Lighting control design based on WinControl

1 Introduction

　　When an excellent lighting control design is completed, many benefits will be achieved, such as compliance with energy-saving regulations, reduced installation costs, minimal errors and changes, and ease of use.

　　Lighting control designs can range from simple part number specifications to exhaustive detail involving every component, wire, and connection point in the system. In either case, a good design should include the following six basic elements:

　　a. Determine the control strategy

　　b. Select components and devices

　　c Create a single-line layout diagram

　　d. Create a lighting control planning form

　　e Create written technical specifications

　　f. Mark the details of control devices on the lighting design drawing.

　　This article briefly introduces the application of WinControl in lighting control design for designers' reference.

　　2 Basic steps of lighting design

　　There are generally six basic steps in the design of a lighting control panel system, which can be automatically completed using WinControl. Figure 1 is a simple description of the basic steps of system design. The detailed introduction is as follows:

Figure 1 Basic steps of system design

　　Step 1 Determine the lighting control strategy: As mentioned above, the control strategy is the basis for selecting the controls to be implemented, especially for certain mandatory regulations that are not optional but critical.

　　Step 2 Determine the panel configuration: Use a similar lighting control integration system to provide a single scalable platform that accommodates the simplest applications while allowing new features to be built to meet the most complex requirements. For example, adding the necessary smart cards through WinControl software automatically simplifies the design. Table 1 gives an example of smart cards that can be used in the lighting control integration system.

Table 1 Examples of smart cards available for operation in lighting control integration systems

　　Step 3 Create a system layout diagram (Figure 2): It is a detailed description of the overall design and installation of the lighting control system. The diagram should include: the name and label of each control panel, the location; the type and number of wires between the panels and the equipment; the connection with any other systems or equipment such as photocells, occupancy sensors, timers, alarm systems, etc.; other important instructions for the overall layout and design of the system. The steps to create a system layout diagram can be performed fully automatically by WinControl software, and its output can be directly edited and modified by any compatible CAD program.

Figure 2 System layout created by WinControl software

　　Step 4 Create a control plan form: The lighting control plan form is actually a document used to describe the control object and how to control it. Several different plans should be filled in and included in the layout diagram or technical specifications. The information recorded in the typical control plan form includes the overall information of the control panel; the list of circuits or subcircuits of the control panel; the allocation between circuits, switches, relays, contactors and channels; the description of the controlled load; the location and function of the switch. The control plan form can also be automatically generated using WinControl, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 Control planning form automatically generated by WinControl

　　Step 5: Provide written technical specifications for the equipment used in the system, and give a clear written description of the functions and characteristics of the equipment products required for the project. WinControl will automatically generate custom written documents based on the equipment products selected during the design process.

　　Step 6: Mark the detailed information of the plan, including all panels, switches and equipment related to the project, their actual location, installation procedures, and detailed information on wiring between equipment, as shown in Figure 4.

　　3 Conclusion

　　The above contents are designed to help designers in the selection of lighting control panel systems, including the process technology and technical indicator formulation of various lighting control wiring planning diagrams, etc. It is of great reference value.