How IOTA® AC Activate Saves Time and Money on the Jobsite
Emergency drivers and ballasts contain an internal battery supply to operate fixtures during a loss of normal AC power to provide code-required emergency lighting. Traditional battery pack designs use a physical connector (often referred to as “go” or unit connector) that contractors must join to connect the battery to the charging circuit. If no means of disconnecting the battery existed, the emergency driver or ballast would be engaged at unwanted times, such as when it is sitting in a luminaire waiting to be installed, or when a branch circuit is de-energized for servicing, posing a risk of electrical shock.
While these physical connectors provide the control needed to engage the battery to the charging/transfer circuit when desired, they also require a contractor to make an intentional visit to each emergency fixture to plug in the ‘go’ connectors after the building’s electricity is turned on to allow the emergency battery to engage the charging system. This task adds an additional step, and cost, to the install process.
AC Active eliminates the need for a physical battery connector...
AC Activate in select IOTA® emergency drivers is an intelligent circuit design that detects the presence of AC power needed to charge the internal batteries of an emergency driver. Once the Switched and Unswitched Input connections are completed to both the fixture and emergency driver, no further connections are necessary. The installed fixture can remain in a powered-down state until AC power is supplied to the circuit or facility. Once AC power is applied, AC Activate automatically engages the charging circuit.
Read the full Contractor Emergency Lighting Insider for more information, including a list of available products equipped with AC Activate. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact IOTA at 1-800-866-4682!
