only be achieved if intelligent control systems can be easily retrofitted. Wireless technologies clearly have an advantage, as they are more flexible and cheaper to install than wired systems. The installation can also be expanded at any time.
However, there are different wireless technologies for building automation. Some standards (e.g. based on IEEE 802.15.4) use the 2.4 GHz band, a frequency approved in most countries allowing worldwide use. The 2.4 GHz band is also used by many other devices, which makes it vulnerable to interference. In addition, the range inside buildings is sometimes limited to a maximum of ten metres and can even be further reduced by certain materials such as reinforced concrete walls. Wireless solutions in this frequency band are therefore mainly suited for in-room LED control, a scenario typical for consumer lighting applications.
“Systems are
required to save at least 15% of
energy by adjusting to the amount of available daylight.”
As an alternative to the 2.4 GHz band, some wireless technologies use frequencies below 1 GHz. These are specifically suitable for communication inside buildings as they penetrate walls and furniture easily and achieve a better range of up to 30 metres. Solutions below 1 GHz in building automation are just as reliable as wired systems as the frequencies are less crowded and therefore more robust.
Battery-less operation Ultra-low power radio standards (e.g. ISO/IEC 14543-3-10) enable even battery-less wireless solutions, which gain their energy from motion, light or temperature differences. Such sensor and switch solutions work without cables and batteries,
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saving maintenance effort and costs. Battery-less systems combine the flexibility of a wireless solution with the low operating cost of a wired system. With more than 1,500 interoperable products, the EnOcean energy harvesting wireless standard is already very well-established in the field of building automation.
External control An external controller complements the existing LED driver and can act as a gateway translating the wireless control communication to the existing lighting standard such as 1-10V or DALI. [Image: LEDR Controller_ external Control_EnOcean]. Thus, LED systems can wirelessly communicate, for example via the EnOcean radio, with battery-less occupancy sensors, light level sensors and switches to realise daylight harvesting scenarios, presence dependent control and manual dimming. Such retrofitted controllers can dim both a single LED light and zones of LED lights connected in parallel. Due to the advanced wireless connectivity of EnOcean- based systems, all parameters of lighting control can be configured using a remote commissioning PC tool. Installers can configure the controller and all components centrally and adjust lighting control to local conditions, define properties and settings, and manage and save projects. An additional gateway allows the LED controller to be integrated into a building automation system.
Smart driver The second option is integrating the control directly into the LED driver. Here, an intelligent version can replace existing control units and combines both the wireless communication as well as the lighting control. [Image: LL1x50-E- CC_Helvar] If a building is retrofitted from conventional to LED lighting, the old control gear can be replaced by intelligent drivers in a single upgrade step. In contrast to the first approach, no additional external devices for radio communication are required. The lights, retrofitted in such a way, don’t need a separate control unit.
Shining panel Finally, there is a move to integrate
wireless control directly into the LED panel. Such a complete solution, also referred to as luminaire, unifies the bulbs/tubes, reflector and control electronics in one unit. Installers would then implement controllable LED technology in one step. This approach can revolutionise future lighting in buildings in the context of innovative OLED technology. Thus, a shining wall would be imaginable, which automatically adapts to daylight levels or the presence of persons.
“Labour costs and installation
efforts are critical factors when
planning building automation.”
Highlight The Philips Hue LED consumer lighting system demonstrates an even more user-friendly variation. Here, intelligence is directly integrated into the bulb so that the user can easily replace old incandescent bulbs without an installer‘s help. This trend is also interesting for office buildings. If existing fluorescent tubes could directly be replaced by energy- efficient LED lights with integrated control, there won’t be even the need to change the panel.
Illuminated future LEDs are the technology of the future. More and more buildings are retrofitted with this new type of illumination to save as much energy as possible compared to traditional solutions. However, even efficient lighting technologies can waste energy if they are left on when not needed. Appropriate sensors and daylight harvesting technology together can make a huge impact, dimming or switching off lights in unoccupied areas or during the day when sufficient outside light is available.
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