Street & Public lighting
The common lighting systems today are based on two main technologies:
• HPS
• LED
HPS (high pressure sodium) lighting fixtures are energy “guzzlers” in comparison with LED lighting fixtures. The latter can supply the same lighting level also with half (!) the output of an HPS fixture.
Uncontrolled lighting system
The existing lighting in every village, kibbutz or town is built on one or more lighting lines arriving at a local lighting switchboard. Usually in every switchboard, there are mechanical clocks that operate the lighting according to the hour of the day: in the evening the lighting is turned on and early in the morning it is turned off. Another possibility is use of a photocell detector that can read the lighting level outside and according to the setting in the detector the lighting will be turned on/off.
The systems based on clocks/detectors have several disadvantages:
• Optimization: lighting cannot be operated according to the areas or with different lighting levels
• Clocks: the clocks must be set periodically according to the seasons of the year; the clock can break down
• Photocell detector: it is not precise; the addition of a few minutes of lighting with deployment of thousands of fixtures is significant as regards energy-saving; the detector can break down
• Information on line and fixtures status: it is not known whether a line is working or not, and there is no information at the level of the lighting fixture, whether it is in order or not
• There is no protection of the fixtures at the lamp level
• There is no real time information on the lighting status in the field (e.g. sensitive security areas, public parks, main intersections, etc.)
UMPI (Italy) MinosX lighting control system
UMPI Italy is a pioneer in the field of PLC (Power Line Communication) communications-based control systems. UMPI registered as a patent the technology through which the data is transmitted on the electricity network.
The MinosX outdoor lighting control system is made up of several components:
• A cloud technology, Linux-based main server
• A smart controller installed in every lighting switchboard: allows connection of up to 15 lighting lines and up to 1023 lighting fixtures
• A communications adapter installed in every lighting fixture: supports every type of lighting fixture (HPS, LED, other); lighting fixtures of different types can be connected to the same controller
The smart controller works independently and is responsible for several things:
• Operation of all the lighting lines and lighting fixtures on every line according to schedules and/or astronomic time clock. The operation is possible both at On/Off level and through a dimmer
• Receipt of information from each of the lighting fixtures, and its transmission to the server for the operator’s use
• Report on every fault or problem in each of the lighting fixtures, the lines or the actual controller
• Storage of data from electricity meters installed in the switchboard for receipt of electricity information and electricity consumption
The controller works independently of any other factor, including the main server.
The main server supplies tools for setting the controllers, receipt of data from the controllers and display of the systems on a dynamic map. Every switchboard lighting fixture can be located through clicking on a menu and information can be received on the lighting fixture easily from the map.
The UMPI MinosX is a system based on many years of research in the field of PLC communications; it has European standards and reliability at the highest level.
The investment in the Italian UMPI’s Minos system is a long-term investment.
Advantages of the MinosX system:
• Simple implementation and installation: a main server, controller in every lighting switchboard and communications adapter in every lighting fixture
• The server is based on the Linux operating system, which is known as a reliable and stable system with a minimum of faults and minimum hackability
• Plug and Play: no additional infrastructures are required, there is no chaining of units, licenses for frequencies are not required
• GSM/GPRS, ADSL, Ethernet, cellular communications, etc.
• The MinosX system is based on Web services: all the information is available at all times in the system “cloud”
• Monthly payment for cloud services only: the customer pays the fixed monthly amount for cloud services and equipment maintenance and fault handling services as required.
• Major electricity saving: LED type lighting fixtures allow a very high saving percentage in comparison with HPS type lighting fixtures, and this even before we used the MinosX system. In use with the system, it is possible to save even higher percentages through the MinosX system. With HPS type lighting fixtures, it is possible to allow saving of up to 30% through smart dimming carried out by the system
• Considerable savings in maintenance costs: it is possible to know exactly the location of each lighting fixture and to locate any problem whatsoever
• Hebrew interface: full support in English, Hebrew, and in other languages; it is possible to pass between languages by a click
Ardan provides full support for the system; server updates are carried out as required, handling of faults, modifications and adjustments, translation of the system etc.
The MinosX system of UMPI Italy is installed in scores of countries in Europe and the Middle East. The system has proved itself both in the European climate characterized by low temperatures on most days of the year and in some of the hot places in the world, such as the Arabian Peninsula. Hundreds of thousands of lighting fixtures around the world have been connected to the MinosX system of UMPI Italy.
