The Evolution of ALC Lighting Controls and Why It’s Time to Upgrade

ALC lighting controls upgrade

At Gemini Lighting Solutions (GLS), we understand the challenges businesses face when dealing with outdated commercial lighting control systems. Many legacy systems, such as ALC Lighting Controls, no longer meet modern demands, and upgrading is key to ensuring energy efficiency, system flexibility, and seamless smart building integration.

The History of ALC Lighting Controls

ALC Lighting Controls was founded by former ECS employees who leveraged their knowledge to design a cutting-edge commercial lighting control system known as Spectrum. Over the years, the system underwent several transitions:

  • Originally developed as Spectrum
  • Sold to Cooper Lighting, which rebranded it as Greengate
  • Later acquired by Eaton, which retained the name but eventually discontinued the system
  • Eaton also owned iLight, running both systems side by side

The Limitations of Ageing Lighting Technology

The original ALC system relied on a centralised intelligence controller and operated over a two-core Belden Bus cable with a CAN interface. While some projects incorporated an IP backbone, the majority still run on outdated infrastructure, making it difficult to integrate with modern commercial lighting solutions.

Key limitations of this older system include:

  • No support for DALI 2 lighting control
  • Inability to utilise tunable white and DALI colour-changing features
  • Limited integration with smart building automation systems
  • With ALC, there is a single point of failure. With Dynalite, using a decentralised intelligence this would not happen.

A Smarter Path to Upgrading with Dynalite

The good news is that you don’t always need a complete system overhaul to modernise your lighting control system. Dynalite lighting control upgrades provide a seamless and cost-effective way to bring your lighting technology up to date.

  • Reuses Existing Infrastructure – No need to replace cabling; existing two-core Belden Bus cable remains functional.
  • Efficient, Phased Upgrades – Systems can be upgraded floor by floor, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations.
  • Dual System Operation – If an IP backbone exists, both the old and new lighting control systems can run simultaneously from the same PC head-end until the transition is complete.
  • Smart Building Compatibility – Upgrading to Dynalite commercial lighting control solutions ensures better energy management, automation, and future-proofing for smart buildings.

At Gemini Lighting Solutions, we specialise in commercial lighting upgrades and modernising legacy lighting control systems. Whether your site still operates on Spectrum, Greengate, or Ilight, we can guide you through a smooth transition to a more intelligent, energy-efficient lighting system.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help upgrade your commercial lighting control systems with minimal disruption. 

To find out more about our recent projects, take a look at our Portfolio

To talk to us about your building requirements, please fill in our Contact Form

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