System Description

Main DALI features and benefits compared to 1-10V analogue control systems

• Individual control of fittings: each unit in the DALI network has it´s own individual address, therefore it is possible to communicate directly to the components in the fittings
• Multichannelling use: through only one pair of control cable it is possible with DALI to control several different groups of fittings
• No mains switching needed: the lights can be switched off by commands comming directly from the DALI control system making the mains switch unnecessary
• Backchannelling: the information flow is bidirectional with the DALI system. Instead of only giving commands about the light level to the fitting DALI system enables also information feedback on the condition of the fittings. the fitting can transmit information about
  • whether the light is switched on or off,
  • the preset light level
  • the ballast condition
• simple DALI wiring: the cabling consists of a simple two wire cable, independent of any building topology between the units in the system
• Easy system re-configuration: once the system is installed and configured it is very easy to change the functioning of the system, changing of scenes and functions of lighting is only a matter of programming and needs no hardware changes anymore
• easy to add new components: when the lighting system needs to be enlargened new components can be added anywhere in the DALI system, no wiring configuration rules apply on the DALI line in this aspect.

Main differences between DALI and building automation buses

• DALI has a limited system size (64 addresses).
• DALI is meant only for communication in lighting systems as BMS includes other functionality as well (HVAC, alarm systems...)
• A BMS system commonly has unlimited expansion possibilities, which DALI does not have
• DALI is not competing against BMS systems, it is only complementing them through an interface