US 2007/0224905 A1 · Voltage control load center, modular voltage control transformer circuit, and method of making and using

Abstract

A voltage control load center (10) includes plural modular voltage control transformer circuits (20), and is connected between supply mains (22) and a load (L) including one or more high intensity discharge (HID) lamps. The lamps are started at full line voltage, and after a sufficient operating interval ensuring that the lamps have achieved a sustaining temperature, the operating voltage applied to the lamps is reduced, effecting a considerable savings in energy use, with little or an acceptably small decrease in illumination provided by the lamps. Because the voltage control transformer circuits (20) are modular, voltage control load centers (10) suitable for a variety of differing requirements may be quickly, easily, and inexpensively fabricated and installed without the need for the conventional requirement of a custom (i.e., application specific) transformer design and fabrication, which conventional requirements are both time and labor intensive.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A modular voltage control transformer circuit for controlling the operating voltage level applied to an HID lighting unit, said modular voltage control transformer circuit including a base carrying a transformer, and a panel carrying a SPDT switch in a first position connecting full line voltage to said HID lighting unit for starting of said lighting unit, and in a second position said SPDT switch connecting a reduced voltage less than full line voltage to said HID lighting unit for sustained operation of said lighting unit, and a timing circuit effecting switching of said SPDT switch from said first to said second position after passage of a determined start-up time interval of full line voltage operation.

A modular lighting control apparatus for an HID lighting unit, said modular lighting control using comprising:

a base adapted to be mounted within a protective electrical enclosure, said base carrying:
an autotransformer securing to said base and having a primary winding including first and second ends, and a secondary winding having respective first and second ends;
the primary winding being connected at its first end to a source of AC power, and at its second end with one side of the HID lighting unit;
a SPDT switch securing to said base and having a first switch contact connecting to said first end of said primary winding, and a common contact connecting to the one side of the HID lighting unit so that when said first switch contact and said common contact are connected, said primary winding is shorted and said HID lighting unit receives full line voltage;
said SPDT switch including a second switch contact connecting to a first end of said secondary winding, and a second end of said secondary winding connecting to said source of AC power and to the other side of said HID lighting unit, so that when said second switch contact and said common contact are connected, said primary and secondary windings are in series across said source of AC power and said HID lighting unit receives reduced voltage;
whereby, said modular lighting control unit provides said HID lighting unit with either full line voltage or with reduced line voltage, without interruption of current flow to the HID lighting unit.

3 more elements

A method of providing a modular lighting control apparatus for control of plural HID lighting units, said method comprising steps of:

utilizing several modular voltage control transformer units each protectively enclosed together within an electrical enclosure;
for each of said several modular voltage control transformer units, providing a base;
utilizing each said base to carrying a respective autotransformer securing to said base, and providing said autotransformer with a primary winding including first and second ends, and a secondary winding having respective first and second ends;
connecting the primary winding at its first end to a source of AC power, and at its second end with one side of the respective HID lighting unit;
providing each of said several modular voltage control transformer units with a respective SPDT switch securing to the respective base and having a first switch contact connecting to said first end of said primary winding, and a common contact connecting to the one side of said respective HID lighting units so that when said first switch contact and said common contact are connected, said primary winding is shorted and said respective HID lighting unit receives full line voltage;
providing for said SPDT switch to include a second switch contact connecting to a first end of said secondary winding, and a second end of said secondary winding connecting to said source of AC power and to the other side of said respective HID lighting unit, so that when said second switch contact and said common contact are connected, said primary and secondary windings are in series across said source of AC power and said respective HID lighting unit receives reduced voltage;
whereby, said modular lighting control unit provides said respective HID lighting unit with either full line voltage or with reduced line voltage, without interruption of current flow to the HID lighting unit, and said several modular voltage control transformer units within said electrical enclosure control plural HID lighting units.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Voltage control load center, modular voltage control transformer circuit, and method of making and using

Life of this patent

Voltage control load center, modular voltage control transformer circuit, and method of making and using

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16