Close-up of a metal ABConnect enable connector with a glowing green indicator ring, with coiled wiring and a Bodine emergency driver visible in the background

ABConnect

Special features

ABConnect - as easy as 1-2-3

Battery powered fluorescent emergency ballasts and emergency LED drivers are an effective method of providing emergency lighting. With the emergency lighting hidden inside of the luminaire, the space remains uncluttered with wall mounted devices. This also means there needs to be a way to enable and disable them, be it for storage, transportation, or a safe installation. Typically, this method of control is accomplished using a pair of wires and single-pin connectors, typically called an "inverter connector", "converter connector", or "enable connector". This method of control is effective but physical connectors are not an ideal solution when we have the technology to do so much better.

Enter Bodine's ABConnect (Automatic Bodine Connect). ABConnect eliminates the need for a set of enable wires while reliably enabling and disabling a product's emergency function. To paraphrase a saying, ABConnect is as easy as 1 – 2 – 3.

To ENABLE:

  1. Wire the EM driver to the luminaire as normal.
  2. When ready, apply AC Mains power.
  3. The internal battery is now connected and EM driver is now ready.

 

To DISABLE:

  1. Remove AC Mains power from the driver or luminaire.
  2. Press and hold the test switch for approximately three (3) seconds, until the light source turns off.
  3. The battery is disconnected and the product is ready for storage, shipping, or installation.

Key benefits of ABConnect:
 

Reliability – ABConnect ensures products are disabled during storage, shipping, or periods with extended power outage which can result in damage to the product. This situation is common during building construction, extended natural disasters, or when the installation is powered down for maintenance, common in industrial settings or aboard something like nautical vessels or passenger train cars. Additionally, ABConnect helps to preserve the integrity of luminaire gasketing, in the case of vapor tight luminaires.
 

Safety – ABConnect ensures products remains in a deactivated state during installation until the installer can complete the luminaire assembly and power it up for the first time. Closing the inverter connectors too early during installation can potentially present a safety hazard.
 

Simplicity – ABConnect saves time and money by facilitating quick and easy installation. It reduces the number of wires in the luminaires wireway and eliminates a step in the installation process. There's no need to revisit the installation once power is available, especially beneficial for luminaires not easily accessible due to mounting location or the installation's environment.
 

Speed – Testing of the emergency luminaire on the assembly line is simplified. The factory needs only control over AC mains and the test switch (or switch wiring). The luminaire can be assembled, fully tested, and the emergency driver disabled for shipping or storage in only a few easy to automate steps.

Wiring diagrams comparing a previous generation EM driver without ABConnect (BSL10LST) versus a Bodine EM driver with ABConnect (BSL10T3), highlighting the simplified wiring

ABConnect is standard on all Bodine LED drivers released since 2020 as well as select inverters and all emergency lights and exit signs. All products equipped with ABConnect can be found in the Bodine ecatalog. For questions, please email us at bodinetech@signify.com or call us at 1-888-BODINE-8.

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