NZ512972A - A power control apparatus for lighting systems - Google Patents

Abstract

A power control apparatus is disclosed, particularly for lighting systems such as fluorescent lights. A power variation circuit (16) is provided coupled between a main electrical input power source and at least one power output to a load (6) such as a lighting system. The power variation device is controllable to vary the power level supplied to the load according to control signals from a digital processing circuit (10). Monitoring circuitry (12, 14) is coupled to the digital processing circuit (10) to provide monitoring signals relating to electrical parameters of the input power source (4) and/or the at least one power output (9). The digital processing circuit (10) is responsive to a condition of the monitoring signals to control the power variation circuit (16) to supply the power output (9) at a first predetermined level for a predetermined time period and thereafter to reduce power output to a second predetermined level. The second predetermined level and the predetermined time period are set by the digital processing means according to control parameters stored in a first memory. The stored control parameters may include indications of predetermined times of day and/or days of week and corresponding values for the second predetermined level, wherein the digital processing circuit (10) is responsive to a timer at the predetermined times of day and/or days of week to change the second predetermined level to the corresponding value stored in the memory.