Well, I have been very busy building a photocell relay box to evaluate for work. Photos of it are up on deviantart if you want to have a look. It’s not completed yet as I still need a few odds and ends to go with it. I need to purchase a DIN relay holder and a DIN relay with a 240v coil to make the relay. I also plan to add a weatherproof toggle switch to override the photocell, energising the relay coil straight away to allow lights to be switched on during the day. This is so that it will be very handy for engineers to test group switched lanterns easily. The relay box will make it easy to group switch street lights on telegraph poles or lights on buildings as one box is only needed.

Also, additional ’slave’ relays can be connected to the output of this photocell relay box to switch a second group of lights on as well. The photocell relay box is the central control source, allowing plenty of lights to be switched off one sensor, which isn’t normally common with telegraph pole lighting. I reckon it’s a very good idea and it saves a lot of wiring to be done, and saves a lot of time as well.

This relay box will be very handy for switching especially high-powered lightning loads. It’s handy to switch on a group of combined sodium, metal halide, mercury vapour, fluorescent and regular tungsten/halogen and even energy efficient CFL lamps.

I am amazed as I travel that everyone wants LED for every type of lighting source. The LED is a quantum shift within the lighting industry but it is not a silver bullet to solve every problem. For mounting heights above 20 feet and 6 x1 spacing check out Schreder Lighting’s Furyo and the Philips CosmoPolis Lighting System.

Digital HID (DHID) Lighting Test Results - High-bay / Low-bay Applications 

Today, more than ever there is a need for Industry to be responsible in its environmental judgements and actions. With the haste to improve the over-all environmental situation and push on Industry to reduce its carbon footprint, it is important to educate yourself on the short term and long term ramifications of the “Green” solutions you implement. In the case of lighting upgrades, there is a great opportunity to reduce corporation and municipality electricity expenses and more importantly to reduce the electricity demanded from the energy providers who are the greatest contributors of CO2 gases released into the environment. In selecting the lighting solution, you want to ensure you investigate not only the short term purchasing costs, but also the long term costs associated with waste; i.e. labour costs due to installation, maintenance/cleaning and light bulb replacements; and lamp consumable cost expenses which are significant yet typically ‘hidden’ or looked over and purposely not highlighted in the selling process of fluorescent (FLUO) and LED based lighting products.

When considering the type of lighting for your new or retrofit high-bay or low-bay lighting application, it is essential to be educated and made aware of what long term costs will be incurred over the lifetime of the lighting system. One very important aspect to consider is the maintenance and labour costs associated with the cleaning and the changing of lamps. Fluorescent and LED lighting systems have the problem that the light quality they emit inherently degrades over the operating life of their lamps, increasing the lamp replacement frequency and over-all expenses of operating those systems.

Comparing Digital Ballast powered High-Intensity Discharge lighting (Digital HID or DHID lighting) to fluorescent and LED, end-users agree that the added value offered in terms of the DHID solution’s low buying price, energy efficiency, light quality/performance, and reduced labour and maintenance costs, ensures end-users benefit with the best lighting for the shortest payback or return on investment time. Furthermore, when considering the upgrade or retrofit of an existing inefficient lighting installation, one must consider the labour costs involved in the installation; such as the removal of the old lighting system, re-wiring, changing of the lighting grid pattern, and all the consumable costs and other indirect waste created as a result. In the case of the upgrade of an existing core and coil (magnetic) powered ballast fixture, the DHID digital ballast solution is simple, cost-effective, outperforms and is the most environmentally responsible.

It is wise to consider the long term costs associated with fluorescent lighting to truly appreciate the “realistic” return on investment of fluorescent based lighting for factory/warehouse, retail, and general building high-bay and low-bay lighting applications. The following facts about DHID lighting versus FLUO lighting serves to highlight the performance and the common costs associated with the installation and operation of each in the short and long term to help you accurately conclude your own realistic return on investment calculation.

Capabilities and Benefits of DHID Vs. FLUO

This is a direct comparison between both DHID and fluorescent lighting solutions for a 40ft high-bay ceiling application where antiquated core and coil (magnetic) 1000W ballasts in existing HID fixture are already installed.

The recommended Digital HID retrofit solution is a dimmable 575W DHID ballast powering a 575W Metal Halide (MH) bulb. The proposed fluorescent high output high-bay T5 solution features 8 lamps at 54W each and 2 non-dimming electronic ballasts.

Installation Complexity and Cost?

DHID: A simple ‘plug and play’ retrofit of one digital ballast into the existing HID fixture and one new HID bulb installed where needed. The existing fixture is re-used and the efficiency is significantly improved by 50% to 75%. The performance and light quality is also better offering 40% brighter, whiter, penetrating light over the old system. The typical labour cost to retrofit a fixture is $50.00 US and takes approximately 30-45 minutes per fixture. The typical total package cost to retrofit a 1000W magnetic ballast application is $250-$300 US including the DHID 575W ballast, light bulb and installation cost.

