UMPI outdoor lighting control and energy saving system
Ardan Control Tech is the representative of the Italian company UMPI that produces Minos – an outdoor lighting control, operation and maintenance and energy-saving system
The Caesarea Development Authority and the Petach Tikva municipality are the first authorities in Israel to have installed Ardan Control Tech’s Minos system for intelligent management of outdoor lighting.
The Minos system allows local authorities to utilize power lines as a communications network for data transfer by PLC – Power Line Communication. The PLC technology has existed in the world for decades and UMPI has a registered patent that uses the PLC technology and carries out filtering in the frequency range through which the communications are transmitted on the electricity network. The data transfer is stable and without interference and its reliability has been tested over many years.
UMPI’s solution, which combines software and hardware, provides full control of existing lighting systems and of LED-based systems and in fact of any type of lighting fixture and this with a minimum investment.
Typical diagram of the UMPI Minos system
The UMPI Minos system consists of three main units:
The SYRA end units are installed in the lighting fixture, the lighting tray or post; the units are suitable for all types of lamps existing on the market
An Andros-CMS main controller is installed in the lighting switchboard and communicates with the end units.
A Linux-based IOS main server communicates with the main controller. The access to the system is through a standard browser
The SYRA end units work together with the Andros-CMS main controller in a closed and independent system (Stand-Alone); an IOS server can be integrated for purposes of remote monitoring, maintenance and operation.
When a LED lighting fixture is connected to an end unit, the unit adapts itself automatically to work with DALI communications or 0-10 V and this according to the type of electronic driver. After carrying out of adjustments, dimming orders can be sent from the controller and indicators can be received on the lighting fixture status.
The controller installed in the switchboard manages up to 1022 lighting fixtures with different technologies, without restriction, e.g. LEDs and HPS, which are very widespread in Israel; the controller has 23 inlets and outlets for connection of the indications and operations in the panel and its surroundings; three inbuilt astronomic clocks; capacity to manage up to 15 virtual groups of lighting fixtures, e.g., roads, intersections, public parks, sports grounds, etc.; 32 schedules for management of the groups and connection of up to 15 multimeters by Modbus communications.
Connection to the server is based on line communications (ADSL/LAN) or wireless communications (GSM/GRPS). Through the communications all the events, warnings, display of all the main fixtures on a map, statistics, etc. are received. It is also possible to operate the fixtures through orders sent from the server to the main controller. The IOS management system is based on full Web technology; there is no need to install software on the server or on a remote computer for work on the system.
Thanks to the Minos system technology, the system is one of the greenest existing today in the market: without superfluous wireless frequencies broadcasting around the clock. Furthermore, the cellular communications between the controller and the server are carried out once a day for a few minutes only, and this for updating of the system.
The Petach Tikva municipality chose to install the Minos system for command-and-control of the lighting lines based on existing HPS fixtures. Unlike solutions existing on the market where the command of the HPS fixtures is carried out through an electronic driver, the Minos system solution is based on a bi-power electronic valve. The valve reduces the illuminance emitted from the lighting fixture. From measurement of electricity consumption carried out after installation of the system, an exact saving of 30% was measured in comparison with consumption before installation of the system.
Beyond the energy saving, in the Petach Tikva municipality, they note that the use of a bi-power electronic valve for HPS fixtures is the most appropriate solution for locating faults and provision of rapid and long-term service.
