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.

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)
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)
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

Energy-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.

Rebates Shed New Light on LED Lighting at Illinois School District

School District 211, the largest school district in Illinois, recently found an opportunity to significantly reduce energy and maintenance costs at one of their high schools, while also improving the attractiveness and brightness of the school’s outdoor lighting.

The outdoor lighting at the entrance to James B. Conant High School in Hoffman Estates was recently upgraded with LED lighting fixtures. The LED product’s advantages combined with grants and rebates currently offered in Illinois presented a cost reduction opportunity that was too good to pass up.

With budgets under tight scrutiny in many school districts nationwide, lighting projects are on hold or at least being considered on a case-by-case basis depending on necessity. School District 211 was able to buck this trend and upgrade their outdoor lighting by cashing in on a state grant that saved the school district 90 percent of installation costs and reduced its energy consumption to just pennies on the dollar.

Reece Thome is the Energy Efficiency Manager for School District 211, and is charged with evaluating all aspects of building operations to conserve the use of energy without compromising the educational environment for students and staff. Reece’s energy cost analysis for the James B. Conant High School unearthed the potential for substantial savings by upgrading the existing 175 watt Metal Haide Wallpacks with a new LED LPACK outdoor lighting system, manufactured by RAB Lighting. The RAB LED fixtures not only offered a more affordable alternative to similar commercial LED outdoor lighting, but it also offered a substantial reduction in the school’s energy consumption.

“We were spending between $450-500 a month on electricity for the outdoor lighting that stays on from dusk until dawn,” says Reece. “My research showed that by making the upgrade, we would save more than $400 a month on electrical costs alone. And the new RAB LED system also does not require us to change bulbs, which are rather costly and need to be changed frequently, not to mention the maintenance we were paying to have someone change the bulbs. The cost savings were just too compelling to ignore.”

With $5 million in budget cuts, Reece knew that the likelihood of getting budget approval for the project was slim. He conducted a cost analysis to demonstrate the return on investment (ROI). Additionally, Reece learned that many states across the country, including Illinois, are now offering rebates or grants to schools and other facilities willing to install energy efficient “green products.” Reece was surprised and excited to learn that these grants changed the lighting project from impossibility to a cost savings the school system felt was too good to pass on. The grant allowed James B. Conant to install the lights and pay only 10% of the cost of the system, with the rebates taking care of the other 90%.

He presented his findings to the school system’s chief financial officer. Reece says the grant money made the project feasible and with the ROI he was able to demonstrate, the program was approved by the school administration without hesitation.

The program was approved and the old light fixtures were removed. The RAB LPACK20 fixtures were purchased and shipped quickly from Idlewood Electric Supply, and installed for a successful lighting retrofit project. With so many financial benefits, the LPACK 20 is the perfect choice for any commercial or institutional property looking to reduce energy and maintenance costs, including schools, storage facilities, shopping centers and parking lots.

Many LED wallpacks on the market sell for upwards of $500 to $1,000 or more, but RAB’s goal is to keep its low wattage LED fixtures below $200. The LPACK 20 provides more light, less glare, and a longer lifespan compared to traditional outdoor HID lighting, thus saving money and cutting down on maintenance costs. The fixtures do not require re-lamping and the 50,000-hour LED lifespan lasts twice as long as the previous fixtures installed at the school. In addition, all RAB LED products are UL Listed, independently tested and carry a five-year warranty.

Reece’s LED success story is one that should resonate with schools and commercial properties around the country. The RAB LPACK 20 has greatly improved the overall perception of brightness in the 20’ x 70’ canopy area welcoming students to James B Conant High School. The good news gets even better: Illinois is just one of several states to offer similar grants or rebate programs.

National Graduate School Excels With RAB LED Lighting

The National Graduate School of Quality Management (“NGS”) in Falmouth, Massachusetts recently upgraded the quality of its outdoor lighting using highly-efficient LED fixtures from RAB Lighting. A distinguished leader offering advanced degrees in such quality-related curriculums as Systems Management and Six Sigma practices, the school prides itself on its provision of tools which drive operational excellence, lasting cost savings, and “success you can measure.”

