The article discusses the need for automation of lighting, classification existing systems and implementation stages standard project modernization.

It is difficult to find such an industry or National economy, where there would be no need for production space and jobs. Its organization is subject to quite serious requirements, especially from regulatory authorities in the field of labor protection. But at the same time, we should not forget that all the elements of such systems (in the simplest version, a set of lighting devices) consume electricity, for which you have to pay quite a lot. The desire to save money in such a situation seems more than natural, but to solve the problem, as they say, “in the spirit of the times,” simply replacing old incandescent light bulbs with LED ones will not be enough. The best option, despite the required capital investment, is the automation of lighting systems, which will save much more due to effective management available resource without loss of comfort.

Why do you need to automate lighting?

It's no secret that comprehensive solution Such a task is impossible without the development of a comprehensive project, selection of equipment suitable for its characteristics and its subsequent installation on site. In order for such actions to have a real positive effect, it is better to entrust their implementation to some specialized organization. , development of design documentation, purchase of equipment, installation and commissioning works etc. - this is a serious burden on the budget and, obviously, may require searching and attracting investments.

For most small enterprises, such a load already at the start can become a serious reason to refuse modernization. But let’s take a look at the question from the perspective of some average resident of our country, whose ordinary 60-watt light bulb has once again burned out in the kitchen. He has several options:

1. Buy the same 60-W analogue . The solution, as they say, is budgetary, since such a light bulb costs 5-10 times less than the cheapest LED. In this case, you can’t even dream of saving, especially with a short daylight hours. So, if we assume that such a light bulb works on average up to 8 hours a day (in winter this is more than realistic), then in a month on one device you can get up to 14 kWh on the meter and up to 13 UAH in the receipt. If 5 light bulbs work, the ratio will increase to 70 kW×hour and 65 UAH, with 10 devices - up to 140 kW×hour and 160 UAH, respectively. The trend is not very reassuring, considering that other household appliances also consume electricity in the house;
2. Buy an LED light bulb . An analogue in light output for a 60-watt incandescent lamp is an LED source with a power of about 4 W. It consumes 15 times less energy, which means the amount on your payment will decrease proportionally. Naturally, it’s more expensive, but it doesn’t last much longer in comparison;
3. Use intelligent systems . The savings in the previous case may be enough for most, but there is a real opportunity to reduce consumption even further. For example, take the same LED light bulbs, but in addition use elements of an automated lighting control system (ALCS), say, simple motion sensors, light sensors, etc. In this case, each device will turn on as needed, for example, when a person approaches to him.

Of course, in the latter case you will have to invest in equipment, but in the future this approach will pay off in more than real energy savings. Now let’s imagine for a moment what effect such a modernization will have, more or less, with several hundred workers, a shift schedule, a large amount of equipment and production space.

What are the types of SLAs?

Depending on the goals and objectives of lighting modernization, its implementation may require a fairly large list of equipment. These include lighting fixtures themselves, sets of sensors, switches, etc. It is the scale of the upcoming modernization that influences the classification of such systems and makes it possible to distinguish their two main types:

• Local LMS . The simplest version of the system, in which control is carried out by one or more lighting devices. In this case, a minimum set of auxiliary means is required - sometimes the control units are built into the lamp itself;
• Centralized management system . This system is more high level, in which full automation of lighting control can be implemented. May consist of a large number of circuits, including various utility networks modernization object. The most striking example is any modern large shopping and entertainment center. To be implemented in practice, it requires the use of a large amount of equipment connected by a complex hierarchy of construction, special software systems and software. As a rule, in this case there is central point management of the entire network, as well as, if its volume is significant, local control nodes.

In addition, classification by quantity and quality is possible ( technical capabilities) equipment used: entry-level, mid-level and top-level. Basic configurations include the lighting devices themselves, simple sensors and automation, and top-end configurations include entire complexes of auxiliary systems with expanded functionality, software control systems, including those using wireless technologies.

How is lighting systems installed and automated?

Implementing such a project in practice, even with not the most complex formulation of tasks, is not so easy. Firstly, the specialist or their group who will deal with this issue must be fully competent. This means not only the presence of specialized knowledge and skills, but also extensive practical experience.

