Photocell Control
i) Regulating Photocell
Regulating photocell control tries to maintain a constant level of total illumination in the space controlled by
dimming and brightening the controlled luminaires to compensate for changes in illumination from other
sources.
With the photocell configured as DISABLED the Regulating Control module is influenced only by the
BRIGHT-OUT setting. BRIGHT-OUT = YES allows it to hold-off the lights at the start of occupancy if natural
light already exceeds SET-POINT LOW and to extinguish the lights during occupancy if total light, after the
controlled luminaires have been dimmed to minimum, exceeds SET-POINT HIGH continuously for a period
equal to the OFF DELAY . The lighting is restored immediately if the illumination level subsequently drops
below SET-POINT LOW.
If the photocell is configured for ACTIVE or PASSIVE control of the relay switched load then the Regulating
Control module adopts the decision made by the Switching Control module in the case of turn-on inhibit on
entry, but still obeys the BRIGHT-OUT YES/NO setting with regard to turn-off during occupancy.
ii) Switching Photocell (PHOTOCELL: ACTIVE or PASSIVE)
Both ACTIVE or PASSIVE modes hold off the controlled lighting on entry when natural light is sufficient, i.e.
SET-POINT LOW is exceeded, but only ACTIVE mode will extinguish the lighting if natural light increases
sufficiently during occupancy, i.e. SET-POINT HIGH is exceeded continuously for a period equal to OFF
DELAY. The lighting is restored immediately if the illumination level subsequently drops below SET-POINT
LOW.
iii) Photocell DISABLED
If the photocell is configured as DISABLED for relay Switching Control it will have no effect on the control of
that load, which will be ON continuously during periods of occupancy unless commanded OFF via manual
switch or infrared control. The photocell readings are still available for use by the Regulating Control module
while in this mode.
Programming the Photocell Set-points
The parameters SET-POINT LOW and SET-POINT HIGH program the detector’s photocell response The
SET-POINTS can be manually programmed as numbers between 1 (darkest) and 1023 (brightest). This
number is not scaled to correlate with ‘lux’ measurements made using a light meter, but nevertheless is a true
representation of the light level perceived by the detector. To assist with finding the appropriate SET-POINT
settings, the light level currently perceived by the photocell can be viewed on the programmer’s screen briefly,
following a download operation. The number represents the light level read immediately before the download
took place.
Tip: Turn the lights off with the QuickSet Pro (UTILITIES/IR REMOTE/HC5) to measure the perceived light
level with no contribution from the controlled lighting.
Alternatively the SET-POINTS can be configured semi-automatically;
i) The Primary Interest is the Regulating Control Output.
With the photocell configured as DISABLED:-
Using QuickSet Pro (UTILITIES / LIGHTSPOT/MLS/LCM / SET LIGHT LEVEL) or HC5A (+,- Scene 1),
set the required light output from the controlled luminaires and then press and hold OK (QuickSet Pro) or
Scene 1 (HC5A) until the controlled lights "blink" to indicate that a new SET-POINT LOW has been stored
and a calculated SET-POINT HIGH has also been inserted. Using the QuickSet Pro, the photocell can now
be re-configured as ACTIVE or PASSIVE if required.
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