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Contractor calls “time” for pub lighting

When electrical contractor Nick Littlejohn of NDL Electrical, Exmouth was asked to look at the dimming system for lighting in The Heavitree in Exmouth High Street, he recommended a completely new system, even though the existing installation was only a year old.  The existing system was unreliable – several dimmers had needed to be replaced during the year – and the installation did not comply with the requirements of BS 7671 (The IEE Wiring Regulations) for emergency lighting.  After some research Nick recommended an Eaton Studio 3 lighting control system.

The Heavitree is a busy pub, in Exmouth town centre.  It is one of more than 100 owned by Exeter-based Heavitree Brewery plc.  It has eight areas, each of which required its own dimming system.  These include four bar areas, a pool area and band area.  In most of these areas there is a mixture of low voltage downlights and mains voltage tungsten filament wall lights.  The client asked specifically that the dimming system should be linked to the fire alarm so that all lighting is switched on to maximum if the fire alarm is activated.

Nick Littlejohn contacted the Exeter branch of Wilts Wholesale Electrical Company, one of his regular suppliers, who suggested an Eaton Studio 3 lighting control system.  Eaton’s local sales engineer, Nigel Rouse, visited site and provided a design and quotation.

The installation makes use of two Studio 3 four-channel universal dimmer packs which control mains-voltage supplies to lighting in the eight zones.  There are two corresponding control plates behind the bar, each of which allows independent manual dimming of lighting in four zones.  Two more pushbuttons on each plate override this to dim all four zones together.  In addition, there are two “Master” switches, one in the bar area and one near the landlord’s door, which allow override of the entire system so that all lights can be switched fully on or off.  There is also a link to the fire alarm system as specified by the client.

The Studio 3 system allows maximum and minimum lighting levels to be set in each area to provide pre-set “scenes”.  These are easily adjusted by an informed person from the control panel position.  “Minimal adjustment is necessary on site, provided you get the specification right to start with” says Nick Littlejohn. The pushbutton controls allow the bar staff to select lighting levels within these limits to achieve any ambience required.

Nick Littlejohn is pleased, not only with the results of his work but also with the service provided by Eaton who worked in conjunction with Wilts Electrical throughout.  “The products are good and Eaton provided an efficient and friendly service” he says. 

As a result, a second Heavitree inn – The Full Quart in Hewish, Weston-Super-Mare – is having a Studio 3 system installed as part of a complete refurbishment of the lighting installation.  Once again NDL Electrical is the contractor and Eaton’s Studio 3 products, along with other Eaton MEM wiring accessories, are being supplied through Wilts Electrical.

Studio 3 is one of a number of lighting management systems offered by Eaton.  It is ideal for hotels, restaurants, bars, galleries, churches, schools, community halls, reception areas and corporate offices.  It is offered with 10A or 20A single-channel dimmer packs or the four x 5A dimmer pack used in The Heavitree.  Dimmer packs can control tungsten, tungsten-halogen or low voltage lighting, or fluorescent luminaries incorporating dimmable control gear.

Eaton MEM website: www.eatonelectrical.com/uk

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