FLUO: To install fluorescent you need to remove and recycle the used HID fixtures including ballasts, bulbs, reflectors, wires and the exterior metal housings. You then need to create new hanging structures for the new standard size fluorescent T5 8 Lamp high output fixtures. The lighting grid layout will need to also be changed as more T5 fluorescent fixtures will be needed to ensure a uniform light coverage (overlap) at the floor between them. In most cases, extra mid level or low-bay lighting needs to be installed where illumination from the fluorescent high-bay is not significant enough. There are also costs associated with the assembly of the individual fluorescent fixtures which is a labour cost the electrical contractor will invoice. With 8 bulbs and 2 ballasts, the complexity of a fluorescent system is high, adds cost and inhibits performance. The typical cost for a fluorescent T5 8 lamp high output fixture is starting at $280 US or more and this cost does not include the assembly/installation and the cost of the 8 lamps needed per fixture and for inventory.

Luminous Efficacy and Lumens Per Watt Performance?

DHID: Luminous efficacy of 118lm/W for digital ballast powered Metal Halide (MH), High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) and Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH) HID bulb applications. If retrofitting an existing HID fixture which has an antiquated 1000W core and coil (magnetic) ballast, a new 575W digital ballast would be installed in place powering a 575W MH bulb for a new total fixture lumen output of 67,850lm (575W X 118lm/W).

FLUO: Luminous efficacy of approximately 81lm/W if 54W bulbs in a fluorescent T5 8 lamp high-output fixture operating with 2 ballasts. If 54W bulbs offer a total lumen output of 4400lm output each, then 4400 X 8 lamps = 35,200 total lumen output from the T5 8 lamp high output fixture.

Ballast / Fixture Efficiency Performance?

DHID: One digital ballast is 97% efficient. For the existing magnetic 1000W MH, we retrofit the 575W DHID ballast operating a 575W MH bulb at 592W with 3% losses. At 575 Watts, the DHID system will produce more lumens at the ground than both the existing 1000W MH and fluorescent consideration. Moreover, the notable increase in lumen output performance will bring the existing fixtures back to life, with more light at the ground, and with more light over-laps between the fixtures for a brighter white facility and working area. Due to the increase in the lumen output of the DHID ballast high-bay installation, 30% to 40% of the existing mid level fluorescent lighting can be removed adding additional energy savings. And since the 575W DHID can be dimmed, even more electricity savings are possible; e.g. instantly dimmed to 20%, the 575W ballast only consumes approximately 474W yet still outputs bright penetrating light to the target.

FLUO: Two electronic ballasts are 90% efficient. Operating 54W x 8 bulbs = approximately 480W total with heat losses. Due to the poorer lumen output of T5’s, more fixtures should be added to the lighting grid to compensate for the lower lumen output to the ground. The 2 ballast design and the accumulation of 8 bulbs creates 10% losses to heat and increased wear on the bulbs leading to a more rapid degradation in light quality. The T5 fixture in this example does not have dim capabilities; to dim would add extra cost and complexity due to the ‘special’ dimming ballasts required. As a result of dimming fluorescent, there is also increased wear and tear on the lamps adding to lamp change increases and ultimately increased labour and consumable costs in the short and long term.

Light Quality Throughout Bulb Life?

DHID: Due to Digital HID’s 118lm/W luminous efficacy performance, more lumens, and natural white bright light penetrates to the facility floor. The light quality is guaranteed over the entire life of the bulb due to patented digital ballast technologies. The bulb does not degrade more than 5% from the life start to life end of the bulb creating huge benefits to retail, factory/warehouse or any applications where consistent bright white light is mandatory. The DHID ballast increases the life of HID bulbs radically by 100% (or more if dimming is utilized). A bulb with an original mean time before failure (MTBF) rating of 20,000 hours will now last 40,000 hours or more and will suffer no less than 5% light degradation throughout the bulbs life. The high luminous efficacy of the DHID ballast delivers brighter more penetrating lumens to the factory or retail application floor for less cost. Compared to LED, fluorescent, and induction based lamp systems, DHID powered systems easily offer the best light quality/performance for the lowest total operating/consumable costs.

FLUO: The fact is that all fluorescent lamps, be they hot cathode, cold cathode or electrode-less will suffer from phosphor degradation. The rate of this degradation is a function of the type and the amount of phosphor, and the type of glass used for the tube. The temperature of the phosphor and glass and the intensity of the UV flux from the discharge also play a role in enhancing the degradation of a fluorescent bulb. High Output (HO) and Very High Output (VHO) bulbs will normally degrade faster than standard output bulbs.

Most standard output fluorescent bulbs claim 10,000 hours to 20,000 hours or more operating lifetimes, but can fall to 80% or less of their original light intensity after only 10,000 hours of operation. One must take into account the long term costs of this realistic bulb degradation and failure in considering fluorescent for your lighting application. If dimming ballasts are installed, please factor in this extra cost and also the increased cost of labour and consumables due to increased lamp changes as dimming has an adverse effect on the life of the fluorescent bulb, degrading it even quicker.

Fixture Noise, Static; Light Quality Psychological Impact?

DHID: The proven DHID ballast is silent, and operates warm as only 3% losses are to heat; the ballast is 97% efficient and does not create significant static electricity. Pulse start MH bulbs are inexpensive and produce a natural white light which is more pleasant to work under. Studies have shown that humans working in brighter, more naturally lit environments are more alert and more productive.

