latest news headlines

First Pharos Permanent Installation Brightens Shopping Experience

Now in full production, with many projects already confirmed worldwide, the Pharos Lighting Playback Controller’s first permanent installation has been successfully completed by Norway-based Vestad Lighting. The award -winning control system was specified to run the new lighting installation in the Galleriet Shopping Centre, Bergen, Norway. Lighting designer Tor Bjarne Vestad was called in to brighten up a dark shopping mall and specified 96 Tryka LED luminaires and a Pharos Lighting Playback Controller (LPC). Vestad’s design washes the Centre’s columns and glass ceiling in ever-changing colours.

“Our main objective on this project,” said assistant LD Gunnar Aasland, “was to enhance the features of the main hall in the shopping centre. We were asked to make it more attractive for customers and to lighten it up. The Centre had already installed brighter lighting fixtures overall, but they also wanted effect-type lighting, which is how we got involved, because of our background with LED lighting in entertainment.”

Vested Lighting started out in television and entertainment lighting and in the past year has expanded into architectural installations. “We specialise in architectural installations using both standard architectural lighting fixtures and entertainment lighting sources, including LEDs” says Aasland. “We have been looking for a product that can control all these different lighting sources. Pharos is uniquely suited, and was the logical choice for control at the Galleriet.”

The control system consists of two parts: the Pharos LPC and the Designer software. The LPC is a solid-state controller of DMX and DALI controlled equipment of all kinds, including colour mixing LED luminaires, conventional luminaires and ballasts, and automated lights. Programming is created using free software that can be downloaded into solid-state memory via Ethernet or USB. The timeline-based software incorporates pixel-mapping functionality allowing LED arrays to display video clips. Shows can also be simulated offline for off-site programming. The comprehensive range of triggering options (including contact closures, RS232, real-time, and astronomical clock) makes integration within complex themed presentations straightforward. The LPC is easily interfaced with touch panels and wall stations and includes RS232, MIDI, and contact closures. Units can be linked via Ethernet as a scaleable system that will automatically share triggers, and a built-in web server allows remote network access for monitoring and reprogramming. The LPC unit is a compact unit with dimensions of: 5.65” x 3.54” x 2.28” (143.5mm x 90.0mm x 58.0mm).

When asked why they chose Pharos, assistant LD and programmer Christian Weld Haakonseth commented: “We needed a high quality control system which was easy to program and stable to run.” The Pharos Designer software was a key to Vestad’s choice. “I like the interface, it is easy to learn and easy to use,” adds Haakonseth. Aasland sees the ability to remotely change programming as a plus. “The interface allows us to program a new setting or a complete new show, then e-mail it to the maintenance manager to upload to Pharos.” Our access to the job site was limited and by using the Pharos Designer software with the LPC, our time on site was maximized. “Programming time on the project consisted of two days, and that included learning the software,” says Haakonseth.

Vestad Lighting prides itself on being brand-independent to give its clients the best products and solutions for the job. They do however see themselves using the Pharos Lighting System on a wide range of future projects. Aasland concluded: “Apart from architectural installations with fixtures that demand advanced control in a simple way, Pharos is also ideal for exhibitions, museums, and temporary installations where the system itself takes care of daily startup and shutdown.”

TMB is the worldwide distributor for Pharos Controls’ products.

http://www.tmb.com.

News Type:

latest news headlines

First Pharos Permanent Installation Brightens Shopping Experience

11th November 2005

HEADLINES

news archive

search stories