ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OF INSTALLING A CLASS 2 DC DISTRIBUTIVE LIGHTING SYSTEM
Last updated
Last updated
Safety – Due to their power limitations Class 2 circuits provide safety from a fire initiation standpoint and provide acceptable protection from electric shock. (NEC 2002)
Lower material costs – For line voltage (120VAC) applications, 12-2 Romex NEMA cable can be up to five times more expensive than Low Voltage QTPZ cable (comparing 500 feet of cable pricing).
Lower labor costs to install – It can cost up to 3x to 5x more per linear foot to install 12-2 Romex wire versus structured cabling. *
Increased reliability/life – The weakest link in any LED lamp/fixture is the driver, specifically, the capacitors that are used. With the commoditization of LED fixtures and lamps, manufacturers cannot afford to use as high-quality components as previously used, because of this, these components will fail long before the end of life for the actual LEDs. With a Class 2 Low Voltage DC Distributive System, the fixtures/lamps do not have integrated drivers. Instead, the system uses one large, high-quality driver to power all the lights (see Figure 14 Typical Class 2 DC Distributive Lighting System). The drivers used utilize higher quality components and built-in surge protection. Thus, the number of potential failure points is greatly reduced. Additionally, the fixture temperature will be lower in fixtures without integrated drivers compared to fixtures that have integrated drivers. This contributes to the extended life of non-integrated LED fixtures since life is directly related to temperature – the higher the temperature, the lower the light output and the lower the life.
Reduced Maintenance Costs – As discussed at the beginning of the paper and the section above, since no individual drivers are used within each light fixture, there is a significant reduction in the number of potential failure points. With fewer failure points in a system, the less likely it is that something will need to be replaced and/or fixed, thus, it is easier to maintain. This in turn will reduce maintenance costs. Reduced maintenance costs equate to increased profits and hence, an increased value to the property.
Higher source efficacy (verses standard LED light fixtures) – Since the driver is not integrated with the fixture, the LEDs are not exposed to additional, unneeded heat due to an integrated driver’s inefficiencies. Since LED efficacy is temperature dependent, increases in temperature will decrease light output and thus, the efficacy decreases.
Lower heat loads – Since none of the fixtures used in a Class 2 DC Distributive Lighting System have integrated drivers, each lamp/fixture will be cooler than equivalent fixtures with integrated drivers. All the fixtures are generating less heat, so in turn, the total heat load for the whole room will be lower.
Sleeker designs – Without having to accommodate an integrated driver, the overall design of the fixture can be smaller and sleeker with slimmer canopies. Custom fixture design services are available for low-voltage LED lighting.
Sleeker designs – Without having to accommodate an integrated driver, the overall design of the fixture can be smaller and sleeker with slimmer canopies. Custom fixture design services are available for low-voltage LED lighting.
