DALI System
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.
The gateway is certified as a DALI-2 control device in accordance with IEC 62386 Ed. 2.
The gateway functions as a master control component (master controller) within a system, which also guarantees the power supply of the DALI interface. The DALI operating devices, e.g. electronic ballasts, work as command receivers (slaves), which only return states or status messages to the master on request. It is the sole task of the gateway to transmit control commands received from the KNX onto the DALI line and to check the operating devices. The use of additional DALI control components in multi-master operation, such as an additional DALI central unit, a DALI potentiometer or push-buttons that switch the mains voltage, is superfluous and can, in individual cases, cause malfunctions in the DALI system. For this reason, it is necessary to remove other control components from the system, particularly when refitting existing DALI systems. The DALI system is then fully controlled by components of the KNX.
Communication between the KNX system and the DALI interface takes place bidirectionally via the gateway. On the one hand, the gateway receives telegrams from the KNX, which either directly influence the brightness state of a DALI group or of individual operating devices (e.g. by switching, dimming, brightness value specification or scene recall) or adjust it indirectly (e.g. with time, disabling or forced position functions). The gateway always determines the current brightness states of the groups and single devices internally and forwards brightness commands to the DALI operating devices, which then adjust themselves to the appropriate brightness. On the other hand, the internally-tracked switching or brightness states of the groups and single devices can be fed back to the KNX. It is also possible to transmit the status information of the DALI operating devices (lamp error, electronic ballast error) or gateway (mains voltage failure, DALI short-circuit) to the KNX.
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.
Furthermore, the light colour can be controlled when 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.
Groups or single devices can be optionally integrated into 16 independent scenes. Brightness values, colour temperatures and colours can be configured separately within a scene in the ETS for each group or for individual operating devices or adjusted at any time later on during operation with scene memory telegrams.
