Wireless lighting systems are made up of physical devices, both wired and wireless, and a communications network that securely collects data and controls the system. The basic architecture of a networked lighting system consists of light fixtures, switches, sensors, controllers, gateways and software that controls the entire system see Figure 4. In a typical system, all of these devices are wired together and communicate over a common protocol. In a wireless system, the light fixtures, controllers, gateways and sometimes switches are still hard-wired to a power source.
The data collection sensors and controls switches and sensors typically communicate wirelessly. Light fixtures for wireless systems are often already enabled with integral wireless controllers and sensors directly from the manufacturer, or can be provided with a third-party wireless controller and sensor.
In both cases, the light fixtures have wired power directly fed to them via the wireless controllers. Figure 1: Specifying equipment for an emerging technology within any building, especially a ,square-foot health care facility, can have its challenges. As the engineering consultant for the project, keeping communication channels open between owner and manufacturer is imperative.
Working through any issues with a reputable manufacturer can help alleviate problems that arise and ensure a successful project for the owner. Switches for wireless systems come in a few varieties — hard-wired for power, battery or batteryless using kinetic energy from the switch action.
Switches hard-wired for power can use line voltage or low-voltage power. Because these switches require a hard-wired feed, they require a wall rough-in location. The battery or batteryless switches do not need a wall rough-in and can be simply mounted using drywall screws or mounting tape. Sensors can be integrated directly into the light fixture or as a standalone unit, as noted above. When fixture-mounted, the sensor is powered via the light fixture.
Having sensors mounted in each fixture increases the granularity of the data collected, which increases the potential value of the system. Sensors with Bluetooth capability can communicate with low-energy Bluetooth devices such as asset tags or badges for real-time locating systems.
Instead of having to run wires out to a physical device, these switches or dimmers are mounted on the fixture itself.
Besides controlling the fixture, the controller often can be specified to collect real-time energy usage of the fixture to send back to the system. To ensure a solid and reliable network, wireless area controllers are placed to cover a floor or a maximum square footage area. Most systems have their own proprietary software, which runs the lighting control system. Not as common but still available are wireless controllers, sensors and switches that allow third-party control systems, like building automation systems, to communicate and directly control the wireless devices without a proprietary system from the lighting vendor.
Figure 2: This wirelessly controlled light fixture has an integral occupancy sensor. There are several different network topologies and many different protocols available to create a communications network.
The ones that will be discussed here are the most common versions that have emerged for wireless lighting systems. These topologies are generally categorized into linear and mesh. Linear topologies transmit messages from one device to another in a sequential order.
The bus, star and tree topologies are examples of linear topologies. Comparatively, on a bus network, every device is connected to a central trunk or backbone, the star network has every device connected directly back to the main controller and the tree is a combination of the two consisting of a series of star networks connected via a linear trunk.
The mesh network has no predefined communications path in the system. All devices communicate with each other, receiving and transmitting the messages until received by an area controller. This network of data travels on multiple paths, which creates the mesh structure and makes the system inherently more reliable including coverage of areas that have potential signal barriers.
View all posts by adminny. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Skip to content by adminny Posted on January 12, Godox MS WS 2. Network and System Security. Last updated on January 13, pm. Dimmable means the brightness can be changed but the temperature of the light cannot; tuneable means brightness and temperature can be changed; multicolor means any color, temperature and brightness can be created.
Then there are accessories to consider, like dimmer switches, and whether you want these to replace the existing switches on your walls, sit alongside them, or be used as a portable and wireless controller. Other accessories include motion sensors. Finally, some smart lighting can be installed outside, and others are available as LED light strips, or as illuminating panels designed to be stuck on the wall as a piece of interior design.
There are several manufacturers to pick from. Some allow their bulbs to work with other systems, but for the most part it is worth picking one brand and sticking with it. When smart lights are installed , your old wall switches will still work — they will still switches the bulbs on and off.
But it is generally recommended that you leave the switches in the on position and instead control the lights via their app, wireless switches, or a voice assistant. Hue bulbs require a bridge, which connects to your router, to communicate Signify. Widely regarded as the market leader, Philips Hue from Signify offers a broad range of bulbs with different fittings to make sure they will work with your current setup.
