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Network and IT Guidance Technical Guide
www.eaton.com/lightingsystems
With such low airtime consumption, the LumaWatt Pro system will easily coexist with Wi-Fi networks whether or not non-overlapping
channels are used.
Interference Tolerance
In addition to ensuring that there is no impact on Wi-Fi installations, the LumaWatt Pro wireless network must be tolerant of interference
by other Wi-Fi and IEEE 802.15.4 networks. The selection of non-overlapping channels serves to avoid the potential problem. In addition,
LumaWatt Pro is designed to be loss tolerant. The LumaWatt Pro communications increase transmission reliability through the use of
acknowledgments and packet retransmission. As a result, when a packet is lost, the loss is detected and corrected through retransmission.
Additionally, LumaWatt Pro is designed to perform lighting control without requiring network communication at all. Lighting control will
continue to operate in the event of a complete wireless failure.
Potential causes for signal disruption
As stated above LumaWatt Pro should be able to co-exist in the building with Wi-Fi installations, however there are many causes of
interference and degradation that go beyond the scope of this document. Some basic things that can be addressed during the design phase
that may aid in preventing issues include.
1. Review the network range and the distance between the devices. It is just a fact of how signals work that the further the distance
between devices, the lower the signal strength. Both IEEE 802.15.4 wireless and IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi have a maximum unobstructed “line
of site” range of 100 meters. However, we also need to factor in obstacles which are prevalent in our indoor spaces.
a. Of special consideration are the quantity and materials of walls and other obstacles that are between transmitting and receiving
devices. Wireless signals can have trouble communicating through these solid objects reducing the wireless range.
b. Transmitter and end device placement planning during the design phase is critical to ensure proper coverage range and proper device
functionality. Manufacturers may have specific recommendations for ranges for their devices that are important to pay attention to.
2. Review the location of the transmitters. Placing two transmitters within the same space, even if they are on different frequencies and
channels can lead to disruption if they are too close together.
a. If too close together, they may increase their signal to “shout” over the other transmitters in the space. If both transmitters are
shouting, devices cannot hear or respond. Commercially available wireless products often state in their instructions to maintain at
least a 5 to 10 foot airgap between other wireless transmitters to prevent this type of interference by proximity.
3. The quantity of devices on the network can also be a factor of signal degradation. Different network types may support different
quantities of nodes. In addition, depending on the design, the quantity of devices may slow or degrade the signal. It is important to
review recommendations of device limitations described by the wireless system manufacturers and incorporate this into the design.
Administration and Maintenance
Configuration and Management tools
LumaWatt Pro uses internal webpages within each Energy Manager to manage the LumaWatt Pro wireless network. The internal webpages
are accessed by connecting to the Energy Manager IP address via your browser and allow for network configuration.
Internal web pages
The Energy Manager Dashboard and internal web pages permit the following configuration and management settings::
• Time synchronization
• User management
Administrator - user name and password
User – username and password
• Certificate management
• Backup/Restore
• Network management
DHCP/Static
WLAN access
SSID
Password
• Firmware update of WAC and all connected devices
• EULA
• Device placement, management, and control
