More efficient lighting for La Roda

La Roda, a town of 16,000 inhabitants in central Spain, has now upgraded most of its outdoor lighting to achieve energy savings. The intention is to refit all the existing street lights with modern equipment that consumes less energy. It was necessary to retain the existing fittings and do without high-cost lighting control systems. The lighting had to be dimmable however. It was also necessary to find a solution for different light sources. Metal halide lamps are used for street lighting, for town centre squares and for illuminating special buildings such as the picturesque “El Salvador” church. The orange light from sodium vapour lamps is used to create a pleasant atmosphere in other parts of the city.

The planning and installation company INSECE and the town representatives opted for Tridonic products. Electronic HID ballasts PCS and PCIS outdoor DIM B011 now ensure that the outdoor lights in La Roda are operating with energy-saving efficiency. A major benefit of these ballasts is that they can be used for different light sources and allow the lamps to be dimmed in the middle of the night. The stepDIM signal is generated in the luminaire and automatically adjusted to the switch-on times so there is no need for external controllers. Reducing the wattage reduces the power consumption and the inhabitants have the benefit of reliable flicker-free light. The lamps can achieve their maximum rated life with Tridonic ballasts – another plus in terms of economy because maintenance costs can be kept low. The town council is very pleased with the results and Tridonic recommends that other towns follow this example.