By Lighting Controls Association, on March 15, 2012
A new GE Lighting controller saves energy, brings dimming capabilities to outdoor streetlights.
Faced with shrinking budgets, cities and states across the nation are being challenged to curb costs. A new GE Lighting system is helping meet this charge with a dimming system that reduces electricity costs for outdoor lighting.
The newly patented GE Lighting controller (U.S. Patent 8,038,481) brings dimming capabilities to LED and HID outdoor fixtures, enabling end users to control when light fixtures turn on and off and the light output of the fixture. The controller can dim the output of LED fixtures from 10% to 90%. The controller also is compatible with HID systems, allowing the light output of the fixtures to be reduced by 50 percent during low-traffic times.
The GE Lighting controller attaches to a fixture with a patented turn and lock receptacle that is fully compatible with current photocells. Two additional connections within the receptacle pass the dimming control signals from the controller to the dimming LED driver or ballast in the lighting fixture.
* Products dim electronic T8′s and CFL’s
* Both 0 to 10 Volt and Phase-Control analog technologies, and DALI digital protocols
* Controls for low or high-power applications
* Over 200 stock items that ship same day
* The most extensive line of 240/277 Volt controls available
* Custom 277 Volt and 50 Hz controls
* Small lot OEM capabilities
* ISO 9000 products
* Aggressive Distributor Stock program with low minimum stock levels.
By Lighting Controls Association, on February 1, 2012
Leviton has been named among Building Operating Management magazine’s top products of the year for the company’s SectorFlex Intelligent Digital Lighting Control System. There were 560 products submitted and the winners were chosen by the building and facility management executives that subscribe to the magazine, ensuring 100 percent reader selection. The SectorFlex products will be featured in the January 2012 issue of Building Operating Management (BOM) as a Top Products Award Winner.
Leviton’s SectorFlex Intelligent Digital Lighting Control System combines several energy saving technologies – scheduling, occupancy sensing, daylight harvesting and dimming – into one conveniently integrated system. This topology-free system uses the same wiring type for all Sector components and accessories, making it one of the easiest lighting control systems to install. To further simplify installation, all components are on a single bus, with accessories connected to the network. The Sector family of products provides a scalable solution that offers maximum flexibility and maximum coverage in any application – from a single room to a campus of buildings.
The SectorFlex Intelligent Digital Lighting Control System is part of Leviton’s integrated energy management offering, which includes Leviton occupancy sensors, daylight harvesting systems, self-powered energy harvesting wireless lighting controls, commercial grade submeters, programmable relay control and dimmers, and architectural lighting control systems for building-wide lighting management.
By Lighting Controls Association, on December 29, 2011
OSRAM SYLVANIA has expanded its line of ELOGIC™ Lighting Controls within the SYLVANIA Light Management Systems portfolio. The ELOGIC family of controls provides added energy savings, preference control and optimization for lighting systems across a variety of applications. Additions to the SYLVANIA portfolio include the commercial-grade ELOGIC Sensors Series and ELOGIC Slide Dimmers Series, offering flexibility and improved efficiency for a wide range of lighting systems.
The SYLVANIA ELOGIC Occupancy Sensors Series delivers a full line of sensors comprised of six unique sensors, including configurations for internal fixture mounting, external mounting for high bay applications, and one with the additional feature of daylight hold-off. A Wall-Box Sensor is available that requires little to no commissioning and self-adjusts and self-calibrates, and a Dual Relay Wall Box sensor is available that controls two separate loads and multiple fixtures or switched dimming. Both Wall-Box and Ceiling sensors come in Infrared and Multi-Technology version that detects small motions and occupants behind obstructions.
The SYLVANIA ELOGIC Dimmer Series delivers a full line of dimmer switches compatible with line voltage LED sources, phase cut fluorescent systems, zero-to-ten volt devices and electronic and magnetic transformers. ELOGIC Dimmers feature fluid slide motion, allowing for fine adjustments, and LED locator lights are available in most models to illuminate the switch when lights are off.
