Customer application 28 August 2020
Clever Lighting Scenario

LED technology and the I/O controller from WAGO create the perfect lighting symbiosis: Schuster Energieversorgungssysteme, an energy supply solutions specialist from Grevenbroich, is creating quite a stir with its innovative, manufacturer-independent system for emergency lighting. Early adopters in the automotive industry are leading the way, and companies from other sectors are showing great interest. The WAGO 750 Series I/O System forms the core of the lighting solution and implements the intelligent lighting control functions.

When it comes to safety lighting systems, no other company is as innovative as Schuster Energieversorgungssysteme GmbH & Co. KG. For four decades, this company in Grevenbroich, Germany, has mitigated the effects of power failures by producing sophisticated systems for emergency lighting, rectifiers and inverters, as well as other solutions. The firm has a legacy of consistently producing innovative ideas backed by the highest quality. This has earned Schuster an excellent reputation, backed by outstanding customer testimonials. For example, this company from Grevenbroich has equipped the Berlin Olympic Stadium, Apple Stores in Germany and major trade shows in Frankfurt and Dusseldorf. Recently, Schuster found itself in an enviable role: Not only is the company widely regarded as the best in their field, but, thanks to recent breakthroughs, they are now also seen as their sector’s leader in technological development.

The Benefits of WAGO for You:

WAGO's fieldbus-independent system enables communication with all conventional building bus systems.
Users have a free choice of software thanks to the PFC200 Linux® Controller.
Each LED light can be individually controlled via DALI with the WAGO 750 Series I/O System.

“We’ve made significant advances with our systems,” explains CEO Jens Wich. That sounds far too modest. In fact, Schuster has developed a unique system for emergency lighting that is setting several new industry standards and has already installed it in multiple facilities of one automobile manufacturer. SETLON is one of just a few systems on the market based on modern LED technology. And one of the system’s biggest draws is that it eliminates the distinction between general and safety lighting – it uses the same lights for both. One part also runs in emergency mode. “This is possible because we can generate multiple lighting scenarios with SETLON by dimming individual lights,” explains Wich.

Each Individual LED Can Be Controlled

There is an entire range of laws, directives and guidelines regarding emergency operation of lights in buildings. And this shouldn’t surprise anybody – human lives depend on good emergency lighting. For example, throughout a specified time period, emergency lighting needs to illuminate routes for rescuers and indicate escape routes. Another requirement calls for providing sufficient light to high-risk workplaces. Emergency lighting should also prevent panic by countering the feelings of claustrophobia (or being trapped) with extensive illumination. In addition, emergency lighting must work during power outages: For example, emergency lighting is needed in hospitals at all times. And given the specific nature of each scenario, each has a different required level of brightness. In traditional systems, these were achieved using fluorescent tubes or incandescent bulbs, but it is much easier with modern LED lights.

“The biggest advantage of LED technology is that you can use it to generate any desired lighting scenario,” says Gerhard Rabben, Sales Manager at Schuster. In addition, LED technology is much more robust, has a longer service life and consumes less energy. However, for different lighting scenarios to be implemented with LED lights, each diode must be individually addressed. Furthermore, all components in the emergency lighting system must be monitored, which is the only way to ensure that everything actually functions as intended during a power failure. This leads to a problem, as Wich explains: “In standard systems, additional components were incorporated into the lights to provide the required control and monitoring for an emergency lighting system.”

This method is still prevalent in the field – despite significant disadvantages. If lights are modified, they lose their CE marking and thus their operating license. This is why Schuster took an alternative path: Instead of converting the lights, this company from Grevenbroich provided them with intelligent, centralized control. “We use the WAGO 750 Series I/O System as the control element so we can address the lights using the DALI communication protocol. As a result, we can control and check every LED individually,” states Wich, Schuster’s CEO.