Ivory Egg Blog Archive

Posts Tagged ‘Lighting Control’

Ding Ding… KNX takes on all comers!

March 9th, 2010

After stumbling across a discussion thread on AV Forum that discussed the merits of various lighting/smart home control solutions, in response to a question on who’s the best in terms of cost a technical features/benefits, I thought I should look into this a little deeper.

OK, at Ivory Egg we could be viewed as a little KNX or DALI biased, so I promise to be as objective as possible and open to feedback here. At the end of the day we are independent, simply want to deliver the best solutions to our clients and I would hope this article, at the very least, will stimulate some form of debate. You can view the complete thread at AV Forums.

So, in terms of the players (at least who I perceive to be the market ‘leaders’ in this field), and again you may disagree with my selection, I have decided to look at the following solutions. This selection is based purely on the names I come across on a weekly basis:

  • KNX
    KNX is a standardised (EN 50090,ISO/IEC 14543), OSI-based network communications protocol for intelligent buildings. KNX is the successor to, and convergence of, three previous standards: the European Home Systems Protocol (EHS), BatiBUS, and the European Installation Bus (EIB or Instabus).
  • Crestron
    Crestron is the world’s leading manufacturer of advanced control and automation systems. They offer integrated solutions to control audio, video, computer, IP and environmental systems, and streamline technology to improve the quality of life for people in corporate boardrooms, conference rooms, classrooms, auditoriums, and in their homes.
  • Lutron
    Lutron Electronics Company, Inc. is a privately held corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells lighting control systems and a variety of other related products. Its probably fair to say that Lutron lead the way in lighting control systems.
  • Rako
    Rako provide state of the art digital dimming technology. Their innovative solutions meet the needs of a diverse range of applications by offering lighting systems that are simple to use, creative, easily installed and cost effective.
  • DALI
    The Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) is a digital protocol for the controlling of lighting in buildings, such as electrical ballasts and dimmers.
  • INSTEON
    INSTEON technology is a dual-band mesh topology employing AC-power lines and a radio-frequency (RF) protocol to communicate with and automate home electronic devices and appliances, which normally work independently. It is a home automation networking technology invented by SmartLabs, Inc., and was developed based on the X10 model for control and sensing applications in the home.

Not everybody active in this field, but a good starting point? Unfortunatley though, we have a bit of a problem when trying to compare these so-called competitors, as basically what we’re dealing with is a mix of different standards, manufactures and solutions that are all competing against each other. I would love to be in position to just compare like for like and publish the pros and cons of each, answer the questions in places such as AV Forum, but that would not provide a true representation of each solution (I hope I’m not stating the obvious here)…

For example, it makes sense on some projects to have a mix of KNX and DALI. As DALI is an open protocol for lighting control mainly in commercial buildings, while the growth area in KNX is for residential and LED. Take Heathrow Terminal 5, which has a KNX backbone with switches/PIRs etc and a gateway to DALI for the lighting. KNX can’t compete with DALI, as the DALI is fitted to the ballasts that control the lighting and sit in the actual light fitting. They are complimentary systems and we approach it from that point of view as we sell KNX/EIB DALI gateways at Ivory Egg.

In terms of KNX vs. some of the other systems, well Lutron is bar far the market leader in terms of pure lighting control. Rako on the other hand sell purely wireless lighting controls and they are great for DIY/retro-fit. As for INSTEON, which is again a wireless control technology, they currently have no European devices so it doesn’t really complete with KNX and is more of a competitor to the likes of Z-wave and EnOcean (which is another blog altogether). And finally  we have Crestron, who supply more AV & generic device control solutions.

It is worth pointing out that Crestron do provide a complete AV, lighting and control solution. It does it by controlling different devices from multiple manufactures and a wide range of different protocols via a central controller. From a consumer point of view Crestron is “Interface Centric” via tablet and in wall touch screens. This hides the complexity of using Lutron for lighting, X manufacturer for heating and Z for multi room audio. It is an expensive route to take, but on the positive side it is highly configurable.

KNX is standard based and developed from a consumer point of view. It is switch centric, in other words it is a compact and stylish intelligent switch on the wall that can easily control the ‘functions’ in a room (HVAC, lighting, blinds etc). KNX has 1,000s of products that are certified to work together, but this is not the case with Creston. That said most consumers wouldn’t know the difference, as most simply go on look and feel, and that is where market leaders such as Basalte and Gira score highly. Their products are innovative, look fantastic on the wall and at Ivory Egg we can supply a whole host of fittings for 13amp sockets that will coordinate with the wall switches. And to be fair, this is what the architects are demanding!

