EMERGENCY LUMINAIRES | BESPOKE ITEMS | 23 t: 0845 884 7000 | f: 0845 884 6000 | w: www.channelsafety.co.uk | @channelsafety | EDITION 7 What is DALI? DALI stands for Digital Addressable Lighting Interface. In other words, it is a worldwide standardized digital lighting interface. The DALI standard, specified in IEC standard 60929, ensures interchange ability and compatibility of lighting products from different manufacturers. The DALI system was created by leading lighting manufacturers who recognized the need for a common interface. DALI was engineered to meet the new challenges of lighting control – more flexibility, greater scalability of control and faster installation. How long has it been around? The history of DALI is an interesting one. The idea first came from a ballast company in Europe over 10 years ago. Three other ballast companies joined with the first to form a proposal for the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in order to create a standard on communication protocols used for ballasts. About six years ago, the United States became involved as well.“Finally, the standard is being published this year,”says Pekka Hakkarainen, director of technology and business development for Coopersburg, PA-based Lutron Electronics and chair of the Lighting Controls Council at Rosslyn, VA-based National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA).“[The standard] has been in its final form for maybe a little less than two years. [It] is included in the IEC standard for fluorescent ballasts, and it’s one of the annexes in the standard. It defines a method of communicating to the ballast that the industry has agreed on.”The current standard doesn’t yet define much for the DALI controls, other than the fact that they must have the capability to send messages to the ballasts. DALI was accepted as an international standard in 2002; the first DALI ballasts were introduced into the United States in the late ’90s. The DALI system at work Traditional DALI allows for individual light fittings to be controlled and grouped together into logical areas. The DALI protocol allows for a maximum of 64 fittings on a single network and the network can be broken up into 16 different possible areas. DALI enables total control Compared to a fixed output installation, the dimming and individual control capability provided by DALI enables considerable energy savings. In combination with dimmable drivers, presence and daylight sensors, energy savings of up to 80 per cent can be achieved. If the operation of the lighting is to be rearranged or regrouped, the costs per circuit in a fixed output system could be four times higher than those in a DALI system. The ability to send queries and obtain replies – two-way communication – can greatly reduce maintenance costs. For example, DALI allows automatic testing and reporting of monthly function tests of emergency lighting. In addition, energy consumption and lamp condition can be checked for each luminaire, very easily and at no additional cost. Other Features of using DALI • Simplicity & Robustness • Scalability & Flexibility • Energy and cost-saving • DALI creates potential for connectivity • DALI is a global standard A guide to DALI controls PRODUCT FEATURES • Dimensions: 45mm(H) 220mm(W) 105mm(D) • Power consumption: 22-55W • Weight: 0.95g • Compliance: BS EN 60598-2-22 Conversion Pack for LED Panel Lights D E L PRODUCT CODE DESCRIPTION E/LED/PANEL/M3/MODULE 3 hour 26-50W LED panel light emergency module LED 22 - 55W 0.95Kg PRODUCT FEATURES • Dimensions: 86mm(W) x 86mm(H) x 19mm(D) • Material: Flame retardant ABS • Weight: 0.14Kg • Compliance: EMC - 89/336/EEC LVD-73/23/EEC • Suitable for maintained & non-maintained luminaires Emergency Lighting Test Switch PRODUCT CODE DESCRIPTION E/CH/ELTS Surface mounted test switch