MEAN WELL is a global leading standard power supply manufacturer. Since its establishment in 1982, MEAN WELL has launched more than 10,000 power supply products. Its diverse and comprehensive product range fully satisfies the power supply needs of customers around the world. However, some customers require products that can be integrated with existing ones, and that offer smart control integration capabilities. System planning for smart control functions is difficult, so customers must rely on the technical capabilities of manufacturers. To solve this problem, MEAN WELL recently released the 3+N System Solutions, which is the first wave of solutions that focuses on the DALI digital lighting system.
MEAN WELL Introduces the 3+N System Solutions the First Focusing on Smart Lighting Control.
Photo: MEAN WELL
The "3" in 3+N System Solutions refers to the rack power supply, modular power supply, and system power supply; while the "N" stands for other MEAN WELL products and controllers. Under the 3+N solution framework, MEAN WELL combined a set of system solutions according to customer needs to provide the corresponding power supply combinations. Tony Hsieh, Section Manager of MEAN WELL's Technical Service Center, said that "MEAN WELL is like an amoeba that can meet customer needs by changing and adapting its product mix."
Different from the "you place an order, I fulfill it" model of selling products, when selling the 3+N System Solutions, MEAN WELL's sales and technical teams must first understand what customers really need before "prescribing the right medicine." Since MEAN WELL has established a complete global distribution system, it is able to provide consulting services to customers all over the world.
Three Smart Lighting Control Solutions: IoT, DALI, and KNX
MEAN WELL first promoted the 3+N System Solutions for smart LED lighting applications and released solutions for IoT lighting control, DALI lighting control, and KNX building automation, covering most of the current needs for LED lighting.
Among these, the IoT lighting control solution is suitable for small spaces. MEAN WELL uses Bluetooth Low Energy, allowing users to change settings and control light switches and dimmers wirelessly via an app on a mobile phone or tablet. MEAN WELL partnered with world-renowned manufacturers like Casambi, Tuya, and SILVAIR to design various LED drivers for wireless lighting control, which are suitable for the constant current control, LCM-IOT series for lamps, and the constant voltage control, PWM-IOT series for light strips.
DALI is a widely used communication protocol of digital lighting applications for buildings in Europe. It is suitable for communication between lighting control devices, and it makes lighting control easier to set up and reduces the need for rewiring. Rex Lin, Product Manager of MEAN WELL's Product Strategy Center, explained, "The DALI Alliance continues to add new lighting control functions to the protocol, and MEAN WELL has quickly launched corresponding solutions. Now, we not only provide DALI-2 driver power supply products, we have also released DALI-2 DLC-02 digital controllers that comply with the latest specifications."
Digital Lighting Controller-DLC-02 for office lighting application
Photo: MEAN WELL
The DALI-2 digital control system is mainly composed of three parts: bus, control device, and control gear. The control device includes an input device and an application controller. MEAN WELL launched a DLC-02 controller that complies with the latest DALI-2 IEC 62386-103 Standard. It has two built-in independent DALI power supplies (each set can provide 250mA of current), so it can serve as a bus power supply and an application controller in DALI systems. By integrating an input device and control gear, we can build a complete DALI digital lighting control system.
KNX is also a common control system in Europe. Unlike DALI, the scope of KNX control extends from lighting to the entire building since it can connect various electrical control systems together. MEAN WELL also launched KNX-related products that comply with international standards, including KNX LED power supplies, gateways, and actuators. Depending on the application, these products can be used with various MEAN WELL products.
Taipei 101 Boutique Watch Store Deploys a Digital Lighting System
The 3+N System Solutions have received positive feedback since their launch, with many successful cases. The watch store in Taipei 101 adopted the DALI-2 DLC-02 controller solution as suggested by the MEAN WELL team. To help the customer with its lighting needs for different scenarios, the MEAN WELL team suggested the best digital control solution based on the customer's application and scenario requirements, and paired it flexibly with the customer's lights. Rex Lin pointed out, "For different groups and applications, we use lights with different wattage and optical angles. It is not always possible to find a digital lighting controller that meets these needs. MEAN WELL's DALI-2 DLC-02 can utilize the advantages of digital lighting to configure groups and lighting scenarios of lights on the same circuit, offering customers greater flexibility. In addition, when combined with the latest DALI-2 DT8 variable color application, both general groups and scenario applications are available for the same lighting controller, with color change applications. Thanks to this, the customer was able to adjust the background color of store displays to match the theme of its luxury watches, achieving the best mood lighting effect."
Demo Kit Suitcase: Helping Customers Quickly Understand MEAN WELL's Solutions
To help distributors explain the 3+N smart lighting solution to customers, MEAN WELL designed IoT, DALI, and KNX 3+N solution demo kit cases. For the DLC-02 DALI-2 controller solution, for example, MEAN WELL integrated the DLC 02 controller with two digital dimmable LED drivers, LCM (constant current output) and PWM (constant voltage output), and built-in lights in a carrying case. This demo kit can also be connected to other lights.
Furthermore, MEAN WELL's Virtual Expo Technical Service Hall also provides introductions and success cases of the 3+N System Solutions to help customers quickly become familiar with the solutions. For the 3+N System Solutions, MEAN WELL will launch solutions for other applications in the future. Eris Wu, Head of MEAN WELL's Global Technical Service Center, said, "In response to the global trends of net zero and carbon neutrality, MEAN WELL will launch 3+N energy conservation and green energy solutions to help customers overcome multiple challenges."