So difficult to draw conclusions really. I guess the big question I’ve not really answered is what are they main differences between Lutron and KNX? As Lutron is a central processor based with proprietary technology and KNX is a component/manufacturer open standard, does that mean the KNX open standard is the lowest common denominator (as claimed by Lutron) or does that mean you get vastly increased flexibility (as claimed by KNX)? Is Lutron only lighting control – on/off/dim or is it full integration. If KNX gives you full integration, then why would you even consider Lutron? All very valid questions…

Yes, KNX provides a holistic approach to efficient energy usage. It is not limited to lighting or heating or metering or appliances or AV or any other specific function for that matter. The KNX platform has been adopted by many highly respected major manufacturers with their vast choice of products covering all these product lines. In the longer term, this is also important to building owners, as any installation is future proofed for any changes/upgrades that could be needed. As KNX covers such a diversity of applications using one standard, it means cabling networks can be much more simplistic and single twisted pair cabling can often suffice, with multiple elements all operating together on a single network. As I’ve already mentioned briefly with DALI, a number of the KNX manufacturers have also developed ‘gateways’ to other control protocols. These simple devices are used to expand the capability of KNX control systems to provide the complete solution for a building.

KNX has also worked closely with management-level protocols such as BACnet to enable a close co-operation between these two standards when the project requires additional integration. Every KNX-compliant piece of equipment is fully tested and certified to this highly stringent standard by an independent regulatory body – It is only at this point that it can carry the KNX logo, as controlled by the international KNX Association of Brussels. Therefore there is total confidence in reliability and interoperability, whatever KNX devices are chosen. In the UK we have a growing network of integrators who have joined KNX UK to share their experiences and to help promote the standard. They can also assist consultants as well as building owners in achieving the optimum solution for their building and with KNX also accepted throughout the world (and with partnership agreements with more than 30.000 partners in more than 75 countries worldwide) from China to the United States as well as Australia and the Middle East, it truly is a worldwide standard.

Lutron on the other hand is recognised as the leading brand in terms of pure lighting control, and rightly so… It has many advantages and is easy to install, retrofitable and extremely reliable. Their systems are a proven, extensively implemented technology that offers 2-way communication, is scene capable and can dim any type of dimmable lighting. All this is backed by an industry leading company with a very long history and their systems are available in a large number of styles and finishes, all backed with a 7 year warrantee. Plus they too can integrate window/shade controls and offer relatively easy intregration with Crestron and other control systems. However, while I find it hard to criticize KNX (and again, I can hold my hands up and say yes we’re a little biased), to me there are some obvious disadvantages to Lutron. For one it only controls up to 32 lights (expandable to 64). Then there is the fact it has no dedicated processor, so it relies on an automation processor. In other words if this processor fails, then I’m afraid you have to manually override or you have no lights at all. However, the ‘biggie’  (in my experience anyway) is that expansion always seems more complicated than it needs to be and is certainly more expensive than with KNX products.

The choice of lighting control is a wide one one I’m afraid, the above is only our humble opinion.  To be honest, what you really need to do is decide what functionality you want and then see what systems can support your needs. Its important you select an installer that can advise you on the systems that you’re interested in. Price is always important, but do not make it the main point, and you need to always be thinking about upgrades/adding to the system in the future. Also think about who can you get to do changes and tweaks to the lighting control system (these things are never right first time and commercial clients and their staff especially can be very demanding)?Does the control system intergrate with other manurfacturers you may be using and don’t be afraid to ask for them to show you existing installations they’ve completed that are using the products you’re interested in. KNX is certainly the logical choice to me in terms of flexibility and meeting demand, especially if you need to integrate other systems such as heating, blinds, AV etc, but always keep an open mind and one eye on what each of these systems can deliver.

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Lighting Control at 400 year old University

February 11th, 2010

Project Type

Home to around 15,000 students and at over 400 years old, a leading Scottish University has recently made some significant improvements to their campus lighting system. “For uniformity, every lecture room has a switch with four settings for a number of years now,” said Charlie Simpson, Senior Electrical Engineer for the University, “Bright, Medium, Dim and of course Off. And this has allowed our faculty members to change the lighting for their lectures and AV presentations.”

