Basic concepts of an automatic street-lighting system

Cristina Popescu

Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti, 39 Bucuresti Blvd, Ploiesti

e-mail: cristinap@upg-ploiesti.ro

Abstract
All carriages must be adequately illuminated for security reasons. In the case of covered and multi-storey
car parks, where penetration of daylight is limited, lighting is also necessary during daylight.
For safety reasons and due to the need to perform certain maneuvers with the car in parking spaces, the
luminance level and distribution of luminaries must be close to those of the traffic routes.
The location of the luminaires must as far as possible ensure the visual guidance. It is necessary to use
light sources that ensure a good color reproduction for the purpose of easy vehicle differentiation.
The purpose of this paper is to present the elements necessary for designing an automatic lighting system
for a parking lot.
Key words: sensor-based control, automation system, motion control

Introduction
Today, when we talk about resource conservation and environmental protection, efficient
electricity consumption is an essential point to consider. The use of smart lighting can greatly
contribute to reducing electricity consumption and associated costs. Sensor technology thus
improves power consumption, but also enhances personal comfort and safety. Combining
innovative LED technology with motion sensors, power consumption can be reduced by up to
90%.
From the point of view of lighting, outdoor parking is illuminated with luminaires with
asymmetrical light distribution from the range of projectors.
If the parking space is very wide and there is no possibility of pylon placement, lighting can be
adopted using lighting fixtures mounted on high poles (20 - 30 m) and pointing to the area of
interest.

Motion sensors for indoor and outdoor electrical installations

Lamps with motion sensor helps to save electricity in three different ways: exclude the
possibility of forgetting the light on, lighting up only when ambient light (including a light
sensor) is not enough and has the adjustable ignition duration, depending on your needs in the
space where they are located. Many homeowners, apartments or boarding houses opt for the
installation of motion sensors on the hallways, in color or in exterior spaces (entrances, garages,
annexes, technical spaces) to keep the benefits of lighting, paying less on the electricity bill.
Motion sensors for indoor and outdoor electrical installations have the following features:
- have small dimensions;
- the intervention threshold is selectable according to the ambient light;
- the delay time for disconnection is adjustable;
- universal positioning allows the selection of any area of surveillance;
- have a wide viewing angle.

HF technology can be used both, for exterior and interior, but the expert's recommendation is to
use luminaires equipped with a HF motion sensor on the inside. HF sensors have greater
sensitivity to motion detection and are more practical in closed spaces.

On the other hand, infrared motion sensor (PIR) luminaires are perfect for outdoor use. PIR
sensors have low sensitivity and will not be activated for animals under 45 Kg or tree
movements, saving energy.
Although all the sensor lamps seem to be the same, they are still distinguished by things that are
hardly visible, such as the adjustment possibilities (usually under the lamp glass). It is important
if you can pivot the sensor body vertically or horizontally. It is comfortable if the motion sensor
lamp also includes a photo-sensor that controls the lighting of the light depending on the
brightness it detects.
In general, a motion sensor lamp should contain some standard adjustments, such: setting the
ignition time, detection angle, possibility of limitation of the action range, adjusting the pivotal
or obstruction detection area. Quality lights include standard features and more settings, such:
lighting, flashing, or setting the twilight threshold to avoid unnecessary daytime ignition.

Fig.1. Movement sensors

PT switch with twilight sensor and programmable night-time decoupling is ideal for
programmable nocturnal switching of lighting installations for facades, gardens, light boxes and
parking lots. This twilight sensor is controlled by the microprocessor. It has an economical night
mode in which it allows energy saving. If the user wants, this system stops the light
automatically during the night for a programmable time, and the light turns on in the morning
only if it is still dark.

