HORIZON SMART-CON X4 Lighting Controller
FAA-compliant four-beacon obstruction lighting controller with CARDIO remote monitoring, colour fault display, and avian-compliant design.
The HORIZON SMART-CON X4 is a multi-light controller designed to govern up to four aviation obstruction beacons plus up to nine sidelights per FAA specification from a single, field-mounted enclosure. It is the supervisory hub of a medium- or large-scale obstruction lighting installation — coordinating flash synchronisation, day/night switching, fault detection, and remote telemetry so that a tower operator or airfield electrician can confirm system status without climbing the structure.
The controller is available in three power configurations to match any site infrastructure: AC-in/AC-out (120/240 VAC), AC-in/DC-out (to +48 VDC for modern LED beacon strings), and DC-in/DC-out (±48 VDC for telecoms-style power plants). All inputs and outputs carry lightning protection — important for tower-top and exposed airfield installations that are high-probability strike targets. A FAA-calibrated switched-leg photocell drives automatic day/night intensity transitions without manual intervention, and a safety-interlocked ON/OFF control switch prevents inadvertent de-energisation during maintenance.
The colour touchscreen display presents fault codes in plain language, reducing diagnostic time for personnel who may not be specialist avionics technicians. Remote monitoring is delivered via Hughey & Phillips' CARDIO platform, enabling off-site confirmation of operational status — particularly relevant for unattended towers and remote navigational aids where physical inspections are logistically expensive. Removable terminal blocks simplify wiring during installation or replacement.
The enclosure is powder-coated NEMA 4 rated, dimensioned at 13¾ × 15¾ × 6 inches, making it suitable for weatherproof outdoor mounting on lattice towers, wind turbine nacelles, cooling tower structures, and airfield equipment shelters. The avian-compliant design addresses the increasing regulatory pressure in the US and internationally to reduce bird strike attraction from continuously-lit red obstruction systems.
Technical specifications.
| Max beacons controlled | 4 |
| Max sidelights controlled | 9 (per FAA spec) |
| Remote monitoring | CARDIO system |
| Display | 4" × 12" colour touchscreen |
| AC input/output options | 120/240 VAC |
| DC output option | +48 VDC |
| Supported FAA lighting types | A2, A3, D2, E2 |
| Enclosure dimensions | 13¾" W × 15¾" H × 6" D |
| Enclosure rating | NEMA 4 (powder-coated) |
| Warranty | 2 years (standard) |
Use cases.
- ›Central control of multi-beacon obstruction lighting on communication and broadcast towers
- ›Day/night automatic intensity switching on wind turbine and utility tower lighting systems
- ›Remote fault monitoring for unattended obstruction lighting installations
- ›Retrofit controller replacement on existing L-810/L-864/L-865 beacon arrays
- ›Installations requiring avian-compliant flashing-only operation to reduce bird attraction