For more information about the SYLVANIA Light Management Systems portfolio, contact OSRAM SYLVANIA.
Schneider Electric’s new UL924 Emergency Lighting Control products a simple solution allowing standard existing fixtures to also be used for emergency lighting applications, saving the costs associated with the installation of additional emergency lighting fixtures. Additionally, the emergency lighting control devices require fewer maintenance costs and testing requirements than backup batteries because they comply with the UL924 standard, reducing installation time. Finally, the emergency lighting control devices save both energy and money by providing emergency backup power only when needed.
The three new models are designed to meet the different needs and requirements found within many of today’s buildings:
- UL 924 Emergency Lighting Control Relay (ERC): A low-profile device that can be mounted in the ceiling, the ERC provides emergency lighting to switched loads when a power drop is detected and automatically transfers lighting back to normal utility power once restored. An automatic diagnostic feature replaces the need for an accessible test switch.
- UL924 Emergency Lighting Control Relay with Panel Mount (EPMC) (see photo): Equipped with the detecting and switching features of the ERC, this relay is a universally compatible device available in both 120V and 277V models. The EPMC includes a test switch that offers the convenience of testing an emergency lighting system with a simple push of a button. The solution is also equipped with a green LED to confirm wiring connections and power availability.
- UL924 Emergency Lighting Dimmer Control (EDC): Specifically designed with dimmable lights in mind, the EDC senses a voltage drop from a regular lighting circuit and automatically turns lights on to full brightness after transferring the load to the emergency source. The product is also available in both 120V and 277V models and is equipped with a simple test switch and a green LED to confirm wiring connections and power availability.
By Lighting Controls Association, on November 23, 2011
PLC Multipoint has introduced Nebula, an energy-saving dimming solution for classrooms. Key to this solution is the use of Satellites, which enable control scenarios to be replicated easily throughout multiple classrooms. Utilizing Panasonic’s Full-2Way bus architecture, the Satellites are connected via 2 polarity-neutral wires. This makes the installation very simple, while also providing network control and information sharing throughout the building.
Fluorescent dimming is one of the modules available in the Nebula. With this module, daylight harvesting can be automatically controlled with an integrated Ceiling Daylight Sensor from Panasonic, as well as any of the photo sensors from PLCSensors. The dimming module can also be controlled manually using the continuous step mode or with as many as eight presets available within the Nebula Controller. The occupant can also override these presets with a wireless hand-held device.
Lutron Quantum Total Light Management system maximizes the efficient use of light to improve comfort and productivity, simplify operations and save energy. This powerful and efficient system dims or switches all electric lighting and simultaneously controls daylight using automated shades. Quantum easily integrates with building management systems and is ideal for office buildings, hospitals, universities, and more.
Quantum Select packages are pre-packaged solutions for standalone or panel-based projects that require only select Quantum functionality.
Benefits of Quantum Select packages:
• select only the Quantum capabilities required for your project
• complete solutions start at less than $0.25 per square foot
• easily add functionality and expand the system to control larger areas at any time
Four distinct light management packages are available:
• Central Control Package – A simple, cost-effective and scalable solution that provides the ability to control and monitor your lighting system easily from a computer.
• Building Systems Integration Package – Ideal for integrating your Lutron light control system with a third-party building management system, this package provides the necessary software licenses to manage your building from a single point of control.
• Hyperion™ Package – Designed for use in spaces that have direct exposure to daylight, this package utilizes Lutron Hyperion automatic shading software to control the amount of daylight entering a space, based on the position of the sun.
• Green Glance® Package – Designed to facilitate effective energy management by enabling a building to evaluate and monitor energy use, the GreenGlance package features display software that provides real-time and historical data on lighting energy savings.
