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THE LIGHTING CONTROLS AUTHORITY

Hubbell Wiring Device-Kellems and Lutron Electronics Collaborate to Address New Building Code Requirements with Joint Receptacle Control Solutions

By Lighting Controls Association, on December 6, 2013

Hubbell Wiring Device-Kellems and Lutron Electronics recently announced the collaborative development of new products that will enable the electrical industry to better comply with new building code requirements for controlling electrical outlets and their associated plug loads.

Hubbell will embed Lutron’s Clear Connect radio frequency (RF) communication technology directly into Hubbell’s Load:Logic plug load control products. This announcement expands the interoperability of Clear Connect-enabled devices, provides the industry with a much-needed, code-compliant solution, and allows installers to easily control electrical outlets in new and existing facilities without learning new systems or performing extensive commissioning.

The use of automated controls for lighting and HVAC has dramatically increased efficiencies of these systems in modern facilities. In contrast, miscellaneous plug loads connected to electrical receptacles have been left uncontrolled and can now approach 50% of a high performance building’s energy footprint. To address this, ASHRAE 90.1-2010, California Energy Commission, and LEED v4 require that 50% of power outlets must be controlled in most areas of a building.

For more information about Lutron Electronics Co., visit www.lutron.com.

WattStopper Expands Lighting Control Toolbox to Better Manage Energy in High-Performance Buildings

By Lighting Controls Association, on December 4, 2013

WattStopper recently announced a new family of lighting control panels developed to support design professionals engineering net zero buildings. The panels allow designers to easily layer multiple control strategies and integrate seamlessly with other building systems to meet the newest energy code requirements and optimize energy management. To ensure reliability and longevity, these newly-designed panels are based on two proven WattStopper technologies: Digital Lighting Management (DLM) intelligent control and the company’s patented heavy duty relay.

The panels address the growing need to combine the flexibility of distributed controls with the scalability of centralized controls. Combining lighting control solutions tailored for each application helps meet the requirements of increasingly complex energy codes, and improves building performance.

In addition, the panels address the need for simple integration using open protocols. They integrate natively with building automation systems (BAS) and expose a wide range of DLM data points for building-wide energy monitoring. These extensive BACnet capabilities are the result of WattStopper’s decade of experience with the industry-standard protocol. For peak performance, integration can extend to the smart grid for region-wide energy management.

The new panels also offer stand alone operation for projects that require only scheduled or astronomical control. For more information, visit the WattStopper product pages, and look for additional announcements of retrofit solutions available for legacy panels in the field.

Click here to learn more.

For more information about WattStopper, visit www.wattstopper.com.

NEMA Publishes NEMA BL 3-2013 Dimming Ballast Energy Performance

By Lighting Controls Association, on December 2, 2013

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association recently published NEMA BL 3-2013 Dimming Ballast Energy Performance. This standard provides a methodology for applying existing test methods for program start ballasts to fluorescent dimming ballasts. It also provides a method to calculate ballast luminous efficiency (BLE) for fluorescent dimming ballasts.

Information for proper lamp and ballast compatibility for reliable long term dimming system operation can be found in NEMA LL 9-2011 Dimming of T8 Fluorescent Lighting Systems. Additionally, the Department of Energy (DOE) has developed uniform requirements for programmed start ballasts in the course of ballast rulemaking. BL 3 combines the new 2014 DOE standard for programmed start ballasts with the lamp compatibility aspects of the LL 9 document. The resulting proposal will suggest dimming ballasts be evaluated to BLE performance metrics similar to the programmed start levels, but adjusted to provide for some additional losses due to the added control complexity and also for the heating power lost in the lamp cathodes.

NEMA BL 3-2013 Dimming Ballast Energy Performance may be purchased in electronic or hardcopy format for $32 on the NEMA website here.

Verify Markets Predicts North American and European Lighting Controls Market to Reach $2.42 Billion in 2016

By Lighting Controls Association, on November 29, 2013

The lighting controls market in North America and Europe will reach $2.42 billion in 2016, according to Lighting Controls Market in Europe and North America, a report recently released by Verify Markets, a market research firm specializing in industrial, environmental, energy, consumer products and water markets. This represents a CAGR of 4.2% between 2011-2016.

