HID Lighting Control enables web-based energy management.

Press Release Summary:



Model VB400 lighting control system utilizes solid state electronics with on-site, remote, and aggregate Web-based controls for HID lighting. Designed for efficient energy management, system features electronic ballast, microprocessors for flow regulation, dimming and timing controls, automatic maintenance scheduler, and built-in photo cell for automatic daylight harvesting. System is compatible with all 200-400 W bulbs.



Original Press Release:



VB400 Lighting Control Optimizes HID Lamp Performance



HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., May 3, 2007 - IEPC, a product development company specializing in lighting controls, has developed the VB400 lighting control utilizing solid state electronics with on-site, remote, and aggregate Web-based controls for HID lighting. The system is meant to replace outdated, inefficient, un-controlled high-bay and low-bay HID lighting fixtures with energy-efficient lighting control to realize 40 to 60 percent savings. Providing customers with energy-efficient control, the VB400 technology reduces HID lighting fixture count by 25 to 33 percent. It increases the performance and optimizes the efficiency of each lamp while lowering lighting energy costs by as much as 40 to 60 percent. In fact, the VB400 lighting control begins to pay for itself from the savings generated by the first month's reduced energy bills.

"We set out to create a product that everyone would benefit from," says Ron Flores, president of IEPC. "Our VB400 lighting control is a standalone energy management system that reduces demand on power in real time. For example, a big box retail chain can monitor store locations in a given city, region, state or country-wide and lower light energy consumption from a single laptop computer."

The VB400 is a standalone energy management system that replaces magnetic ballasts, timers, relays, control panels, and the intensive wiring required to connect each lighting fixture to all other external parts, as well as the control panel. It offers energy management and energy savings features that conventional matched sets of HID ballast and lamps, newer electronic HID ballasts, and HO fluorescent ballasts cannot match.

The VB400 lighting control contains an advanced highly-efficient electronic ballast for high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps. It also features several microprocessors to regulate the current flow and optimize performance for nearly every type of HID lamp - metal halide, high-pressure sodium and pulse start - thereby extending the life of the lamp. The VB400 also features dimming and timing controls with thermal monitoring and on-board, real-time diagnostics that indicate replacement time for re-lamping, further extending energy savings. Lamp and fixture maintenance will be accomplished by using the built-in scheduler, timer, relay and dimmer. In addition, a built-in photo cell allows for automatic daylight harvesting. Instant demand response for the entire project is both built-in and automatic or manually controllable.

One LC (several VB400s connected via software) can control thousands of fixtures-as many as can be connected to the Internet. The system has a built-in dimmer, timer, scheduler and photo cell and allows for scene control to emulate sunlight. A computer interface for networking and remote controls via Internet provide a vast array of control capabilities for any number of locations.

The VB400 enables the use of 200W to 400W bulbs no matter which manufacturer, wattage, HID type, and input voltage, as compared to typical HID lighting products that require matched bulbs and fixtures from a particular manufacturer with a fixed input voltage. The system is plug-and-play; after its installation, users can change voltage input, lamp wattage, lamp type, and manufacturer without modifications.

The VB400 lighting control provides universal input voltages from 90V to 300V; variable output wattages from 200W to 400W. It also features a small footprint of 6x6x4 inches; compliance with TUV/UL and FCC standards; and controlled start-up and shut-down to extend lamp and ballast life. The VB400 lighting control is designed for indoor and outdoor lighting applications and meets existing and proposed energy-efficiency guidelines, such as Title 24 in California.

When linked via a wired or wireless Ethernet network, the VB400 lighting control can monitor and control thousands of lamps from a desktop, laptop or hand-held computer. This enables managers to program lighting scenes, dim HID lamps during closed store hours, create lighting schedules for restocking shelves, plan preventive maintenance programs and identify parts to be replaced - all without costly and bulky add-on wires and components normally associated with traditional lighting control systems. The VB400 lighting control also enables instant demand response, which allows users to instantly dim or control lights to instantly (within seconds) conserve energy.

There are two VB400 models available, providing different levels of interface. The VB400 control features a digital display enabling the site engineer to manipulate controls via the unit or from a remote computer. The VB400N control does not contain a display, making it suitable for larger high-bay buildings where access to the lighting fixtures is limited and/or difficult. The VB400 lighting control is ideal for use in aquariums, museums and indoor farming; the VB400N industrial version model is suited for use in big box stores, warehouses, stadiums and industrial plants.

The VB400 and VB400N controls are available immediately through a pilot program with IEPC. For more information, visit www.iepc.cc, email vbsales@iepc.cc or call 714-892-4443.

About IEPC

International Engineering Products and Consulting Corp. ("IEPC") of Huntington Beach, California was founded in December 1997 originally as a contract engineering company, and incorporated in January 1999 as a California C Corporation. Privately held, IEPC now specializes in developing lighting control products. For the past four years the company has concentrated on an energy management system that replaces magnetic ballasts, timers, relays, control panels and the intensive wiring required to connect each lighting fixture to external parts with one standalone unit.

All Topics