The process of implementing automated control systems for facility lighting should take place in several stages:

• Audit . Before starting to develop a project, it is necessary to assess the condition of the object, its size, production purpose, the presence of existing lighting and power systems;
• Development and approval . At this stage, the necessary calculations are carried out, the purpose of which is to select the optimal lighting scheme and equipment corresponding to the characteristics;
• Commercial offer . After agreeing on the project with the customer, the latter is provided with its financial justification, including calculation of the payback period ( necessary condition when using external capital investments);
• Equipment supply . After all financial issues have been resolved, the equipment and consumables necessary for the implementation of the project are manufactured or purchased;
• Installation . The final stage of modernization is the direct installation of all elements of the lighting system.

We could put an end to this, but another integral stage of work is commissioning. This is not surprising, because in addition you have to use a complex of sensors and other monitoring/control devices that have to be tested and configured in accordance with the assigned tasks. Without this, even the most outwardly a complex system will not work consistently.

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The automated outdoor lighting control system (ASUNO) is designed for multi-level automation of the control of outdoor lighting in the city using modern technical solutions. The use of automated control systems makes city lighting easy to control, economical and efficient. ASUNO provides prompt switching of lighting modes according to a schedule at the level of lighting network segments, remote monitoring and control down to the light spot level, as well as configuration of each segment. Communication with the central control center via radio, cellular or fiber optic communication line.

The implementation of an automated outdoor lighting control system solves the following problems:

1. Ensuring an optimal and stable level of illumination in accordance with current regulations;
2. Reducing operating costs and personnel reduction;
3. Increasing the reliability and efficiency of the outdoor lighting network;
4. Security operational control condition of electrical equipment and outdoor lighting lines;
5. Providing technical and commercial accounting of consumed electricity;
6. Significant improvement in energy efficiency indicators.

Benefits of using an outdoor lighting control system:

1. Increasing the reliability of equipment operation by eliminating contact switching devices and using contactless switching units for power lines;
2. Replacement of electromagnetic ballasts with electronic ballasts;
3. Remote monitoring, configuration and control of equipment in lighting lines with precision down to a specific luminaire;
4. Cost-effectiveness of the system;
5. Compatibility of the system with power and lighting equipment already existing in the city;
6. Possibility of expanding existing lighting systems from one street to the whole city;
7. Possibility of connecting additional control points included in the local network with the central control center, as well as mobile control points (laptop) if there is an Internet connection.

It is possible to ensure the effective functioning of the lighting system by using means automatic control lighting. The lighting installation is controlled in two main ways: turning off all or part of the lamps (discrete control) and smoothly changing the power of the lamps (for groups of lamps or individually).

Discrete lighting control systems include various photo relays and timers. The operating principle is based on turning the power on and off based on signals installed sensors or depending on the time of day according to a preset program. Discrete lighting control systems also include machines equipped with presence sensors. They turn off the lights in a room after a predetermined period of time after the last person leaves the room. This is the most economical look discrete control systems, however, to side effects their use may result in a possible reduction in lamp life due to frequent switching on and off. Systems for smooth control of lighting power are somewhat more complex in design.

Modern lighting control systems combine significant energy saving opportunities:

1. Accurately maintain artificial lighting in the room at a given level. This is achieved by introducing into the lighting control system a photocell located inside the room and controlling the illumination created by the lighting installation. Despite the presence in the vast majority of premises natural light during daylight hours, the power of the lighting installation is calculated without taking it into account. If you maintain the illumination created jointly by the lighting installation and natural light at a given level, you can further reduce the power of the lighting installation.
2. At certain times of the year and hours of the day, it is even possible to use only natural light. This function can be performed by the same photocell as in the previous case, provided that it monitors the full (natural + artificial) illumination. At the same time, energy savings can be 20-40%.
3. Additional energy savings in lighting can be achieved by turning off the lighting installation at certain times of the day, as well as on weekends and holidays. This measure allows you to effectively combat the forgetfulness of people who do not turn off the lighting at their workplaces before leaving. To implement it, the automated lighting control system must be equipped with its own real-time clock.
4. Accounting for the presence of people in the room. When equipping a lighting control system with an occupancy sensor, you can turn lights on and off depending on whether there are people in a given room. This function allows you to use energy most optimally, but its use is not justified in all rooms. In some cases, it can even shorten the service life of lighting equipment and create an unpleasant impression during operation. Savings obtained by turning off lamps based on timer signals and electricity presence sensors amount to 10-25%.

