Save Energy With DALI and 1-10V Daylight Sensors

Many indoor spaces such as warehouses, factories, and parking garages have windows that allow natural light to enter. However, natural light alone may not be enough to provide adequate illumination for human visibility and safety. Artificial lighting is needed to supplement the daylight, but using it at full brightness can result in overlighting and energy waste. This is where daylight sensors come in handy. A daylight sensor is a device that measures the amount of natural light in a space and adjusts the artificial lighting accordingly. By dimming or switching off the electric lights when there is enough ambient light from daylight alone, daylight sensors can maintain a constant level of brightness and save up to 60% of energy. They can also improve the comfort and productivity of the occupants by providing a more balanced and dynamic lighting environment. Daylight sensors can also be used for outdoor applications, such as street lighting or parking lot lighting. As an LED manufacturer, AGC offers efficient lighting solutions for industrial and outdoor applications. Our lighting products such as high bay lights, linear high bay, and flood lights are available with daylight sensors that work with DALI and 1-10V control systems, which can maximize energy savings.

Daylight sensor and daylight harvesting

A daylight sensor is a photocell device that converts light into an electrical signal. It is used to detect the presence or absence of sunlight and to measure the amount of sunlight in the space.

Daylight sensors can be used for automatic lighting control - daylight harvesting. Daylight harvesting is also known as daylight dimming or daylight sensing control. It is a technique that uses sensors to measure the ambient light levels and adjust the output of the lighting fixtures accordingly. This lighting control strategy uses either the level of natural daylight or the combination of natural and electric light as the key factor to switch or dim the controlled lights to achieve the optimal lighting level. With smart lighting controls like DALI and 1-0V, daylight harvesting can achieve constant lighting. It means the use of daylight sensors with dimming controls to maintain the desired combined light level of natural light and electric light. Daylight harvesting not only saves energy consumption, but also enhances the visual experience. Besides, daylight harvesting helps reduce operating costs, which is critical for both industrial and commercial facilities.

Here is a picture showing how daylight harvesting works.

Daylight sensor with DALI control

DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) is a standard protocol that enables bi-directional communication between the lighting control system and each luminaire. DALI lighting control provides more accurate and reliable control of the lighting system. The components of DALI control can be individually addressed and configured, allowing greater flexibility and customization of the lighting system.

Using a daylight sensor that connects to a DALI interface, DALI daylight harvesting can detect the ambient lux level and automatically determine the optimal amount of artificial light. Then it is translated into a signal that is sent to DALI dimmable control gears, which adjust the lighting output accordingly.

An example of the wiring scheme of daylight sensor and DALI control is shown below.

Daylight sensor with 1-10V control

1-10V dimming is a simple protocol similar to 0-10V dimming. It uses an analog signal to control the level of the lighting fixtures. 1-10V control requires less wiring and components, reducing the installation cost and complexity.

1-10V daylight harvesting connects daylight sensor to 1-10V interface and uses photocell to measure ambient lux level and automatically calculate how much artificial light is needed, and then convert the amount of light to 1-10V dimmable control gears. 1-10V dimmable control gears adjust the light output according to the signal from the daylight sensor.

The picture below shows the wiring scheme of daylight sensor and 1-10V gear.

Daylight harvesting helps save energy and money on your lighting bills while improving visual comfort. It adjusts the brightness of artificial light according to the ambient light in your space and maintains the desired light level. Our industrial and outdoor lighting products are compatible with daylight sensors that work with DALI and 1-10V lighting controls. In addition, our products can be integrated with other sensors, such as plug-and -play microwave sensors and PRI sensors, to maximize your energy costs.

Contact us and let us show you how our lighting solutions can enhance your business.