Multi-level lighting control is designed to implement simple and energy-efficient control of lighting systems, used where it is required to implement lighting on or off from several places, lighting on or off by groups, general central on or off.
Let's take a look at a few major solutions and products from the point of view of hardware fault tolerance, and therefore real long-term operation.
An example of a multi-level lighting control system
Level 1 control - all light sources in the building, including those controlled from several places.
2nd level of control - lighting sources combined in a group in the left wing of the first floor, lighting sources combined in a group in the right wing of the first floor, lighting sources combined in a group in the left wing of the second floor, lighting sources combined in a group in the right wing of the second floors.
3rd level of control - lighting sources combined in a group on the entire first floor, lighting sources combined in a group on the entire second floor.
4th level of control - lighting sources united in a group throughout the house.
Solutions on which such a system can be built
1. PLC.
2. Impulse relays.
3. A complex of technical means of non-programmable logic (CTS NPL) based on modular lighting control devices of our own design.
You can read about the KTS NPL in the article .
The electromechanical lighting control device is a compact control module for installation on a 36 mm DIN rail (2 modules).
Management
Control is via a double momentary pushbutton with two normally open contacts.
The reason for the development of CTS NPL
The reason for the development of the KTS NPL was the terms of reference of the customer who wants to implement the functionality of a multi-level lighting control system without the use of a PLC (because it is very expensive to reserve).
An example of the functionality of a multi-level lighting control system in a cottage
Consider a fault-tolerant system based on lighting control devices
Composition:
1. Lighting control devices.
Equipment cost: $47 for one light source.
Electrical durability: 100 cycles for AC-000.
If one of the lighting control devices fails, all other devices of the lighting control system will continue to work.
This means that if the lighting control device breaks down, the lighting will continue to work, with the exception of one light source, or one group switch, while the master installs new equipment and puts it into operation.
Consider a fault-tolerant PLC-based system
Composition:
1. Programmable logic controller.
2. Backup programmable logic controller.
3. Input-output modules.
4. Redundant I/O modules.
5. Redundancy device (provides control transfer to the redundant PLC and redundant I/O modules).
6. Intermediate relays.
7. Actuators (relays/contactors).
Equipment cost: $237 for one light source.
Electrical durability: 100 cycles for AC-000.
If the PLC or I/O modules fail, the real-time redundant device will transfer control to the backup PLC and the redundant I/O modules, and signal the failure.
This means that if the PLC breaks down, the lighting will continue to work while the master installs new equipment and puts it into operation.
Consider a non-redundant PLC-based system
Composition:
1. Programmable logic controller.
2. Input-output modules.
3. Intermediate relays.
4. Actuators (relays/contactors).
Equipment cost: $69 for one light source.
Electrical durability: 100 cycles for AC-000.
If the PLC or I / O modules fail, the lighting will completely stop working until the master installs and commissions new equipment.
Consider the most common PLC-based system in the residential sector
Composition:
1. Programmable logic controller
2. I/O modules
3. Intermediate input relays
Equipment cost: $41 for one light source.
Electrical durability: 25 cycles for AC-000.
If the PLC or I / O modules fail (this will happen much faster than in previous versions, since the electrical durability is four times lower), the lighting will completely stop working until the master installs and commissions new equipment.
Consider a system based on impulse relays
Composition:
1. Impulse relays.
2. Group control modules.
3. Central control modules.
Equipment cost: $73 for one light source.
Electrical durability: 100 cycles for AC-000.
If one of the relays fails, all other relays of the lighting control system will continue to work.
This means that if the impulse relay fails, the lighting will continue to work, with the exception of one light source, or one group switch, while the master installs new equipment and puts it into operation.
At first glance, impulse relays are not much different from lighting control devices, but this is not so, impulse relays have a number of limitations:
1. Switching limit: 5-15 switches per minute / 100 switches per day.
2. Pulse duration limit: 50ms - 1s.
3. Vibrations can lead to spontaneous switching, that is, if necessary, it will no longer be possible to install contactors in such a control cabinet.
4. Simultaneous switching on/off of neighboring impulse relays may require ventilation and cooling of the control cabinet.
5. With an increase in the number of control levels, the complexity of constructing a circuit increases.
Hack and predictor Aviator
A fault-tolerant multi-level PLC-based lighting control system has a fairly high cost for the residential sector, a system based on impulse relays has serious limitations, a system based on lighting control devices is the golden mean.
Source: habr.com