Projects that have multiple rooms with preset lighting control requirements often use the GRAFIK Eye 4000 in each of the rooms, sharing common dimming panels to provide power to the rooms. Each room operates independently but benefits from the consolidation of circuits into one panel – similar to a traditional distribution panel servicing multiple rooms. In cases where more than eight control units are needed, the second link can be used to expand the system to 16 GRAFIK Eye 4000 units (Figure B).

This capability is especially useful when emergency dimming panels are required. Typically there are fewer emergency circuits, and the ability to share emergency panels between systems can make a project more cost effective.

It is important to note that the two links are independent and do not communicate. Link A and Link B are two separate systems – controls on Link A do not operate controls on Link B, and vice versa.

Projects that have a requirement for redundancy are becoming more common. The Two Link capability allows a project to have two architectural systems working in parallel. The dimming panel can be set up so that in the event Link A is not operating, Link B will take control. This can be set up on a circuit-by- circuit basis so that the one or two rooms requiring redundancy have it without incurring the expense of a fully redundant system. An example of this would be a boardroom in a building operated by a GRAFIK 6000. The client requires backup control in the event that the GRAFIK 6000 is not operating. A local GRAFIK Eye 4000 control is mounted in the back of the room – inoperative – until the signal from the GRAFIK 6000 is not present. The GRAFIK Eye 4000 control ‘takes command’ and allows control of the lighting in the space (Figure C).

From the perspective of total building control, the same can be done with two GRAFIK 6000 processors – one on Link A and one on Link B. Link A would operate the building under normal circumstances; in the event that the signal from link A was lost, link B would take control (Figure D).

[Note: Since the wallstations are connected to only one GRAFIK 6000 processor, a switch(es) would be required to reroute these to the Link B processor. This would only be necessary if the building required the wallstations to be functional. The other option would be to have a dedicated wallstation(s) to Link B that would function only when Link B is operating.]

Lutron’s GP dimming panel typically replaces the traditional distribution panel. Many elements of the GP dimming panel are intended to keep the same features as a traditional distribution panel.

The LUT-DMX Interface Control allows the customer to control DMX-512 equipment from Lutron Grafik Eye 3000/4000 (up to 64 DMX channels) or GRAFIK 6000 (up to 512 DMX channels) systems. The unit can be configured in either operating mode based on a DIPswitch setting.