The company also sells LED light strips, ceiling fixtures and lamps, some of which are even portable and battery-powered. As well as lights, the Hue range consists of dimmer switches and motion sensors for automatically triggering lights when you walk past — useful for in the bathroom at night, for example — and weatherproof lights designed for the garden are also available.
An important thing to remember about Hue lights is that they require the Bridge to function. This connects to your router with an Ethernet cable, and while you only need one per household, the lights cannot be set up and used without it. As such, you are best buying a Hue starter packs , which comes with bulbs, the bridge and, in some cases, a wireless dimmer switch too.
There are also light strips with variable lighting on the latest version , and the new Play light bars designed to work specifically with the Hue Play HDMI Sync Box , which matches the lighting with whatever's shown on the television. If you find that your current light fittings do not support any of the above options, then you can swap out the connections without too much effort or expense — although, naturally, this will depend on the size of your house and your DIY skills.
As well as offering a wide range of bulbs, Signify has taken the interesting move of allowing third-party app developers to take control of its products. So while the official Hue app will offer enough control for most users, other apps bring more features. There are apps for making your lights simulate candle flicker and fireworks, for example, or the crackling of a log fire.
Gimmick, perhaps, but the degree to which your system can be customized exactly to your taste is extraordinary. The majority of installed lighting control systems are room-based, in which the system in each room operates autonomously. The system must be programmed, zoned and calibrated in the field, though some manufacturers offer connected lighting packages with onboard sensors and controllers with preprogrammed sequences of operation based on energy code compliance.
Although future reprogramming, rezoning and recalibration is possible, room-based systems are largely designed to be left alone after installation. Some manufacturers have made their systems more commissioning-friendly, enabling a technician with less training to set up and adjust system operation using a mobile device app. Image courtesy of RAB Lighting. Many systems offer controllers with integral power metering chips, eliminating the need to install current transducers on branch circuits for metering.
Accuracy varies, so ask the manufacturer how they measure energy consumption. Wireless lighting control systems also typically have recommended limits on the number of nodes connected to a particular gateway. In a wireless control system, a node is any device that transmits and receives instructions and data wirelessly, with its own unique address i.
Another has a recommended limit of nodes per gateway. Make sure that you understand whether it is a recommended limit or a hard limit.
In some systems, the operating software may be hard-coded so that gateways can handle only up to a specific number of nodes. In other systems, the limit is merely a recommendation. This is usually governed by the anticipated data traffic over the wireless network. Remember that some devices may transmit and receive substantially more data than others. If it turns out that your installation has a much greater percentage of those devices than others, there may be an impact on how the gateway handles that traffic.
An important factor affecting the location of wireless control devices is signal range. These signals are typically low power, which limits their reach. Wireless control systems are typically designed for low power, low data rate, and close proximity range. While the owner wants to minimize the number of devices installed to minimize cost, keeping wireless devices within these boundaries provides greater confidence of reliability.
When designing a wireless control system, pay special attention to manufacturer recommendations for limitations when the signal must travel through obstacles such as interior partitions and dense construction materials such as cinderblock walls. The manufacturer may offer other recommendations to help locate devices, such as keeping them a certain distance from metal objects that may impact the accurate transmission of network information.
In an open office floor, wireless signals usually have an obstructed pathway between luminaires and from luminaires, sensors and switches to gateways. Hence, open offices are great candidates for the use of wireless lighting control systems.
In systems that use luminaire-integrated controls, every luminaire has its own integral controller and sensors. Other systems have options for controllers that can handle a larger load. As a result, a group of luminaires may be connected to one controller upstream of the luminaires.
In open office spaces—as well as many other types of spaces—current codes require luminaires in daylight zones to be automatically controlled in response to available daylight. Therefore, careful planning is required when using systems with high-amperage controllers upstream of a group of luminaires to ensure that they can be controlled as a distinct zone corresponding to primary and secondary daylight zones as defined in the applicable energy code.
However, keep in mind that future changes to the space may require some rewiring when using such a system. Just as in open office spaces, luminaires in classrooms that are in the primary and secondary daylight zones also have to be automatically controlled in response to available daylight to comply with most current energy codes. In a classroom with three rows of luminaires parallel to the window wall, one row is typically in the primary daylight zone, and the next row is in the secondary daylight zone.
Luminaires in warehouses are typically installed in rows, centered in each aisle. Energy codes typically require automatic shutoff or at least automatic dimming of luminaires in each aisle during vacancy.
0コメント