With the core concept of “return on investment” being of such prime focus within NGS’ academic syllabus, the school’s management decided to lead by example and upgrade the outdated, inefficient outdoor lighting on its campus, particularly outside of the 20,000 square-foot estate it acquired and converted into a Research Center in 2009. Though the addition of the Center provided students with ample new research, conference, and study facilities, the structure and surrounding premises contained outmoded lighting technology dating back to the building’s original construction in the 1950’s.

“Our curriculum is focused on helping students drive measurable process improvements, so we thought it was time to “practice what we teach” and use our own facility to model positive energy conservation practices for our students, neighbors, and the larger community,” said Dr. Robert Gee, President and Founder
the National Graduate School.

According to Gee, the new lighting had to meet several key criteria:
• reduce energy consumption and costs for the school
• be aesthetically pleasing in light of the Research Center’s location in a quiet residential neighborhood in nearby Woods Hole, MA
• be durable enough to stand up to the extreme weather conditions associated with the school’s New England locale
• create no light dispersion in the night sky which could disturb neighbors or impact the environment surrounding the school’s property, which overlooks Oyster Pond and the peaceful seascape of Martha’s Vineyard

NGS found its solution in powerful and highly-efficient 10 Watt LED fixtures from RAB Lighting. The 150 LED area lights, bollards, and wallpacks that were selected firmly address the facility’s safety and security lighting concerns in addition to attractively highlighting the property’s flagpole and landscaping. The RAB LED fixtures use 10 Watt LED light engines in a fully shielded, full cutoff design, which eliminates light pollution and ensures that light output is efficiently focused downward on walkways. The fixtures’ durable epoxy powder coat aluminum exterior with tempered glass and double gasketing are able to withstand both New England weather as well as the extreme conditions associated with outdoor seaside applications. And, as confirmed through LM-79 and LM-80 testing by independent laboratories, RAB LED light engines provide a 50,000-hour lifespan to help ensure long-lasting operation and significantly reduce maintenance costs for the school.

RAB Lighting’s Ross Barna, CEO of the Northvale, New Jersey-based lighting company, concurs that RAB’s WPLED10, WPLED10S, BLED10, and ALED10 fixtures were indeed ideal solutions for NGS in terms of their optical design, outstanding energy efficiency, long life, and high lumen output. “Operating for an estimated 10 hours per night, RAB LED fixtures will provide many years of maintenance-free operation for the school. In addition, all of the fixtures are full cutoff, fully shielded designs which are Dark-Sky certified, assuring the school that light is only delivered where it’s needed and won’t contribute light pollution to the surrounding environment,” Barna says. “And from an economic perspective,” he adds, “the LEDs will significantly reduce energy consumption and costs, allowing NGS to channel precious funds into activities that can help the school continue to grow and best serve its students and faculty.”

Confirms NGS’s Gee, “the use of RAB LED fixtures reduced our lighting energy consumption and costs by 75% while delivering better quality lighting.” As part of his dedication to a green facility, which has involved the upgrade of all HVAC systems, carpets, and cleaning supplies with more environmentally-friendly products and systems, Gee says he will continue to upgrade other lighting throughout the campus using RAB LED fixtures.

Overall, concludes Gee, “the National Graduate School of Quality Management is committed to supporting the environment by reducing energy consumption and using its own facilities as a model of efficiency for our students. Our new RAB LEDs have delivered significant energy and maintenance savings, have allowed us to be sensitive to our neighborhood and ecological surroundings, and have resulted in so much positive feedback from students, faculty, and townspeople that they’ve driven many unexpected benefits and have truly exceeded our expectations.”

Thanks to their proactive lighting upgrade involving RAB LEDs, NGS can truly practice what it teaches and stand as an environmental leader and model of green behavior within both its academic circles and local community.

