Room control
DALI and DALI-2: components, groups and scenes
To link an audiovisual function with architectural lighting, first identify how the DALI system is organized. A group, scene and sensor serve different roles; distinguishing them avoids requesting a function the gateway cannot provide.
Components to identify
| Component | Function | Information for review |
|---|---|---|
| Control gear | Powers and controls the light source, such as an LED driver | Model and certified DALI parts. |
| Application controller | Uses information and decides commands to control gear | Model, firmware and supported functions. |
| Input device | Provides information such as a button press or light level | Input type and reported data. |
| Bus power supply | Provides power for DALI communication | Identification in installation documentation. |
| Gateway | Links an external platform with supported DALI functions | Control direction, groups/scenes and exposed feedback. |
Groups and scenes have different roles
A group addresses a set of control gear. The guide distinguishes 16 control-gear groups from groups for control devices and their instances; one figure should not be applied to every component.
A scene stores either a level or an ignore value in each item of control gear. An ignore value tells that device to retain its level when the scene is recalled. Each item has 16 scenes; different devices can store different levels for the same scene number. An app’s list of scene names does not establish where those values are stored or what the gateway exposes.
A conceptual AV scene example
Suppose the panel requests a “Presentation” scene with different levels for two sets of decorative lighting. The DALI professional needs to identify the scene number, equipment involved and reading the integration can return. Address assignment and level programming remain the responsibility of the installation professional.
- AV panel → documented gateway function.
- Application controller → control-gear scene/group.
- Queryable data → gateway feedback → AV indication.
Reviewing DALI-2 and an integration
Find the exact product in the DALI Alliance database and compare hardware, firmware and certified parts. Component certification does not establish that a gateway exposes every function of all other components. Request the point and function list for the specific combination.
Architectural DALI and entertainment DMX are reviewed as different systems. If the need is to follow temporary lighting cues, define that interface with the show-control professional instead of transferring a DALI procedure.
Information that supports an inquiry
This is a noncritical audiovisual coordination scope. Electrical drawings, bus commissioning and emergency-lighting parameters are excluded. Start with the intended function even without a complete equipment list.
- Function to link with the AV system.
- Controller/gateway, firmware and integration platform.
- Control-gear and input-device models; applicable certification records.
- Group/scene list and states that can actually be queried.
- Installation professional and manual control to retain.