Emergency/safety lighting unit and method for controlling the same

The system (1) has a central control unit (2), an alternating current power supply (3), a direct current power supply (4), and a switchable switching unit (5) that is provided between the alternating current power supply and the direct current power supply. A pole reversal device (8) is associated with the direct current power supply. A coded information signal is transmitted via power supply voltage line (6) by the central control unit, where the signal is provided to a load (7) such as safety lamp, by the central control unit. An independent claim is also included for a method for controlling and/or monitoring an emergency/supply lighting system.