FAQ
At Alternative Power Systems we realize the need for instant answers therefore we have created the Luminetworx PoE Lighting and Olympus BAS FAQ. Here you will find answers to all kinds of common questions that clients have asked. We have tried to make it as inclusive and intuitive as possible. Some FAQ’s will contain links to other pages on the website or to industry experts as a point of reference. If you still do not see the answers you need please feel free to click here and contact us . Please keep in mind that we are always eager and happy to speak to anyone who has unanswered questions or just wants to discuss a project. The Luminetworx PoE Lighting FAQ is constantly being updated so please check back often for updates.
Contents
- 1 APS English (30)
- 1.1 Are Olympus devices wired or wireless?
- 1.2 Are the Luminetworx PoE lights compatible with building automation (B.A.S) systems?
- 1.3 Are your emergency lights compliant with Australian Standards?
- 1.4 Can I convert an existing street light to a smart pole?
- 1.5 Can I use any PoE switch or purchase it from your company?
- 1.6 Do I need an inhouse server to run Olympus?
- 1.7 Do I need to factor in any other hidden costs when deploying a PoE emergency lighting system?
- 1.8 Do you host training classes?
- 1.9 Does Alternative Power Systems only do installations or do you have resellers?
- 1.10 Does your company have a monitored system?
- 1.11 Global Availability of Olympus™: USA, Canada, and Africa
- 1.12 How do smart capabilities affect operating costs and the tenant experience?
- 1.13 How many poe ports are available in the smart pole?
- 1.14 How many UPS’s can Olympus manage?
- 1.15 How much does Olympus cost?
- 1.16 Is a smart building vunerable to cyber attacks?
- 1.17 Is the control system accessible to all users, and is it cloud, or do you need to download it onto a PC?
- 1.18 IT infrastructure, does PoE lighting increase the cost of the IT infrastructure maintenance, cooling, dedicated space?
- 1.19 Regarding the UPS, do I need to purchase it from your company, or can I purchase one locally.
- 1.20 Should we setup a separate network or VLAN for PoE Lighting devices?
- 1.21 The Crucial Role of Battery Management Systems (BMS) in Infrastructure Reliability
- 1.22 What if I don’t see my device or system in the list of integrations?
- 1.23 What is a PDU?
- 1.24 What is a PoE Smart Pole?
- 1.25 What is building automation?
- 1.26 What is the efficiency of the Luminetworx PoE Lighting Driver?
- 1.27 What redundancy have you built into the Luminetworx PoE lighting system?
- 1.28 What ROI can I expect?
- 1.29 Where is support for the product coming from is it US based or overseas? Indicate support for software and hardware separately please.
- 1.30 Wireless Mesh Network for Reliable Data Collection in Olympus™ Building Automation System
APS English (30)
At Olympus we use both wired and wireless devices depending on the need and application?
Alternative Power Systems has partnered with the Olympus B.A.S and has a full native integration with the building automation system. Additionally through the API we are able to integrate with almost any existing B.A.S that might already be installed.
We have not pursued any compliances in Australia as we have not had enough interest from Australia. But we are open to working with a local company to do so.
Luminetworx™ powered smart pole. However many factors will require some additional engineering in order for this to happen. For example we can’t just install a regular PoE switch, depending on power already at the pole you will need a specialized PoE switch to make this happen. Fortunately Alternative Power Systems has already created a managed PoE switch that can operate on a variety of line voltages ranging from 110 – 277 VAC. It can now power a host of devices without any additional conversion making everything from this point on plug and play. But why convert to PoE? Aside from the technology upgrade the entire pole fully loaded can now operate on under 5 amps.
All installations require the Luminetworx™ brand PoE switches to not void the 5-year warranty. Within the next few months, we will be releasing our advanced feature update for the PoE switch. Full cloud controllability and configuration. Additionally, our self-healing feature will be released.
No server is required but an onsite controller / gateway, Olympus™ runs all processing in the cloud and sends every setting for sensors, fixtures and ony other systems to the onsite controller (2OC). The 2OC which connected to Olympus™ is capable of running independent of the cloud server or and other units installed in order to prevent outages due to internet connectivity.
We have deployed several larger systems in nursing homes and entertainment facilities for the best cost performance on an installation we always install a multipack. A multipack allows us to deploy 6 fixtures or signs on one PoE driver allowing us to deploy up to 48 signs on a less expensive 8 port switch and smaller UPS or in the US UL924 certified inverter.
Yes, we offer classes for End Users and Contractors that are both structured curriculum or custom. Please see our training page for more details.
At APS our goal is not to be the installer of the system. However in the begining we have been faced with proving that the tech works therefore have installed many systems in order to achieve the proof of concept phase. But in doing so we have been able to continously improve the Luminetworx™ PoE Lighting System. This has led to a patented installation process and installation components allowing savings during the installation on labor and materials. We are currently signing up resellers and we have distributors internationally. If you would like to learn more about signing up as a reseller please
Yes, we a full lighting control system that is continually being updated by our developement team.
Olympus™ is available globally, we currently have active installations in the USA, Canada and Africa.
It would be misleading to say that integrating smart technologies and unifying systems is free. It is a significant investment. But it can also lead to meaningful cost savings by:
- Decreasing inefficiencies
- Reducing energy use
- Saving time and manpower for maintenance staff
- Ensuring repairs are done before they become problems
- Decreasing wear and tear on systems
- Lengthening the lifetime of all automated systems
- Increased facility management productivity
- Data-driven maintenance contracts and the ability to validate work paid for is work that solved the problem
Smart buildings also make the occupant experience more pleasant, helping buildings attract high-quality tenants. At a time when people are prioritizing energy efficiency and looking for tech-driven convenience, smart capabilities are invaluable assets.
