DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) is a widely adopted protocol for controlling lighting systems. It is a 2-way communications protocol to provide communications between different components in a lighting system. It allows seamless communication between multiple devices, ensuring consistent dimming performance and precise light level control across luminaires. This is why Gemma Lighting integrates DALI into their range of lighting solutions, including DALI LED bollards, to offer efficient, adaptable, dimmable and reliable outdoor lighting.
What is DALI?
DALI is an open protocol, that is a manufacturer-standard, meaning that it can be used by any lighting manufacturer. Its simple installation process does not require shielding for power and control lines to be laid together. The latest version, DALI-2 (released in 2020), ensures higher levels of interoperability and mandatory testing, guaranteeing compatibility between different manufacturers’ components. DALI-2 supports advanced features such as grouping, dynamic control, and automation, giving users greater flexibility in managing their lighting systems. For example, with DALI/ DALI-2, customers can control the luminaires live, automate it with a schedule, or amend it when area layout/usage changes.
Variants of DALI: DALI, DALI 2, and D4i
The evolution of DALI includes DALI-2 and D4i, both offering improved interoperability and advanced functionality. The DALI-2 certification ensures no compatibility issues arise between products from different brands, making it an excellent choice for large-scale lighting installations. D4i builds on the DALI-2 protocol and has additional features to enable smart data / IoT capabilities such as wireless communication, power monitoring, and sensor integration.
Key Benefits of DALI LED Bollards
With DALI LED bollards, you can:
- Precision lighting: Adjust the lux levels to alter the brightness seamlessly to fit your lighting needs with a more consistent, smooth and low-end dimming.
- Colour control: Manage colour control and colour changing, independently of the colour temperature of your lighting device, such as 2700K warm white or 4000K cold white.
- Automate emergency light testing: Ensure that your emergency LED bollards are functioning correctly without manual testing, also saving on maintenance costs.
- Create complex lighting scenes: Set schedules, group devices, and adjust lighting based on your specific needs.
- Enjoy robust performance: DALI LED bollards are energy-efficient, durable, robust, and resistant to harsh weather conditions, ensuring long-lasting performance.
- Compatibility: DALI is certified standard, meaning you can use different brands of luminaires/drivers and still take advantage of DALI’s features by mixing and matching different products.
- Feedback: DALI is a 2-way protocol with monitoring and reporting enabled, allowing live status information, reducing the need for unnecessary site visits and maintenance costs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
How Do DALI LED Bollards Work?
A DALI LED bollard operates like any other DALI-enabled lighting solution. The system relies on a bus, a pair of wires that carry digital control signals to the lighting devices. A DALI power supply unit (PSU) ensures that the bus voltage is maintained at the required level. The DALI driver in each bollard receives commands from the bus, adjusting light levels accordingly.
Input devices, such as PIR sensors or light-level detectors, communicate with the controller, which sends the appropriate commands to the bollard. The application controller device works by receiving 24-bit messages from the sensors and issuing 16-bit commands to the control gear. This application controller can manage the data traffic and check for errors and report on statuses.
This allows DALI LED bollards to work efficiently with other DALI devices, creating a cohesive and automated lighting system across your site.
Why Is DALI So Popular?
DALI has been a trusted standard for lighting control for years, supported by a growing number of manufacturers. Its standardisation, through rigorous testing and certification, ensures compatibility between different devices, creating a reliable control system network of lighting-control products. This consistency and flexibility make DALI the go-to choice for controlling LED bollards and other lighting solutions.
What Other Protocols Exist?
While DALI is a widely used protocol, other options such as AstroDIM, 1-10V, and Casambi also exist. However, these protocols are not compatible with DALI, meaning devices from different protocols cannot be mixed. DALI’s openness and standardisation provide clear advantages in terms of compatibility and integration.
DALI LED bollards offer unmatched flexibility, efficiency, and control, making them an excellent choice for outdoor lighting solutions. Whether you’re looking for a dimmable bollard or a fully automated system, Gemma Lighting incorporates DALI-2 and D4i protocols to provide the latest advancements in lighting technology. For precise, reliable, and easy-to-manage lighting, DALI LED bollards are the perfect solution.
Contact us Today
Gemma Lighting is an Award-Winning LED Bollard Manufacturer in the UK with over 40 years of experience in designing and manufacturing electronics, plus 20 years of manufacturing high-quality, long-lasting exterior lighting solutions for our clients, all of them with DALI interfaces.
If you need assistance in finding the right light solution for your project or to know more about DALI, book a consultation meeting with our dedicated Sales team or contact us directly at +44 (0) 800 999 5201.