Each Quantum Select package features the QP3 Light Management Hub to control, manage, and monitor light and energy use, while offering specific Quantum capabilities and associated software licenses based on project needs. The new QP3 hub:
• easily integrates with third-party building management systems
• offers the most cost-effective light management hub of its kind
• features a small form factor that fits easily into any location
• has two configurable links that provide the ability to control a small area up to an entire building (limit 512 controllable outputs per link)
By Lighting Controls Association, on October 14, 2011
This short video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2011 LIGHTFAIR event, introduces the building industry to Universal Lighting Technologies’ Demand Control Lighting (DCL) solution.
DCL is designed to save time and money on installation, significantly lower energy consumption, and reduce payback periods.
DEMANDflex ballasts are high-efficiency program-start ballasts with the flexibility to be tuned at the circuit level to set power levels during initial installation. When combined with DCL controls, they are part of the most cost-effective lighting energy management system available.
DCL System Controls put you in command of your lighting energy costs. Reduce lighting power levels by up to 50% through a variety of control options. Incorporate scheduling and load shedding lighting strategies to reduce peak demand charges.
Integrate DCL controls with other energy management controls for additional savings from daylight harvesting to occupancy sensors. DCL systems can be controlled from a local building management system or networked for control over the internet for demand response lighting control.
By Lighting Controls Association, on October 5, 2011
The ninth annual Lighting for Tomorrow competition recognizes the best designed, energy-efficient lighting products in the residential market.
For the second year, the competition has expanded its scope to include solid-state lighting (SSL) replacement lamps and lighting controls.
The 2011 judging panel reviewed a total of 52 products including 39 SSL luminaires at Underwriters Laboratories (UL) University in Research Triangle Park, NC. See all winners here.
Two products were entered for the controls category, and both received awards:
WINNER: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc Diva C·L Dimmer
Over the last few years, CFL and LED bulbs capable of dimming have become more readily available but many still have performance issues when used with a standard incandescent dimmer. Lutron’s Diva C·L dimmer specifically addresses issues commonly found when dimming these lamps including lights turning off while being dimmed, not turning on, and turning off unexpectedly or flickering. This new dimmer has been engineered to solve these issues and is UL listed to work with a broad range of lamps, ensuring that today’s dimmer is compatible with tomorrow’s light sources.
The Diva C·L dimmer from Lutron works with dimmable CFLs and LEDs in addition to incandescent and halogen lamps. The new dimmer uses Lutron’s HED Technology, featuring advanced dimming circuitry designed for compatibility with most high-efficacy residential lamps. The dimmer can even dim a mixed load of light sources (i.e., dimmable LED and halogen bulbs) on the same circuit. Lutron continuously tests and publishes a list of approved dimmable CFL and dimmable LED bulbs so that consumers can be sure of smooth dimming performance.
HONORABLE MENTION: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc RadioRA 2 Phase-Adaptive Dimmer
The RadioRA 2 Phase-Adaptive Dimmer is compatible with electronic low-voltage, magnetic low-voltage, incandescent, halogen and dimmable LED and CFL load types. While this would have required several different wallbox controls in the past, this new dimmer is able to sense the load type that it is connected to and change its output waveform to properly and safely control that load. This technology, previously available in Lutron’s remote panel-based controls, is now available in a standard wallbox configuration – the Lutron Maestro dimmer style. To respond to the ultra-low wattages of high-efficacy lighting, the dimmer has a 5W minimum load, but scales all the way up to a 600W output. It can be connected to several other wallbox locations for 3- and 4-way dimming. The dimmer is amazingly compact, with a back box penetration of only 1-1/8”, making installation simple. This dimmer allows the halogen lamp installed today to be replaced by a CFL tomorrow and later replaced with an LED.
HUNT Simplicity® Architectural Wallbox Dimmers provide:
Schneider Electric has announced the availability of 
HONORABLE MENTION: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc RadioRA 2 Phase-Adaptive Dimmer
