Table of Contents
- Street Light Illumination Threshold Control: Traditional vs Smart Systems-Which is Better?
- Meta Description
- Main Bod
- Traditional Street Lighting Illumination Threshold Control
- Smart Illumination Threshold Control Systems
- Conclusion
- References
Meta Description
explore the positives and negatives of both the traditional and smart illumination threshold control systems. Where the former is simpler and affordable, the later offers feature-rich operation and better control along with enhanced energy efficiency and adaptability.
Main Body
Controlling the illumination threshold for street light can be a daunting task, especially in urban settings. Here, you the manufacturers are required to take an array of factors into account. Setting a threshold means making sure the brightness is neither too much to cause glare nor too low to impair visibility.
Moreover, as the urban centers keep coming up with new regulations regarding energy efficiency, the street light illumination thresholds ought to comply with the local regulations. They also need to incorporate laws regarding light pollution. Above all, street light illumination systems manufacturers are experiencing an increased demand for adaptability of the system and better control over it.
However, cost and ease of use remain to be one of the decisive factors in selecting the illumination threshold control system for street lights. Let’s see what the traditional and smart systems have to offer in this regard and which one is most suitable.
Traditional Street Lighting Illumination Threshold Control
A traditional system for illumination threshold control is characterized by the use of timers, and manual control through switches to make sure the dimming mechanism is according to the need of the hour and takes into account the requirements of a specific location. It is being used for ages because of its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. However, as the technology evolves and the demand for automation increases, the shortcomings of this manually controlled or semi-automated traditional system are becoming more evident.
Let’s have a look at some of the limitations as well as strongholds of traditional brightness threshold control systems.
Limitations of Traditional System
- These systems have monitors and timers as their main constituents. Hence, unlike the smart systems for illumination threshold control, traditional systems are not completely automatic. These are either totally manual or semi-automatic.
- Moreover, lack of flexibility and adaptability is another major drawback of traditional systems. They will operate according to the settings fed to them. i.e. the lights will be turned on and off and the dimming mechanism will be adjusted only based on the pre-determined settings of timers. This means, that factors like usage changes, environmental control, and traffic patterns are not taken into account.
- When it comes to energy efficiency, traditional illumination threshold control system has much lower efficiency as compared to smart systems. Pre-installed settings mean that the lights will be left on even when there is no need for them.
- Another limitation of traditional systems is that these can not be remotely controlled and this factor reduces their functionality. You can not adjust their operation according to changing requirements. Moreover, the inability to collect data from the lighting system means troubleshooting is difficult. You need to manually inspect the lights for any issues. Maintenance is hence made difficult.
Pros of Traditional System
- Although these systems have a number of limitations when it comes to functionality, adaptability, and automation, traditional brightness threshold control systems have a huge cost difference as compared to the smart ones. They are way more affordable.
- Moreover, the simpler design and fewer components make these systems easier to operate. There are no complex components to require the expertise of tech specialists and hence maintenance and installation are also simpler and low-cost.
Smart Illumination Threshold Control Systems
As urban centers become more populous and the requirements for energy efficiency increase, the traditional lighting illumination threshold control systems are unable to keep up with the increasing requirements. Hence, the adaptability and better control along with increased energy efficiency is the need of the hour for illumination threshold control systems.
The modern brightness threshold control system combines all these features to provide one of the most sophisticated and highly efficient system keeping in view the modern standards for street lighting illumination threshold. However, it is certainly not as affordable as the traditional system. Let’s have a look at some of the limitations and perks of smart system.
Perks of Smart System
- One of the biggest positives of a smart system is that it offers adaptability. The components like outdoor photocontrol switches are smart enough to gauge the intensity of ambient light. Hence they will either turn the lights off when there is enough light or dim them for maximum possible energy conservation without compromising safety. Similarly, adaptability also allows for changes in brightness threshold according to altering traffic patterns and weather conditions.
- These systems promise more conservation of power by ensuring that the lights are turned on only when and where needed and adjusting the brightness to a comfortable level instead of making it worse by producing glare.
- Moreover, increased control over the entire system is another outstanding feature of smart illumination threshold control system. It allows you to control the entire network remotely and this also makes diagnosis of issues easier. Ability to control the system allos you to adjust the threshold according to on-ground conditions.
- Smart sensors installed in this system, like the ones we offer in our product line, makes it capable of collecting and interpreting the data intelligently and adjusting the output accordingly. For example, as the weather conditions change, the smart sensors can make the lights adjust accordingly.
Limitations of Smart System
- When it comes to utility, functionality and control, the smart system is definitely better than the traditional ones. However, complex components require advanced expertise for installation and troubleshooting.
- Moreover, since these systems use more complicated and intelligent components, thay are a lot more expensive as compared to their traditional counterparts. The higher cost is one of their most prominent limitations.
Conclusion
Where traditional streetlight illumination threshold control systems is more affordable and their troubleshooting and installation are simpler, they offer limited features. These are not adaptable, unlike their smart counterparts. The smart systems on the other hand have a plethora of features to offer including enhanced energy saving, better control, and adaptability. But these are obviously way more expensive than traditional systems. Which one of them is most suitable depends slely on the priorities. When the priority is to go for a cheaper and simpler option, the traditional system has a clear edge over the smart one. However, when the requirement is to provide enhanced control, automation, and adaptability, the smart systems are way ahead in the race.