The report covers lighting control modules (relay panels, group controllers, scene controllers and DMX controllers), user interfaces (sliders, touch panels, timers and dimmers), sensors (occupancy and other), lighting control systems (centralized and distributed), dimmers and sensors, and networked luminaires.

Learn more here.

LCA TV: Quantum Total Lighting Management by Lutron

By Lighting Controls Association, on November 27, 2013

This short video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2013 LIGHTFAIR event, introduces the building industry to Lutron Electronics’ Quantum Total Lighting Management.

For more information about Lutron Electronics Co., visit www.lutron.com.

Universal Lighting Technologies Names Otto Hottendorf New Regional Sales Manager for U.S. Northwest

By Lighting Controls Association, on November 25, 2013

Universal Lighting Technologies recently announced the addition of lighting industry veteran Otto Hottendorf to the Universal team as the new Regional Sales Manager for the Northwest Territory of the United States.

Hottendorf joins Universal with more than two decades of experience in the electrical and lighting industries. Since 1992, he has successfully served in regional and national sales management roles, having worked with some of the most notable lighting technology companies in the country.

Throughout his career, Hottendorf has garnered extensive knowledge and experience in managing, selling, engineering and installing energy-efficient lighting. His 1999 installation of a campus-wide fluorescent lighting dimming system was among the first in the nation. Additionally, for five years, Hottendorf led a team that accomplished system-wide lighting upgrades for load shedding and daylight harvesting in the hospitality industry.

For more information about Universal Lighting Technologies, visit www.unvlt.com.

OPTOTRONIC Multi-Channel Dimmable Constant Current LED Power Supplies by OSRAM SYLVANIA

By Lighting Controls Association, on November 22, 2013

The OPTOTRONIC multi-channel dimmable family by OSRAM SYLVANIA consists of highly efficient, constant current, multiple-channel 100W and 150W LED power supplies. They are available in preset output currents between 350mA and 900mA for the 100W and between 700mA and 2100mA for the 150W. The four channel 100W comes in a standard T5 fluorescent ballast housing, less than 1 in. tall. The 150W comes in a standard T8 short can housing and is available in two or four output channels. Both lines have built-in 0-10V dimming enabling direct integration and operation with standard dimmers, sensors, as well as energy and light-management systems.

These dimmable power supplies offer wider range of constant current configurations with multiple channels – One power supply to operate up to 4 modules in a luminaire. They are ideal for downlights, wall wash, recessed troffers, indirect/direct pendants and low bay/high bay luminaires.

For more information about OSRAM Sylvania, visit www.sylvania.com.

GreenGate Patient Room Controls by Cooper Controls

By Lighting Controls Association, on November 20, 2013

Cooper Controls’ Patient Control System gives the patients control of lights and shades, provides hospital staff with centralized control, and ensures more energy efficiency–all in one box. Click here to learn more.

For more information about Cooper Controls, visit www.coopercontrol.com.

LCA RF Wireless Controls Survey

By Craig DiLouie, on November 18, 2013

Radio-frequency (RF) wireless lighting controls are control devices such as manual switches, occupancy sensors and photosensors that communicate via radio waves. Eliminating control wiring may reduce total installed cost while facilitating application of automatic lighting controls in existing construction where installing new wiring would be costly or problematic. As investment has favored existing over new nonresidential construction in recent years, RF wireless lighting controls have grown in popularity, with numerous products now available.

To produce a snapshot of attitudes regarding this control technology, the Lighting Controls Association developed a survey, which it distributed to subscribers of the association’s monthly newsletter, lightingCONTROL. There were 622 respondents, of which 395 qualified to take the survey by indicating they recommend, specify or approve lighting controls in U.S. building projects.

The largest response segment (133 respondents) was specifiers, notably lighting designers and consultants (98 respondents) and electrical engineers (35 respondents). A majority of these respondents (72%) play in both the new and existing construction markets; 11% focus on retrofits, and 17% focus on new construction and major renovations.