Remote wireless control of a lighting installation.Although this feature is not automated, it is often present in automated systems lighting control due to the fact that its implementation based on the electronics of the lighting control system is very simple, and the function itself adds significant convenience to the control of the lighting installation.

Methods of direct control of a lighting installation are discrete switching on/off of all or part of the lamps according to commands from control signals, as well as stepwise or smooth reduction of lighting power depending on the same signals.

Due to the fact that modern adjustable electronic ballasts have a non-zero lower control threshold, modern automated lighting control systems use a combination of smooth control up to the lower threshold with complete shutdown of lamps in luminaires when it is reached.

Classification of automatic lighting control systems.

Automatic lighting control systems can be divided into 2 main classes - the so-called local and centralized.

Local systems typically control only one group of luminaires, while centralized systems allow the connection of an almost infinite number of separately controlled groups of luminaires.

In turn, according to the area of ​​management covered local systems can be divided into “luminaire control systems” and “room lighting control systems”, and centralized ones - into specialized (only for lighting control) and general purpose (for controlling all engineering systems buildings - heating, air conditioning, fire and burglar alarm etc.).

Local luminaire control systems in most cases do not require additional wiring, and sometimes even reduce the need for wiring. Structurally, they are made in small-sized housings, mounted directly on the lamp or on the bulb of one of the lamps. All sensors, as a rule, make up one electronic device, in turn, built into the body of the system itself.

Often, luminaires equipped with sensors exchange information with each other along the aisles electrical network. Due to this, even if there is only one person left in the building, the lamps located in his path will remain on.

Centralized lighting control systems, which most fully correspond to the name “intelligent,” are built on the basis of microprocessors that provide the possibility of almost simultaneous multivariate control of a significant (up to several hundred) number of lamps. Such systems can be used either for lighting control only, or also for interaction with other building systems (for example, with the telephone network, security systems, ventilation, heating and sun protection systems).

Centralized systems also provide control signals to luminaires based on signals from local sensors. However, signal conversion occurs in a single (central) node, which provides additional features manually control building lighting. At the same time, manually changing the system operation algorithm is significantly simplified.

With centralized remote or automatic lighting control systems, power to the control circuits is allowed from the line supplying the lighting. For rooms with areas with different conditions natural lighting, the control of working lighting should ensure that lamps are turned on and off in groups or rows as the natural illumination of the premises changes.

The article discusses the issue of classification, design, operating principles and implemented functions of lighting control systems at various levels, including those based on LED technologies.

If we analyze the average 8-hour working day in any large or small production, we can definitely come to the conclusion about the need to organize artificial lighting. create without it optimal conditions for labor activity, increasing productivity and safety of personnel is unrealistic. This is stated in many industry and departmental acts, but one important point for today is missed here - saving resources. When operating, lighting devices consume a certain amount of electricity, which, if the circuit is ineffective, becomes a heavy burden on the enterprise’s budget. You can, of course, switch to halogen or LED lamps, but lighting control systems in production seem much more effective. This is exactly what will be discussed further.

What is an OMS?

Electric current, which is necessary to power all electrical appliances, including lighting, does not appear out of nowhere. To do this, for example, you need to burn a certain amount of coal at a thermal power plant, releasing thermal energy. The latter is transmitted to steam, which rotates the turbine blades, resulting in the generation of electricity. There are plenty of similar technological chains depending on the type of station (NPP, HPP, etc.), but what they have in common is the need to use natural resources, and as you know, they are not limitless.

The desire to do so in such conditions seems more than justified, if not for reasons of saving resources, then certainly from a financial point of view. Moreover, Law of Ukraine 75/94-ВР directly obliges to take specific measures to improve efficiency. Such activities include, in particular, the design of lighting and lighting control systems. In the professional environment, they are called abbreviated by the abbreviation - OMS.