Customer Expectations

Charlie stated at the start that professors once used the dimming features for lectures when using the old overhead projectors. However, today they use computers with PowerPoint™ presentations and DVDs, but the need to vary the lighting in the classrooms still remains the same. “For years we built our own lighting control panels, and the cost was incredibly high per classroom, plus very time consuming for me and the team” said Charlie. “Then last year ago we switched to an ‘off the shelf’ DALI dimming configuration and got rid of the old 0- to 10-volt system/ballasts we were cobbling together. The DALI solution significantly reduced our costs and saved hours in terms of installation time.

For lecture rooms and other areas or lighting applications where complex scenes/reconfigurable zones were required, DALI dimming ballasts and controls now allow users to independently control multiple lighting zones. This technology is perfect for applications requiring sophisticated dimming such as lecture halls, conference rooms, lobbies, corridors and general faculty amenities such as libraries, IT suites etc.

Customer Comment

We were made aware of the Siemens GAMMA range of sensors, actuators, gateways etc and we did a trial by installing a simple configuration in one of our conference rooms and it worked exactly as needed. Then our lamp crew put the controller through its paces and, after extensive testing, we decided to roll out across the campus. We are now able buy an off-the-shelf system for lighting control for a very reasonable price. The fact the DALI dimming system is an open standard that can be purchased ‘off-the-shelf’ is incredibly important. The great thing about DALI is that its not a custom device and our staff can easily program it to assure uniformity throughout the campus. Custom building is so expensive and time-consuming, I just can’t believe we stuck with it for so long.

Top Features

  1. Remote controls in all lecture rooms allowing control of main room functions such as lighting, HVAC etc.
  2. N 525 E switching/dimming actuators that connect the KNX EIB with digital primary switching devices that have a DALI interface. There are 8 channels, of which each one has the capacity of a switching/dimming actuator. The DALI operating devices of each individual channel are directly wired so that no further additional commissioning procedure is necessary for the primary switching devices.
  3. KNX / DALI N 141 gateways are DINrail mounted for the DALI ballasts and enable the receipt of switching and dimming commands, but also the send status information such as the failure of a lamp or the report of a detected error in the electronic ballast direct to Charlie.
  4. Sun/antidazzle protection actuators for controlling all roller blinds.
  5. Sensors for HVAC that detect the temperature and deliver the basic values for optimum control.
  6. Motion/Presence Detection in all main hallways/corridors
  7. Electrical Power Counter/Meter that allows Charlie to keep an eye on electrical power consumption at all times.

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Gira shines at Mermaid Cottage

February 2nd, 2010

Project Summary

More convenience, more economy, more security… Intelligent building technology from Gira has made Mermaid Cottage, a stunning period property, both beautiful and smart. Centrally controlled house technology, time-dependent temperature control, automatic light control, keyless access and much more – everything is designed uniformly in this stunning South coast home.

Project Description

The smart building technology installed at Mermaid Cottage can be divided into three parts. For conventional installation the cottage features a selection of Gira products for electricity, light, door communication, communication technology and more. In addition to this two intelligent systems are installed that enable a high degree of comfort, security, flexibility and economy: the Gira Instabus KNX/EIB system and the Gira radio bus system:

1. Conventional installation

Mermaid cottage features socket outlets, dimmers, push switches, room temperature controllers, LED illumination, antenna connections, motion detectors, door intercom systems and more by Gira.

2. Gira Instabus KNX/EIB system

Intelligent building technology is realised within Mermaid Cottage via Gira’s flexible KNX bus technology system. Devices communicate with each other and exchange information within the system. For this an Instabus control line is installed parallel to the power line. Possibilities: requirement-specific use of lighting and heating, central control of light, blinds, ventilation and household devices, programming of specific lighting scenes, multimedia or music entertainment in all rooms, automatic watering of the garden, presence simulations and more.

3. Gira radio bus system

Mermaid cottage benefitted from simply retrofitting the intelligence, installation without the usual dirt and noise. A wide spectrum of control options have been realised such as light scenes, blind and heating control and automatic lighting, without walls having to be chopped. Communication occurs via transmitters and receivers.

