Thursday, April 5, 2012

Leviton Green Technology

Green technologies make sense from an economic, environmental and compliance standpoint. Federal and state energy codes are driving higher standards for building efficiency and underscoring the need for better energy-saving controls for lighting by either mandating compliance or encouraging it with tax incentives and utility rebates. Combine that with energy costs rising faster than ever before, and the reduction of energy consumption by businesses becomes an increasingly more powerful competitive advantage.

With over 38% of a typical business’s energy bill related to lighting, energy saving controls for lighting are at the center of any effort to reduce energy expenditures. One of the easiest ways to save energy is to simply turn the lights off when not needed. Leviton helps you take advantage of these potential energy-saving opportunities.

From dimming and occupancy sensing to daylight harvesting and distributed lighting control, Leviton delivers both hardwired and wireless lighting control strategies for every imaginable application in any environment. No company offers a broader range of lighting controls solutions for optimizing energy efficiency than Leviton.

Leviton Dimmers
Leviton Electrical & Lighting Products

More Frequently Asked Hatch Transformer Questions

What should I check if the transformer does not seem to be working?
(A) Please make certain that the black and white input wires (primary side) of the low voltage transformer are connected to the power line (120 volts or 277 volts) and that the two red output wires (secondary side) of the low voltage transformer are connected to the low voltage light source (12 volts or 24 volts). Most failures occur as a result of reverse or improper wiring.
(B) Check the filament of the lamp to see if is burned out. (Remember the glass envelope of a halogen lamp should NOT be touched by bare hands because the natural oil from your hands will cause the lamp to burn out prematurely.)
(C) Check the connection somewhere between the output wires of the transformer (red wires) and the lamp. The transformer has a sophisticated short circuit/overload protection system. If it senses a short or a bad connection or too many lamps (ie: too much wattage) it wil cause problems. Check all the connections for tightness, corrosion, arcing etc. If all are tight and clean and you do not have more than the maximum wattage of lamps on the system, then look at the lampholder itself. Make sure the contacts in the lampholder where the lamps plug in are still tight and do not show signs of carbon buildup or arcing.
Can Hatch electronic transformers be remote mounted?
Yes, they can be remote mounted up to 10 feet, after 10 feet there is a voltage drop of approximately .07 volts per foot.
Why does my voltmeter read "0" when testing Hatch transformer, does this mean the unit is bad?
No, some Hatch electronic transformers feature "Demand Circuit Design". The transformer will not produce voltage unless a lamp with at least the minimum wattage required is connected to it.
Will Hatch transformer or ballast operate at 50Hz or 60Hz?
Yes.
Why is there a delay when I turn a lamp on using Hatch transformer?
Many models of Hatch low-voltage electronic transformers utilize a soft start circuitry to maximize lamp life. The soft start circuit ramps up the lamp filament voltage slowly when the lamp is cold.
Why do I measure very low voltage on the lamp even though the light output looks OK? Shouldn't it be about 11.5V?
You must use a digital volt meter capable of reading 25KHz or higher waveforms, we suggest a Fluke Model 5220A or equivalent.
What is the "blue" loop on your VS12-60WD and VS12-75WD transformers for?
This wire is only for OEM type applications. It is used to attach a 1 meg ohm linear taper potentiometer for dimming via a potentiometer. You do not have to use the blue loop to make the unit work, it is only there if you want to use a potentiometer to dim your fixture (example: Desk top lamp).


Hatch Electronic Low Voltage Transformers (120V/12V)
Hatch 60W Electronic Low Voltage Transformer Hatch 80W Electronic Low Voltage Transformer Hatch 105W Electronic Low Voltage Transformer Hatch 150W Electronic Low Voltage Transformer Hatch 300W Electronic Low Voltage Transformer
60W 80W 105W 150W 300W

