Frequently Asked Questions - Power Saver

Q. What standard features are incorporated into each BMASS Power Saver unit?

A. Each BMASS Power Saver unit comes standard with the following features:

Q. How many tubes will a single Power Saver handle?

A. The two standard Power Saver models are capable of handling 10kVA – around 210 x 36W tubes (of any sort) and 5kVA - around 105 x 36W tubes (of any sort), respectively. Individual lighting circuits do not need to be combined during installation unlike most other products on the market.

Q. Will Power Saver work with all fluorescent tubes?

A. Power Saver will work with all fluorescent tubes with T12 or T8 lamps with non-electronic ballasts. When used with electronic ballasts or T5 lamps there is no reduction in consumed energy.

Q. What is the pay-back time for the initial outlay?

A. Normally less than 2 years (depending on electricity tariff rates and usage patterns).

Q. Will Power Saver work with the new-type low-loss and super low-loss magnetic ballasts?

A. Yes. A very effective combination to achieve maximum energy saving of lighting power.

Q. Can other energy saving measures be used with Power Saver?

A. Yes. Installation of Power Saver is complementary to and can be used in conjunction with other lighting controls such as timers, occupancy sensors etc.  Additionally, the use of inexpensive electronic starters will further improve the efficiency of the lighting, provide quick start-up of lamps as well as stopping any flickering of lamps, and significantly lengthen tube life.

Q. How much saving of Greenhouse Gas Emissions can Power Saver achieve?

A. The 10kVA version of Power Saver (210 x 36W tubes) could save around 20 tonnes of Greenhouse Gas emissions per unit per annum (based on Queensland coal power generation). This will vary slightly between power generating plants across Australia and can be up to 33 tonnes in Victoria.

Q. Is there any discernable loss of light quality?

Q. When switching from BYPASS to SAVE mode and back, is there any flickering?

A. NO. This is a unique capability to Power Saver and was part of a patent application for this product.

Q. Can I read the current savings being achieved on Power saver?

A. Power Saver is designed to be able to interface with a data logger that can record and display the savings, normally in kWh. Data loggers are not normally provided but can be sourced as an optional feature of an installation, such as in large commercial buildings where the capture of ongoing detailed energy savings in lighting is required for audit purposes.

Q. What happens when some of the managed lights are switched ON or OFF?

A. Current sensing and down-line switching are inherent features of Power Saver. The unit senses a change in current and reverts to full load (BYPASS Mode). When the load stabilises, it switches to SAVE Mode. This capability is present for all models of Power Saver. It makes the Power Saver highly suited to an office environment where room lights are turned on and off many times. This automated feature ensures that all lamps are started at full voltage, enabling correct warm-up of the tube cathode before the ballast ignites/starts the tube. It ensures that the life of the tube is maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications and prevents annoying flickering of the tubes. Not all competitors are able to achieve this capability, particularly for larger lighting loads. It is a potential problem for basic voltage reduction units sold by some competitors and are reliant upon a Building Management System to control the activation of lights, normally only permitted once a day.

Q. Is Power Saver able to sense very small changes in the lighting load (current), such as small offices with only a few lights?

A. The current sensing feature of Power Saver is able to sense quite small changes in the lighting load. The microprocessor detects changes in the actual lighting load, with the standard factory setting of around 2 amps for 5kVA and 3 amps for 10kVA. The sensitivity to change can be varied to suit a particular installation. Software settings can be adjusted on-site by a qualified representative or in the factory prior to delivery. In rare situations where a separately switched room has only a couple of tubes, we would recommend and supply electronic starters for those fittings ensuring that the tube life is not affected by starting attempts at reduced voltage.

Q. Is the operation of Power Saver affected by lighting contractor maintenance and replacement of faulty tubes and/or starters?