FLUO: Some of the common nuisances end-users underscore about fluorescent lighting are the noise, the light quality/flicker, the colour, and rapid light quality degradation by or before the bulb’s mid-life and inevitably thereafter. Fluorescent lighting fixtures require increased maintenance and cleaning due to the dust that collects on the static charged surfaces of the system. The dust and debris accumulation on the bulb and on the reflector surface is unhealthy and further adds to the degradation of light quality and total lumen output.

Lamp(s) and Ballast(s) Change Frequency?

DHID: Only 1 lamp needs to be replaced per HID fixture and with little labour cost/time needed as HID fixtures are typically easy to maintain with easy access to the light bulb. HID bulbs operated with the DHID ballast are rated to 30,000 hours to 40,000 hours or more life expectancy (with dimming) and the bulb lumen output is guaranteed to not decrease more than 5% over the lifetime of the bulb. The DHID ballast will output 118lm/W right up until the bulb’s life end. The DHID ballast is rated to a 10 year MTBF and will output the same 118lm/W up until its life-end. At ballasts life-end, it is again a very simple and cost-effective replacement to upgrade the HID system without having to replace entire fixtures.

FLUO: 8 lamps per fixture need to be replaced and much more frequently than DHID which adds more labour and maintenance costs. If mean time before failure of the fluorescent bulb is 20,000 hours then lamps need replacement every 2 to 3 years. If the lamps are considered to be failed at 10,000 hours due to significant light quality and brightness degradation, then lamp change frequency needs to be every 1 to 2 years. Since the 8 lamp fluorescent fixtures need two ballasts each, then at the ballasts life-end two ballasts need replacement. If you factor in the labour costs to remove the old ballast and reinstall new ballasts, it becomes evident that a lot of waste is created due to the limitations of the fluorescent lighting technology.

Long Term Realistic Bulb And Ballast Expenses?

DHID: Simple example: 1 bulb per existing fixture x 500 fixtures X $20 US approximate HID bulb cost for a 575W Pulse Start Metal Halide bulb = 500 bulbs at $10,000.00 US total every 4-6yrs+. Very simple procedure, 1 lamp to replace and it is easy to do in the existing fixtures since the bulbs are really easy to access. This decreases the maintenance labour costs noticeably. The DHID ballast is rated to 10 years MTBF and is also easy and cost-effective to replace at that time.

FLUO: 8 x T5 high output bulbs X 500 units = 4,000 bulbs. At an approximated bulb price of $5 USD X 4,000 bulbs the total bulb consumable costs alone is $20,000 US. If the bulb lasts 15,000 hours without significant degradation, you would incur this expense every 2 years approximately. In addition, there will be increased labour costs incurred to change 8 lamps per fixture. At the end of the ballasts life there will again be expenses incurred to replace either the entire fixture (more waste), or to retrofit two new ballasts in the existing fixture. Either option with fluorescent will result in inevitable labour and consumable expenses and environmental waste.

Motion Sensor Dimming Capabilities?

DHID: It is possible to dim Metal Halide, High-Pressure Sodium and Ceramic Metal Halide HID bulbs with DHID digital ballasts. Dimming is simple and instant and it adds to the already sizeable savings in energy consumption since the DHID ballast can dim the HID bulb from 100% power to 50% power or any step in between this range. The dimming of a DHID ballast powered bulb is barely noticeable because the system still delivers high lumen output in the dimmed state. With smart dimming, the electricity costs to operate the system are further reduced without disrupting the operation or safety of the working environment. Motion sensors are strategically placed to detect human and operator activity to determine lamp on times at full power.

In the case of a 575W DHID ballast powered HID bulb replacing a magnetic 1000W system drawing 1200W with approximated heat losses, the end-user can expect 50% or more savings without dimming. The system can then be dimmed down via motion sensor or switch by 20% to the 460W setting for the additional 20% in savings in electricity (1200W – 592W – 118.4W = 489.6W / 1200W = 59%+ savings total).

With the advancement in the DHID technology over magnetic based HID systems, lamp start times are 1 minute, dimming is instantaneous and start-up after a hot re-strike is 3 minutes. In most Industry applications, instant dimming capabilities are preferred since HID lighting systems are typically installed in areas where the lights are to be on for extended time periods. Where it is essential to have the lights on always, the dimming of a HID system is ideal since lumen output is still high in the dimmed state, yet more electricity is saved since the lights are only at full power when needed.

FLUO: Yes and No; it is possible to dim fluorescents, but you need special and expensive ballasts with this capability for T5 fluorescent bulbs. This adds expense as you need two ballasts per each 8 lamp high-bay fixture. Without dimming there is a great limit on electrical energy savings possible with fluorescent lighting. One should also consider the original lumen output performance when considering the fluorescent solutions versus a DHID retrofit solution since DHID offers a much higher output of lumens to the target, even in the dimmed state. Secondly, one should consider the effect of dimming on the fluorescent bulb since increased dim-on and dim-off cycles reduce the bulbs life. Fluorescent lighting was not originally designed for dimming, and is typically not recommended due to the associated expenses, performance limitations and poor return on investment.

Return On Investment?