Such a system is an electronic network in which predetermined intelligent algorithms operate. The main task of the OMS is to automate the functioning of both indoor and outdoor lighting. In practice, this means that a person no longer needs to walk and press switches to make the workplace brighter. These tasks are solved for him by a central or local control panel. Moreover, it determines not only the time when it is necessary to connect/disconnect individual circuits, but also the intensity of the light flux.

Classification

Depending on the design undertaken and the scale of the system, they can be equipped with various devices:

• Switches with automatic response capabilities;
• Dimmers that adjust the brightness of lighting depending on specified conditions;
• Lamps, spotlights, LED strips (with associated equipment);
• Sets of sensors (light, motion, opening, presence);
• Control systems using special software, etc.

Considering the variety of tasks and components used for them, automatic lighting control systems are classified according to a wide list of criteria. These usually include the method of data transmission, as well as the scale and hierarchical structure.

Based on the method of data transmission and control, all control systems can be divided into two types: analog and digital. For the first group characteristic feature is the presence of a large number of cable connecting products, which in any case is not economically profitable. Digital systems use a special protocol, for example, DSI (similar to that used in mobile device displays), which allows minimizing the amount of wiring and increasing the comfort of installation and operation.

Based on the scale of implementation, everything is also divided into two types:

• Local . A separate small group of luminaires is monitored. In most cases, such systems do not require separate wiring - the entire structure, including sensors and controllers, is mounted in a compact housing directly on the luminaires. Some versions of such OMS can exchange information with each other using the existing power supply network of the devices;
• Centralized . The ability to control a large number of lighting circuits, including other engineering systems of the facility (heating, air conditioning, water supply, etc.). Performing such tasks requires building a complex hierarchy, using special software, microprocessors, and data exchange systems. Individual branches are controlled from a central node based on specified operating parameters and readings from local sensors.

In addition, there is a fairly clear hierarchy within which the external lighting control system (as well as internal) can implement a certain volume of tasks:

• Basic level LMS . It has the ability to regulate illumination in the range of 0...1000 lux at heights of 0...5 m, luminous flux in the range of 10...100%, detect movement, presence on the site, activate and deactivate lighting in automatic mode. In addition to lamps, the package includes industrial sensors and automation for local use;
• Mid-level management system . based on control cabinets, including automation, switching, electricity metering and freely programmable controllers with expansion modules;
• advanced level LMS . Managing such a large-scale project requires the use of specialized software and hardware. Implemented on the basis of personal or industrial computers. It has the ability to visualize processes, archive, analyze, transfer data, monitor system status, and generate reports. Wired and wireless technologies (Ethernet, Internet, GPRS, IP) can be used for communication.

Lighting control system functions

Automatic control systems, depending on the type, perform the following groups of functions:

• Information . Providing visualization of the state of the OMS and its management. This includes collecting and processing information from sensors, measuring, monitoring the operating parameters of individual elements, recording normal and emergency situations, generating reports, etc.;
• Signaling . Informing personnel about the operation of automatic circuit breakers (switches), the occurrence of accidents, unauthorized connections to the system, the number of faulty lighting points;
• Managers . Providing the ability to work in automatic and manual (remote, hardware) modes;
• Service . Automatic and manual diagnostics, configuration, protection and provision of access to the control system.

LED lighting control systems

The use of semiconductors emitting in the visible range is one of the most promising today. But since this type of device has a completely different principle and operating requirements than energy-saving and incandescent lamps. In particular, it is possible to change the brightness depending on the requirement (for example, time of day). Pulse width modulation (PWM) is commonly used for this purpose. The LEDs are supplied with high-frequency current pulses, resulting in their frequent switching on/off. The human eye perceives this process as a smooth change in brightness.

Another specific point is the color that is obtained by mixing individual channels. To control this process, various variations of RGB controllers (standard, multi-channel, DMX, DALI), repeaters, dimmers, and sensors are usually used.

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A lighting control system is a set of technological solutions capable of providing the right amount of light at the right time and in the right place. Automation of the lighting system is one of the three main mechanisms aimed at optimizing lighting - along with the transition to energy-efficient lamps and correct location lighting fixtures. What is the device and features of automation?

What does the system include?