Frequently Asked Hatch Transformer Questions

What is a magnetic core & coil low voltage transformer?
A low voltage transformer is an electrical device that reduces 120 volts (line voltage) into 12 volts or 24 volts (low voltage). It is sometimes made by winding two wires around an iron core with one wire connected to the primary side (line voltage side) and the second wire connected to the secondary side (low voltage side). In the case of low voltage halogen or low voltage xenon lighting the low voltage transformer has an input or primary voltage of 120 volts (sometimes 277 volts) and an output or secondary voltage of 12 volts or 24 volts. An example of a core and coil type transformer is our LS and LT models.
What is an electronic low voltage transformer?
Conventional low voltage transformers, also called magnetic core & coil low voltage transformers can be extremely large and heavy, consist of an iron core and two sets of wires as described in the previous paragraph. An electronic low voltage transformer, on the other hand, also contains an electronic device, called an inverter, which allows the size of the low voltage transformer to be substantially smaller. An inverter and a small transformer make up the main components of what we normally call an electronic low voltage transformer. An example of our electronic transformers is our RS and VS lines.
How does an electronic low voltage transformer work?
The inverter conditions the voltage to change direction at a frequency of about 20,000 times per second (called Hertz or Hz) as opposed to the normal power from your wall outlet, which changes direction at a frequency of 50Hz or 60Hz. The higher the frequency, the smaller the low voltage transformer can be. Most electronic low voltage transformers provide high frequency AC output.
What is the advantage of an electronic low voltage transformer?
Electronic low voltage transformers are very small and light compared to magnetic low voltage transformers, in most cases small enough that fixture manufacturers can often incorporate them within their lighting fixture rather than leaving the customer to find a hiding place. Even when not incorporated within the lighting fixture an electronic low voltage transformer is very easy to install in a small hidden location.
What is the advantage of a magnetic core & coil transformer?
Simply - temperature rating. When size and weight are not an issue and a high temperature is needed, a magnetic transformer is a good choice. Hatch magnetic low voltage transformers can handle normal operating temperatures of 180 degree C.
What is the correct way to wire up a Hatch transformer?
Please make certain that the black and white input wires (primary side) of the low voltage transformer are connected to the power line (120 volts or 277 volts) using wire nuts that the two red output wires (secondary side) of the low voltage transformer are connected to the low-voltage light source using wire terminal blocks of appropriate size (for solid contact). Low voltage halogen or low voltage xenon lighting systems carry relatively large currents so all of the low voltage connections must be very tight to prevent arcing (a possible fire hazard) within those connections. Note: Do not connect 277 volts to a 120 volt transformer, and also do not connect 120 volts to a 277 volt transformer. Make sure you have the correct transformer that matches your input voltage.


Hatch Electronic Low Voltage Transformers (120V/12V)
Hatch 60W Electronic Low Voltage Transformer Hatch 80W Electronic Low Voltage Transformer Hatch 105W Electronic Low Voltage Transformer Hatch 150W Electronic Low Voltage Transformer Hatch 300W Electronic Low Voltage Transformer
60W 80W 105W 150W 300W

Lutron CL dimmers for dimmable Compact Fluorescent (CFL) & LED Bulbs

Dimming CFLs and LEDs
Dimming saves energy while setting the right light level to improve mood and ambiance. Screw-in compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and screw-in light emitting diode bulbs (LEDs) are a great energy-saving alternative to incandescent or halogen light sources; however, dimming them may be difficult. Lutron’s new C•L™ Dimmers for dimmable CFL and LED bulbs have HED™ Technology which helps alleviate your CFL and LED dimming challenges.
Challenges of Dimming CFLs and LEDs with Standard Dimmers

Lutron CL Bulb typeEnergy-saving CFLs have been in the marketplace for many years but a broad range of dimmable bulbs has only recently become available. LEDs are even newer to the market and dimmable versions are also only recently available.

These dimmable bulbs, especially CFLs, have historically presented problems when used on standard incandescent dimmers.

Common issues include:

Reduced dimming range: Incandescent/halogen bulbs will typically dim lower than CFL or LED bulbs. Most dimmable CFLs will dim down to 10% to 30% measured light output. Early versions of dimmable LEDs on the market have the ability to dim lower than CFLs and can reach levels as low as 5% to 15% measured light. The actual dimming range is dictated by the bulb’s circuitry.

Lights dropping out: As CFL or LED bulbs are dimmed, they will sometimes turn off before the slider reaches the bottom. Referred to as “drop out,” this makes it extremely difficult to set the dimmer at the right level without bulbs turning off.

Lights not turning on: After being dimmed to a low light level and switched off, sometimes CFL or LED bulbs will not turn on until the dimmer’s slider is moved up. This is referred to as “pop-on,” which is especially challenging in 3-way situations where lights can be turned on/off from different locations, not just using the dimmer.

Lights turning off unexpectedly: Dimmable CFL and LED bulbs can be influenced by line voltage fluctuations. As your incandescent bulbs will sometimes dim or flicker when a device such as air-conditioning or a hair dryer is used, a dimmed CFL or LED can actually turn off or flicker excessively in those situations.

Note: Actual performance of any CFL or LED will vary from bulb type to bulb type and among different manufacturers. It is important to note that only bulbs that have been designed as dimmable should be used on a dimmer. To find out if your bulb is dimmable, please check the package, the bulb itself, or call the bulb manufacturer directly.

New Dimmers from Lutron
To help combat these issues, Lutron has developed a family of C·L dimmers for dimmable CFL and LED bulbs. By incorporating HED Technology, these dimmers improve the dimming performance of dimmable CFLs and LEDs compared to standard dimmers by:
  • Keeping the lights on as they are dimmed
  • Making sure the lights turn on at all light levels
  • Eliminating/reducing excessive flicker
  • Keeping the lights on even with line voltage fluctuations
About HED Technology: HED Technology features advanced dimming circuitry that is designed for compatibility with most high efficacy light bulbs.

Lutron C·L dimmers with HED Technology also provide full-range dimming for halogen and incandescent bulbs, ensuring today’s dimmer is compatible with tomorrow’s light sources. The dimmer can even dim a mixed load of light sources (i.e. LED and halogen or CFL and LED bulbs on the same circuit). C·L dimmers are available in our Diva®, Skylark Contour™, Luméa®, Ariadni®/Toggler® and Credenza® product families.

Lutron Dimmers