Primary audience: Contractors
Write the required behaviour before choosing the sensor
A warehouse aisle may need bright light when someone enters and reduced output after it becomes vacant. An exterior entrance may need light only after dark. An office beside windows may need gradual adjustment as daylight changes. Those are different control jobs, even when one device can combine several functions.
Write a short sequence for each space: what turns the lights on, the occupied level, the vacancy delay, the unoccupied level and the off condition. Add the manual override and who can change settings. Identify any emergency-lighting interaction for the project designer to review separately.
DOE's lighting-controls guidance starts with objectives, system capabilities and documentation. Apply that order to the fixture schedule. A sensor accessory name does not describe the complete sequence, and a wireless connection does not establish which functions are available.
For a retrofit, ask operators when the building is actually occupied. Cleaning, deliveries and occasional maintenance may extend beyond the normal workday. Record those exceptions before using a time schedule as the only control input.
Match detection and daylight control to the space
| Control | Input | Selection check |
|---|---|---|
| Occupancy sensor | Detected activity | Coverage at the installed height and around obstructions |
| Photocell | Measured light | Placement, threshold and intended switching behaviour |
| Daylight dimming | Available daylight | Control zones, calibration and compatible drivers |
| Time schedule | Programmed operating hours | Exceptions, seasonal changes and override |
| Manual dimming | Occupant command | Interface, range and stable low-level operation |
An occupancy sensor needs a view of the activity it must detect. Check its coverage drawing against racks, partitions, doors and the actual mounting height. Walk the planned approach routes during commissioning. Include stationary work, rather than testing only someone walking directly beneath the sensor.
A photocell's reading depends on what reaches its sensing element. Nearby electric light, shading or an unsuitable orientation can affect operation. Daylight dimming also needs a relationship between the measured light and the occupied task area. Use the control instructions to establish placement and adjustment.
The ENERGY STAR lighting chapter discusses sensor placement and false triggering. Treat the initial coverage plan as something to test in the furnished space, not as an automatic result of adding a sensor.
Check the driver, control interface and switching load
The fixture supply and its dimming signal are different electrical functions. A 0–10 V interface tells a compatible driver to adjust output; it does not define the fixture's permitted mains voltage. The power circuit, control circuit and device that switches the lighting load each need review.
Confirm the exact driver and controller combination, control-current capacity, number of connected drivers, minimum output and off behaviour. Do not assume a dimming control can switch any number of fixtures simply because their control inputs share a signal type. The responsible electrician must assess the actual equipment ratings and installation instructions.
DOE research on 0–10 V control found different responses to the same signal among tested LED streetlights. A midpoint command therefore does not prove half light output or half input power. Ask for the relevant dimming behaviour when a design depends on a particular reduced level.
Specify a functional test for the lowest intended setting, return to full output and switching off. Use the installed driver configuration in that test. A control demonstration with a different fixture cannot resolve compatibility for the submitted model.
Keep Allmax control options tied to the ordered model
The MFP01 flat-panel page publishes optional 0–10 V dimming. Include that option explicitly when the project needs it. Do not treat the standard family name as confirmation that every delivered panel contains the required driver.
The AR07 area-light page lists photocell and motion-sensor accessories, with ordering choices for control configurations. Select the accessory and control arrangement together. A project also needs the intended operating sequence, circuit voltage and mounting information.
The SP05 linear-strip page identifies sensor accessories and model-specific ordering information. Check what the order includes and what must be added. The 6-inch retrofit downlight publishes a 10%–100% dimming range, but does not name the dimming protocol. That range alone cannot establish compatibility with a 0–10 V controller or another dimmer.
For mixed rooms, create one control record per fixture type. Include the full model, selected driver, sensor, controller, accessories and location. Flag missing information before purchase. This gives the distributor a defined configuration to confirm and the installer a consistent reference.
Document commissioning and hand the settings to operations
Before ordering, assemble the room plan, circuit voltages, fixture schedule, coverage drawings and written sequence. Mark areas that must operate together and areas that need separate daylight response. Ask the specifying engineer to resolve any conflict between normal control behaviour and required safety lighting.
- Identify fixture, driver, controller and sensor models for each control group.
- Record occupied output, vacancy delay, reduced output and the final off condition.
- Keep installation instructions, connection diagrams and compatibility evidence together.
- Test entry routes, stationary tasks, manual overrides and relevant daylight conditions.
- Record final settings, responsible contacts and the procedure for future adjustments.
For example, an aisle that works while empty may behave differently after tall stock is added. Schedule a follow-up check once normal operations resume. Record complaints by location and operating condition so changes address a specific problem rather than disabling the controls throughout the building.
Contractors can send the fixture schedule and proposed sequence through RFQ. Identify whether the request concerns a new installation or retained wiring, and list the existing controls. Ask your distributor to confirm the complete ordered configuration before installation is scheduled.
Related guides
- Field-Selectable LED Wattage and CCT: Ordering Guide
- 120–277 V, 347 V and 480 V LED Fixtures Explained
- Emergency Battery Drivers: Compatibility and Output
- Barn Lights and Dusk-to-Dawn Controls: A Trade Guide
Prepare the contractor fixture schedule.
Browse all buyer guides or send your fixture schedule for a quote.
Follow NEC/local code and use a licensed electrician.