Zumtobel Research

Commissioning time comparison

LITECOM and KNX system
Zumtobel Lighting GmbH, Dornbirn | AT
January 2015, Zumtobel Research

ISBN 978-3-902940-61-2
Commissioning time comparison
LITECOM and KNX system

1 Introduction 5

2 Background 6

3 The way to verification 8

4 Methods, details and implementation 10

5 Results 13

6 Partners and project team 15

1 Introduction 5

Lighting management systems have become an established part of

contemporary lighting solutions, as they provide all prerequisites for
user-centred premium lighting systems as well as for energy-efficient
operation of a lighting system. When combined with daylight or ambient
light sensors and presence detectors, highly convenient contempo-
rary lighting solutions can be created. On the one hand, the task-spe-
cific focus may be placed on room ambience, as for instance in case
of lighting scenes related to specific visual tasks, event-centred
lighting scenes or daylight simulation. On the other hand, the focus
may be on minimising energy consumption, for example in case of
applications featuring daylight-based and presence-based control or
constant lighting control systems.

Meanwhile, a wide range of lighting management and/or lighting control

systems is available that are suitable for performing such tasks. Some
of them have their origins in the “world of lighting”, such as DALI-
based solutions, while others come from the sphere of building manage-
ment systems or building services control systems (KNX); hence the
differences in procedure, i.e. the type of components, installation,
commissioning, programming and configuration, but also operation.
They differ not so much in terms of functions but with respect to handling.
This factor has increasingly gained in importance over the past years,
ensuring that attention is now being drawn to optimisation of both
technical processes and user interfaces.

The question arising from this is which system and/or which philos-
ophy is able to best possible support the user, i.e. the installer as well
as the end user. Adequate findings can be obtained from a compar-
ison of lighting control systems by analysing the individual steps and
the time required to perform specific operations. Methods applying
REFA standards deliver meaningful results.

Here, a comparison was made between Zumbtobel's LITECOM lighting

management system, the design of which reflects the thinking of
lighting solution experts, and a KNX system.
2 Background

KNX systems ensure intelligent networking of contemporary building

management systems by controlling all building services such as
heating, lighting, blinds, ventilation and security technology systems.
Conceived as an advancement in conventional electrical engineering,
this manufacturer-independent bus system has been continuously
developed further since it was introduced in 1990 as a “European
Installation Bus” (EIB). Thus, KNX is a sophisticated system optimised
in terms of components and control units, installation, commis-
sioning, configuration and operation. The “Engineering Tool Soft-
ware” – currently version ETS 4 – is used for programming, this task
being mainly performed by a system integrator trained in appropriate
courses.
 7

In contrast, the LITECOM lighting management system is considered

a “newcomer”. During its development, simplicity, i.e. intuitive user
guidance, was a major priority, as regards installation, configuration
and commissioning as well as in terms of operation.

The user interface runs on any computer or laptop with a Web browser
installed, but of course also on mobile terminals. Directly linked to the
Ethernet data network via a TCP/IP interface, all prerequisites for
remote maintenance of the LITECOM lighting management system
via Internet and Intranet are met.

The heart of the system is the compact LITECOM Controller featuring

three DALI lines for 64 DALI ballasts each. In addition, the LM bus
allows connection of up to 250 devices and/or actuators in total.
Clicked into place on the DIN rail in the switch cabinet, the compact
Controller (just 160 mm wide) needs extremely little space and can
be installed easily and safely thanks to plug-in screw terminals.

A well-thought-out tool is the addressing wizard, which assists users

in the commissioning procedure of the LITECOM lighting management
system step by step. A well-structured input screen with clear symbols
and unequivocal terms facilitates this procedure. Thus, electrical
engineers or technical staff without any specialist skills – hence, no
system integrator is required – can proceed in a target-oriented manner
and successfully complete configuration and commissioning proce-
dures within a short time.

The structure of the system can be defined in compliance with the

situation on site and can very easily be extended or adjusted. The
addressing wizard provides information on how to create or move
rooms and lighting groups. Subsequently, the luminaires are allocated
to individual rooms and/or groups. The advantage of the plain-text
designations used is that every user can assign his or her own descrip-
tive names.
3 The way towards verification

During the development of LITECOM, the focus was on simplicity, a

clear layout and speed. A time comparison test was made to find out
whether the lighting management system meets these objectives,
specifically when compared with a KNX system based on many years
of experience.

