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ADMINISTRATING CENTURA • INTRODUCTION
Chapter 3: Administrating Centura
INTRODUCTION
While the average user will utilize Centura to merely adjust their lights and a few, related settings, the
average lighting administrator will find Centura to be a comprehensive tool for system setup,
programming, monitoring operations, and providing support to building occupants. This chapter runs
through the software installation process, system setup, software testing, and finally, how to use
Centura-especially its LPDA software—to perform a variety of support and system administration tasks.
Restricted Access
Because the lighting administrator may require access to system-wide settings that would be
inappropriate for the average user, Centura provides the lighting administrator with their own, special
software: the Leviton Personal Dimmer Administrator. Administrators can also gain access to a number
of settings in the LPD interface that the general user cannot access by using a password. By giving the
administrator sole control over a number of variables, management is empowered with the ability to set
company-wide lighting standards, institute energy management policies, and ensure adherence to
environmental regulations.
Educating the Average User
Although using any one of three Leviton controllers, the hand-held remote control, or the LPD to control
individual Centura lighting is quite simple, users may have never been exposed to certain Centura
features and functions, like daylight harvesting and computer control over lighting. For this reason, we
suggest you give each user—or at minimal, anyone who using the LPD-a copy of this User Guide.The
first two chapters will be especially useful for them.
Rules of Operation
If you’re administrating a Centura lighting system with daylight harvesting and occupancy detection, it is
important to understand the rules that determine how lighting will automatically switch and adjust.
IMPORTANT: In order for PC based operations to function, you must keep the LPDS program open and
running on the Centura server. If the server goes down, you must open this program upon restart.
Daylight Harvesting
The Power Pack attempts to maintain a user-preset level of light in a room by adjusting attached fixtures
to compensate for other available light.The Power Pack continuously receives the measurement of
ambient light recorded by the photocell.There are three basic states from which automatic regulation
continually takes place to keep ambient light at the desired level, with standard results:
1. Measured light level = Light Maintain Level ➔Output to lights remains constant
2. Measured light level < Light Maintain Level ➔ Lights are brightened
3. Measured light level > Light Maintain Level ➔Lights are dimmed
In general, the Power Pack will adjust a load’s output level to the lowest light level called for by an active
input: Leviton refers to this as the Least Light Law. For example, if the Power Pack is turned on (either
manually or by occupancy) and the Light Maintain Level calls for a lower output level than the last preset
manual level, the lights will adjust to the lower Light Maintain Level. On the other hand, if the manual
preset level is lower than the Light Maintain Level and the Power Pack is turned on, the lights will adjust
to the manual preset level—because it is the lower level in this case. (Note:You CAN manually override
this level.) The Least Light Law is applied at all times, except when overriding Emergency, Service
Switch or Time Clock inputs are activated. (See CN100 Dimming Power Pack Input Prioritization, on
next page for a complete accounting of how the Power Pack prioritizes the various inputs.)
If the lights were at a level that was set manually at the time they were turned off, either manually or not,
the dimming pack will retain that last manual setting and return to that setting when the lights are turned
on again. Exception: If using daylight harvesting and the Light Maintain Level is lower than the last
manual setting, the lights will automatically return to the Light Maintain Level because of the Least Light Law.