DHID: With DHID the short term return on investment payback is 0.5 years to 1 year for a total DHID retrofit package including bulb, ballast and installation. In the long term, if utilizing an MH bulb with a MTBF of 30,000 hours to 40,000 hours+ with dimming, operated at 6,240 hours yearly, the bulb would need to be replaced every 4.8 years or 6.4 years+ with dimming respectively. At a bulb cost of $20 US, the total consumable cost is miniscule over the lifetime of the system. The DHID ballast is rated at 10yrs MTBF with the potential to have its life extended further depending on the application. With fewer bulbs and less frequent lamp changes, maintenance/cleaning time is more infrequent making the money saved in labour and consumable expenses over the system life noteworthy. The DHID solution guarantees high energy efficiency, and high-quality, penetrating light over the entire lifetime of the bulb and the DHID ballast.

FLUO: The short term return on investment payback time is poor due to the initial cost of purchase and installation; i.e. the labour to assemble the new T5 8 lamp fixtures; the removal of the used HID fixtures; the install and wiring of the new T5 fixture; the installation of the 8 lamps and the accumulated costs of all the fixture hardware and individual lamps for each fixture. Furthermore, in the short term one must factor in the costs of how frequently the fixtures will require cleaning due to decreased light output as a result of dust accumulation. If the T5 high output bulb is able to last 15,000 hours without noticeable degradation due to cleaning and efficient bulb operation, then bulb change labour and consumable expenses will be frequent; every 2 years or less making the return on investment of fluorescent over the long term (5 years or more) most unfavourable when compared to the DHID retrofit solution.

 
The Environmentally Responsible Lighting Retrofit Solution

The DHID ballast retrofit solution is the most environmentally responsible and cost-effective upgrade for inefficient lighting installations. By simply retrofitting the Digital HID ballast into an antiquated HID lamp system, the old fixture is re-used and rejuvenated, bringing new life and a drastic improvement in performance to the HID bulb based system. This simple procedure leaves only the magnetic ballast to be recycled (and bulb in circumstances) and therefore creates much less strain on the environment.  The DHID solution is able to reduce Industry’s carbon footprint, and the over-all CO2 emissions released into the atmosphere due to the measurable amount of energy consumption reduced and physical and time waste reduced as a result of the DHID solution.

Digital HID lighting promises and delivers the optimal balance of energy efficiency, light quality/performance, and reduced maintenance benefits for the shortest realistic return on investment payback time in the Industry. We welcome the opportunity to discuss our findings with you further; please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Anthony Borges
aborges@accendoelectronics.com
www.AccendoElectronics.com

The concerns about street lighting policy I highlighted yesterday on www.dundeewestend.com were further reported in today’s Courier (see http://tinyurl.com/lightspolicy) and if you go to http://tiny.cc/lightspolicy
you can hear my comments on Radio Tay News today too.

New Lamp Posts

Council engineers have begun to install new street lights in Draper’s Lane, Hedon.

Councillor Steve Sloan in the Liberal Democrat Focus newsletter circulated recently stated:

It is good to know that the old concrete lamp posts are finally going to get replaced. This is part of an ongoing programme. If you think that your street lighting needs improving please let us know”

Councillor Sloan can be contacted online via WriteToThem.

The new street lights programme obviously explains the lack of council action on current concerns about faulty street lighting in the area!

Industry can be more competitive and environmentally effective today by significantly reducing the costs and electricity consumption associated with the operation of lighting. By replacing antiquated lighting systems with high performance energy efficient digital High-Intensity Discharge lighting (DHID or Digital HID), 50%+ less electricity is consumed and demanded from the power utilities; cost-effectively reducing Industry’s carbon footprint. When considering the upgrade of an existing HID lighting system or lighting for new Green Building projects, DHID technology delivers the most energy efficient lighting solutions for Street Lighting, Factory/Warehouse High-Bay Lighting, Greenhouse Hydroponics, Sporting Arena, Airport and Renewable Energy Applications.

Any existing core and coil (magnetic) ballast HID application can benefit immediately just by retrofitting the old magnetic ballast with a new DHID ballast. From an environmental standpoint, by reusing the existing light fixture and lens assembly, less waste is created and money is saved since only a new ballast need be purchased, leaving only the old ballast to be recycled (we partner end-users with recommended magnetic ballast recycling companies).

DHID’s value-added features and performance make it the smart solution for any new installation; it is the most cost-effective alternative to LED, Fluorescent and Induction based technologies for new and retrofit industrial and commercial Green lighting projects. Digital Ballasts offer unparalleled electrical efficiency and performance compared to conventional magnetic ballasts and outperforms LED, Fluorescent, and Induction lighting in initial buying cost, energy efficiency, system performance, light quality, and maintenance/consumable costs.

With an industry leading luminous efficacy of 116 Lumens/Watt, conventional higher Wattage magnetic ballast HID lighting fixtures are now easily upgraded/retrofitted or replaced with the new higher-performance, yet lower wattage DHID Digital ballast or fixture. For example, a conventional 1000W Metal Halide magnetic ballast, can be retrofitted with the DHID 575W Digital Ballast offering an immediate and significant 50% energy savings and approximately 18% brighter light. Add the ability to dim the Digital Ballasts, and even greater energy savings can be realized. Add Light Management Software to control the lighting network wirelessly; dimming lights on demand or on set schedules, electricity operating expenses are reduced by 75%+.