Customer Comment

With Mermaid Cottage the Architect and the Client both wanted coordination, performance and that all important aesthetic appeal. Gira was selected from the start, it delivered on every level.

Top features

User Interface

Mermaid Cottage can be fully controlled via the Gira HomeServer 3, which features a uniformly structured interface design, whether a Gira/Pro-face Server Client 15, a laptop or the owners iPhone is used. Simple operation of the complex house technology – the concept of the new Gira interface focused mainly upon a high level of user friendliness, fast orientation and and a visually appealing information design. A clear and intuitive menu ensures quick access to all smart aspects of the home.

Kitchen

Intelligent functions:

  • Blind controllers for time-dependent blind control
  • Room temperature controller for heating control
  • Push button sensor for controlling, switching and dimming
  • Touchdimmer for the right lighting mood
  • Control unit M217/M218 for operating the Revox multiroom system
  • Flush-mounted radio installed into the wall
  • Info Display as a compact display and switching station for the house technology
  • Server Client 15 controls the Instabus KNX/EIB system
  • Time clock easy to start devices at the desired times
  • Radio weather station shows all weather information

Safety:

  • Smoke detector basic/VdS warns in the case of smoke formation

Socket outlets:

  • Socket outlets with child protection that protects against electrical shocks
  • Socket outlets with rotated insert for devices with angled plugs
  • Socket outlets with hinged cover above work surfaces – protects against splashes and dirt

Living Room

Intelligent functions:

  • Blind controller for time-dependent blind control
  • Room temperature controller for heating control
  • Push button sensor for controlling, switching and dimming
  • Touchdimmer for the right lighting mood
  • Control unit M217/M218 for operating the Revox multiroom system
  • TV gateway – see who is at the door via TV
  • Info Display as a compact display and switching station for the house technology
  • InfoTerminal Touch – the central switching unit for house technology
  • Time clock easy to start devices at the desired times
  • Radio weather station shows all weather information

Data connections:

  • Antenna socket outlet – excellent reception for TV and radio
  • Telephone socket outlet TAE for the right connection
  • Stereo loudspeaker connection box Music enjoyment without tangled wires
  • High-end loudspeaker plug connector for optimal sound quality
  • Universal/ISDN connection box UAE/IAE for networking of telephone and PC

Safety:

  • Smoke detector basic/VdS warns in the case of smoke formation

Socket outlets:

  • Socket outlets with child protection protects against electrical shocks
  • Socket outlets with rotated insert for devices with angled plugs
  • Socket outlets with overvoltage protection avoids damage caused by excessive voltages

Bedrooms

Intelligent functions:

  • Blind controller for time-dependent blind control
  • Room temperature controller for heating control
  • Push button sensor for controlling, switching and dimming
  • Control unit M217/M218 for operating the Revox multiroom system
  • Flush-mounted radio for installation in the wall
  • Info Display as a compact display and switching station for the house technology
  • InfoTerminal Touch – the central switching unit for house technology
  • Time clock easy to start devices at the desired times
  • Radio weather station shows all weather information

Data connections:

  • Universal/ISDN connection box UAE/IAE for networking of telephone and PC
  • Antenna socket outlet – excellent reception for TV and radio
  • Telephone socket outlet TAE for the right connection

Safety:

  • Smoke detector basic/VdS warns in the case of smoke formation
  • Panic switch – full lighting at the press of a button

Socket outlets:

  • Socket outlets with child protection protects against electrical shocks
  • Socket outlets with rotated insert for devices with angled plugs
  • Socket outlet with LED orientation light for orientation in the dark
  • Socket outlet with overvoltage protection avoids damage caused by excessive voltages

Entrance Hall

Intelligent functions:

  • Info Display as a compact display and switching station for the house technology
  • InfoTerminal Touch – the central switching unit for house technology
  • Push button sensor for controlling, switching and dimming
  • Push switch with LED insert for better orientation
  • Central circuit breaker – switch off everything at the press of a button
  • Automatic control switch – there’s always light when it’s needed

Safety:

  • Smoke detector basic/VdS warns in the case of smoke formation
  • Radio door module Dialog for activating the radio alarm system

Socket outlets:

  • Socket outlets with child protection protects against electrical shocks
  • Socket outlets with LED orientation light for orientation in the dark

Door communication:

  • Home station – informs you who is at the front door

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The fully integrated primary school

October 19th, 2009

The Government is currently investing £45 billion in regenerating our schools and a target to re-build or significantly refurbish all secondary schools and 9,000 primary schools by 2016 is well underway.  It’s an incredible undertaking and one which will guarantee that our schools can offer a functional, fit for purpose learning environment for our children and a more cost effective, comfortable, secure and environmentally sound building.