REFA Consulting GmbH from Darmstadt was commissioned with

performing the test, as the company is a specialist in this field that
can look back on decades of experience. The consulting firm – being
a member of the REFA German association for labour studies, indus-
trial organisation and company development that dates back to the
Reich committee for working time appraisal founded in 1924 – is able
to perform easily reproducible time measurements using generally
acknowledged methods and, as a result, develop custom solutions.
For the purpose of this test, only the time required for commissioning –
i.e. configuration and addressing – was measured.
 9

The test specification was to create various lighting scenes in a ficti-

tious office fitted with one continuous row system close to the window
and one in the back of the room – each consisting of three DALI
luminaires – as well as a window blind.

The range of tasks included:

– S witching the luminaire group on/off and dimming it using a

momentary-action switch
– S witching and dimming the luminaire group in combination with
the blind
– Daylight-based control
– Presence-based switching on/off
– C ontrol according to specified times
i.e. separately for weekdays and weekends

Fig. 1: Illustration of test scenario

4 Methods, details and implementation

An appropriate test scenario was set up at the training centre of

Zumtobel Lighting GmbH, Dornbirn, to perform the time comparison
test. This scenario included a desk with a laptop and wall panels with
the luminaires, the blind and all other installation components prein-
stalled and wired. However, they had neither been assigned any
ad­d res­s es nor were they preconfigured.

In case of KNX, this constellation was supplemented by a USB bus

interface, a DALI software tool by ABB for addressing the DALI/KNX
gateway and the ETS software. All that was required specifically for
LITECOM was a browser to call up the function for checking the instal-
lation and configuring a non-addressed system.

The test subject was Mirco Voss, who has gained comprehensive
experience with KNX systems as an electrical installer and system inte-
grator for Kirsch GmbH, Sonthofen. He is also familiar with Zumtobel’s
tried-and-tested LUXMATE lighting management system.

List of devices for KNX

ETS 4 design and configuration software and ABB DALI software
tool incl. KNX USB interface installed on the electrician’s computer;

ABB:
1 x voltage supply, 640 mA, SV/S 30.640.3.1
1 x DALI gateway, single, group control, DG/S 1.16.1
1 x b lind/shutter actuator with manual control, quadruple,
230 V AC, J RA/S 4.230.2.1
2 x control units, quadruple, 6127/01-84-500
1 x presence detector, constant light control, 6131/11-24-500
1 x radio-controlled timer, 8 channels, FW/S 8.2.1

Tridonic:
6 x DALI electronic ballasts PCA Excel one4all fitted with light
sources

List of devices for LITECOM

Google Chrome browser installed on the electrician’s computer;

Zumtobel:
1 x LITECOM CCD V1.2.1
1 x LM-4UAS
1 x LM-BV
1 x ED-SENS
1 x ED-EYE
1 x LM-SXED
1 x LM-4JAS

Tridonic:
6 x DALI electronic ballasts PCA Excel one4all fitted with light sources
 11

Notebook with ETS 4 and ABB DALI software tool installed

KNX USB interface

KNX bus

KNX KNX KNX KNX Blinds KNX KNX

bus power supply DALI gateway presence detector shutter actuator momentary-action radio-controlled
switch / standard timer
switch
DALI

6 x luminaires, dimmable

Diagram 1: KNX wiring scheme

Notebook for control, commissioning and adjust-

TCP/IP ment via Web browser (Google Chrome)

LITECOM CCD Controller

1 LM bus without power supply, 3 DALI lines with power supply
DALI 1

DALI 2

DALI 3

6 x luminaire, dimmable ED-EYE light sensor ED-SENS presence detector

LM bus

LM-BV bus power supply LM-4JAS Blinds LM-SxED Momentary-action

motor actuator switch input switch / standard
switch

Diagram 2: LITECOM wiring scheme

4 Methods, details and implementation

Before the test supervised by REFA consultant Dipl. Oec Doris Lau,
Mirco Voss was given a 20-minute introduction to the LITECOM lighting
management system with its specific features.