Application Examples

Street Lighting (Municipality) Applications:

• Street Lighting Project – Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Replaced 150W and 250W HPS utilizing core and coil (magnetic) ballasts with dimmable DHID 100W digital ballasts in existing cobra head fixtures.
- A simple plug-and-play ballast retrofit or a simple replacement of the entire cobra head lamp fixture based on the DHID Digital Ballast.
- DHID system favoured over competitors LED based design; DHID offered better performance and price.
- Reduced inventory stock/costs; one DHID ballast powers inexpensive MH, CMH and HPS bulbs.
- Excellent ROI; low maintenance/consumable costs (only inexpensive bulb need be replaced every 30,000hrs+).
- Total direct savings: 72.5Watts/hr per fixture (42% savings) for magnetic 150W application and 187.5Watts/hr per fixture (65% savings) for 250W application; calculations including magnetic ballast energy losses (approx. 15%).

Factory/Warehouse High-Bay Lighting (Industry/Commercial/Retail):

• HEINZ Ketchup Food Manufacturing Plant – Southern Ontario, Canada.
- Replaced existing 320W MH fixtures utilizing core and coil (magnetic) ballasts with dimmable DHID 150W digital ballast fixtures (CMH lamp).
- Measured Lux (lx) at the ground before and after installation (mounting height of 26ft.); old 320W MH produced 120lx – New DHID 150W produced 455lx (i.e. a most significant 73.7% improvement in light quality/brightness at the ground for over half the electricity consumed)
- Reduced over-all maintenance/consumable costs since DHID powered lamps do not degrade in light quality or brightness the entire 30,000hrs+ MTBF of the HID bulb.
- Total direct savings: 218Watts/hr per fixture (59% savings); calculations including magnetic ballast energy losses (approx. 15%).

• Toyota Automobile Assembly Plant – Southern Ontario, Canada.
- Replaced existing 400W MH fixtures utilizing core and coil (magnetic) ballasts with dimmable DHID 250W digital ballast fixtures (CMH lamp).
- The new installation not only resulted in significant energy savings but also provided 20% additional lumens for the area and thus leading to the elimination of 30-40% of the existing fluorescent task lighting.
- Return on investment justified with the low buying cost and performance of DHID lighting; maintenance/consumable costs of DHID favoured over LED, Fluorescent and Induction lighting.
- Total direct savings: 210Watts/hr per fixture (54% savings) with DHID 250W setting; customer can dim to the 100W, 135W, and 150W, settings for up to 360Watts/hr per fixture (78%) savings; calculations including magnetic ballast energy losses (approx. 15%).

Greenhouse Hydroponic Lighting Applications:

- Retrofit/Replace existing 1000W HID fixtures utilizing MH, CMH or HPS bulbs utilizing core and coil (magnetic) ballasts with dimmable DHID 575W digital ballasts or DHID fixtures (CMH, MH or HPS lamp).
- Or Replace/Retrofit existing 1000W MH fixtures with 1000W-2000W+ digital ballasts to further increase plant growth yields in a shorter timeframe.
- DHID digital high frequency ballasts operate within the most advantageous 100-200 kHz light frequency (Sun = 100kHz) and maximize the energy efficiency and mean time before failure specifications of MH, CMH and HPS lamps.
- Greenhouse operators can now maximize the return on their lighting investment and profitability due to the higher energy and electrical efficiency of the DHID digital ballast.
- Low cost of investment including reduced maintenance/consumable expenses make DHID the most financially viable lighting solution for greenhouse operators today.
- Return On Investment; at $0.10/kWhr, a DHID 575W digital ballast operated 12 hours per day, 365 days a year (4380 hours) will be paid back in 1.4 years.
- Total direct savings: 575Watts/hr per fixture (50% savings); operator can use DHID 1000W+ to increase plant growth yields/reduce grow time for less electricity expense than their existing magnetic based 1000W MH or HPS HID lighting system. Calculations including magnetic ballast energy losses (approx. 15%).

Sporting Arena/Event Lighting Applications:

• Ice Hockey Arena Installation – Southern Ontario, Canada
- Replaced 1000W MH fixtures utilizing core and coil (magnetic) ballasts with dimmable DHID 575W digital ballast fixtures (CMH lamp).
- Immediate increase in energy savings and improvement in light quality and brightness at the ice surface.
- At full power (575W setting), end-user noted it was too much brightness reflecting off of the ice service. End-user was able to dim the 575W fixture to the desired setting; any of 360W, 400W, 460W, and 575W.
- Return on investment is 3 years or less.
- Total direct savings: 575Watts/hr per fixture (50% savings) with DHID 575W setting; customer can dim to the 360W, 400W, or 460W settings for up to 790Watts/hr per fixture (69% savings); calculations including magnetic ballast energy losses (approx. 15%). Total project savings of 94,000 Watts per hour at $0.13kW/hr.

Airport Area Lighting Applications:

• Airport Area Lighting – Dominican Republic
- Replaced existing 1000W MH fixtures utilizing core and coil (magnetic) ballasts with dimmable DHID 575W digital ballast fixtures (CMH lamp).
- Airport realized an instant savings of 50%. The DHID powered 575W bulb produces a brighter white light than the magnetic powered 1000W bulb.
- Consumable costs and maintenance costs reduced; inventory also reduced since one DHID Digital Ballast powers MH, CMH and HPS bulbs.
- Total direct savings: 575Watts/hr per fixture (50% savings) with DHID 575W setting; customer can dim to the 360W, 400W, or 460W settings for up to 790Watts/hr per fixture (69% savings); calculations including magnetic ballast energy losses (approx. 15%).

