What is DALI?

DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) is a non-proprietary interface standard for dimmable control gears and is a protocol set out in the technical standard IEC 62386.

DALI is known to be a versatile industrial standard and is interchangeable for different manufacturers, ensuring consistent dimming performance across all dimming ballasts regardless of type or manufacturer.

Due to DALI’s flexibility, and functionality, DALI installations are easily integrated into existing systems or included in the plans for new buildings. Individual fixtures are grouped by simply assigning them to groups with the aid of a controller. No relays are needed for switching the fixtures, and switching and dimming is handled exclusively via the control line where lighting can be controlled at an individual level and as the lighting groups are not hard-wired it does not require special cabling making it easy for the groupings can be changed at any time.

Furthermore, all luminaires are able to be controlled from a central desktop PC, and can be manually overridden at a wall switch, or can be used in conjunction with a daylight or occupancy sensor. DALI can offer a two way communication between the luminaire and the PC which provides valuable information and reports such as operating status of individual luminaires.

Who should use DALI?

Controllable lighting systems are the key for energy saving in building lighting installations with the additional benefit of increased comfort and safety. DALI is a useful for energy management and it enables you to take more control of the brightness/glare, colour rendering as well as colour control and presence sensing. Therefore it can be most useful for:

• Scheduling automatic shutoffs to meet energy codes;
• Small and open offices where users are given dimming control over their own lighting as part of a strategy to increase worker satisfaction;
• Retail spaces and similar applications with frequent merchandise or layout changes;
• Energy management applications such as , daylight harvesting, due to the ability to more economically set up very small control zones around the daylight aperture, and scheduling via a central computer, which allows load shedding, demand savings and potential utility incentives;
• Conference rooms, classrooms, training rooms and similar spaces that require different lighting scenes for multiple types of use;
• Larger installations with multiple buildings, where feedback on the lighting component status can facilitate more efficient lighting maintenance.

This is a quick overview of the benefits of using DALI dimming for your LED lighting. Sedna has many lighting products with a DALI dimmable option. Please click here for more information on our products.