A controller in the cabinet, or a node on each light.
Learning Track · Module 3: Controllers · Step 15 of 101
Showing content for Europe. Change the region at the top of the page.
| Cabinet controller | Lamp-level node | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | In the cabinet or feeder pillar | On each luminaire |
| Switches | A full circuit or phase | One light |
| Measures | Voltage, current, energy per phase | Power, energy, burn hours per light |
| Finds | Trips, phase loss, day burning, missed dimming | Each dark, flickering, or failed light |
| Dims | Only with a regulator or control wire | Each light, to any level |
| Needs | One device per cabinet | One node per light and a network |
Names differ by region. Europe: In Europe, the full system is a CMS (central management system) and the node an OLC or ILC. Middle East: In the Middle East, both CMS and CCMS are common. Nodes are often called ILCs. South Asia: In South Asia, a cabinet system is usually called CCMS (centralised control and monitoring system). A node is an ILC (individual lamp controller). USA: In the USA, people say networked lighting controls, CMS, or smart streetlight system. Nodes are often called smart photocells or NEMA nodes.
USA: Because most US lights have no cabinet, lamp-level nodes in the NEMA socket are the usual choice. A node simply replaces the photocell.
Note
A common plan: controllers in all cabinets, and nodes on main roads where each dark light matters more. OpenSLMS also works with no controllers.
Sources
- Zhaga Book 18 Outdoor connectivity interface
- ANSI C136.41 Dimming receptacle
- IEC 62386 Digital addressable lighting interface (DALI)
- TALQ Specification
Changes: 30 October 2026: First publication: guides for Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and the USA; failure library; tender clause library; comparisons; tools; downloads. See the changelog. Found a mistake? Report it.