Beyond the Sports Field: 5 Ways Councils Are Using the Illuminator 2
Amenities such as car park or community lighting can be added onto existing illuminators for control/monitoring.
If you manage council infrastructure, you've probably heard of the Illuminator 2 as a sports field lighting controller, and it does that job exceptionally well. Clubs send an SMS, lights come on, everyone's happy.
But over the years, we've seen councils deploy the Illuminator in ways that go well beyond the footy oval. The same simple, reliable control that makes it perfect for sports lighting translates to dozens of other applications where you need remote switching, scheduling, or monitoring.
Here's what's possible.
1. Sports Field Lighting Control
Let's start with the core use case. The Illuminator lets sporting clubs control their own lighting via SMS, eliminating the need for council staff to manage bookings or respond to after-hours requests.
How it works:
Authorised users send a simple SMS command to switch lights on or off
Built-in timers automatically shut off lights at curfew (no more 2am complaints from neighbours)
Usage logging helps councils track actual consumption against bookings
No apps to install, no internet required, just SMS from any mobile phone
It's been the go-to solution for councils across Australia for nearly decades because it just works.
2. Public Space & Event Lighting
The same SMS control that works for sports fields works equally well for public spaces, and this is where councils are finding unexpected value.
Market nights and community events: Rather than dispatching staff or pre-programming timers days in advance, event coordinators can switch lighting on and off in real-time. Plans change, weather moves in, an event runs late.
Parks and public areas: Councils can give authorised staff direct, immediate control over lighting in reserves, car parks, or pedestrian areas without needing to be on-site or wait for scheduled timers.
The key benefit: Flexibility without complexity. Council staff get direct control from wherever they are, and there's a full audit trail of who switched what and when.
3. Hot Water System Scheduling
Here's one that often surprises people: the Illuminator is an excellent hot water timer and controller for council facilities.
The application: Amenities blocks, clubhouses, community centres, pretty much anywhere with electric hot water that doesn't need to run 24/7.
The benefit: Rather than heating water overnight when no one's using the facility, councils can schedule heating to align with actual usage patterns. The result is meaningful energy savings across multiple sites, controlled from one central point.
Some councils combine scheduled operation with SMS override capability, so facility managers can boost hot water for unexpected bookings without changing the underlying schedule.
4. Facility Access Control
The Illuminator's relay outputs aren't limited to lighting circuits. Councils are using them to control access to facilities, gates, bollards, and door strikes via SMS command.
Practical example: A contractor needs access to a pump station at 6am Saturday. Instead of issuing keys or meeting them on-site, an authorised council officer sends an SMS to unlock the gate. Access granted, logged, and the gate re-secures automatically on a timer.
This approach reduces key management headaches, provides a clear audit trail, and means staff don't need to be physically present to grant access.
5. Asset Monitoring via Pulse and Sensor Inputs
Beyond control, the Illuminator is built to monitor. The unit accepts pulse inputs and digital/analogue sensors, opening up a range of asset monitoring applications.
Energy monitoring: Connect to pulse-output kWh meters to track power consumption at remote sites. Useful for identifying anomalies, verifying bills, or understanding usage patterns across distributed facilities or for those who just want direct, accurate usage data.
Environmental sensing: Digital and analogue inputs can connect to sensors measuring moisture, temperature, or other parameters. Useful for irrigation management, building monitoring, or early detection of issues like leaks.
Usage counting: Pulse inputs from counters or meters can track everything from gate activations to equipment run-hours.
The data feeds back to council systems, giving visibility over assets that would otherwise require site visits to check.
One Device, Many Problems Solved
The Halytech Illuminator provides the combination of reliable switching, SMS control, scheduling, and monitoring in a simple, proven package.
For councils managing dozens or hundreds of distributed assets, that simplicity matters. There's no complex software to maintain, no internet dependency for basic operation, and no training burden for staff or community users.
And because it's Australian-designed and built by Halytech, support is a phone call away when you need it.
Want to explore what the Illuminator could do for your council? Get in touch to discuss your specific applications, we've probably seen something similar before.
Halytech Pty Ltd - The Original Innovators in Smart Monitoring