LEDs Save City $46,000 a Year on Energy

Though the city of Glen Cove, New York has been an important and historical trading port dating back to the 1600’s, it now boasts an exciting new 21st century achievement to add to its history annals – a state-of-the-art LED lighting upgrade in its Brewster Street Parking Garage which has dramatically reduced the city’s energy consumption and positioned the waterside town as a model of energy efficiency and environmental responsibility throughout the New York region.

Concerned about the high energy consumption and excessive maintenance associated with the old high pressure sodium fixtures in their parking facility, officials sought a more energy-efficient and maintenance-free lighting option for the three-story structure. “They were constantly changing lamps and repairing fixtures in the garage,” confirms Joe Casalino, Vice President of Port Washington-based electrical distributor Duplex Electric, which supplied the new RAB LED lighting fixtures for the project. “In addition, a lot of the light output from the old fixtures was getting wasted on the ceiling.”

Following an analysis of their lighting options in November 2010, Glen Cove officials agreed on an upgrade using highly-efficient LED technology from industry leader RAB Lighting. The 264 aesthetically-pleasing, bronze fixtures installed in December 2010 incorporate two 13 Watt LED light engines in a fully shielded, full cutoff design which ensures that light output is efficiently focused downward to highlight people and objects in the space. The fixture’s durable aluminum exterior with tempered glass and double gasketing is able to withstand the extreme conditions associated with outdoor applications like parking garages, while the fixture’s LED light engine is rated for 50,000 hours of life, which will help ensure long operation and significantly reduce maintenance costs for the city.

Agrees Duplex Electric’s Casalino, “because the new RAB fixtures with LED technology provide such a high light level and direct the light downward so effectively, we were able to replace the garage’s previous 100 Watt fixtures with the RAB system consuming only 26 Watts, for a 77% energy savings. In addition, because of the long life of LED technology, the city should enjoy over five years of maintenance-free, 24/7 operation out of these fixtures, which will further save on material and labor costs and ensure a safer and more secure environment for visitors.”

RAB Lighting’s Nathan Drucker, Applications Engineering Manager for the Northvale, New Jersey-based lighting company, concurs that “RAB’s CLED2X13 fixtures were indeed a great solution for the Glen Cove Parking Garage in terms of their optical design, outstanding energy efficiency, long life, and high lumen output. Based on the city’s interest in lowering its energy consumption and costs, this fixture will reduce annual energy usage by over 240,000 kWh, delivering the city annual energy savings of more than $46,000 and driving a project payback of only one year.”

Happily for the city, and on top of the attractive financial performance the RAB
LED fixtures delivered all on their own, the project was also able to capitalize on a $250 rebate per fixture extended by local utility Long Island Power
(LIPA), a financial incentive which helped to offset the city’s up-front project costs by over $68,000. In terms of benefitting the environment, Glen Cove and LIPA spokespeople estimate that the lighting upgrade “will have the equivalent effect of eliminating over 307,661 pounds of CO2 from the air or avoiding the consumption of 15,840 gallons of gasoline by cars each year.”

Mike Paolillo, Supervisor of Glen Cove-based contractor S. Paolillo & Sons, Inc., was also pleased with the selection of the RAB fixtures for this project. “It was an easy fixture to install and fit the specs of the project well,” he says. “The whole installation went very quickly and smoothly, which ensured the completion of the project within the deadline for the utility rebate.”

Seeing the impressive lighting performance and quick project payback and hearing positive feedback from city residents pleases no one more than Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi, who championed the upgrade project. “We’re delighted with the RAB fixtures, which delivered a much brighter and whiter light to the parking garage than the previous technology while reducing energy consumption and costs by 77%,” Suozzi says. “Overall, this project represented a great partnership between government, industry, and our local utility. We’re excited to have reduced our carbon footprint, removed strain from the power grid, created jobs, reduced cost to taxpayers, and decreased maintenance costs due to the long life and durability of the LED technology. At the end of the day,” Suozzi concludes, “everybody wins.”