How does Power over Ethernet (PoE) Lighting Work?
Power over Ethernet, also known as PoE, is one of the significant additions to the long line of inventions in the lighting domain. It is a smart lighting solution that combines world-class LED luminaires with digital controls in order to flourish an appropriate and desired lighting effect. The leading commercial lighting manufacturers claim that PoE is a modular lighting solution that promises surged productivity and enhanced safety in a commercial space. It helps in the development of a smart and connected workspace and delivers the perfect lighting to ensure supreme comfort.
The top LED lighting manufacturers refer to PoE lighting as the lighting solution of the modern age.It utilizes an Ethernet cable in order to provide a low voltage solution for powering luminaires all over the space with granular level control. The cable also powers the LED lighting fixtures and transmits data between the luminaires and the control software.
PoE Lighting Setup
A Power over Ethernet lighting setup typically works by collecting and processing data. The AC line voltage is directed to the data closet and the power is routed to different locations simultaneously, including the computer that serves as the centralized brain of the system and the Power Source Equipment (PSE) that powers the driver. The computer serves as the intelligence foundation of the lighting setup and integrates all the peripheral control devices on a common platform. It sends and receives commands to serve as the Graphical User Interface (GUI) and provides the concerned authority comprehensive control of the whole lighting setup in the space.
The PSE (power sourcing equipment) converts AC voltage to DC voltage and sends it to all the associated nodes that power the luminaires in the space. The node acts as the lighting hub that receives power and data from the network switch and passes it downstream to the network connected devices. Once identified by the node, the devices receive an IP address from the local network that makes the installation and implementation of custom configurations easy.
The PoE system is very powerful in controlling each and every light point with options like on-off, dimming, colour tuning, emergency lighting control with third party integration like HVAC and BMS systems. The data captured using PoE System is used to manage multi locational sites by remote monitoring using cloud computing. Data captured can provide new insights and business analytics on energy consumption and occupancy patterns. This data will actual provide helpful insights for future decisions. PoE system makes use of same IT network and hence seamless integration with other similar IT systems like BMS or Security or HVAC will be very easy and more accurate.
Conclusion
PoE lighting solution converges electrical and communication network into a single infrastructure. It encourages massive savings from energy and space optimization and can increase the efficiency of LED luminaires by around 15%. For instance, the Power over Ethernet lighting solution by Wipro Lighting enables a customizable environment and is best-suited for a host of commercial spaces, including modern workplaces, data centres, education and healthcare facilities, etc. Furthermore, it provides options in both distributed and centralized architecture.