Renewable Energy Lighting Applications:

- Retrofit existing HID based Street Lighting posts with Solar/Wind renewable energy sources for independent operation from the utilities power grid; or only partial draw from the utilities with the option to feed excess energy harvested back to the electrical grid.
- Given the 118lm/W performance of the DHID lighting system, end-users can expect shorter Solar/Wind system battery charge times and extended light on times.
- Solar/Wind produced energy can be used to efficiently power any of the DHID Digital Ballast powered lighting systems to meet a variety of indoor and outdoor lighting applications.
- SolGreen Solar Street Lighting Link: http://www.accendoelectronics.com/PDF/SolGreenSolarStreetLighting.pdf

Light Management Software Applications:

- Light Management Software (LMS1A) utilizes wireless communication to provide ultimate control of individual DHID lighting fixtures in any facility.
- LMS1A allows you to manage light levels by establishing zones and dictating the light levels within those zones at various time periods throughout the day.
- End-user now has the option to simply turn off or dim areas of the building during off hours while providing full illumination in critical areas; e.g. dimming the entire production facility 50% during lunch break.
- LMS1A management software allows you to establish a control strategy that meets all your lighting needs while driving significant cost savings.
- Light Management Software (LMS1A) Link: http://www.accendoelectronics.com/PDF/Accendo_LMS.pdf

Digital HID (DHID) Product Benefits and Specifications:

- Significant (up to 75%) saving of electrical energy and maintenance costs
- Automatic loss-of-lumen compensation as lamp ages; lamp quality brightness will degrade only <5% over the entire 30,000hrs+ MTBF of the MH, CMH or HPS bulb.
- Produces up to 40% more Lumens/Watt than core-and-coil (magnetic) ballasts without losses (DHID luminous efficacy specification is 116lm/W)
- Increased life expectancy (100%) of the lamp compared to core-and-coil (magnetic) ballast technology.
- Highest efficiency ballast on the market: 97%, DHID Digital ballast does not generate heat – this improves the efficiency of HVAC and Refrigeration systems in building and warehouse applications.
- 50% dimming of incoming power produces additional cost saving.
- Optional motion sensor control through RF input; control/statistical Light Management Software (LMS1A) available allowing full control of lamp grid/network maximizing electricity cost savings.
- Virtually no loss of electrical energy. Watts consumed = Watts produced
- Conventional core-and-coil (magnetic) ballasts create significant heat and operate at a 25% loss in terms of Watts consumed and Watts produced.
- Very easy retrofit installations for Metal Halide (MH), Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH) and High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lamps (DHID Digital ballast operates any of these types)
- DHID Digital Ballast Technology Link: http://www.accendoelectronics.com/technology.shtml

Outperforming LED, Fluorescent and Induction lighting technologies, DHID Digital Ballast powered HID lighting is proven to be the value-added lighting solution. DHID’s low initial buying cost, energy efficiency, system performance, light quality, and reduced maintenance/consumable cost benefits add up to the industries best return on investment time. We welcome the opportunity to discuss our findings with you further; please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Anthony Borges
aborges@accendoelectronics.com
www.AccendoElectronics.com

DON’T FORGET!! The clocks go back by one hour at 2am on Sunday 25th October 2009!

NOTE: The prospect of shorter daylight hours and long winter nights can make more people worry about crime and personal safety.

Many will return home from work, school, shopping in darkness and may feel more vulnerable, especially those people who live alone.

So if you see a street light that is not working then do us all a favour and REPORT IT.

You can report it via the East Riding Council website online fault reporting or on Fix My Street.

Let the Hedon Blog know if you have any difficulty in getting faulty lights fixed in the town.

See other useful documents from the East Riding Council website.

See Report Street Lighting on this blog.

Accendo Light Management Software, LMS1A is an exciting breakthrough in energy management for industrial and commercial facilities utilizing HID lighting.  Finally there is a comprehensive, user-friendly solution to drive dramatic energy savings through intelligent light management. 

The Light Management Software utilizes wireless communication to provide ultimate control of individual HID lighting fixtures in your facility.  LMS-1A allows you to manage light levels by establishing zones and dictating the light levels within those zones at various time periods throughout the day.  Imagine having the power to dim areas of your building during off hours while providing full illumination in critical areas or dimming your entire production facility 50% during lunch break.  LMS-1A management software allows you to establish a control strategy that meets all your lighting needs while driving significant cost savings.

Accendo Light Management Software can either operate as a stand-alone system installed on a wireless touchscreen PC or as a fully integrated application running on an existing plant infrastructure.  Each GloGreen digital ballast can be equipped with a 2.4 GHz RF module to allow for robust 2 way communication between the light fixture and the Accendo control software.  This 2-way communication within your facility creates significant energy savings and system management opportunities:

• Define an unlimited number of zones within your facility and establish multiple control profiles for each zone

• Monitor energy consumption for every fixture on a real time and historical basis

• Monitor installation date, hours of service, MTBF and real time status of every fixture

• Monitor and document all system faults or alarms

• One touch emergency override of all profiles or emergency shut-off

• Utilize the graphical interface to view you entire facility ‘At a Glance’

Accendo Light Management Software is supported by a professional software team with extensive experience supporting industrial and commercial applications.  Accendo Electronics can provide solution consulting services, turn-key system integration and 24 hour system support.

