Pilgrim Uniting Church
Thoughtful lighting control for an enduring Adelaide landmark.
THE PROJECT
Clarity behind the scenes
Pilgrim Uniting Church in Adelaide had a lighting control system wrought with issues since its inception. Intermittent failures of control, power loss, and unconsolidated control scenes made it impossible to run an event smoothly and as intended. The lighting needed to support the life of the church with dependable, straightforward control. Mecha Electrical worked with Neo Integrated Systems to consolidate an ageing collection of lighting controls into a unified DALI zencontrol system, bringing order to the installation while respecting the character of the building.
Location
Adelaide, South Australia
Design scope
DALI lighting control consolidation
System
zencontrol DALI
THE LIGHTING SYSTEM
Bringing the systems together
The existing installation combined DMX and Dynalite through a Pharos controller, with an additional DALI integration. Faults in one part could disrupt the wider system and leave lighting scenes unreliable. Consolidating those layers into one coordinated system established unified control points and reduced the complexity that had made the original arrangement difficult to manage.
Coordinated lighting brings the church’s architecture into focus.
DESIGN & INSTALLATION
Order beneath the lighting desk
The work beneath the lighting desk was as important as the result in the room. A new control board and cable ducting replaced a cluttered arrangement with a more organised installation. Mecha Electrical completed the electrical wiring, equipment installation and cable management, with the board positioned for access and space available for future expansion.
Before
The existing cabling beneath the lighting desk (this is photo was taken post partial clean up! You should have seen it before…)
After
The new control board with neatly routed cable ducting.
LOCAL COLLABORATION
Local expertise, working together
This project brought together two complementary areas of expertise. Neo Integrated Systems carried out the DALI control programming and the supply of all zencontrol automation equipment, while Mecha Electrical handled the electrical wiring and installation of the system. Close collaboration connected the physical installation with the programmed controls, helping turn a complex existing arrangement into a practical system for the church.
Visit Neo Integrated Systems
DALI ZENCONTROL
Simpler control, clearer operation
For Pilgrim, the benefit of DALI zencontrol was consolidation: fewer separate control systems to coordinate, consistent points of operation and a clearer basis for future servicing. Touchscreen control points provide a consistent way to operate the lighting. Combined with the new board and organised wiring, the change addresses the practical difficulties of the church’s faulty Pharos, DMX and DALI arrangement.
EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE
Careful work with what was there
Years of additions had left electrical and AV systems layered over earlier installations. The consolidation involved tracing existing connections, identifying and rectifying faults, and removing redundant equipment and wiring within the work area. The upgrade centred on the church’s existing RGBW lighting and the controls and wiring that serve it. The scope included compatibility checks covering switching, dimming and colour-channel response.
ONGOING SUPPORT
A continuing commitment
This project is one stage in a longer relationship with Pilgrim Uniting Church. Mecha Electrical will continue working with the church on a budgeted basis to remove remaining redundant wiring and progressively upgrade older systems over the coming years. It is a measured approach: addressing current needs while making steady improvements to the infrastructure behind a much-loved Adelaide building.
What clients say
