Stairway Lighting Equipment Calculator

Stairway Lighting Equipment Calculator

This calculator is designed to calculate systems using monochrome (single-color) LED strips. If you want to use RGB color strips or addressable color Smart strips, consider additionally the APS-21 RGB RGB amplifier for using analog RGB strips, or the SmartStairway SS-281x Wi-Fi controller for addressable RGB Smart strips.

Regarding the choice of LED strip power, voltage and controller.

Controllers for automatic staircase lighting SmartStairway are designed to operate with a voltage of 12 or 24V. The maximum load per 1 channel (per 1 step) for the Smart Stairway SS-26 and Smart Stairway SS-26 LCD controllers should not exceed 0.4A. For the Smart Stairway SS-26 LCD PRO model - up to 4A. For different voltages at the same power, the current strength will be different according to Ohm's law. Accordingly, at 12V 0.4A = 4.8W, and at 24V the same 0.4A will be 9.6W. A current strength of 5A for 12V, respectively, is 60W, and at 24V 120W per channel. Therefore, for the Smart Stairway SS-26 LCD PRO model , the tape power parameter is not very important, because you are unlikely to need more than 4A per step. 

Also, when choosing a voltage, if possible, it is better to choose 12V, because this way you will reduce inductive feedback in the sensor signal wires and reduce the risk of damaging the system if you make a mistake and connect the equipment incorrectly.

Examples of Sensor Selection for Stairways

Let's explore some examples of stairway entrances. There are several types of entrances, and the choice of sensors depends on them.

1. A scenario where there are walls or railings on both sides of the stairway entrance, limiting the sensor's visibility and activation zone. In this case, movement outside the stairway does not trigger false activations. Therefore, the simplest and most affordable pyroelectric sensors (PIR) will suit you. They are convenient, inexpensive, and reliable. Their only requirement is the absence of heating devices in their visibility zone and the use of shielded wires with grounded shielding.

2. A scenario where there is a wall on one side of the stairway and railings on the other, separating the stairway from a passage area. Installing a pyroelectric sensor on the wall is not feasible in this case because it lacks a distance limitation for activation and will detect movements beyond the stairway, triggering the lighting controller. In this situation, it’s better to install a pyroelectric sensor in the railing support, directed toward the wall. See Figure 2.

Alternatively, if installing a sensor in the railing post (baluster) is not possible, you can use a different type of sensor mounted on the wall.

You can use ultrasonic sensors (Figure 3) or infrared sensors. The choice between these sensors depends on the specific conditions of the stairway. For example, ultrasonic sensors measure distances up to 120 cm and are sensitive to wire length and quality. They require shielded signal wires, preferably no longer than 8 meters. Ultrasonic sensors may not detect people wearing sound-absorbing clothing. Placing ultrasonic sensors directly opposite each other is not recommended, as they may interfere with each other if they emit sound toward one another.

In contrast, infrared obstacle sensors are not sensitive to wiring quality. During standby mode, a high signal (logical 1, +5V) is maintained in the wires, and a low signal (logical 0) is only output when the sensor is triggered. However, infrared sensors may malfunction in bright lighting, though this is not highly critical for stairway lighting sensors. Additionally, infrared obstacle sensors based on reflected light should not be placed directly opposite each other, as they may interfere and cause false triggers.

3. A scenario where the stairway entrance is completely open on both sides. In this case, you can opt for ultrasonic or infrared sensors, or we can develop a custom solution for you. Please contact our managers, and we’ll assist you.

Based on the information about passage zones provided above, you can calculate the equipment parameters for your stairway and determine the required power supply below.

LED Stairway Lighting Equipment Calculator