Project Type

At a leading West Yorkshire Primary School the local Council had already completed a large-scale refurb programme that modernised the 140-year-old main school building, improving energy efficiency and security for staff and children.  A full electrical re-fit also had a critical role to play in achieving the school’s objectives.

Customer Expectations

It was essential we preserved what is a beautiful Victorian building, but at the same time moved the School into the 21st Century and made use of modern building technology.  It was agreed very early in the planning stage that the school could achieve our target of vastly improving the buildings electrical services and reducing our energy consumption by incorporating a fully integrated, controllable system.  We wanted to ensure that energy’s never wasted, while lighting and heating is of the highest standard in order to provide a pleasant environment for both pupils and staff.  The specification for the electrical services goes far beyond what is usually installed into a school, making us a striking example of what can be achieved through ground breaking electrical integration.

Customer Comment

The school is becoming closely aligned to the business world, with smart buildings that are designed to deliver services tailored to meet the needs of the occupant and reduce energy consumption.  By integrating our varied electrical systems, we now have total control over the entire school from our main reception office.  We’ve also achieved a significant reduction in overall energy consumption, an issue that was imperative in terms of both the environment and our budget.

Top Features

  1. A fully integrated Building Management System, that utilises the KNX protocol and is future-proofed for flexibility, upgrades and any changes down the line.
  2. All electrical works were completed during the Easter break without any disruption to the teaching schedule with KNX fast fit ‘plug & play’ technology.
  3. Jung Door Communication Management system with video feed from main entrance to the reception office.
  4. Installation of an energy efficient KNX lighting control system that is simple to operate, flexible and provides enhanced security out of school hours/term time.
  5. The buildings exterior security lights are all controlled by a dual control light sensor and event timer, ensuring that they are only switched on when it becomes dark, and allowing switch on time to change with the weather conditions/time of year.
  6. An integrated intruder alarm system that ensures all interior lights are switched off as soon as the alarm is set, eliminating the opportunity for lights being accidentally left on when the building is unoccupied.
  7. Fully integrated HVAC system that is set to turn on and heat or cool to pre-determined temperature one hour before staff and pupils arrive and also ensures that the air con is switched off automatically when the intruder alarm is switched on at the end of the school day.
  8. Merten System M room temperature controllers are fitted in every classroom/hallway, enabling the school to monitor the temperature of every room on an individual basis and adjust the heating to a preset optimum temperature.

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Smart Building Technology plays vital role at East ...

October 19th, 2009

A care home for the elderly in Lewes, East Sussex was simply looking to improve lighting conditions for residents, but in the process revolutionised the building with some simple and creative electrical integration.

Project Type

There were two critical elements that the Integrator wanted to incorporate on this project.  Firstly, it was important for them to demonstrate how they could best make use of smart building technology in order to enhance resident care and make the home a more comfortable environment to live. The second was to make the building more energy efficient and contribute towards a reduction in running costs.

Customer Expectations

Elderly residents needed lighting to find the bathroom at night, but it was important for us that only the required lights were switched on as to avoid disturbance to others. Our initial thoughts were to install some form of basic lighting control system that would ensure lights could be switched on when and only in the rooms they were needed.  However, after discussions with the Integrator, it became clear we could do so much more by integrating other elements, such as the emergency call function, into the system.

Customer Comment

The cost of care is an issue for both the local authorities running the home and the families who pay for the care of their relatives. Creating a more energy efficient building is one simple way in which we can reduce costs, so if we can do this and improve the standard of living for our residents at the same time, then its a fantastic result.

