Energy Efficiency Regulator
EER-2

PURPOSE

The Selectronics EER-2 provides regulated power reduction to AC powered loads that can function properly at lower power levels in order to reduce energy consumption and thus decreased operating costs. Typical applications include gas or vapor discharge lighting such as fluorescent bulbs.

Typically, sales display areas such as those in shopping malls and large retail establishments are designed with excessive artificial lighting in order to adequately accommodate nighttime levels of no natural light with a margin to allow for lighting fixture degradation over time. During daylight hours natural light coming from outdoors through windows and skylights supplements the artificial light produced by light fixtures. This can result in harmfully excessive light levels. Studies have shown that too much light may be harmful to the human eye especially during prolonged exposure. Also, during low-traffic times such as after business hours a much lower level of light may be adequate for cleaning, stocking and close-down operations.

Lowering the light levels produced by lighting fixtures can significantly reduce energy consumption. The EER-2 provides a means of controlling the power available to lighting fixtures on a real-time, scheduled or automatic basis.

FEATURES

Applicable to 120-277 VAC circuits without modification

Rated for up to 20-Amp lighting circuits

Maintains load at set voltage, even if supply voltage dips due to "brown-out"

Automatic "warm-up" timer brings bulbs up to operating temperature before reduced-power regulation begins

Tamper-proof "coded" plug-in Output Level Key fixes regulation at pre-determined set point

Removal of Output Level Key instantly restores lighting circuit to full power in case failing bulbs or ballasts cause flickering at reduced level

METHOD

The EER-2 provides energy reduction by intercepting the current path between the lighting panel circuit breaker and the lighting circuit. It then varies the current flow to the load by enabling conduction to begin at some increment of time after the current would normally begin during each half-cycle of the power source’s alternating current waveform. This phase-angle switching is a conventional method of dimming lights that has been in use for many years. One of the features of the EER-2’s approach is that it monitors the integral voltage delivered to the load and maintains closed-loop control over that voltage to keep it at the desired level no matter what the current draw or the incoming utility supply voltage.

In the simplest type of installation the EER-2 will be adjusted to a voltage level set-point that delivers the required reduced lighting level and it will maintain that level indefinitely. In more complex applications the EER-2 will be fed a control input from a timer that will schedule lower light levels during low-traffic times. Some applications will use photoelectric light sensors to reduce the EER-2 output level when supplemental natural light allows increased energy savings. Or, scheduling and light sensing may be combined for maximum savings.

For more information about this product, please contact us.