Integrated Building Equipment Communications System (IBECS)-Controllable Wall Switch

Results:
We successfully developed a working prototype of the IBECS-enabled wall switch network component.

The objective of this task was to design and fabricate an IBECS-enabled wall switch. This switch would fit in a standard wall box, provide bilevel (Title 24 compliant) switch control, and be controllable (addressable) using IBECS. We successfully developed and fabricated this component.

IBECS-addressable power switch. In an actual product, this power switch would be embedded in a standard wall switch. The IBECS-ready wall switch would function as a regular wall switch and also permit the switch load to be turned off remotely using the IBECS.

To add to the application of this component, we coupled the addressable switch with off-the-shelf Powerline Carrier (PLC)-controllable relays and installed the system in two offices at Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). After some initial difficulties with defective components, the system worked satisfactorily. We found that PLC signals transmitted over one branch circuit could successfully traverse the path from the original branch circuit through the electrical distribution panel to another branch circuit and back again without loss of information. Although LBNL's Building 90, where the system was tested, is electrically "noisy," we did not test enough devices to draw strong conclusions regarding their reliability in a larger building environment.

We observed a noticeable delay between when the switch is first touched and when the light actually switches on. One unexpected development of this system is that the lights in the offices outfitted with the IBECS-addressable switches can be controlled remotely from another location using the internet. This capability should be useful for implementing simple demand-responsive lighting control in buildings.

Downloads and Links:

• "IBECS: Integrated Building Environmental Communications System" Brochure (600 KB, 2 pp)
   
• Report with technical details of wall switch and performance at demonstration site (1.13 MB, 23 pp)

Contact: Francis Rubinstein, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), (510) 486-4096