The PoE smart pole currently has a capacity of up to 8, 802.3bt (90 watt) ports. Allowing you to power a variety of lighting, surveillance, sensor and communication devices.
Olympus has a long list of UPS’s that it is able to manage, please see our integrations page for a full list of compatabilities.
Olympus pricing is dependent on size a scope. The one to keep in mind is that we do not try and shock you with a large upfront cost. Olympus was designed to keep the upfront costs low and give you a reasonable monthly subscription price.
Increased network connectivity does open up the possibility of being hacked. That’s why it is so important to work with a team that understands Internet of Things (IoT) building security best practices and creates robust strategies to close vulnerabilities.
Olympus ensures your team understands the importance of both physical and digital security. When everyone is connected, anyone can be a weak link. Best practices and trusted partnerships make those links a lot stronger.
It is a hybrid system with a small PoE controller being installed onsite and access to the interface via our web portal. Access may be granted to whomever the client chooses.
That questions depends on how you intend to install the Luminetworx PoE lighting system. If you use a centralized model then yes it will take up more space in the IT room the PoE switches do not put out much heat so minimal additional cooling is needed. IF you use a distributed model then the Luminetworx PoE switches can be installed in closets, plenum spaces or any suitable available space. It really depends on how the system installation is designed although putting all the hardware in a centralized server room make things more convenient the size of the space may dictate a decentralized installation model in order to speed up installation and save on cable costs.
The ups are a bit more complicated as it is very difficult to get permission to import anything with a lithium battery. For clients in the US most resellers can buy them from a locval supplier to save on shipping costs. That said our battery management module can support over 1000 different ups brands and models. Not all will have the same available features so that is one thing to keep in mind when purchasing one. Also, you must have a network card for communication purposes if you have several units spread throughout a facility. If they are all on the same rack then we can also communicate to the UPS via USB cable ( depending on the brand). So yes, you may purchase them locally. We are currently in beta testing with some local municipalities to automate the monthly or quarterly testing of the emergency lighting system. This feature will perform the battery health check autonomously and then send out a report to the local fire marshal with all the relevant information required to pass the inspection.
Ideally yes, a separate network would be best or at least a separate VLAN. But here is the important thing to remeber the Luminetworx™ PoE Lighting systems does not require you to do so. We have clients that have networks designed as in the example above and flat networks. Luminetworx™ does not have an issue with latency. Becuase of the hidden mesh network that operates on the back end between accessories and the lights and completely independant of any local network.
A BMS is an acronym for Battery Management System. What is it used for? The BMS is used to monitor and maintain UPS units, solar battery arrays, generators in order to maintain a reliable infrastructure.
All you have to do is give us a call and we will work with you to integrate your device or system into Olympus.
A power distribution unit (PDU) is a device fitted with multiple outputs designed to distribute electric power, especially to racks of computers and networking equipment located within a data center. Data centers face challenges in power protection and management solutions. This is why many data centers rely on PDU monitoring to improve efficiency, uptime, and growth. For data center applications, the power requirement is typically much larger than a home or office style power strips with power inputs as large as 22 kVA or even greater. Most large data centers utilize PDUs with 3-phase power input and 1-phase power output. There are two main categories of PDUs: Basic PDUs and Intelligent (networked) PDUs or iPDUs. Basic PDUs simply provide a means of distributing power from the input to a plurality of outlets. Intelligent PDUs normally have an intelligence module which allow the PDU for remote management of power metering information, power outlet on/off control, and/or alarms. Some advanced PDUs allow users to manage external sensors such as temperature, humidity, airflow, etc.
The PoE smart pole is the latest innovation from LV Energy Systems. We have designed and created a fully PoE powered street light pole that can, power high output street lights, PTMP air fiber, public wifi, environmental sensors, emergency call boxes and even digital displays.
A centralized, networked system of hardware and software that monitors and controls a building’s facility systems (electricity, lighting, plumbing, HVAC, water supply, etc.).
Due to the way we convert power our drivers are 95% efficient where traditional high voltage drivers are only 65-80% efficient.
Well, we have several layers of redundancy built into the PoE lighting system. Some are best practices to perform during the installation while others where built in while the system was being designed. Let’s start with power redundancy, This can easily be accomplished with the use of an inverter or even a UPS with battery packs. Additionally alternating the PoE switch and UPS/inverter for each light in a zone allows for a level of redundancy at a macro level. Connectivity, Luminetworx has built redundancy into the core of the PoE driver. Once a luminetworx™ PoE driver is paired to the cloud server the server now sends base configurations to the driver so that in the event that the internet or the local WIFI at the site goes down the PoE lighting system will continue to function as intended. We have also recently added a local microcontroller (Olympus Onsite Controller) as an additional redundancy for more advanced configurations.<
This will vary depending on project size, geographical location, type of installation, project needs, etc. It is important to evaluate any connected lighting project with not only energy savings potential but also installation labor and material costs. We have done plenty of financial modeling for projects internationally for more information on calculating ROI for your specific project give us a call to find out more
Hardware and software support is US based with a redundant software support in overseas.
Olympus™ is a building automation system unlike any other in the market. Olympus™. Each individual sensor or devices operates independent of the others in order to maintain the highest level of redundancy. Communication via a wireless mesh network ensures the highest reliability and collection of data. Self healing features keeps the up time at 99.9 percent through our algorithyms and machine learning integrations.