Top Features

  1. Movement detectors in all rooms ensure that the lights come on automatically in the en-suite bathrooms if a resident gets out of bed during the night.
  2. The system also controls the extractor fan in all en-suite bathrooms, switching on with the lights and off after a pre-determined period of time.
  3. Meanwhile, to guarantee that lights are never left on unnecessarily in the larger assisted bathrooms and communal toilets, presence detectors have been fitted to switch lights on automatically when someone enters and off again when they leave.
  4. All rooms and hallways fitted with large touch sensitive plate light switches with LED backlighting so residents can easily locate them during the night.
  5. Scene setting switches in all communal hallways/lounge areas have allowed further energy savings.
  6. External lights are controlled with both a light sensor and an event timer that comes on automatically when it goes dark and switches the lights off automatically at the same time every night, further energy wastage.
  7. Being able to keep corridor lights switched off at night was another important element in making the building as energy efficient as possible.  Historically they had been left on all night, but with presence detection they are only used when occupied.
  8. Integrated nurse call system that when activated, only the lights between the specific resident’s room and reception area are lit, helping to identify where the distress call has originated and illuminating the way.
  9. Integrated fire alarm system that illuminates only those sections of the home affected in order to minimize disruption to residents.

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Dim and Dimmer – A guide to dimming lights

September 16th, 2009

There are a number of reasons why you would want to incorporate dimming lights into your home or business premises.  For a start they help to create the perfect ambiance, provide flexibility to any room and help you achieve the right lighting.  Dimming helps you create the right visual experience, but most importantly it helps to reduce electricity usage and maintains the life of your lamps/ballasts.  For example, dimming fluorescent lighting control in an office building instead of repeated switching helps to increase lamp life and gives employees much greater personal control to set preferred light levels for specific tasks or times of the day/year.

You can utilise lighting control strategies to significantly improve the performance of any building.  By simply designing room absence/presence detectors, daylight sensors and/or automated time-based controls with fluorescent dimming you can carefully control the lighting in an entire building and further reduce electricity usage.  This can result in not only saving energy, but also costs, especially in a large commercial building.  However, the dimming methodology required is always entirely dependent on the lamp or the ballast used.  The key dimming methods are detailed below and all of them can be easily achieved with KNX dimmers:

1. Mains dimming involves decreasing and increasing the voltage to the lamp and is the traditional form of dimming associated historically with a rotary dimmer.  A KNX universal dimmer performs this kind of dimming and is capable of sensing the type of load (trailing edge or leading edge).  It is now possible to mains dim some LED and CFL lamps, though it would always be recommended to use a proper dimming control method as below.

2. 0-10V is one of the earliest and simplest electronic lighting control systems; simply put, the control signal is a DC voltage that varies between zero and ten volts. The controlled lighting should scale its output so that at 10V, the controlled light should be at 100% of its potential output, and at 0V it should at 0% output (i.e. “Off”). Dimming devices may be designed to respond in various patterns to the intermediate voltages, giving output curves that are linear for: voltage output, actual light output, power output, or perceived light output. For dimmable Fluorescent lamps (where it operates instead at 1-10v, where 1v is minimum and 0v is off) the system is being replaced by DSI, which itself is in the process of being replaced by DALI. For more information see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/0-10v.

3. DSI – Digital Signal Interface is a protocol for lighting control in buildings (initially electrical ballasts). It was created in 1991 by Austrian company Tridonic ATCO and is based on Manchester-coded 8-bit protocol, data rate of 1200 baud, 1 start bit, 8 data bits (dimming value), 4 stop bits, and is the basis of the more sophisticated protocol Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI). The technology uses a single byte to communicate the lighting level ( 0- 255 or 0×00-0xFF). DSI was the start of digital communication technology and was the precursor to DALI. For more information see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Signal_Interface.

4. DALI – The Digital Addressable Lighting Interface is a digital protocol for lighting control in buildings, such as electrical ballasts and dimmers. DALI was established as a successor for the still market dominating 1-10v and an open standard rival to Digital Signal Interface (DSI), on which it is based. DALI is standardized in accordance with International Electrotechnical Commission IEC 60929, standard for fluorescent lamp ballasts. Each piece of operating equipment with a DALI interface can be communicated with over DALI individually. Using a bi-directional data exchange, a DALI controller can query and set the status of each light. As a standalone system, DALI can be operated with a maximum of 64 devices. Alternatively, DALI can be used as a subsystem via DALI gateways. For more information see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Addressable_Lighting_Interface.

