DALI Interface
DALI is an abbreviation for Digital Addressable Lighting Interface.
In this protocol, DALI devices communicate with each other.
In other words, DALI is the language in which DALI devices talk to each other.
DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) is a two-way communication system using digital technology to control lighting. An international standard for communication, DALI, defines commands that ballasts need to recognize in order to be considered as DALI ballasts. The system allows individual ballasts to “talk” to the user and allows the user to “talk” back via DALI controllers, computers equipped with appropriate software, or building management systems (BMS).
The device is equipped with two separate DALI interface connectors, DALI1 and DALI2, for connecting DALI ballasts.
It is possible to connect up to 16 ballasts to one single DALI interface, therefore two separated DALI interfaces allow for connecting up to 32 ballasts grouped into two separated DALI loops.
Each DALI interface has an internal power supply with the maximum current load up to 40 mA.
230 V AC power may be supplied to the lights with light outputs. For details, please refer to Light Outputs section.
The device allows for controlling DALI ballasts without any commissioning process. By default, the device uses DALI broadcast command, which allows for controlling the ballasts connected to a particular interface as a one single DALI group without a discover process. This feature makes the device a unique plug & play type device.
If the user needs to have more detailed information about each ballast or wishes to specify parameters like setpoint, minimum or maximum brightness level, then the discover process is required.
The way of connecting the ballasts to DALI interfaces is presented in the figure below.