Automatic lighting control includes a complex of high-tech devices that are capable of operating in an automated and automatic mode, that is, without human intervention. The system design consists not only of lighting fixtures, but also of sensors and auxiliary devices. You can connect new external devices at any time, because the system is scalable. Equipment list:

Smart switches that can be turned on and off both in normal manual mode and after appropriate commands from the control panel. There are mechanical and touch switches.

Smart dimmers are devices designed to smoothly change the power of lighting fixtures. In other words, they are used for automated editing of lighting brightness.

Smart lamps - have the ability to turn on and off automatically, as well as smoothly change the brightness of their glow. Some models can change color and temperature.

LED strips have the same capabilities as smart lamps. At the same time, they are characterized by lower energy consumption, increased safety of use, and a long service life.

An equally important role in lighting system automation is played by sensors that monitor changes in the environment. In the schemes under consideration, the greatest demand is for sensors that respond to movement, presence, opening and closing doors and windows, and changes in lighting levels. Automation can also successfully interact with other building systems, including fire alarms or HVAC.

Operating principle of the circuit

The main device in the system is the central controller. This is where all signals from the control panel or mobile application come. This is where the input signals from the external sensors. Here commands are generated that are sent to executive equipment - lamps, RGB LED strips and others. The capabilities of the system depend on the characteristics of the central controller.

After the sensors connected to the central controller register the change environment, signals arrive at the controller. They are interpreted, and based on the specified scenarios, the device sends commands to the lighting equipment. It is also possible for the system to operate in automated and manual mode, when the user independently sends commands to the system in real time.

Types of systems

Scheme automated control classified by light according to various criteria. One of them is the connection type. The entire variety of solutions under consideration can be divided into two large categories:

Wired. An option that is gradually becoming a thing of the past, which is distinguished by a rather complex installation. Installing such a solution is rational only if it occurs at the stage of renovation or construction of a house. Otherwise, the cost of time and materials will be high.

Wireless. A more convenient and easy-to-install option that does not require laying tens of meters of cables throughout the house. It is enough to place actuators and sensors in in the right places, and then set up a wireless connection between the equipment and the central controller.

Which of the presented options should I choose? For ready-made apartments and houses, the second option is recommended, albeit at a higher cost. If you want to save money and are not afraid of complex installation, you can purchase and install wired lighting automation. They have a lower cost.

Indoor and outdoor lighting

Another classification that affects light automation systems is separation by placement:

Internal. For indoor lighting there are no strict requirements for strength and stability, so you can purchase electrical equipment with any degree of housing protection. First of all, when choosing such devices, you need to pay attention to the characteristics, and only then to the cost.

Street. In this case, it is recommended to use equipment that is resistant to mechanical stress and bad weather conditions. This will be useful if sensors and lamps come under the close attention of vandals. The degree of protection of the device housing must be at least IP65.

You can find it on sale today big choice vandal-resistant equipment, and at reasonable prices.

Lighting control

The main advantage of automatic lighting control is the ability to control lighting fixtures or their groups using a single control interface. This is often a wall panel that contains a display showing data about the operation of the lighting system, as well as a user control interface. It is also possible to control lighting devices from separate switches.

Another popular option for automated control of lighting systems involves the use of remote controls. Such remote controls have all the necessary buttons, some also have a display that displays information about the status of connected lighting fixtures. The remote controls transmit information to a single control interface using IR emitters or a Bluetooth communication module.

Lastly, but no less common way of controlling automatic lighting– receiving and transmitting signals using a mobile application installed on a tablet or smartphone. Using such applications, you can set and edit ready-made lighting scenarios, and you can control the operation of home lighting fixtures at a great distance from the house itself, if there is a Gateway.

Options for ready-made scripts

There are many scenarios for automatic lighting control that allow you to program the controller once and no longer waste time on constant lighting settings. For most scenarios to work, sensors are required. Some programs:

Mechanism	Scenarios	Starting device
Schedule	Turning on the light at a specified time Turning off the lights at the right time Enabling individual sources
	Activation of the lighting device after a certain time after switching on
Astrographic	Turning on the lights an hour after dawn Turning on the lights an hour before sunset
Presence or absence of people	Activation of lighting in case a person enters the room Turning off the lights after people leave the room	Motion Sensor Presence sensor
Level of natural light	Activating lighting when natural light levels are low Maintaining lighting levels at the same level	Light sensor
Opening and closing doors	Turning on or off the light when opening or closing the door, respectively	Opening sensor

You can also set up scenarios in which the triggering mechanism is a signal from an external source. For example, when triggered fire alarm smart House will give all lamps to turn on. Or, when unauthorized entry is registered, all the lamps begin to blink, attracting attention.

