Lighting management specialists Ex-Or have developed a truly intelligent, programmable lighting control connection centre to meet the needs of the modern school classroom.

The new CDW12U5-C CD (Connect Digital) Box takes plug-in installation – with all its time and cost-saving advantages – to a new level. Because the intelligence is in the CD Box itself, it is supremely flexible. Outputs can be ‘bound together’ in any combination of dimming and switching configurations – all via the software without any hard-wiring choices needing to be made.

Setting up the system couldn’t be simpler: a hand-held infrared programmer is all that is needed. There are even pre-set programming patterns to suit typical classroom requirements available as templates.

The classroom has become an extremely sophisticated environment in terms of delivering light. Factors such as classroom size, occupancy patterns, the increasing use of interactive whiteboards and projection equipment as teaching aids, and the balance of natural and artificial light, all need to be taken into account to ensure the most appropriate lighting control solution is provided.

Delivering this level of sophistication can be a wiring nightmare in terms of installation and pose complications to the end user who subsequently wants to reconfigure it to best suit their own classroom environment.

But by using the school classroom CD Box, it is a simple matter to configure the lighting to take into account the position of luminaires and the rows, or zones, in which the students are working in the classroom and all absence detection and presence detection needs.

For example, it can be configured to reap the maximum benefit from levels of natural light by ensuring the rows of luminaires nearest the windows automatically dim or switch off when artificial light is not necessary. Or, it can be configured so that all classroom lights are automatically dimmed or disabled except for whiteboard illumination.

As classroom layouts and configurations can change, it is a simple process to reconfigure the lighting setup at any time, again by using Ex-Or’s hand-held infrared programming technology.

Features of the Ex-Or school classroom CD Box include:

• Direct connection and control of up to 12 luminaires.
• Six independently switched or dimmed channels.
• Digital DSI or DALI dimming outputs.
• Channels can be programmably bound in any combination to make larger groups.
• 5 x SELV PIR and/or microwave presence detector inputs and 5 x SELV switch inputs.
• Wirelessly enabled option for 2 x 2-way batteryless wireless switches with programmable functions.
• Mechanically locked luminaire plug-and-socket arrangement.
• Infrared programmable directly to box or via any connected detector.
• 4-wire mains input as standard for emergency test maintained live with removable link for 3-wire installations.