DALI offers digital standard
DALI offers digital standard
DALIÑ Digital Addressable Lighting Interface Ñ is the name of a new draft industry protocol for digital lighting control supported by the main lamp and ballast manufacturers in Europe (Helvar, Osram Philips, and Tridonic as of May 1, 1999).
The DALI protocol is exclusively designed for lighting and aims at filling the gap between the standard 1-10 V analog control interface and the more complex universal bus systems, which are too advanced for many applications. Thus, the DALI interface is suitable for mid-size rooms and stand-alone systems. However, there will likely be bridges between larger bus systems and the DALI interface. It offers the possibility to individually address up to 64 luminaires and can receive feedback from luminaires. The protocol requires switching via a control wire, but existing wires can be used in order to save installation costs when systems are upgraded or retrofitted.
Products will not be available for the DALI system until autumn 1999, according to the lighting manufacturers. The protocol is presently (summer 1999) a draft amendment to the standard IEC 929.