The ongoing evolution of lighting technology not only focuses on energy savings, but also encompasses control systems that combine with complex sensors and IoT devices to provide true interoperability, making buildings smarter than ever before.
Interoperability, cutting-edge data capabilities and connectivity – both wired and wireless --are at the heart of Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) technology.
Connected devices enable more creativity, efficiency and flexibility for lighting projects that can be controlled on a phone, and that can readily respond to the world in which they are installed.
The ease and versatility of wireless applications in lighting has had a significant impact. The use of wireless connectivity in retrofits avoids the traditionally intrusive nature of rewiring older buildings, although of course most devices still need to be powered.
In many scenarios, a wired solution remains the preferred choice, while in different circumstances a hybrid solution may be desirable. DALI provides choice and keeps future options open by enabling wired and wireless networks to operate together.
The key to any successful system, though, is the ability for its constituent devices to communicate effectively with one another. In lighting control, DALI is the most widely used open standardized protocol, or communication language, and has been utilised in countless applications around the world. DALI enables bi-directional digital communication between lighting control devices and sensors, with the added ability to address individual DALI devices, consistent with the requirements of the IoT.
Standardisation enables future-proofing of systems, in comparison with proprietary systems that can increase the risk of long-term component availability. Similarly, standardisation of data means that building management systems (BMS) don’t need “translation” to/from manufacturer-specific fields.
The depth of intelligence and interoperability of DALI products and the systems they can create are truly helping to enable smarter buildings with greater intelligence and functionality.