Advantages and disadvantages

The high demand for automatic lighting control systems is due to the many advantages of this technology. The ability to control all the lights in the house from one place is not the only advantage of this solution. It is worth noting other advantages that open to owners of smart lighting:

Saving electrical energy. Setting the lighting so that the lights turn off when people leave the room can significantly reduce the energy consumption of appliances.

Scalability and versatility. At any time, it is possible to connect additional sensors, lighting devices and other electrical equipment to the lighting control system.

Easy to set up and manage. You can handle the technology in question even without much experience. The user interface of the remotes is intuitive and simple.

Increased lamp life. This positive effect is achieved by reducing the energy consumption of electrical equipment and its more correct control.

Easy installation wireless systems. Installing a wireless light control circuit does not require any repair work and a lot of time. You just need to place the devices in their places.

Some people may feel that the disadvantage of the technology in question is its high cost. However, it must be borne in mind that the use of such solutions has a positive effect on savings, and in the not too distant future, installing such a scheme may well pay off. Also, do not forget that the purchase and installation of automated lighting is a profitable investment in your comfort and safety.

Relays for automatic lighting control have recently become increasingly popular. After all, they can not only significantly reduce lighting costs, but also make your home more comfortable to live in. What can we say about centralized lighting control systems that will allow you not to go to the switches at all.

But often the installation of such systems is quite expensive, and not everyone can afford it. At the same time, if you have minimal knowledge of electrical engineering, you can easily create a centralized control system, which in its functionality will be little inferior to its more progressive counterparts. But its cost will be much lower.

In order to understand the issue of automatic control, let's first look at what is different centralized system control from the installation of conventional sensors. And what, strictly speaking, sensors can be used for this?

To answer this question, let's take an outdoor lighting control cabinet with a centralized system, and see what is connected to it. You will be surprised, but these are ordinary light, motion, presence sensors, timers and door opening limit switches.

The control process itself is carried out only through these sensors. And the centralized system only ensures their coordination, changing operating modes and a convenient user interface for configuration and management.

• That is, we can easily create a similar control system with our own hands, which will just not be so convenient to use.
• But how often do we need to change settings? Maybe once or twice a year - and even then, only on individual relays.
• This can be done manually, and not through the WEB interface. But the cost of such a system will be several times lower.
• What do we need for this? First of all, the sensors themselves. Therefore, let's look at them in more detail.

	- a device that is triggered when there is movement in its field of view. This sensor can be tuned to minor movements - for example, the movement of branches from the wind, the movement of animals or the distant movement of people.
	triggers when the light level at the device installation location decreases to the set limit. You will set the response limit yourself, and it can be either complete darkness or slight darkening from a cloud. Timer- This is a device that counts the time between turning on and off the light. Timers can be single-task - that is, capable of counting time for only one command, or multi-task, capable of counting time for a large number of tasks at the same time.
	Limit switches for opening and closing doors. Essentially, these are ordinary buttons that are mounted in the door and fix its position. They are actively used not only for lighting control, but also for integrating lighting control systems with security systems.
	Presence sensors– these are devices that detect the presence of a person in the field of view of the sensor. They can be made using a variety of technologies, which is why the price of the device can vary quite significantly. For example, some sensors detect the presence of human thermal radiation, and some work on the principle of a motion sensor, recording human movements.

Automatic lighting control circuits

Connecting the above sensors using the “and” or “or” scheme allows you to fully automate the lighting control process:

• The so-called “and” logic is when the lighting is turned on when two sensors are triggered at once.
• For example, when the light level decreases, the light sensor is triggered and the power to the motion sensor drops, when triggered the light turns on. Thus, triggering one of these sensors will not turn on the light.
• The “or” logic is when the light turns on based on the response factor of one of several sensors. For example: the light will turn on either due to a decrease in illumination, or due to the fact that the response time on the timer has arrived.

