The alternative way is to recable the lights in question back to a completely separate photocell/timer/logic/remote control system.
Digital timeclock back up facility (Non Diy)
- Thread starter 333rocky333
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An the alternative budget for 10,000 m sq ++ of car park lighting all requiring direct cabling to a single point, would be ?
You can understand there methodology given the likely restrictions on the initial lighting design. How's about adding in a more generous back up system to each light that requires the timed switching, and thus the timers to stay correct ?
Something like a 4 ah nicad unit from emergency lighting set should drive the clock when power off (seems likely, but I'm no designer of commercial lighting
)
for the amount of units required, it's probably easier to put them all on permanently and use individual timers for each light since half already have them..
there would be no dusk sensors then though unless retro fitted to each lampost..
another alternative would be to wire one permanent supply round all of the lights that have timers just to power the timers..
with minimal current draw for 2 dozen or so timers ( can't be more than an couple of amps surely?? ) then you wouldn't need that big of a cable to allow for volt drop..
there would be no dusk sensors then though unless retro fitted to each lampost..
another alternative would be to wire one permanent supply round all of the lights that have timers just to power the timers..
with minimal current draw for 2 dozen or so timers ( can't be more than an couple of amps surely?? ) then you wouldn't need that big of a cable to allow for volt drop..
This method was drawn up by a major lighting contracter and consultants.
They call it "Trimming and Dimming and your pretty likely to get it on the roads near you soon.
Recabling would have been too much disruption and this has already been done nationwide and involves up to 30 lamposts at each site.
A delay off timer would need adjusting throughout the year and not practical
Personally i cant see a problem as the standby clock load is negligable, but a lot of our engineers say it wont work.
I think the main problem is cheap budget clocks, the cold envirement and the contacts not man enough for the load.
But thanks for your veiws
Anyway, the newer energy saving way there doing is more intriquing and can only be done with a timer in the post, which is the reason i asked, i will get a clock and see whats inside it.
They call it "Trimming and Dimming and your pretty likely to get it on the roads near you soon.
Recabling would have been too much disruption and this has already been done nationwide and involves up to 30 lamposts at each site.
A delay off timer would need adjusting throughout the year and not practical
Personally i cant see a problem as the standby clock load is negligable, but a lot of our engineers say it wont work.
I think the main problem is cheap budget clocks, the cold envirement and the contacts not man enough for the load.
But thanks for your veiws
Anyway, the newer energy saving way there doing is more intriquing and can only be done with a timer in the post, which is the reason i asked, i will get a clock and see whats inside it.
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I know they're old hat but what about a Sangamo quartz?
Backup batteries inside them drive an electromechanical timer and looks rather meaty but check with the manufacturers to see what they think. I can't think the current draw would be a lot worse than a standard clock run off an AA battery. Also the 20A contacts should be man enough for your SON lights.
Backup batteries inside them drive an electromechanical timer and looks rather meaty but check with the manufacturers to see what they think. I can't think the current draw would be a lot worse than a standard clock run off an AA battery. Also the 20A contacts should be man enough for your SON lights.
Using a control signal imposed onto the mains cables and receivers controlling a contactor at lamp posts would enable better control from a central control unit.
A similar system with a crude control signal ( spikes added to the mains waveform ) was once used ( may still be used ) to control street lighting.
A coded control signal would permit different combinations of lights to be used during the night ( intelligent controller in the "office" ).
Adding PIR sensors to bring up lights on people moving around in dark areas might provide a worthwhile security function.
A similar system with a crude control signal ( spikes added to the mains waveform ) was once used ( may still be used ) to control street lighting.
A coded control signal would permit different combinations of lights to be used during the night ( intelligent controller in the "office" ).
Adding PIR sensors to bring up lights on people moving around in dark areas might provide a worthwhile security function.
by any chance are the timers greenbrook? I fit quite a few of them each year - seem to have a 30% failure rate though after 2 years
They seem to have chose "Venner Logic"
Wouldn't delay off timers effectively be self-adjusting assuming the main feed came on at an appropriate time or light levels?
well no, not really..
if you assume that the dusk sensor is central and powers up the whole installation and you set it this time of year to go off after say 7 hours, which if you recon sundown is at about 16:30 then that means it goes off about 23:30 ish.
in the summer that would be going off at around 5am if it's still light at 22:00 ish..
so as said it/they would need adjustment every month or so to the new times..
however, if each post had a dusk switch instead of a central one, then you turn the power on at 16:00 every day and have the dusk switch after the timer, then yes it would go off at th same time every night but not come on until dark enough..
if you assume that the dusk sensor is central and powers up the whole installation and you set it this time of year to go off after say 7 hours, which if you recon sundown is at about 16:30 then that means it goes off about 23:30 ish.
in the summer that would be going off at around 5am if it's still light at 22:00 ish..
so as said it/they would need adjustment every month or so to the new times..
however, if each post had a dusk switch instead of a central one, then you turn the power on at 16:00 every day and have the dusk switch after the timer, then yes it would go off at th same time every night but not come on until dark enough..
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