This whitepaper presents the survey results for this important segment. A summary of results for electrical contractors will be used as the basis for the author’s lighting column in a future issue of ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR.

The specifier results led to five major conclusions:

#1: RF wireless is a popular control option among respondents.

The average respondent indicated that RF wireless lighting controls were:

• discussed/evaluated/recommended in more than 40% of their projects in 2012;
• specified in more than 35% of their projects; and
• approved/installed in more than 30% of their projects.

#2: RF wireless lighting controls are growing in acceptance with respondents.

About two out of three respondents (64.1%) said the percentage of their projects in which RF wireless lighting controls were specified was higher in 2012 than in 2011. Six in 10 (60.7%) said the percentage of their projects in which RF wireless lighting controls were approved/installed was higher in 2012 than in 2011.

#3: Respondents are generally satisfied with product performance.

The average respondent indicated they are more than “somewhat satisfied” with manufacturer customer support, overall product performance, set up/programming, installation and product features for the RF wireless lighting controls that were approved/installed in their projects in 2012.

#4: Occupancy sensors are the most popular RF wireless lighting control type among respondents.

The average respondent indicated that for their 2012 projects in which RF wireless lighting controls were approved/installed, the following equipment types were used:

• RF wireless occupancy sensors in more than 50% of these projects;
• RF wireless photosensors in more than 40%;
• RF wireless second dimmer/switch in room with a single dimmer/switch in more than 30%;
• networking communication devices for RF wireless controls in nearly 40%;
• power output devices (i.e., power packs) for RF wireless controls in about 40%; and
• individual luminaire or addressable RF wireless controls in more than 40%.

#4: RF wireless lighting controls that communicate using manufacturer-based (proprietary) protocols are most popular with respondents.

The average respondent indicated that for their 2012 projects in which RF wireless lighting controls were approved/installed, the following protocols were employed:

• manufacturer-based (proprietary) in more than 50%;
• ZigBee in nearly 30%;
• Z-Wave in more than 10%;
• EnOcean in nearly 30%;
• Bluetooth in more than 10%;
• Wi-Fi in more than 25%; and
• other protocols in more than 15%.

#5: The average respondent regards ease of installation and the ability to eliminate control wiring as the most popular reasons for recommending, specifying and/or approving RF lighting controls.

Respondents were presented a list of possible reasons to recommend, specify and/or approve RF wireless lighting controls in projects in 2012, and asked to rate each on a 1-7 scale with 1 being “not significant,” 4 being “somewhat significant” and 7 being “very significant.”

The average respondent rated “ability to eliminate control wiring” highest (5.8), followed by “ease of installation” (5.5) and interest in reducing overall installed cost for the selected control strategy (5.5). “Confidence in the technology” also ranked as more than “somewhat significant” with a score of 5.0. “Utility rebate” was rated as below “somewhat significant” with a 3.4 score, which may be because the technology was not widely represented in rebate programs in 2012.

#6: The average respondent regards concerns about the integrity of the wireless control signal as the most significant barrier to adoption of the technology.

Respondents were presented a list of possible barriers against adoption of RF wireless lighting controls in their 2012 projects, and asked to rate each on a 1-7 scale with 1 being “not significant,” 4 being “somewhat significant” and 7 being “very significant.”

The average respondent rated “concerns about the integrity of the wireless control signal” as the most significant barrier, with a score of 4.1, indicating it is “somewhat significant.”

All other possible barriers were rated as less than “somewhat significant.”

Conclusions

Overall, the survey results suggest that RF wireless lighting controls are growing in popularity among lighting designers and electrical engineers as a result of the benefits of reduced installed cost and elimination of control wiring, and that these specifiers are generally satisfied with the technology. However, they are somewhat concerned with the reliability of the control signal. Occupancy sensors are the most popular wireless control device, and specifiers are predominantly using controls that operate according to proprietary protocols.

LCA TV: MVP Panels by Schneider Electric

By Lighting Controls Association, on November 15, 2013

This short video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2013 LIGHTFAIR event, introduces the building industry to Schneider Electric’s MVP lighting control panel product line.

For more information about Schneider Electric, visit m.lightingcontrol.schneider-electric.com.

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