Brooks Intelligent Light Level Sensors - NILS5
(previous versions NILS1/NILS1C/NILS2/NILS3/NILS4)
NILS is an intelligent, wall-watching light-level sensor.
It locates discretely on the lighting track, or other high-level location, and works by back-calculating the incident light from the reflected light collected.
In a typical room, 4 - 12 sensors are distributed around the display areas to give the BMS or Control System a set of spot readings to monitor or control lighting from.
The sensor electronics and optics can be mounted into various fittings or enclosures, and there is also a triple-redundant version available, for extra sensitive areas.
We are now shipping our 5th Generation design, NILS-5.
NILS-5 features greatly miniaturised circuitry with simplified system wiring, a finer beam angle, digital (MODBUS) BMS connection, and targetting LEDs.
The table below compares it with previous generations.
| Sensor | ESSEX / NILS1/2 | NILS 4 | NILS4 + | NILS 5 |
| Availability | Repair Only | Legacy | Limited | Current since April 2016 |
| Cabling | 3 pairs (Belden8777) | 3 pairs (Belden8777) | 2 pairs (Belden8723) or Cat5 | 2 pairs (Belden8723) or Cat5 |
| Connections | 15v PSU, RS422 & 4-20mA | 15v PSU, RS422 & 4-20mA | 12v PSU & RS485 | 12v PSU & RS485 |
| Sensor Plug | DIN-6 | DIN-6 | XLR-4 / 4P4C | XLR-4 / 4P4C |
| Normal Lux Ranges | 0-600 or 0-500 | 0-600 or 0-500 | 0-600 | 0-600 |
| Extended Lux Range | n/a | 0 – 1k | 0 – 1k | 0 – 50k |
| Calibration Delay | Up to 20 secs | Up to 20 secs | Up to 20 secs | 1 sec (typical) |
| Resolution | 2.5 Lux | 1 Lux | 1 Lux | 1 Lux |
| Linearity (typical) ** | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% |
| Monitoring Beam Angle | 10° | 10° | 10° | 2° |
| Targeting / ID Assist | n/a | n/a | n/a | Through-lens double LEDs |
| Housings | Erco Domotec / Custom | Erco Domotec / Custom | Erco Domotec / Custom | Puri / Erco Domotec / Small Custom |
| BMS Interface | 4-20mA Current Loop | 4-20mA Current Loop | MODBUS ASCII 9600 | MODBUS ASCII 9600 |
| Error from Interface (Max) | 3 Lux | 3 Lux | 0 Lux | 0 Lux |
| Sensors per LDPSU* | 6 (LDPSU4) | 6 (LDPSU4) | 8 (LS-HUB5) | 8 (LS-HUB5) |
| Cabling Connections | Screw Terminal | Screw Terminal | 4P4C / Screw Terminal | 4P4C / Screw Terminal |
* Multiple LDPSUs (Line Driver Power Supply Units, or HUBs) can be chained in a single gallery if more sensors/plug-ins are required, up to 32 per gallery
** Linearity is specified for the Normal Range only, for extended range, will typically be 5%
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Our sensors are used extensively at the National Gallery in London (
Maximising the appropriate use of natural light,
Trend BMS Controls,
OpenTechnologyUK Case Study ),
National Portrait Gallery (
Modern Building Services ),
Tate Britain (
Max Fordham - Lighting Design Awards,
Caruso St John Architects ),
and Dulwich Picture Gallery in London, the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff, and at the Getty Center, Los Angeles.
Recent projects include the Sainsbury's Centre for Visual Arts (SCVA) at UEA Norwich (
Somfy ),
Damien Hirst's Newport Street gallery in London (
Stirling Prize ),
and the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester.
Last year we installed at the Hayward Gallery at the Southbank Centre, London, and Tate St Ives in Cornwall.
NILS-5 Data Sheet ( older NILS Data Sheet )
NILS5 / HUB5 Wiring System ( older NILS4 Star Wiring System )
Brooks Light Sensor Calibration - Version 1.26 the latest version of the calibration/monitoring software (Released 8/6/17)
Now includes Multi-Sensor Plot, Find Sensor, and Laser Sighting Dot control
Please note the correct spelling of our name: BROOKS. This has been misquoted by others as "Brookes light sensors" and even "Bookes light sensors" ! Please update any consultant documentation you may have.