A Plug Load Controller device manages controlled outlets in office areas or buildings. Certain office appliances need to be powered to provide uninterrupted service; these devices are connected to unmanaged outlets. Other appliances like fans, monitors need not be powered if there are no occupants. These would be plugged into the controlled or managed outlet for automatic shutoff. A Plug Load Controller device controls the provision of power to the managed outlets of a wall power receptacle. It is mounted on a junction box in the ceiling or a wall.
A Plug Load Controller device is configured to work with a “motion-group” that provides its occupancy information. The deployed PLC will receive information from the motion group where it belongs and will apply the profile decisions based on occupancy or vacancy. PLCs are always ‘act only’ devices performing whatever is configured in the Plug Load Controller profile when the sensors within the motion group sense motion. The Plug Load Controller uses the responses from the sensors to determine if it should be in its occupancy or vacancy state. If it does not receive a response within a fixed time, then it transitions to its safety state of on or off. PLCs can be part of multiple motion groups, or multiple Plug Load Controller can belong to the same motion group. Plug Load Controller need not belong to any motion group but can still be part of a switch group.
When Plug Load Controllers are part of the switch group and motion group, the motion group settings override the switch group settings. For instance, when the switch group is set to Manual on/Auto-off, the lights and PLCs are off. However, when motion is detected, the PLC will turn on even if the lights are off. This is useful in situations when devices need to be changed without turning the lights on.
To add a Plug Load Controller device, refer to the article Adding Plug Load Controller.