Connection diagrams with one sensor

To understand this issue in more detail, let's look at various sensor connection schemes. Let's start with the most simple circuits with one sensor.

As an example, let’s take a diagram for connecting a light sensor, which, when the level of natural light decreases, will give an impulse to turn on artificial lighting. The principle of connecting other sensors is similar.

• To do this, we need the light sensor itself. It can be of two types. In the first case, it is a sensor with a switching mechanism inside. Such a device is capable of controlling lighting with currents up to 6, 10 or 16A. Higher currents will cause the relay contact part to burn out.

• The second type of relay is an automatic lighting control with a remote sensor. The machine and the sensor are connected using a wire. In this case, the sensor only supplies a control pulse to the machine, and the circuit is switched directly by the machine. Such devices are capable of turning on and off lighting with rated currents up to 32A, and sometimes higher.
• In our example, we will consider connecting the first type of light sensor, as it is more common. For it to work, we need to connect the phase and neutral wires to it (see).

• To do this, we connect the phase wire from the switch of the lighting network, which we plan to automate. Moreover, we connect it to the contact coming from the distribution box or from the group machine. We connect the neutral wire directly in the distribution box - or lighting control cabinet, as in the video.
• Now our sensor is operational, but it still doesn’t switch anything. To do this, we need to connect another wire to the third terminal of the sensor. It will also be phase, and is connected either to the outgoing contact of the switch, or directly to the nearest lamp. The neutral wire for the lamp is taken separately from the distribution board or box.

Note! It is not for nothing that our instructions place such emphasis on connecting from the switch. The fact is that, according to PUE standards, any lighting networks with automatic control must be equipped with a manual control system that bypasses automation equipment. Simply put, there must be a switch that will allow you to turn on the light in addition to the sensor.

Connection diagrams with two sensors

Now let's look at the issue of connecting several sensors at once. In this case, we will have two options: the first connection using the “and” logic, and the second using the “or” logic.

• As an example, let's consider a situation where we want the lights to turn on when it is dark enough and when there is a person in a certain area. For this we need a light sensor and a motion sensor. Instead of a motion sensor, there may be a presence sensor.

• Now let's look at the connection diagram - it is called serial. First of all, as in the version with connecting one sensor, we install a light sensor. We connect only the wire that went to the lamps as an incoming phase wire to the motion sensor. And we connect the outgoing phase wire from the motion sensor to the lamps. In this case, we connect the neutral wire for the motion sensor to the external lighting control cabinet or distribution box. You can make one contact with the neutral wire of the light sensor.
• With this scheme, after the level of natural light decreases, the light sensor will work. It will supply a phase to the motion sensor, and it will start working. Once a person enters the sensor’s coverage area, it will trigger and turn on the lighting.
• Now let's consider the option when we have a long track. We need the light to turn on when a person appears on one or the other side of the path. The coverage area of ​​one motion sensor is not sufficient to cover the entire track. Therefore, we will need two, or even three sensors.

• The scheme of such a connection is quite simple. All sensors must be connected in parallel. To do this, we take the neutral wire from one point and connect it to all sensors. We do the same with the phase supply wire. But we connect the phase wires leaving the sensors with each other and connect them to our lamps.

Note! If we have a 380V lighting control box from which we connect sensors, then it is extremely important that they are all powered from the same phase wire. Otherwise, this will lead to short circuit. Therefore, to avoid errors, it is better to make connections at one point.

With this connection method, when at least one of the sensors is triggered, the light will turn on along the entire track. By combining the above options, the highest degree of automation can be achieved.

But for complex circuits, it becomes quite expensive to install power wires from sensor to sensor. Therefore, in such cases, all power switching is performed in the power cabinet. But only power is supplied to the sensors, and control signals come from them.

Conclusion

A lighting control box with a photo relay is no longer the limit of automation. Modern technologies allow you to use several parameters at once to turn on the lighting. And this does not always require the purchase of expensive equipment.

It is quite possible to create quality systems management and independently. To do this, it is enough to have minimal knowledge of electrical engineering and correctly think through the conditions for turning on and off the light.