This system enables remote monitoring and control, detection of alarms, measurement of Class I energy, and GPS geographical referencing of the public lighting luminaires.
FAQ
How does it work?
The architecture graph shows a snapshot of the system.
Nodes are placed in each luminaire.
Nodes collect the luminaire’s operation data (voltage, current, etc.) and send them to the central system through the concentrators.
The concentrators, in turn, are connected to Internet through cellular or WAN networks.
The central system may be hosted in Smartmation’s servers or in client’s infrastructure.
The lighting points are remotely configured, monitored and controlled.
Are data safe?
Yes, all communications are safe and encrypted with symmetrical passwords between nodes and concentrators and with asymmetrical passwords between the concentrators and the central system (the same security level as home banking).
What is the advantage of having a GPS in each node?
The GPS has been proven to be a fundamental tool to prevent human configuration and maintenance errors since it locates each device geographically automatically. The systems’ operators that do not have a GPS incorporated dedicate huge operative efforts in correcting this type of situations.
What is the advantage of having a Class I certified electricity meter?
The inclusion of the Class I certified electricity meter allows Municipalities to negotiate with the electric power suppliers per-use payments instead of flat rates.
This aspect is essential for the Municipalities that use dimmers to reduce the cost of power supply.
How do nodes communicate with each other and with the central system?
The nodes communicate with each concentrator by radiofrequency in the sub Ghz band with the Mesh standard 802.15.4. In turn, the concentrators connect with the central system using the cellular network with internet or through the WAN network arranged by the client.
How many nodes may be placed per concentrator?
Each concentrator may manage up to 1,000 nodes
How is the amount of concentrators needed calculated?
The estimation of the concentrators needed should be made on a map with the locations of the luminaries. However, in order to estimate approximately the need for concentrators for a specific project, it should be taken into account that there should not be over 1,000 luminaries associated to the same concentrator, that there are no obstacles such as buildings, embankments, etc., between the devices to communicate, that the distance between the concentrator and the farthest luminary is not over 500 meters and that the distance between two luminaries associated to the same concentrator is not over 200 meters.
What is the protection against loss of neutral?
In the cities, experience shows that most of burns in LED lighting devices is not caused by atmospheric discharges but by human errors in the maintenance of the electrical network, specifically when the neutral is dropped in a 220 VAC installation, tension may raise up to 380 VAC constantly, which causes the burn of all the devices connected. Smartmation’s remote management node has a system that protects the driver and the luminary’s LEDs in these situations and it does not deteriorate in multiple actuations.
Can the nodes and concentrators be remotely updated after they are installed?
Yes, all Smartmation’s products may be updated with new versions of software and firmware, which guarantees the chance of upgrading the products installed trough time.
What happens if the central system or the cellular network fail? Will the luminaries continue to operate normally?
Yes, each node has an astronomic clock and a light sensor that allows it to operate in a completely autonomous way even when the central system is unavailable.
If the central systems fails, does the information regarding the consumption of electricity disappear from the nodes?
No, the nodes have an internal memory that allows them to store up to 10 days of measurements of consumption. Once the communication with the central system is reestablished, the nodes shall pop the information stored during the time the communication was lost.
Do the clients have to purchase cellular data plans?
No, Smartmation manages and activates the data plans as part of its integral service.
If I choose Smartmation’s hosting service, where are the data hosted?
Smartmation hired Amazon’s services where data is hosted and protected. However, clients have access to an API’s series for the extraction of data through open and documented interfaces (web services).
May I host my own data?
Yes, if the client desires so, Smartmation shall install and run the software in client’s infrastructure. This service has a differentiated cost.
May I know the status of the lighting infrastructure in real time?
Yes, and this enables planning and executing preventive and corrective actions to reduce maintenance costs.
Is it required to configure the nodes before starting to operate?
No, each node has an embedded photocell that enables it to perform the luminaries’ switch on/off functions as from the moment it is connected, even when there is no initial configuration.
Does the software have a log of users’ operations?
Yes, each operation performed by the users is stored and may be visualized later by a system administrator.
Can the users’ access permissions be restricted?
Yes, the systems allows the assignment of visualization and operation permissions for each software function and the restriction, at group or user level, of the access each user profile has.