A. No, Power Saver operation is not affected. Where electronic starters are installed, ideal conditions for lamp re-starting is present at all times, even for single tube changes. Where glow starters/flicker starters are installed, Power Saver is fitted with a manual By-pass Switch that can be activated when lighting contractors are doing routine maintenance, especially on single lamp fittings such as tube and/or glow starter replacement (electronic starters should never need replacing). The replacement of single tubes without switching the individual lights off, may in some cases result in the current sensing feature of Power Saver being below the load threshold and a tube may not re-start efficiently with common glow starters. Wherever common glow starters are installed, activating the Power Saver 'by-pass' switch as part of your standard maintenance procedures will ensure that all lighting tube replacements and light maintenance results in efficient operation of all lighting.

Q. Can Power Saver control more than a single light circuit?

A. Current sensing and down-line switching features of Power Saver are effective across multiple lighting circuits. This is a unique feature of Power Saver and is not present in most other known products. Other competitor products are normally installed on the basis of one unit per lighting circuit, and are only effective for small lighting loads.

Q. Is the Power Saver unit safe?

A. Power Saver is inherently safe, automatically adjusting it's operation with the operating environment (no chance of combustion or dramatic system failure).

Q. Will Power Saver affect my lighting should there be a disruption to mains power supply or a system fault?

A. No. Power Saver has a number of in-built features that ensure the Power Saver unit will not prevent your lights from operating.

The Operation and Installation Manual provides full details of the operation of the units, troubleshooting and fault finding procedures.

A micro-computer is incorporated which monitors and controls all functions of the operation. The microcomputer monitors load conditions and provides proper operating and starting conditions for the lighting load, as well as providing protection against brownout. In the event of the load voltage falling to an unacceptable level, such as mains brownout, the unit will automatically go into a "by-pass" mode until normal supply is re-gained. The lighting circuits will continue to operate as if the unit was not installed.

Power Saver does not use 'phase switching' as part of voltage reduction and the autotransformer is not in-circuit when full power is applied to the lighting load.

All individual lighting circuits are protected by circuit-breakers, either at the switchboard or inside the Power Saver unit depending on the installation method chosen.

Power Saver has internal circuit breaker protection for the control electronics, the active load and the neutral line. These circuit breakers are designed to protect the unit and the lighting circuits being managed. In the event they are tripped, the unit is automatically "by-passed" restoring full load to the lighting circuits, with normal protection to these circuits being provided by their individual active load circuit breakers. In addition, the unit is protected through a mains circuit breaker (normally 40amps).

Q. Why does Power Saver not use 'phase switching' to apply a voltage reduction to the lighting load?

A. All other known devices that reduce voltage incorporate a technique called 'phase switching' and this switching must occur at the 'zero cross-over' point of the AC cycle. The process can be subject to the introduction of light flicker, electrical noise, is sensitive to switching timings, has reliability issues, and inconvenient failure modes. As a result, in all other devices the integral transformer is in-circuit all of the time, unlike Power Saver where the autotransformer is only switched into circuit when actually required to enter the energy save mode of operation.

Q. What is the Customer Confidence Guarantee?

A. The guarantee is to provide a replacement unit over a five year period if it does not perform as specified.

Q. What is the warranty period?

A. The warranty period is five (5) years (return to factory) or for the full period of any rental and/or service agreement.

Q. Who installs the product?

A. We encourage installation by your normal electricians who are familiar with your electrical installation.

Q. When does Power Saver require service and maintenance?

A. The units do not normally require servicing. They are a true set and forget product. However, the installation should be checked at least annually for ingress of such items as insects and moisture.

Q. What is the expected life of Power Saver?

A. Power saver has an expected Mean Time between Failure in excess of 20 years.

Q. Does Power Saver work with building management systems (BMS)?

A. YES. Power Saver automatically detects any changes, such as a BMS turning some or all lights off, and resumes the energy saving mode once the circuits have stabilised. The units are designed to interface to a BMS, but functions automatically with or without a BMS. Software formats vary between BMS systems, so a degree of software customisation is required either in Power Saver or the BMS system.

Q. How do I know Power Saver is functional?

A. When in SAVE mode a green LED is illuminated on the front case.