual redundancy.
• Networkable: Being able to connect the system to a network and to the Internet means that distance is no longer an issue and the user can control the system from anywhere whether it be through a computer of a mobile phone.

Digital Switches

• Local switches: these are switches located in near the lights that they control and are placed for the benefit of the local user, and not the other way around.
• Simplified and reduced wiring: by using digital signal cables; and results in ease of expansion.
• There is no conflict between central and local control; both have equal access.
• Multi-function buttons: these can be used for single, group or pattern modes of operation.

Adaptability of the Terminal Units

• Suitable for all types of luminaires: especially for LED lamps, with the capability to handle high inrush currents.
• Control for dimming, roll up doors, curtains, shade blinds, air conditioners and others.
• Can be used in conjunction with ordinary sensors, card readers and classic wall switches.

Main Lobby

The customer creates their first impression of the hotel based on the reception lobby. The atmosphere created by the lighting is very important and key in elevating the stylishness of the space and creating a good first impression.

• The lobby would be divided into several sections, each section would have its corresponding electrical panel with the modules installed.
• Each section would have its own control board.
• All the electrical panels would be linked through the main bus trunk, which would then be connected to the touch panel at the reception desk.
• Brightness control: Different periods would have its own combination of brightness.

Conference Halls, Multi-function Halls & Meeting Rooms

• Meeting rooms would have multiple touch panels installed.
• Various combinations of lighting and AV, as for example, with the touch of one button, the lights dim, the projector screen lowers, the curtains close, the projector and DVD turns on, all done instantly.
  • Up to 8 scenes can be set, a single touch can change the lights and the projector screen at the same time.
  • A handheld remote control or a tablet can also be used to select a scene.
• A few typical examples. Control of the lights, the projector and its screen, the curtains, these can all be controlled in tandem. When its time to show a movie, the lights would gradually dim, the projector screen lowers, the curtains close; after the showing, the projector is turned off, the lights gently return to the appropriate brightness, the projector screen is raised and the curtains are opened.
  • Reporting
    • Stage lit at 70 to 100%.
    • Audience seats and downlights lit at 80%.
    • Wall lights are all turned off.
  • Presentation
    • Stage lit at 50%
    • Front audience seats and downlights are off then gradually brightens toward the back.
    • Wall lights are all turned off.
  • Seminar
    • All lights at 90 to 100% brightness.
  • Exiting
    • Audience seats, downlights and post lights are all fully lit.
  • Standby
    • Stage and audience seats lights are at 70% brightness.

Hallways and Elevator Lobbies

• Daylit hallways may use dual motion and lux sensors, when natural light is sufficient, the motion sensing portion is disabled, when the natural light is insufficient, then the motion sensor kicks in to turn on the lights when the space is occupied.
• Timer combined with sensor.
  • The lights are turned on by the timer during busy periods and the sensor is disabled.
  • During quiet periods, the timer relinquishes control to the sensors. The lights remain at 70% brightness, but when the sensor detects an occupant, it will bring the brightness up to 100%. When the occupant leaves, the sensor automatically turns the lights off after a certain delay. Energy is thus saved.
• The system would be preset with patterns for “morning”, “noon”, “dusk”, “night”, “weekend” and so on, each would be activated by the time schedule accordingly.
  • At noon, the system will dim the lights up to a level that is the most comfortable for people. For windowed areas, the system will take advantage of the natural light, when it is sunny, the lights will automatically dim; when it is gloomy, the lights will brighten to compensate. The system will always try to maintain a level of suitable indoor brightness.
  • When it grows dark, the “dusk” mode kicks in, the lights in various places will increase in brightness. The system can even work together with the local controls for the hallways and elevator lobbies.
  • At night the lights are dimmed, when someone comes, the lights gradually brighten; when they leave, the lights gradually dim.
  • The scheduler adjusts the lights for the public areas depending on the time of day and on what place it is being applied.

Hotel Guest Room

A pattern control board is installed at the headboard of the bed that controls or dims the various lights within the room and can also close/open the curtains, and can control the main lights, the bathroom lights, and can activate various scenes including relaxing, watching TV, welcome guest, entertaining visitors, reading a book, sleeping, make up room, turn all lights off and others.

Guest inserts card

The lights in the room and curtains are adjusted to conform to the welcome guest scene.

Guest removes card

After a certain delay, the lights are automatically turned off and the curtains are closed.

The guest can adjust the lights according to their preference using the headboard controls or through a remote control. The preset scenes would be realized by turning the lights on/off or adjusting the dimness to achieve the desired effect.

• Welcoming Guest Scene
  • The pendant and wall lights are adjusted to 40% brightness.
  • The various lights are adjusted to make the guest feel welcome and bring out elegance of the room.
• Rest and Relaxation Scene
  • The main lights are all dimmed
  • The side lights are adjusted to a suitable level to give a relaxing atmosphere.
• Reading Scene
  • The main lights are all dimmed
  • The side lights are all dimmed
  • The standing lights are turned off
  • The reading lights are adjusted for reading

Matching Equipment

• One dimming channel for the pendant lights; one channel for the wall lights; one channel for the showcase lights; main lights one channel;  one channel for the column edge and fixed direction wall lights; one channel for the room center depression lights; wall wash lights one channel; balcony lights one channel; total of nine channels.
• A controller module is installed beside the entranceway.
• A smart control panel is installed at the headboard with the various scenes preset.

1. The usage and character of the space will determine what type of user control interface is to be used and how they will interact, this can be the local switch, the local sensor and centralized control.
2. Peak or off-peak periods: the method of control method will be determined by the type of space and the time period.
3. Centralized control: centralized area control, reception centralized control and control room can all coexist and operate at the same time.
4. Equipments serviced include: lighting, air conditioning, ventilation fans, shades.
5. Serviced space: public areas, rooms, halls, daylit or windowed areas, outdoor areas.

Whether a small meeting room for up to ten people, or a conference for thirty or a hundred people, every one of them would need to have its own lighting control system.

Meeting Room Role

Every company needs to have a meeting room, and a place to showcase their products as well. A meeting room is more than just a place to exchange ideas, it also serves as a place to receive customers, talk business, and so on. It is much like the living room to a house, it is place where much is invested in its furnishings and ornamentation to make it as appealing as possible. The larger the company, the larger the space needed for the meeting rooms, they can come in all sizes, but the larger the space, the more demanding they are in their requirements, since they can be put to use to more kinds of uses.

Scene Recall

The ambience of a meeting room is not just made up of the furnishings and decor, just as important is the lighting scene that is created for each type of event and at each stage of the event. Different activities require not just different lighting but may also need to have the projector screen lowered and curtains closed. To transform a plain meeting room to a technologically sophisticated meeting room needs only a modest budget.

Technology, One Touch

One can make use of various types of user interface control devices such touch panels, pattern touch switches, and even third party devices such as IR remote controls, mobile phones, tablets, or any combination thereof. But regardless of which device is used, a single touch can recall a preset scene that will set the lights, raise or lower the projector screen and open/close the curtains all at once to transform the entire atmosphere of the room and set the stage for the next phase of the event. Contrast this with the traditional approach wherein everything needs to be activated individually and the presenter have to wait until the operator finishes setting the scene after fumbling with the switches and remote controls. One looks professional, classy and so seamless as to be unnoticeable, while the other looks clumsy and can disrupt the flow of the entire event.

Classy But Not Expensive

It would not be surprising that one would be given the impression that the equipment needed to achieve such an effect would be prohibitively costly. But nothing could be further from the truth, as the digital technology becomes more pervasive and mature, such a system can be attained with a very modest budget that even a small company can afford.