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DALI
DALI stands for Digitally Addressable Lighting Interface. DALI is a recognised standard employed by all ballast manufacturers that offer DALI ballasts. This system assigns an individual address to each luminaire i.e. 001, 002, 003 and so on, allowing control of each individual luminaire. All luminaires can be controlled from a central desktop PC, and can be manually over-ridden at a wall switch, or can be used in conjunction with a daylight or occupancy sensor. DALI can offer two-way communication between the luminaire and the PC which provides valuable information and reports such as operating status of individual luminaires.
DSI
DSI is Digital Series Interface and is a more controllable version of digital dimming. This enables the user to group luminaires, operate daylight linked dimming and other controllable options. DSI is a Tridonic name and can be set up with a variety of control options and controllers, some offered by other manufacturers designed purely to work with the DSI ballast. DSI ensures that there are no issues with interference from the switching and the dimming of the luminaire which can affect switch on. DSI is wired using a dimming pair, run around to each luminaire in the circuit.
ANALOGUE DIMMING
Analogue dimming is known as 1-10v dimming. This is because the ballast produces a 1-10v DC supply that can be increased or decreased by a potentiometer, which can be either rotary or slider control. This DC supply can be increased or decreased by the switch to affect the resistance and hence the amount that the lamp is dimmed. Analogue dimming requires a ‘dimming pair’ of cables to be run around to each luminaire in the circuit.
Switch Dim/Touch Dim
This is the simplest option for digital dimming and is operated via a ‘push to make’ or retractive switch, which is then wired to each luminaire in the circuit via a 4 core cable consisting of switched live, neutral, earth and permanently live. The switch controls the switching on and off of the luminaire, and also the dimming. When the switch is pressed and held it will dim down. Another press and hold will dim back up.
A momentary push will switch off and also bring back on. There are no issues with interference from the switching and the dimming of the luminaire which can affect switch on. DSI is wired using a dimming pair, run around to each luminaire in the circuit.
Comparison Table of All Dimming Types
GROUP | SUB TYPE | DESCRIPTION / HOW IT WORKS | CABLING REQUIREMENTS | CONTROLLER REQUIREMENTS | NOTES |
Mains / Phase Dimming | Leading Edge | Consists of adjusting the leading edge of the mains power sine wave. | Standard live neutral earth | Dedicated phase dimming controller such as a rotary dimmer, or a Lutron-style system with phase dimming outputs. | |
Mains / Phase Dimming | Trailing Edge | Consists of adjusting the trailing edge of the mains power sine wave. Commonly used for LED bulbs | Standard live neutral earth | Dedicated phase dimming controller such as a rotary dimmer, a Lutron-style system with phase dimming outputs, or a Casambi TED. | |
Mains / Phase Dimming | Adaptive | Consists of adjusting the mains power sine wave | Standard live neutral earth | Dedicated system with autosensing of load type, and capability to provide either leading or trailing edge dimmed supply. | |
Analogue | 0-10v | Consists of a DC voltage control signal between 0-10v, which corresponds to the desired brightness. Used in older drivers, not very common any more. | Standard live, neutral and earth, with extra two core cable for positive and negative 0-10v signal, to each group of loads that require unique dimming. | Dedicated system with 0-10v output for desired drivers. All drivers connected to that cable will get the same signal. | Some systems also provide a relay to power down the driver at 0v to avoid it staying on at low brightness. Theoretically any number of drivers can run from one signal, but voltage drops in long lengths of control cable can lead to inaccurate dimming signals. Future proofing is difficult as cable can carry only one signal. |
Digital | SwitchDim / TouchDim | The simplest form of digital control, using an additional mains wiring core to dim up or down | Standard live, neutral and earth, with additional live core to driver for dimming signal. | Retractive switch to send mains signal to the driver. | |
Digital | DSI | DSI stands for Digital Serial Interface was the precursor to DALI, developed by Tridonic in Austria, and consists of a digital signal to all connected drivers, with a dim level. This enables the user to group luminaires, operate daylight linked dimming and other controllable options. Not commonly used, as superseded by DALI. | Standard live, neutral and earth, with additional two core cable to the driver for the dimming signal. | Dedicated system with DSI output. | |
Digital | DALI | DALI stands for Digitally Addressable Lighting Interface. DALI is a recognised standard employed by all driver manufacturers that offer DALI drivers. This system assigns an individual address to each luminaire i.e. 001, 002, 003 and so on, allowing unique control of each individual luminaire. DALI can offer two-way communication between the luminaire and the master controller which provides valuable information and reports such as operating status of individual luminaires, emergency lighting etc. DALI is an open protocol managed by the DALI Alliance, so any device manufacturer can certify their products to the standard. | Standard live, neutral and earth, with additional two core cable to the driver for the dimming signal. | Dedicated system with DALI output such as Tridonic SceneCOM or SceneCOM S. | A DALI system is arranged in groups of DALI devices, called loops. Each loop can contain up to 64 devices, whether these are lights, switches or other types. |
Digital | DMX-512 | DMX stands for Digital Multiplex and is another protocol used for addressing devices and giving them unique control signals. The signal is unidirectional, meaning it only travels in one direction - from the controller or first light, all the way to the last. DMX is an open protocol also. | Standard live, neutral and earth, with additional two core cable to the driver for the dimming signal. Generally this two core is best in twisted pair cable or CAT5. DMX group cabling may also require terminators at the end of the cabling run. | Dedicated system with DMX outputs. | Most commonly used for colour control applications, or situations requiring rapid response such as entertainment lighting. DMX systems are arranged in groups of up to 512 unique addresses. |
