Lighting Retrofits: Putting Technology to Work
Part 1: Lighting Controls: A Look at Daylight Harvesting
Part 2: Photosensors: What Are Typical Light-Level Ranges?
Part 3: Daylight Harvesting: The Importance of Signal Resolution
Part 4: Daylight Harvesting: What is Photopic Correction?
Part 5: Photosensors: Wireless, Self-Calibrating Products Emerge
Photosensors: Wireless, Self-Calibrating Products Emerge
By Craig DiLouie - February 2010
Wireless, fixture integration, and self-calibrating products are likely to be the top three trends in photosensor development, Freshman says.
"We look at wireless as being a key growth area," he says. "It is an ideal solution for retrofit applications, with great cost savings that occur from not having to run new wires and because of faster installation. Fixture-mounted sensors have been a strong growth category, as well."
Adds Trevino, "There is an evolution toward integrating daylighting controls with other types of lighting controls. For example, manufacturers are beginning to develop integrated systems that combine occupancy sensors, relay panels, daylighting controls, even integration into lighting fixtures."
The technology also has evolved toward self-calibrating/commissioning controls, Trevino says.
"Some manufacturers have introduced devices that automatically calibrate for operation," he says. "Some minor adjustment may be necessary to trigger this capability, but the process is far more automated than even five years ago. This greatly simplifies the set-up process, which has always been one of the biggest hurdles to successful daylighting control."
Managers are likely to see still more advances.
"Daylight regulation in combination with blind controls will be a future technology trend," Alagappan says. "We may also see low-resolution cameras playing the role of photosensors, intelligently compensating for changes in room interiors — surface reflectances."
Craig DiLouie is principal of ZING Communications Inc. and education director for the Lighting Controls Association. DiLouie specializes in the lighting and electrical fields.
