MINE LIGHTING
Phoenix Lighting ’ s new horizons
Phoenix Lighting is taking its solutions to another level based on voice of the customer feedback – IM spoke to Mark Jenson , VP of Sales . He began by talking about developments with its highly successful ModCom series : “ For a long time we have been known for our ModCom lights for harsh and hazardous conditions in use on rope shovels and draglines – where they must stand up to high shock and vibration , and that flagship presence has not changed . It mirrors very much what we do in ports with ship-to-shore ( STS ) cranes . We ’ ve been through a number of ModCom versions over the years , where we have learned from our mining customers ’ harsh environments and changed the form factor to a point with ModCom 3 where we think we have pretty much perfected that aspect , which will stay more or less the same going forward .”
ModCom 3 delivers powerful illumination at 130 LPW , providing more light for less cost . It has survived extensive testing , including temperature , impact , vibration and salt spray . It now also includes heat monitoring technology , which will preserve the life of the fixture in extreme heat , dust , and debris .
The series is available in three different sizes – LO , HI and MAX . The versatility of multiple lumen outputs combined with a range of customised optics deliver superior light for equipment operators and / or work environments . A patented no-glare / perimeter optic delivers light only where it is needed and minimises glare to operators . This means eliminating glare that is caused by traditional floodlights as haul trucks or other auxiliary equipment approaches the shovel or dragline . The ModCom 3 is available in 5,000K , 4,000K and Amber colour temperature options . All models have dimming capability , which allows users to adjust the light intensity to their preference .
So what is next for ModCom ? Jenson : “ What we are looking at now is can we put more efficient driver technology into the product . One of the things we hear a lot is that customers would like to see remote mounted drivers . Maintenance teams don ’ t want to have to climb up large booms on draglines to replace drivers , which is the most common failure point on all LED luminaires . We are going through final testing and certification and will be launching a remote driver technology in the ports space next year which will then transfer quickly into the mining space . Depending on the desired light output , a single driver can power up to 13 of our ModCom 3 LOs , and the driver can be mounted somewhere that is easy for technicians to access . Also , the more you can take heat away from the LED luminaire array , the more reliability and longevity you get out of the fixtures .”
Another development from Phoenix based on voice of the customer was the ability to control lighting in the cab by the operator , but without them being distracted . The preference is also to have a small number of pre-set settings to address different parts of the excavation cycle and different working conditions , mainly based on white light and amber light sources and levels of brightness . “ The result is our new Engage Control System , which is an innovative lighting management platform that offers
Phoenix Lighting ' s Engage Controls is a next-generation controls solution that offers robust , scalable and reliable wireless connectivity and controllability
real-time on / off / dimming control for your lights as well as monitoring of fixture status and performance . The administrative user interface allows users to create and manage groups and scenes for the lights while providing important system information . For lights that have colourtuning capabilities you can easily configure colour correlated temperature ( CCT ) and intensity for individual or groups of lights on your equipment .”
The tech was showcased at MINExpo 2024 on the Phoenix Lighting stand . “ It ’ s a gateway product that allows us to control and group the lights . We have taken on feedback from both the mine owners and the equipment OEMs and as a result we have worked on the interface so it becomes part of the cab and is built into the equipment ecosystem rather than being controlled from a separate tablet or smartphone . It also doesn ’ t require the operator to scroll through menus to reach it . We have put a lot of R & D and investment into the solutions including developing the associated algorithms . The whole thing is being applied with safety and productivity in mind .”
The lights and intelligent gateway communicate using Wirepas Mesh , a secure , scalable and reliable wireless communication protocol . All fixtures with a wireless controller are ‘ addressable ’ and can be individually controlled and dimmed . Engage-enabled fixtures also record temperature , humidity and vibration data stored locally by the gateway . Color Tuning ( CT ) lights can be dimmed from 0 % -100% intensity in 20 % intervals . Single colour , non-CT lights will dim continuously from 0-100 % intensity .
Jenson summarised the upside of the solution : “ When using the Engage Control System with the ModCom 3 fixtures , shovel operators have the ability to instantly change the lighting around the equipment to improve performance in various conditions . At the push of a button , a preset scene can be selected to change the colour of specific lights from white to amber , while dimming other lights that are nearest to the operator cab . The result is reduced glare and better visibility when atmospheric conditions deteriorate .
“ Further , the operator can adjust the intensity of the lights depending on their preference – for example more senior operators tend to prefer more light as our pupils dilate less as we age .”
backup system into the High Bay gives our customers operating in challenging conditions even greater peace of mind and demonstrates our continued dedication to innovation in the field of Industrial Lighting and safety .”
Dialight ’ s new auxiliary battery backup solution comes factory installed with premium NiMH battery technology making installation quick and easy . It boasts the widest operating temperature range for any industrial battery backup LED lighting fixture from -20 ° C to + 55 ° C and can provide illumination for a field-selectable duration from 60 minutes to 180 minutes to meet Life Safety Codes in accordance with National Fire Protection Association ( NFPA ) 101 ® guidance on emergency lighting .
Available with either permanent maintained or switch maintained operation and 10W and 20W battery options , the Dialight Battery Backup LED High Bay covers a wide range of lighting needs in industrial and hazardous locations and has been certified to UL1598 / A , UL924 , UL844 , CID2 , CIID1 , and CIIID1 & 2 .
The fixture ’ s self-testing and diagnostics functionality removes the need for push-button tests or costly installation of a separate wire run from the High Bays to a switch or button on the ground for testing . Red and Green indicator lights on the fixture make visual inspection easy , and automatic weekly and yearly testing offers peace of mind , ensuring the battery is charging and operating properly on an ongoing basis . The new Dialight Battery Backup LED High Bays are compatible with advanced sensors and controls , including microwave occupancy sensors and Dialight IntelliLED wireless controls . IM
32 International Mining | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2024