In order to be able to assess LITECOM and KNX in terms of program-

ming and configuration efforts according to REFA criteria, the entire
process was broken down to nine individual steps that were supposed
to be as similar as possible. However, for reasons of system engi-
neering, this was not possible in all instances.

Sequence of steps

KNX LITECOM

1 Create project Create project

2 Create room and switch Create room and switch cabinet

cabinet, add components

3 Addressing and configuration Address luminaires

4 Programme blind actuator, Address blind

initialisation

5 Programme modules 1 and 2 Address input devices

momentary-action switches

6 Make time entries Make time entries

7 Perform function test Perform function test

8 Enable constant light function Enable presence- and daylight-

with presence detector based control

9 Perform data backup Perform data backup

The differences in execution times automatically resulting from the

increasing level of practice were taken into account in compliance
with REFA methodology by evaluating the level of performance. Thus,
100 % normal performance ( = time baseline) was determined, to which
5 % of objective and personal allowance times were added, so that
the test scenario reflected realistic surrounding conditions at the
workplace.

Objective allowance times are the allocated times additionally required

for performing a sequence as scheduled, for example official meet-
ings, brief organisational or technical interruptions. Personal allowance
times are for instance going to the bathroom, having a drink or providing
food or drinks.
5 Results 13

The amounts of time determined by means of REFA methodology for

commissioning the KNX lighting control system on the one hand and
the LITECOM lighting management system on the other were
astounding. For the difference was considerable – 49 minutes versus
13 minutes – in total, the sequence of steps could be completed almost
four times faster with LITECOM.

KNX LITECOM

49 13
min. min.

Time comparison KNX LITECOM

Minutes Minutes

1 Create project 1.89 0.00

2 Create room and switch cabinet 0.84

Create room and switch cabinet, add components 5.61

3 Address luminaires 1.51

Addressing and configuration 26.48

4 Address blind 0.81

Programme blind actuator – initialisation 0.33

5 Address input devices 2.17

Programme modules 1 and 2 momentary-action switches 1.58

6 Make time entries 3.80 2.27

7 Perform function test 4.17 1.95

8 Enable presence- and daylight-based control 2.70

Enable constant light function with presence detector 4.93

9 Perform data backup 0.00 0.66

Total amount 48.79 12.90

5 Results

In addition, LITECOM does not require any special knowledge in pro­

gramming or configuration, so that not only experts but also “regular”
staff members of an electrical installation company can perform this
task. During operation, too, it is not absolutely necessary to call an
expert to change a scene or an address, for instance; this can also
be done by the building service engineer.

The conclusion drawn by Mirco Voss was positive as well:

“In this practical application from the area of lighting and sun­-
screening, LITECOM is clearly in the lead. However, it must be
taken into account that KNX allows implementation of a complete
building management system involving all building services. The
LITECOM lighting management system is easy to install and
does not require any additional software or programming skills.
The browser-optimised user interface provides clear menu guid­
ance for commissioning the devices installed. Even complex
appli­c ations such as time entries, presence detection or daylight-
based control can be configured quickly and easily. A “jungle”
of parameter settings as required for KNX is not necessary. I
believe that even untrained users will be able to perform instal­
lation and commissioning procedures after a short briefing, which
will save a lot of time. LITECOM offers a clearly structured user inter­
face for end users, which allows them to adjust even luminaire
groups, for instance in an open-plan office, to their individual needs,
with no more than a little briefing.”

Mirco Voss, being an electrical installer and system integrator for

Elektro Kirsch GmbH, Sonthofen, has gained comprehensive experi-
ence with KNX building management systems. The family-run
company with more than 40 employees was established in 1955 and
handles projects in the areas of electrical engineering and building
service installations. Since 2008, the range of services of Elektro
Kirsch has also included KNX systems including programming, in
addition to data, video, telephone or antenna technologies.
6 Partners and project team 15

Mirco Voss
Elektro Kirsch GmbH, Sonthofen

Dipl. Oec. Doris Lau

REFA Consulting, Dortmund

Martin Hartmann
Product Manager, Zumtobel Lighting GmbH, Dornbirn
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