Light Management Software Link: http://www.accendoelectronics.com/PDF/Accendo_LMS.pdf

Accendo Electronics is committed to the success of your lighting application; please contact us to learn how the LMS-1A Light Management Software can provide you with The Power to Conserve.

Anthony Borges
aborges@accendoelectronics.com
www.AccendoElectronics.com

When considering your lighting application solution, it is prudent to educate yourself on the available lighting types on the market today.  Given the recent surge of promotion and the popularity of LED lighting, many consumers assume LED to be the solve-all for every lighting application.  Although LED technology meets and exceeds the standards for many applications, one should be careful when considering LED for applications where light projection or penetration is important; i.e. applications where the light source is mounted at long distances from the target, as in Street Lighting, High-bay Warehouse, Sports Arena, Airport and Greenhouse lighting for example.

• LED’s present many advantages over traditional light sources including lower energy consumption, longer lifetime, improved robustness, smaller size and faster switching.  However, they are relatively expensive and require more precise current and heat management than traditional light sources.
• It should be noted that high-power (≥1W) LED’s are necessary for practical general lighting applications.  Typical operating currents for these devices begin at 350 mA.
• One of the highest efficiency ratings of high-power white LED’s is claimed by Philips Lumileds Lighting Co., with a luminous efficacy of 115 lm/W (350 mA).  Please note that these efficiencies are for the LED chip only, held at low temperature in a lab.  In a lighting application, operating at higher temperature and with drive circuit losses, efficiencies are much lower.
• Independent testing of commercial LED lamps designed to replace incandescent or CFL lamps showed that average efficacy was about 31 lm/W in 2008 and tested performance ranged from 4 lm/W to 62 lm/W) compared with 100-116 lm/W of DHID lighting systems.
• Solid state devices such as LED’s are subject to very limited wear and tear if operated at low currents and at low temperatures.  Many of the LED’s produced in the 1970s and 1980s are still in service today. Typical lifetimes quoted are 25,000 to 100,000 hours but heat and current settings can extend or shorten this time significantly.

As a leader and one source supplier of advanced lighting systems for commercial and industrial lighting applications, including DHID and specific LED lighting products, Accendo Electronics has studied and field tested both LED and the next generation Digital Ballast powered HID (called Digital HID or DHID) technologies for applications requiring long light penetration and retained light quality over extended time periods.  In our research, we uncovered key myths and facts about LED’s you should consider when deciding on your project lighting. 

Manufacturers claim mean time before failure (MTBF) ratings on LED’s to be 50,000 hours to 100,000 hours or more.  Although in cases LED’s do meet these extended MTBF specifications, this number must be directly correlated to the LED application itself.  Factors such as mounting distance, the lumens per Watt (lm/W) rating, and operating temperature all contribute to the reduction of the LED’s MTBF.  Realistically, LED’s used for street lighting, or high-bay warehouse applications for example, may be considered to be failed at 30,000 hours or sooner due to the significant light diminishment incurred in the time stages of the LED’s operation. 

The most common symptom of LED (and diode laser) failure is the gradual lowering of light output and loss of efficiency.  Sudden failures, although rare, can occur as well.  Early red LED’s were notable for their short lifetime.  With the development of high power LED’s, the devices are subjected to higher junction temperatures and higher current densities than traditional devices.  This causes stress on the material and may cause early light output degradation.  To quantitatively classify lifetime in a standardized manner it has been suggested to use the terms L75 and L50 which is the time it will take a given LED to reach 75% and 50% light output respectively.  L50 is equivalent to the half-life of the LED.

Facts:

• The LED light quality diminishes or dims over the operating lifetime of the LED bulb.  This degradation in light should be considered when reviewing the MTBF of LED’s since the light emitted at the LED’s life start is not equal to the light emitted at the bulbs half-life or life-end.  If the LED bulb cannot produce the light output originally specified, it is a form of failure.
• Over time, heat created by LED’s also has an adverse effect on the systems light quality and MTBF.  Depending on the class of the LED bulb used, factors such as powder coating (filter) degradation and the material used to manufacture the LED lens, further add to the truism that LED’s do not necessarily meet their manufacturer’s specified MTBF ratings and lighting quality claims.
• DHID equals or outperforms the longevity of LED in most industrial and commercial applications at lower costs.  The integrated microprocessor of the DHID doubles the life expectancy of the HID lamp by maintaining full level of illumination up to 28,000 – 30,000 hours. 
• Studies have proven that DHID used as a direct replacement and mounted at the same distance as the original HID lighting, outperforms LED in many quantifiable measurements of energy efficiency and light penetration.  DHID offers a market leading lumens per Watt rating of 114 lm/W – 118 lm/W (which is 25% – 30% above LED’s lm/W rating) and therefore delivers higher energy efficiency, greater light penetration, and quality light up until its 30,000 hours MTBF; and all for a fraction of the cost of LED.  

Myth: LED’s Project/Penetrate Light at Long Distances

False!

Our studies proved that LED’s are not well suited for projecting light efficiently at distances exceeding 15ft (4.5m approx.).

