Sparks Electrical News November 2018

LIGHTING

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ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHTING PROJECT FOR ABSA UMHLANGA

requirements. Three massive 3,5 m diameter luminaires were used to light up this promi- nent space. Lighting for this project also included parkades, general office and staircase light- ing, as well as feature and external lighting. Every luminaire supplied is an LED fixture, which ensures a saving of a minimum of 50% of energy consumption, compared with conventional light sources. The necessity to replace traditional light sources with LEDs not only provides financial benefits, but also reduces carbon emissions into the atmosphere. LEDs also produce less heat, which reduces the air conditioning load in the building. This meant a smaller air con- ditioning systemwas required, which reduced capital expenditure and also lowers ongoing electricity expenses. Magnet – which was involved in this light- ing project from design to implementation, as well as providing an ongoing support ser- vice – has also designed and installed a solar water heating system for this building. The collaboration team comprised Ae- com, Magnet, Elphick Proome Architects (EPA), WBHO Construction and Edison Pow- er Group.

MAGNET has recently completed an ener- gy-efficient lighting project for Absa, in Um- hlanga, KwaZulu-Natal. “Magnet, which was appointed by Aecom as the lighting partner for the project, was tasked with the challenge from Absa to create an energy-efficient light- ing installation, in line with the Green Build- ing Council South Africa’s (GBCSA) 4-Star Green Star rating,” says Kaylen Reddy, Mag- net’s lighting solutions engineer. “These rat- ing tools for more environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient buildings aren’t enforced by legislation in South Africa, but were devel- oped to create a common measurement for ‘green’ buildings and to recognise innovation and leadership in property development and construction. “Magnet selected nine quality brands of lighting for this installation, to meet the re- quirements of lighting performance, low en- ergy consumption and enhanced aesthetics. The Magnet team worked closely with the electrical contractor, Edison Power, to trans- form the conceptual design and specifica- tion, into a successful installation. “A highlight was designing lighting to en- hance the impressive atrium, which needed to make a bold statement. Bespoke fittings from Italian manufacturer, Martinelli, were selected to achieve design and performance

Enquiries: +27 (0)31 274 1998

FIVE STEP CHECKLIST FOR SELECTING THE BEST DIMMER

operation. It is good to explain this safety feature to homeowners.

mers and lamps work well together.

dimmer combination easy. Review Shuttle’s lamp and dimmer compatibility and maxi- mum load data to find out which Shuttle dim-

Enquiries: www.shuttlelighting.com

Does it have short circuit protection?

As with all quality electrical ac- cessories, you want a dimmer with short circuit protection. If the dim- mer receives a short circuit or surge owing to faulty wiring or lamp fail- ure, you want it to turn off automati- cally before damage to the dimmer or lamp can occur. Again, this is a feature that’s great to explain to homeowners so they feel secure and understand what is happening. Does it work well with a wide variety of loads, particularly LEDs? To maximise flexibility and useful- ness, look for a dimmer that works well with a wide variety of loads. Ensure the dimmer works well with dimmable LEDs and is tested and approved by major international LED suppliers. Even if the site isn’t using LED lighting at the moment, this is likely to change in the future. Shuttle Lighting’s new generation bell press dimmers are available in two wire with multi-way dimming options. They also have program- mable maximum/minimum bright- ness levels and dimming level memory/function. In addition, the dimmers have short circuit protec- tion and are SABS/NRCS approved. They comply with EU CE, RoHS and Hazardous Materials directives, Australian SAA, RMA and C-tick re- quirements and ICASA mandatory requirements for conducted and radiated emissions. Shuttle Lighting tests hundreds of LED brands and models to make finding the best lamp and Shuttle

W hile the rapid growth of dimmable LED technol- ogy has paved the way for a new era of lighting, it has also increased the risk of incompatibility issues, resulting in lights flickering or malfunctioning, especially while dimming. Shuttle Lighting believes that in order to find quality dimmers that will work with all kinds of light- ing, it is important to ask the follow- ing five questions. Can you set the minimum and maximum brightness levels? Flickering is frequently associated with low light levels, but it can also occur at maximum light levels. This is often more prevalent at low supply voltages or due to a lamp’s design. Be

sure to select a dimmer that can be set to accommodate both the high- est and lowest ends of the lamp’s spectrum. Is it compatible for multi-way dimming? Multi-way dimming is an excellent function to offer homeowners. Tra- ditional rotary dimmers won’t allow multi-way dimming, so use a bell press dimmer for this functionality Does it have over-temperature protection? To combat overloading or insufficient de- rating, a good dimmer will automatically reducelampbrightnesswhenthedimmer gets toohot. Once thedimmer has cooled down, it will automatically resume normal

NOVEMBER 2018 SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS