Case Study 1

We became aware of a local authority project. They required a central battery system and LED slave luminaires for high-rise tower blocks. One supplier had proposed using 3 low power addressable CBUs and addressable luminaires for each block of flats.

When we asked the client how they wanted the system to work, they said they wanted non-maintained operation and LED luminaires throughout. Our response was ‘Why would you need sophisticated addressable equipment if you intend to run the system non-maintained?’.

The client did not want a static inverter system, so we proposed a simple 110Vac/dc CBU with LED luminaires throughout, controlled by 7 No. monitoring hold-off relays.

With this scenario the system would be extremely efficient and reliable. The only power consumption normally would be from the CBU charging the battery at just milliamps, and the hold-off relay coil circuits. Almost negligible. No luminaires are lit unless a mains lighting sub circuit is lost or there is a power outage. Apart from having to replace a relatively small battery set every 10 years, this system will probably offer 30 years trouble free service with minimal maintenance costs.

With the alternative proposal, the initial outlay for 3 smaller addressable CBUs and associated addressable luminaires was more than double in cost, the on-going maintenance costs would be far greater, and the reliability, due to the complexity of addressable systems, was unknown.

This particular client was so happy with the outcome they went on to employ the same system in two further projects recently.

Had this been done using self-contained luminaires, the initial cost would have been similar due to the number of luminaires involved (250 per site), but the maintenance costs would be far greater, as would all future repair costs. Not to mention the laborious nature of maintaining such a system.

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