Facts:

• At a typical street light height mounting distance of approximately 32.8ft (10m), the foot-candle (fc) measurements of the light emitted from both LED and DHID were recorded at the ground: 

      -100W LED street light produced 0.75 foot-candles
      -70W DHID with a 70W Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH)
        lamp produced 1.75 foot-candles

• For street lighting applications the high lumens per Watt rating of DHID provides the best value delivering higher energy efficiency, greater light penetration, and quality of light over time.

Where to Use LED Fixtures

• Industrial and commercial applications where useful light penetration would not exceed 7 – 8 meters such as commercial room lighting, exit signs, target illumination in retail stores and others.
• Flash lights, and other utility lighting.
• Instrument panel lights and other back lighting applications.
• Industrial and architectural back lighting, and other decorative applications.
   

Why DHID (Digital HID) is Preferred for Street Lighting and High-bay Lighting Projects

When selecting a lighting system, significant consideration should be given to the performance, cost, and life expectancy of both solutions.  Given the poorer lumens per Watt rating, high initial expense and realistic wear data of LED’s, we determined the DHID solution to be the better value. 

• Progressively thinking end-users agree that DHID is the more robust lighting solution with value added benefits not offered by LED; initial cost of investment, longer range of light penetration, and low maintenance costs were noted.
• With CMH or HPS lamps, the end-user can expect brighter light at the ground, with 30,000 hours of life expectancy and less than 5% degradation in light quality/brightness over the lifetime of the bulb.  When a DHID system CMH bulb fails, only the bulb itself needs to be replaced making it a most cost-effective alternative to expensive LED replacements.
• Maintenance and control of a DHID lighting systems is further simplified by Accendo’s Light Control Software which provides real-time tracking and performance data of each DHID light via radio frequency (RF) communication.
   

Accendo Embraces the Use of LED’s for the Following Applications:

• Wall packs and canopy light fixtures (currently under development).
• Panel lights for architectural and special purpose lighting applications (currently under development).
• Exit signs.

We welcome the opportunity to discuss our findings with you further.  As confirmation of Accendo’s proven product specifications, Risk Free Trial units are now available for your own 30 day evaluation.  Accendo Electronics is committed to the success of your lighting application; please do not hesitate to contact us for additional information today.

Anthony Borges
aborges@accendoelectronics.com
www.AccendoElectronics.com

Just out: Crane (Street lighting) : Crane Lamp is a beautiful street lamp that takes its inspiration from the Cranes and energy from the solar panels, more than just being a lamp the object is actually a street sculpture that adds flavor to the space and also provides a pleasant shadow in the hot summer days. http://www.omcdesign.com/index.php?design=677&ref=wop

The new street lighting for the Carretera Artà-Puerto Alcúdia through Can Picafort was given its premiere yesterday. Costing 400,000 plus euros, Santa Margalida’s mayor, Martí Torres, presided over yesterday’s introduction of the new lamp-posts.

-by Patrick Dixon

There is the scandal of energy wastage on street lighting, which is responsible for 5% of all electricity use in America and the EU. But this can easily be reduced to only 3% or less, using low energy bulbs, with a payback period of only four years. That means a potential saving 2% of all energy use in all developed nations. 120 million street lights need replacing in the EU alone, plus another 500 million outside lights, at a unit cost of EU275 each and EU275 labour. If we assume that 75% of public lights will be replaced within 20 years, then the market in the EU alone will be EU16.5bn a year. Since all the costs are recovered from reduced electricity bills, there are no financial barriers to carrying out the work.

About the author: Patrick Dixon is Chairman, Global Change Ltd, http://www.globalchange.com

As a promoter of using online services, then I get irritated when they don’t work or yield the desired results!

Following my recent post on reporting faulty street lights I felt duty bound to report one on Draper’s Lane corner  that I came across while out one night.  I think the said broken light makes the area look ‘frightening’ to walk by at night and could even be a potential hazzard to traffic.

Therefore, I duly logged an online street lighting fault report at the East Riding Council website on the 13th March and received a confirmation e-mail in return.

Last night – the offending light was still unfixed. While I appreciate all the problems that the busy street lighting department have, it would still be useful if I knew that the light had been scheduled to have been fixed – and by when.

So this morning – again promoting online services – I submitted my offending faulty light via FixMyStreet where I do have the facility to look up progress on dealing with the fault.

So… as they say…. watch this space!

FixMyStreetReport

Additional information: East Riding Council Feedback System

Street lights are something we all take for granted. Yet when they do not work, the ‘dark places’ can cause fear. That well-lit and trusted path can become a place to avoid; the road can become a potential accident spot. Indeed, they can be hiding places for criminals!

The absence of good quality lighting can deter some people from leaving their homes – older people in particular, or those who are infirm can become prisoners in their own homes on an evening.

So do us all a favour – if you see a street light that is not working then please report it!

The East Riding Council maintains over 39,000 street lights and relies on members of the public to report those that are not working (or those that stay on in the daylight). You can report faults at:

Streetscene services
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Beverley depot
Annie Reed Road
Beverley
HU17 0LF
Tel: 01482 395740
Fax: 01482 395059
Email: lamp.lighter@eastriding.gov.uk

Or online at the East Riding Council at: ERYC – Street Lighting

Image: Andy Beecroft as part of the Geograph Project