5. DMX – DMX512-A is an EIA-485 based communications protocol that is most commonly used for stage lighting control and effects. Developed by the Engineering Commission of USITT, the standard started in 1986, with subsequent revisions in 1990 leading to USITT DMX512/1990. In 1998 ESTA began a revision process to develop the standard as an ANSI standard, including a Public Review process. The revised standard, known officially as “Entertainment Technology – USITT DMX512–A – Asynchronous Serial Digital Data Transmission Standard for Controlling Lighting Equipment and Accessories”, was approved by ANSI in November 2004. This current standard is also known as “E1.11, USITT DMX512–A”, or just “DMX512-A”, and is maintained by ESTA. DMX512 was originally intended as a ‘lowest common denominator’ protocol for use between interfaces supporting proprietary protocols. However, it soon became the primary method for linking not only controllers and dimmers, but also more advanced fixtures and special effects devices such as fog machines and moving lights. DMX512 is unidirectional and does not include automatic error checking and correction, so it is not safe to use for applications involving life safety, such as controlling pyrotechnics or laser lighting display where audience or performer safety is involved. MIDI is sometimes used for this task. For more information see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMX_(lighting).

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Heating control for a Surrey home

September 14th, 2009

“Energy efficiency and ease of use are what I want”, said the client in the first brief. What was delivered was a lot more, including almost almost all elements of a sophisticated residential project, but keeping ease of use as a driver.

The result is 16 zones of underfloor heating controlled accurately from a single point as well as in each room.  The owner has a switch style they want and the use of a complex system (including pumps, boiler, manifolds and vents) without having to learn a complicated interface or timer-controller.

The system has four pre-set scenes for each room. A light scene is a pre-programmed preference for different lights within a room. By touching 1 button, the owner can recall a scene on a gradual fade up or down. One of the scenes is also the ALL OFF for the whole house. The scenes are easily adjusted via the switch in each room and can be permanently stored by the user, rather like a car radio. In some rooms local control of individual lights is also provided, at the desk in the the study, and the bedside lights for instance.

Other Top features

  1. Accurate and efficient heating control of 12 underfloor zones replacing TRV (thermostatic valves)
  2. Blinds & Curtains including roller blinds
  3. Multi-room audio in all rooms with up to 8 sources

Customer Comment

“This system provides me with a complete solution. We get simple and clear control of all the elements which are in daily use by me, my wife, and the children.”

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Elegant finishes to a designer home

September 10th, 2009

Elegant switches compliment a highly styled designer home

A residential masterpiece in on-trend coffee and umber finishes.  This ultra chic home needed something special when it came to switches and Basalte fitted ideally into this scenario.  Their Sentido series in aluminium and dark grey were selected to provide a blend of minimalist design, exclusive materials and timeless sophistication.

The Sentido switch series stands for simplicity, comfort and quality.  Its design is pure and timeless thanks to touch technology and high-quality materials.  The entire surface area is high-quality, touch-sensitive brushed aluminium, allowing lighting, scenes or curtains to be operated at the slightest touch.

The Sentido light switch is available in two types – one with two functions and one with four functions – and it features a patented multi-touch technology to detect a multiple keypress.  By touching more then one area simultaneously, an extra comfort function is activated that switches all the lights in the room on or off in a single movement.  Sentido senses not only your touch, it also has a built-in temperature sensor, so that room temperature information is available on the home automation system.

Besides sensing, Sentido has an integrated colour led.  For the dark it can be programmed to light up blue so you can easily find it.  It can also light up in any other colour to display feedback information.  Sentido also features an integrated bus-coupler to connect to the woldwide KNX standard and programming can be done with their ETS software.

Sentido Specification

Electronics:  Sentido switch KNX – Part Reference = BASALTE 202-02

Functions:  2-way and 4-way version with patented multitouch function. Switch, dim , shutter or scène object for each single function

LED Feedback:  Single function has a white feedback, Multi-touch function has an orange feedback, RGB led can be freely programmed, Blue nightlight can be enabled or disabled, or controlled by a group address

Temperature sensor:  Digital temperature sensor, reports a 2 byte group address

Interface:  KNX/EIB integrated BCU, Programmable with ETS3

Power supply:  Powered by the KNX/EIB bus

Power consumption:  10 mA from the bus

Dimension:  Cover plate = 80 x 80 x 8mm. Module = 70 x 70 x 25mm

Back box:  Standard European back box. Round or square. With screws, screwdistance 60mm. Depth min. 50mm

Certification:  CE approved

About Basalte, the company behind the Sentido switch

Home automation should be simple.  It should be a way to add comfort to the complexity of a modern home.  Home automation systems are often still designed from a technical point of view, while Basalte believe that one should be able to switch lights on and off in a intuitive way, without thinking about which switch to press.

