The Ever-Changing World of Lighting Controls James R Benya, PE, FIES, FIALD BENYA BURNETT CONSULTANCY Davis, CA 1
Dedicated to Joel Spira 1927-2015 2
About the Speaker JAMES R BENYA PE FIES FIALD Principal, Benya Burnett Consultancy, Davis, CA 42 years in architectural lighting design Professional Engineer, California Member of the Board, International Dark Sky Association Fellow IES Fellow IALD Winner 2008 Edison Award Winner 2013, 2011, 2008 and 2003 Edison Award for Environmental Design Co-author of Lighting Design Basics (Wiley, 2011) and Lighting Retrofits and Relighting (Wiley, 2011) 3
A Brief History of Lighting Controls 1830 s Simple switch and relay 1880 s Pull-chain switch and rheostat dimmer 1910 s Wall switches, modern wiring 1930 s Autotransformer dimmer (variac) 1940 s Timers and clocks 1950 s Low voltage relay systems 1960 s Electronic (non-linear) dimmers 1970 s Electronic dimming control gear; memory controls; energy codes; building automation systems 1980 s Control networks; daylight harvesting; motion controls 1990 s Wireless lighting controls; mandatory energy controls 2000 s LED lighting controls; color changing controls 2010 s Internet of things; demand responsive controls 2015 Smart lighting 4
Summary of 2015 Controls Options Lighting Devices Switches Dimmers Time Switches Clock Calendar Astronomical Count down timer Motion sensors Daylight sensors Scene dimmers Contactors and relays Lighting Control Systems Analog wired systems Relay systems Dimming systems Scene control systems Digital wired systems Digital network/analog relay or dimming systems Digital network/digital control Wireless systems Simple IR and RF systems Powerline systems Wireless digital networks Interoperable controls with digital portals 5
Specialization of Lighting Controls Theater and Entertainment Fixed lighting analog hardwired Fixed lighting digital network/analog power control Fixed lighting digital network/digital power control Moving lighting systems Large scale video resolution displays and effects Architecture and Buildings Basic devices for convenience Basic lighting energy management control Integrated control of buildings Control for special effects and audio visual environments Control for museums Control for retail Dynamic lighting for outdoors Architainment 6
LED LIGHTING AND CONTROLS: TAMING THE WILD WEST 7
The Wild West of Lighting Controls 8
Terminology Line voltage The available power (120, 277, 240, etc.) Low voltage Class 1 Under 30 volts up to 25 amps Low voltage Class II Under 60 volts up to 100 VA (e.g. 24V 5 A) Mains switch On/off by switching power to the driver 9
Terminology Constant voltage Strings of LED s in parallel Generally can only be dimmed using pulse width modulation (turning on and off) More versatile in linear products Constant current LED arrays of a specific number, type, voltage and current DC dimming (potentially no flicker) 10
Terminology Power Supply Converts line voltage AC to low voltage DC Driver Limits voltage and current to LED s Power supply-driver Power supply and driver in the same package PWM dimmer Dims constant voltage luminaires Mains switch On/off by switching power to the driver 11
Why the Wild West? 12
Lighting Control Types All of the following usually require a mains switch ahead of the power supply-driver On/off switch Forward phase (Triac) dimmer (2 wires) Magnetic forward phase dimmer (2 wires) Reverse phase dimmer (2 wires) Legacy fluorescent forward phase (3 wire) 0-10 volt dimming (4 wires) Legacy powerline carrier (2 wires) Cheap color changing systems, usually DMX-512A (tape light) Low voltage manual dimmer 13
Lighting Control Types All of the following usually do NOT require a mains switch ahead of the driver DALI Lutron Ecosystem and similar DALI-like systems Packaged wireless TCP/IP, Bluetooth, etc. (e.g. Philips Hue) 14
Lighting Control Types All of the following MAY or MAY NOT require a mains switch ahead of the driver Wireless mesh network Wireless TCP/IP or Bluetooth for 0-10 volt drivers Proprietary color changing systems DMX-512 Wireless Enocean and similar systems Powerline e.g. Lumentalk Power over Ethernet (PoE) systems 15
Most Common Dimmable Drivers and power supply-drivers 1. 0-10 volt 2. Forward phase cut 3. Reverse phase cut 4. DMX 5. DALI 6. Ecosystem 16
Control interface devices Ecosystem to 0-10 volt DALI to 0-10 volt Forward phase control to 0-10 volt 17
Control interface portals DALI/Ecosystem to BACNet, ModBUS, etc. DALI/Ecosystem to DMX-512A DALI/Ecosystem to Ethernet DMX-512A to Ethernet 18
Versatile power supply-drivers Three wire legacy phase cut and Ecosystem DALI and 0-10 volt 19
Devices vs. Systems Devices Self contained Includes power switch, dim level generator, and/or human interface, sensor, etc. May interconnect to other devices in the same control zone or room Systems Requires more than one component Capable of communicating to other zones Capable of receiving commands from a central source 20
