Changing rooms are an excellent example of areas where the acoustic technology is superior. The acoustic detector has an excellent capacity for detection of presence behind clothes and around cupboards that an IR detector would have missed. With a correctly mounted microphone the same detector can detect presence in both changing rooms and the shower section.

Light sources

The fittings in this changing room have dimmable HF operating devices with analogue control (1 – 10 V).

Positioning of microphones

The sound of sprinkling water in the showers is usually so loud that you do not need a microphone in the shower area (there must not be a door). It usually suffices to position the microphone in the changing room near a passage into the shower area.

Control system

With new buildings or renovations where there is the option of selecting operating devices in the fittings, it is currently best, empirically and on the basis of the technology, to use an installation that acts in accordance with the principles of Dynamic lighting control. This is described in the leaflet ‘Dynamic lighting’. The technology can be used both for acoustic control and for control using IR detectors.

NB: With acoustic detection it is a prerequisite that the premises be closed, i.e. that there be doors that are normally closed to all other areas.

Function

Upon entry into the changing room the lighting is switched on at normal level, which is set on the ‘High’ potentiometer in the NV-2 level selector, e.g. approx. 80 per cent. The lighting remains switched to 80 per cent throughout the period of presence. When presence ceases and after the delay set for relay output A, the lighting is reduced to basic light level. This is set to approx. 2 per cent on the ‘Low’ potentiometer in the NV-2 to stop it getting totally dark.

If there is no presence in the changing room for a prolonged period, i.e. 1-2 hours, set as the delay for relay output B, the lighting is switched off completely for a rest period to avoid no-load losses. The maximum delay that can be set for relay output B is 200 minutes.

There is a wiring diagram below for ‘Dynamic lighting control’ using acoustic detection. Connection of the microphones connected in parallel can use EKKX 1 x 4 x 0.25 mm2.

The most important advantages attained using Dynamic Control are as follows:

• Evenly distributed basic light without extra fittings, operating at a level of 100 per cent.
• The possibility of saving 20 – 25 per cent during operation.
• Lower working temperature in the fittings, resulting in a lower life.
• Fewer activations and less power supplied, reducing wear on the fluorescent powder and resulting in a longer life of the light sources.
• The possibility of avoiding adherence to the light-source manufacturers’ recommendations regarding burning times, thus drastically reducing the operating times and increasing the saving.

For adjustment and programming of the acoustic detector and the NV-2, please see the relevant manual. NV-2T level selector is also available with DSI control (NV-2T DSI).

50 Hz fittings / non-dimmable HF operating devices

In changing rooms that have 50 Hz fittings or non-dimmable HF operating devices the installation is designed in the same way as in Application 1C. The lighting can then be divided into two groups and controlled through the ‘A’ and ‘B’ outputs on the detector so that the lighting is switched off gradually. Alternatively, a ventilation fan can be controlled through output B. Another option might be controlling two different areas, e.g. the women’s and the men’s sections, with the same detector. See further in the AD-500/600 manual.

Information for current budget

Dynamic lighting control in stairway
The yellow area represents the energy consumption with conventional lighting control according to the light source manufacturer’s recommended burn times.
The green area represents the energy consumption with dynamic lighting control installed.
The yellow area represents an unnecessary energy cost!