Basalte light switches go beyond what light switches are today.  Their products can add comfort, by simplifying the user experience in the modern home.  And in the words of Leonardo DaVinci ‘Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication’.

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Lighting control in a London school

September 10th, 2009

The refurbishment of an existing building for sustainable use is always a challenge.  Older buildings simply weren’t designed with any focus on reducing energy usage and there are numerous questions to be asked about refurbishment from an environmentally friendly perspective:

  • Can you reduce energy consumption in order to meet current standards?
  • How can you improve heating/cooling, ventilation and comfort, without increasing your energy consumption?
  • How can you make best use of the existing structure, e.g. the thermal mass of your building?
  • How can you make use of the higher ceiling heights?
  • How do you retain the appearance of architecturally important buildings whilst improving energy and comfort?
  • Can you make changes with occupants in place?  Critical in a commercial environment.
  • And I could go on, but you get the picture…

So when one of our customers was tasked with the design and installation of a lighting control system into a prestigious London educational establishment, all these factors and more had to be taken into account.  The project involved the refurbishment of an old building, with one wing of the building split into offices and a large open plan space. The client required a maintenance free and expandable lighting control system, which could deliver a high level of reliability.  They had already tried other systems and they simply weren’t delivering what they were looking for, until the M&E Consultants recommended KNX as a solution that could meet the rigorous specification.

Absence/presence detection was required to control lighting levels, monitor light levels and to provide constant daylight levels during the academic day.  The reduction of energy consumption/energy costs was also a critical factor and the client stressed from the beginning how they needed to clearly demonstrate that the refurbishment was contributing to the reduction of their carbon footprint.  The M&E consultant specifically selected KNX as a sustainable reliable solution that could deliver flexibility and future-proof the building to accommodate any changes further down the line.

Throughout the building, standard MK switches were installed along with 1000 lighting controllers on a BUS, IP backbone.  Everything is DSI controlled for reliability and reduced maintenance.  All of the offices are fitted with presence detectors and MK switches, ensuring flexibility, but guaranteeing energy is not wasted when the room is vacated.  The switches control presence on entry to the rooms, while the sensors switch off lighting upon leaving.  Both presence and absence detectors control the large open plan area, so that lighting is only used when necessary.

The installation complies with Part L of the Building Regulations (Conservation of fuel and power) and fully complies with the Carbon Trust’s guidelines and selection criteria by clearly demonstrating the potential for substantial greenhouse gas emission savings.  It is estimated that the new lighting control system alone will deliver around a 50% reduction in total energy consumption.

The installation needed to be completed out of term time, so the ‘plug & play’ modularity of KNX products ensured that minimum time was required on site for the actual fit and the work was completed with minimum disruption. The client is delighted with the finished installation, and has already agreed to roll out the lighting control system across the entire building, the end result of which will be one of the largest KNX installations in the country.

Client Comment

Fast Installation, Functionality, Comfort for the occupiers, Economics/Energy Saving, Extended lamp life/cost savings, KNX delivered exactly what we were looking for in what was a tricky refurb project.

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Total control of a family home

June 23rd, 2009

Project Scope

An extensive renovation and extension of a small bungalow to a family house. Including all KNX elements and plenty of AV and data. Important to the owners to be able to access the property remotely.

Modern control of the home to provide economic and convenient features, but simply enough for everyone who lives in the house to use and benefit from it.

Customer Comment

Great job, completed on time, with all the flexibility that we need as the use of the house changes and technology changes. I got many of the features in my car years ago. I wanted them in my house, now I have them.

Top features

  1. House-wide control from various positions. “Goodbye”, “Goodnight”, “Welcome home” that effect lighting and heating
  2. Zoned heating control uses energy where it is needed when it is needed
  3. Motion sensors in rooms both convenient and energy saving
  4. Flexible bathroom fan control times
  5. Control via the internet Lighting scenes and moods making the most of light
  6. Good looking switches integrated with thermostats and audio control
  7. Multiroom audio controlled from light switches Reprogrammability without rewiring
  8. Living room that doubles as a full 5.1 cinema room at the touch of a button

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