The work to develop a digital standard for lighting industry began in 1996. In the autumn of 1999 was the standard clear and got the name DALI - Digital adressable Light Interface.
The greatest revolution was that the drivers were adressérbare. Each fixture had its own address. DALI also has a two-way communication with the luminaire, where provided on the pipes or the electronics function as they should. The DALI protocol has been extended several times since its inception, and each and every new device that is added to the, has scored a new number (Device Type X = DTX). The last important updates are Emergency lights (DT1), LED (DT6) and adjustable color/adjustable color temperature (DT8).
Today is DALI the most widely-used digital protocol for lighting. The DALI protocol is described in the standard IEC 62386. DALI is a low hastighedskommunikationsbus, which can be used for standard installation cable as the media. It has a decentralized intelligence, where the following information is stored in each device.
a. A unique address. Max 64 addresses in a system.
b. Which group(s) they belong to (Up to 16 groups).
c. What levels they have on each scene (Up to 16 scenes).
in.
For DT8 devices can also color temperature or RGB-code is described in the scene.
d. The following system parameter are stored in each device:
a.
Light level, color temperature and RGB setting for DT8 units
b.
Level when hovedspænding goes on
c.
Fade time (the time it takes from one scene to the next)
d.
Fade rate (the time it takes from my. to the max. level)
e.
Max./My. nivneau
If the system is not being addressed, it will operate in "Broadcast" mode. This means that all the units do the same, based on the received scene, light level, color temperature or color signal.
Programming
DALI is limited to 64 addresses, and is therefore a very simple system to program. The most commonly used method is:
1. Adressér the devices. (The system gives each unit a random address between 0 and 63).
2. Identify which entity belongs to which address. (The identification should be done at the plant)
3. Group the devices. (Advantage of the devices in logical groups. Keep in mind that a device can belong to multiple groups)
4. The parameter setting. (Set scenes and system parameters for each group/unit)
in.
Scene = Light Level. (the color temperature and the RGB setting for the DT8 units)
ii.
Level when hovedspænding goes on
iii.
Fade time (the time it takes from one scene to the next)
iv.
Fade rate (the time it takes from my. to the max. level)
v.
Max./My. level
For more information on the integration of systems, see chapter
“Compatibility”.