Function
DALI
The gateway is the interface between a KNX installation and a digital DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) lighting installation. The gateway enables the switching and dimming of DALI operating devices in two separate DALI systems (2 x 64 operating devices).
Up to six different addressing types allow group-orientated and individually addressed control of DALI lights by means of KNX telegrams. This allows the integration of room-specific light control, for example of open-plan offices, multipurpose spaces, production facilities, training and presentation rooms or showcases, into the higher-level KNX building management. Depending on the configuration, up to 32 independent DALI groups are available for group addressing. For alternative control, they can be supplemented with 64 individually addressable DALI device channels for each DALI system, if necessary.
Optionally, master control of all connected DALI components is possible (broadcast). This means that there is no need for DALI commissioning, meaning that lighting systems with low functional requirements can be commissioned quickly and easily.
The DALI Gateway also offers the option of using DALI sensors (e.g. push-button sensors, rotary sensors, presence detectors or light sensors) as input devices for controlling DALI groups or individual devices. It is also possible to control the KNX installation using the DALI sensors.
As the DALI Gateway is a multi-master device, DALI sensors can also be used as application controllers. The DALI Gateway reads the telegrams from the sensors and tracks the status of the DALI control gear internally.
The gateway is certified as a DALI-2 control device in accordance with IEC 62386 Ed. 2.
Colour temperature control (DALI Device Type 8 - TW)
The gateway supports the control of DALI operating devices of device type "Tunable White." This makes it possible to control the colour temperature of a luminaire by means of suitable DALI operating devices and lamps. The gateway allows the colour temperature to be controlled by relative or absolute dimming and additionally by scenes.
In addition, it is possible to implement a daytime colour temperature sequence to implement biologically effective lighting (HCL: Human Centric Lighting). For this purpose, up to four HCL matrices are available that can be freely configured in terms of brightness and colour temperature and activated and switched over depending on the time of day and day of the week as well as user-controlled.
The colour temperature is controlled for each group and each single device independently of the brightness control by means of separate communication objects and can be used for each channel as an alternative to the colour control.
Colour control (DALI Device Type 8 - RGBW Colour Control)
The gateway can be used to implement the control the light colour using DALI operating devices of device type "Colour Control". The gateway enables flexible colour control in the colour spaces "RGB", "RGBW", "HSV" or "HSVW". In the RGB colour spaces, the colour can be controlled by relative or absolute dimming by means of either combined or separate communication objects according to the KNX specification. In the "HSV" colour space, separate objects are always available for the absolute control of the light colour by the hue (H), saturation (S) and brightness value (V). It is also possible to integrate colour control in scenes.
Furthermore, it is possible to implement a colour gradient for the implementation of different colour moods depending on the time of day and day of the week (CTM: Colour Transition Mode). Up to four freely configurable CTM matrices are available for this purpose. Each matrix allows the setting of individual colour preferences, with or without brightness adjustment. The matrices can be activated and switched over individually during operation of the gateway.
The colour control is completed by running automatic colour wheel and brightness sequences. The colour wheel sequence is used for the automatic overall colour control of DALI lights. This function uses the cyclical adjustment of the hue in the colour wheel. This results in continuous colour gradients that can be started and stopped at will during the running time of the gateway.
The automatic brightness sequence works in the same way. This function cyclically adjusts the brightness within the entire brightness range and thus creates individual brightness scenarios.
Groups and single devices
The gateway enables KNX status indication of the individual switching and brightness statuses and also of the colour temperature or colour of the groups and single devices. In addition, the general DALI state of operation can be signalled to the KNX (error status, short-circuit, state of the supply voltage, utilisation of the DALI interface). The function features that are independently adjustable for every light group or each single device by means of the ETS include, for example, separately configurable brightness ranges, extended feedback functions, a disabling function, or alternatively, a forced position function, separately adjustable dimming behaviour, time delays, soft dimming functions, a staircase function with supplementary functions and an operating hours counter. Moreover, the brightness values of the groups of single devices in case of bus voltage failure or bus voltage return and after ETS programming, can be preset separately. Central switching is possible, too.
For DALI DT8-compatible operating devices, the following functions can be additionally configured: definition of the controllable colour or colour temperature range by minimum and maximum limit values, switch-on colour or colour temperature, relative and absolute dimming with KNX status indication. Furthermore, it is also possible to automatically change the colour temperature proportionally when dimming the brightness. This makes it possible with little project planning to simulate a thermal radiator using almost any colour temperature controllable lamp (perception of the light source such as an incandescent or halogen lamp).
Scenes
Luminaires or luminaire groups can optionally be integrated in up to 16 scenes, which means that pre-programmed static light scenes can be recalled by influencing the brightness, colour temperature or colour. If necessary, the scene values can be switched over and individually adapted and saved during operation of the device, allowing the user to replace the presettings of the ETS as desired. The extended scene recall allows scenes to be switched over by switching commands.
ETS project design and Device Configuration App (DCA)
To carry out the DALI commissioning and the DALI test, a completely ETS-integrated Device Configuration App, which supplements the standard parameter dialogue, is used. This enables the identification, addressing and assignment of DALI control gears and DALI sensors by using the familiar ETS environment without having to use additional software beyond the ETS.
The DALI short addresses are assigned in the parameter configuration of the single devices and can thus be individually influenced. With the addition of group and device names, unique naming of DALI operating devices is possible in this way. DALI sensors can also be integrated and individually renamed. Due to the transmission of the unique names to the KNX building visualisation (e.g. control panels), the user is able - particularly during error diagnosis - to identify the lighting components easily.
Project design and commissioning of the device is possible using ETS5 or ETS6.
DALI compatibility
The gateway has a compatibility mode for supporting non-DALI-conformant operating devices. This means that the commissioning process becomes distinctly more tolerant towards specific DALI commissioning parameters, which means that operating devices not fully compliant with the DALI specification can be commissioned, possibly subject to functional restrictions. In addition to this, a DALI telegram rate limit can be activated, meaning that adaptation to non-DALI-conformant operating devices is also possible.
Manual operation, broadcast control and mounting
The operating elements (4 buttons) on the front panel of the device allow the DALI light groups or single devices of both DALI systems (with 2-gang device variant) to be switched on and off or dimmed in brightness by manual operation in parallel with the KNX even without bus voltage or in a non-programmed state (broadcast of all connected DALI devices). This feature permits fast checking of connected loads for proper functioning.
In addition, the gateway is able to check the completeness of the operating devices integrated in the DALI system. This means that it is possible to detect the replacement of a defective electronic ballast with a new one. The automatic device replacement fulfils this function, which makes it considerably easier to repair a DALI system.
The DALI Gateway also offers the option of broadcast control via communication objects. This means that, as with broadcast control via manual operation, simultaneous control of all DALI operating devices is also possible via the KNX. With this type of control, individual configurations of the groups or individual devices are not taken into account.
The gateway is supplied completely via the mains voltage connection and provides the DALI system voltage. The mains voltage must be switched on to control the DALI interface or for programming by the ETS! The device is designed for mounting on DIN rails in closed compact boxes or in distributors in fixed installations.
