Few components, little wiring and simple programming: intelligent lighting management with DALI offers lots of advantages. DALI (the acronym stands for Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) is a standardised digital interface for electronic ballasts (EBs).

DALI is an independent system. It regulates lighting through all the DALI components in the system and can address each device individually, e.g. assign each EB (= luminaire) to as many as 16 different groups, define 16 light values for programmed lighting or dim all EBs in a synchronised operation.

DALI is not only suitable for use in individual rooms. If required, it can also be integrated into a building management system, e.g. via EIB (European Installation Bus) or LON (Local Operating Network). The advantage for the installation engineer: with DALI there is no need for the re-wiring required by a 1-10V system; all the lighting in a room can be controlled via a single gateway.

DALI is bus-capable

DALI not only takes over the tasks of switching and dimming the lighting. It is also very good at controlling coloured light productions with LEDs, fluorescent lamps or metal halide lamps and permits complex programming e.g. for constant light regulation.

The DALI working group (AG-DALI) is organised within the German electrical and electronic manufacturers' association ZVEI. Its members are leading European and US manufacturers of electronic ballasts and lighting control and regulation systems. AG-DALI promotes cooperation with higher-level bus systems such as EIB/KNX, LON or CABA.