Programmable automata used in street lighting

The structure of an automated process using a programmable machine can be synthesized
through the block diagram presented below:

Fig.2. Structure of an automated process using a programmable machine

These programmable logic machines, in addition to the connections with the measuring
instruments and sensors in the automation process, will have to allow the whole process to be
controlled and what is important, to communicate to the operator the status of the process by
visual and acoustic signals and / or through a network of communication.
Thus, the programmable controller carries out the two main tasks of automating a process:
- the measure, which in this case involves the monitoring of the state of the process by the
acquisition of the state of process variables at the inputs of the automaton (via sensors, buttons,
limit switches, etc.);
- control, which involves the processing of information received from inputs and the generation
of necessary commands to execute the automated process, according to a specific program.
Among the advantages of programming with programmable machines can be mentioned:
flexibility, reduction of consumption, implementation of changes and error correction, testing
possibilities, operating speed, programming mode, etc.
The disadvantages that may arise in the work with these are: "fixed" applications (applications
that do not need programmable automation because of the low degree of complexity),
environmental problems (environmental conditions can damage programmable machines), etc.
To order multiple processes simultaneously, it is possible to connect multiple programmable
logic units to a central unit.
 Fig. 3. Connection of the multiple PLC
Generally, programmable machines are designed to automate sequential processes of average
complexity, having the following functions:
- detecting status changes of signals applied to inputs;
- stepwise logic processing of the information received according to the program stored in the
program memory;
- optical signaling of signal values on inputs and outputs (logic value 1 - bulb illuminated).
Characteristics of Siemens SIMATIC programmable machine
Modular programmable machines offer the greatest flexibility. One of these is the Siemens
SIMATIC PLC. From the point of view of the number of I / O points, the modular
programmable machines are included in the class of medium and large programmable machines
(with thousands of I / O points).
Each programmable automation manufacturer offers a wide range of power supplies, basic
drawers, UC and interfacing modules, and I / O modules. The user will choose those system
components that meet the needs of the application considered. The operation of selecting the
modules and the base drawer according to the application requirements is called configuration.
Here comes one of the great advantages of programmable machines, namely their flexibility:
they can be configured according to the specifics of the application.

Fig.4. Siemens SIMATIC S5

Case study. Enlightenment of a parking lot

For the practical test it was made a model of a parking lot in Ploiesti and it was attached the
automatic street lighting system according to the parking plan. The layout was built at 1: 200
scales.

Fig.5. Parking plan Ploiesti

In this representation six lighting pillars were used according to the norms imposed by the law
and the protection of man. The number of poles is fully enough to illuminate the entire parking
lot.

Fig.6. Vertical layout

Controllers and the serial communications network allow the use of computers in the structure
of data acquisition systems. When selecting the acquisition equipment and the communication
bus architecture, the data transfer method to be used in the acquisition and processing process
must also be chosen.
For poles, 6V red light bulbs have been used to which a 330 KΩ resistor has been attached
because the 24 V programmable PLC has been used. Double poles have been used for better
illumination. An industrial feeder has been used to make the bulbs receive power from a more
powerful source and not require the battery of the programmable machine.
The STEP7 language and Ladder Logic programming (LAD) were used to execute the program,
as the SIMATIC S5 is an older version and requires a more neutral language. Even to program
Siemens SIMATIC S5 must be started on a computer with serial or parallel port and necessarily
with WINDOWS XP operating system.

Conclusion

The purpose of this paper was to create a simulator of a street lighting system and of a parking
lot. The lighting system was implemented using a Simatic PLC from the S5-95 family. The PLC
was chosen based on the requirements of the number of resources allocated to the CPU, the
flexibility of the machine and the number of analogue and digital inputs and outputs. The
programming language of the PLC used STEP 7 programming language.

References
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Concepte de baza pentru proiectarea unui sistem de iluminat

stradal

Rezumat
În cadrul acestei lucrări au fost abordate aspectele principale legate de proiectarea unui sistem de
iluminat stradal, ,mai exact o parcare publica din incinta unui mall.
A fost prezentat un sistem de iluminat stradal cu toate elementele sale componente, modul de functionare
al acestuia, subliniindu-se functionarea senzorilor, programarea PLC-ului, etc.