ONE CONVERSION INSTEAD OF HUNDREDS The heart of the system is surprisingly straightforward. Instead of allowing every fixture to perform its own AC-to-DC conversion, Cence moves that conversion into a centralized cabinet. Incoming building power—up to 277 volts AC—is converted to 60-volt DC by a centralized three-kilowatt rectifier. That power is then distributed through modular output cards that supply individual lighting circuits. Because the conversion occurs once instead of at every fixture, each luminaire can eliminate the traditional AC driver. Sean describes the approach as
"purpose-built drivers in a box."
Each cabinet contains eight hot-swappable output modules, with four channels per module, providing 32 lighting circuits from a single hub. Individual modules can be configured for either constant-current or constant-voltage applications, allowing different fixture types to operate from the same centralized system. Unlike conventional branch circuits, low-voltage Class 2 wiring can often be installed without conduit or junction boxes, depending on local code requirements. The result is a dramatically simplified ceiling infrastructure. According to Sean, one factor accelerating adoption is the growing availability of UL 2108-listed luminaires. He says major lighting manufacturers, including Acuity Brands,
Signify, and QTL, now offer fixtures designed to comply with the UL 2108 standard for low-voltage lighting systems. If that trend continues, contractors and specifiers will have considerably more flexibility than they did during the industry's earlier experiments with low-voltage lighting. Rather than being limited to a proprietary ecosystem, building owners could select fixtures from multiple established manufacturers while maintaining a common low-voltage infrastructure.
WHY IT FINANCIALLY BENEFITS LIGHTING CONTRACTORS At first glance, a system that eliminates conduit, junction boxes, and hundreds of individual drivers might sound like bad news for electrical contractors. Sean sees it differently. He argues that contractors aren't losing work—they're changing the type of work they perform. Instead of spending hours installing traditional branch circuits and later returning to troubleshoot failed drivers above ceilings, contractors can complete projects more quickly, take on more jobs each year with the same workforce, and generate recurring service revenue by maintaining centralized power hubs. In an era when many contractors struggle to find enough qualified electricians, technologies that reduce repetitive installation tasks while improving productivity may actually increase profitability rather than reduce it. Faster project turnover, lower warranty costs, and simplified maintenance can create a stronger long-term business model for both contractors and their customers.
Figure 1: Traditional AC layout versus centralized DC distribution (Cence presentation, Page 9).
17