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Introduction: DALI standard
DALI Manual | 08-2013 | en
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Features of DALI
Simplified Installation Power lines and control lines can be laid together in the same cable. The wiring may be in
series, in a star arrangement or in mixed form.
No polarity There is no need to worry about the polarity (+/-) of the DALI control line.
Stable dimming
function
All the luminaires receive the same interference-free digital signal and therefore the same
dimmer value.
Distributed
intelligence
DALI uses a system of distributed intelligence; multiple controllers (e.g. DALI GC)
communicate with intelligent ballasts. Each controller operates as a “master” and controls
communication on the control line. Ballasts react only as “slaves” at the request of the
“master”. Certain parameters are stored directly in the DALI unit (e.g. scene values, group
address).
Status feedback Status reports can be issued by the DALI units. Information on faulty lamps for example
can therefore be transferred directly to a higher-ranking system.
Flexibility Group assignment is set up by means of parameters and not by hard wiring. Lighting
scene values are stored in the DALI unit.
Logarithmic dimming
curve
The dimming curve is matched to the sensitivity of the eye.
Technical features of a DALI circuit
Maximum no. of DALI
groups
16
Maximum no. of DALI
scenes
16
DALI voltage 9.5 V - 22.5 V, typically 16 V
DALI system current Max. 250 mA (depending on the installed DALI power supply)
Data transfer rate 1200 baud
Maximum cable length The maximum cable length depends on the maximum permitted voltage drop along the
DALI cable; this is defined as 2 V max. This corresponds to a maximum cable length of
300 m for a line cross-section of 1.5 mm².