Wired networks Full duplex/collision protected TCP/IP Ecosystem 3-byte DALI TIA-485 CrestNET Half duplex/polling /(no collision protection) DMX DALI 21
Wireless Networks Zigbee (Mesh) Z-wave Radio-Ra 22
Hybrid Wired/wireless Wired backbone Wired or wireless extensions (e.g Lutron ClearConnect) 23
Control interfaces Wallbox devices Wallbox control stations Wireless control stations Programmable network stations Programmable master stations Building automation system portals Wireless apps Smartphone Legacy devices Internet portals 24
Energy Codes Title 24 2013 (non-residential) requires all lighting to be dimmable automatic shut off manual override multi-level control one additional automatic function (tuning, daylight harvesting, manual dimming) Demand response (>10,000 sf) 25
Regulatory Standards UL /CUL listings UL and lab competitors (Intertek) Evolving EU standards Individual country standards CE standards CALCTP/CLCATT NEMA DOE 26
Quasi regulatory standards DLC NEEP, NEEA, etc. LCA IES DOE (e.g. MSSLC) US EPA USGBC/LEED 27
The wild west indeed No standard wiring methods No standard wired network type or protocol No standard wireless network type or protocol Devices, components and systems not interchangeable Leading edge is mostly small companies with heavy IT influence and trendy marketing Major players bogged down by too many choices, intellectual property issues, and scared of investing in the wrong thing 28
The Wild West Too many small company/international players NEMA not ready/capable of standards Electricians can t install and make work UL not keeping up with safety issues/problems Products change between specification and shipping 29
The Wild West Desire for international standardization Simultaneous desire to maintain freedom from regulations that might hinder creativity/inventions Disdain for the American regulatory system especially UL Disdain for the European regulatory system 30
Problems and Risks 31
Incompatibility Wrong interface Right interface wrong continent Right interface, right continent, still does not work right Wrong voltage/line frequency 32
Inconsistent behavior Wrong dimming range System response delays Non linear response Works sometimes, sometimes not 33
Flicker and Stroboscopy No standards, no measure Can t eliminate from phase cut dimming devices Flicker/strobing when at full power Un-smooth dimming behavior 34
Performance Disappointments Does not fade to black Differing fade rate Color shift Color mismatch 35
Unsafe Situations Improper isolation of low voltage system presents line voltage on (supposedly) low voltage circuits 36
This is your problem because: 1. You supplied the products (even if they were substituted, changed or VE d). 2. The manufacturers of products will only guarantee the proper installation if they supply the whole system, for good reasons. 3. The electrical engineer/electrician/electrical contractor does not know enough to be of much help. 4. The inspectors know even less. 37
Risk Management 38
Options GOOD IDEAS 1. Do the exacting engineering, test everything, know damned well that everything works, and specify it. Accept no changes. 2. Work closely with the contractor AND vendor. Hold the vendor primarily responsible. 3. Demand long warranties and service contracts. BAD IDEAS 1. Business as usual pricing and bidding. 2. Not considering the possible control complications and incompatibilities. 39
Strong Recommendations Pick your control system first and stick with it. Don t make changes or substitutions without fully vetting both the control and the luminaire power supply-drivers. Get guarantees from the manufacturers in writing. Be sure that the contractor and owner are aware of the risks and insist on documentation of compatibility testing. 40
More Strong Recommendations Test all products for operation and safety on the specified lighting control system. Document everything so that everyone gets the message that screw-ups end up with the bill. Reconfirm this when the products are made/to be shipped. Make your suppliers financially at risk for failures of product testing or listing. 41
More Strong Recommendations Get guarantees from fixture manufacturers that their products have been tested for compatibility and that they will be responsible for any incompatibilities. Test all specified products on your system, anyway. 42
Thank you! James R Benya jbenya@benyaburnett.com 43
More Strong Recommendations Consider hiring or retaining a controls specialist. Pick the systems/products that you plan to offer full services for. Send the specialist to controls school for each company you plan to promote. Sell design and engineering services, start up services, programming services and maintenance services. 44
AND NOW FOR OUR GUEST PANEL 45