Side-by-side comparisons for the decisions buyers ask about most.
NEMA or Zhaga?
Both work. The right choice depends on what is already installed, who supplies your luminaires, and how many nodes you will fit.
| Question | Points to NEMA (ANSI C136.41) | Points to Zhaga Book 18 |
|---|---|---|
| What is installed now? | Existing luminaires already have NEMA sockets or photocells | New installation, or luminaires from European makers |
| How many lights will get nodes? | Few, and the rest keep photocells | Most of them, over time. Lower node cost adds up. |
| Do you want sensors? | One socket only, on top | A second socket on the bottom for a motion or other sensor |
| Which dimming and data? | 0–10 V or DALI. Data depends on the driver. | D4i: energy, diagnostics, and luminaire data are standard |
| Mains switching? | The node switches mains. Zero standby when off. | The driver stays powered. Small standby power when off. |
| Region practice | USA, much of the Middle East | Europe; growing in other regions |
| Supplier choice for nodes | Very wide | Wide and growing; check certified products |
Note
If you cannot decide, ask each luminaire maker in your shortlist for both options and the price difference. Then choose the socket with the node market you want to buy from for the next 15 years.
Cellular, LoRaWAN, or mesh?
Infrastructure, recurring cost, speed, and risk side by side.
| LTE-M / NB-IoT | LoRaWAN | Wi-SUN / RF mesh | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure you own | None | Gateways (or use a public network) | Border routers |
| Recurring cost | SIM fee per node | Backhaul per gateway, network server | Backhaul per router |
| Command speed to many lights | Good | Slow (duty cycle, low data rate) | Good |
| Firmware updates over the air | Practical | Slow; plan carefully | Practical |
| Coverage control | Depends on operator | You place gateways | Network grows with nodes |
| Risk | Operator closes the network or changes prices | Gateway placement, interference | Fewer suppliers in some regions |
| Best for | Small to medium networks, scattered sites | Low data needs, mixed smart city sensors | Large dense networks, utilities |
10-year network cost model
Total cost of connecting nodes over the contract, for each network type.
Compare the cost of connecting nodes over the contract. The defaults are example assumptions in the selected region’s currency. Replace them with your quotes. Platform fees are not included because they do not depend on the network.
LTE-M / NB-IoT
LoRaWAN
Wi-SUN / RF mesh
- LTE-M / NB-IoT
- LoRaWAN
- Wi-SUN / RF mesh
- Per light per year (lowest)
No discounting, replacements, or installation labour. Gateways and routers are rounded up. Example defaults are not quotes.