Users have the following options when installing DALI -

ballasts in their lighting system:

• Simple wiring of control lines (no group formation, no

polarity)

• Control of individual units (individual addressing) or

groups (group addressing) is possible

• A simultaneous control of all units is possible at any time

(built-in initial operation function) through broadcast

addressing)

• No interference of data communication is to be expected

due to the simple data structure

• Control device status messages (lamp fault, ....),

(report options: all / by group / by unit)

• Automatic search of control devices

• Simple formation of groups through “flashing“ lamps

• Automatic and simultaneous dimming of all units when

selecting a scene

• Logarithmic dimming behaviour – matching the eye’s sensitivity

• System with assigned intelligence (every unit contains

amongst other things the following data: individual

address, group assignment, lighting scene values, fading

time, ....)

• Operational tolerances of lamps can be stored as default

values (for example for the purpose of energy savings

maximum values can be set)

• Fading: adjustment of dimming speed

• Identification of unit type

• Options for emergency lighting can be chosen (selection

of specific ballasts, dimming level)

• No need to switch on/off the external relay for the mains

voltage (this is done by internal electronic components)

• Lower system cost and more functions compared to

1–10V-systems

DALI has been defined for:

– a maximum of 64 single units (individual addresses)

– a maximum of 16 groups (group addresses)

– a maximum of 16 scenes (scene light values)

The intelligence of the system has not been centralized for the

purpose of defining the DALI-interface for control devices.

This means that many of the setpoints and lighting values are

stored within the individual ballast:

– Individual addresses

– Group assignments

– Light scene values

– Fading times

– Emergency lighting level (System Failure Level)

– Power On Level

DALI closes the gap between conventional 1–10V-interfaces

and complex lighting control systems. These are the features

that make DALI stand out as the ideal platform for an intelligent