Controls and Connectivity

FAQ: Frequently asked questions


  1. What do you need to know about the maximum cable length and cross-section for a DALI circuit?
    • The maximum cable length depends on the maximum permitted voltage drop along the DALI cable; this is defined as 2 V max. Typically, this requirement is safely met for a cable length of 300 m and a cable cross-section of 1.5 mm². For more information see the DALI handbook, Chapter 4: Designing a DALI application.
  2. What do you need to know about the current draw of the devices in a DALI circuit?
    • The current on the DALI circuit must not exceed the rated current of the DALI power supply. If the DALI PS with a rated current of 200 mA is used, for example, all the devices connected to the DALI circuit must not draw more than 200 mA. DALI operating devices have a current draw of 2 mA; for DALI controllers the current draw is given in the data sheet.
  3. What happens in a DALI circuit if instead of a wire with a cross-section of 1.5 mm² a wire with a cross-section of 0.75 mm² is used for the control line?
    • The maximum possible cable length is reduced to about 150 m.
  4. Is DALI SELV?
    • No, DALI is not SELV (Safety Extra Low Voltage). The installation instructions for mains voltage therefore apply.
  5. Which topologies are suitable for DALI and DSI?
    • Line, star, tree and bus are suitable.

      Topologies such as ring, mash and fully connected are not suitable.

  6. For DALI and DSI can be control line be routed in the same cable as the power supply?
    • Yes, the DALI or DSI system is installed using standard installation material for mains voltage. Two wires are needed for the DALI control circuit. The line voltage and bus line may be routed in the same cable.
  7. Does shielded cable have to be used for the DALI or DSI control line?
    • No, the DALI or DSI system is installed using standard installation material for mains voltage. Two wires are needed for the DALI control circuit. The line voltage and bus line may be routed in the same cable.
  8. What do you need to know if you are connecting motion sensors to modularDIM Basic?
    • If you are using motion sensors with modularDIM Basic the sensors must have a floating contact.

      For mains powered motion sensors modularDIM LC must be connected between the motion sensor and modularDIM Basic (signal coupler).

  9. What happens in a modularDIM application with a scene module and a daylight module when a scene is retrieved and daylight control is activated?
    • The scene is daylight-controlled; in other words the scene values are used as temporary setpoint values for daylight control.
  10. What do you need to know about the switching output of DSI RK and DALI RM?
    • With the exception of ohmic loads, the load must always be switched via an additional contactor.
  11. For which operating systems is the DALI USB suitable?
    • The DALI USB is approved for use with
      • Windows 2000
      • XP
      • Vista and
      • Windows 7

      For Windows Vista and Windows 7 make sure that the firmware version of the DALI USB is 1.4 or higher.

  12. How can the voltage drop in the DALI circuit be measured?
    • Detailed instructions on measuring the voltage drop can be found in the DALI handbook, Chapter 6: Maintenance and troubleshooting.
  13. What is the maximum length of the switch wires of DALI MC?
    • The maximum cable length for the switch inputs of DALI MC is 50 cm.
  14. Can the smartSWITCH also be used as a dimmer switch?
    • No, smartSWITCH is a motion sensor for luminaire installation.
  15. What is the maximum room height for the various Tridonic sensor modules?
    • The sensor modules are designed for use in offices; in other words for a room height of around 2.5 m to 3 m. The sensitivity of the sensors reduces proportional to the square of the height. This means that this room height may be exceeded depending on the particular application. The function must however be checked in each case and will depend to a large extent on the ambient conditions.
  16. Can DSI A/D(S) be connected to a 0–10 V control signal?
    • 0–10 V is not defined in lighting technology. The defined standard is 1–10 V. According to the 1–10 V standard in lighting technology a 1–10 V device will react to a short-circuit (0 V) with the minimum dimming value.

      Since the 1–10 V control input of DSI A/D provides current so that a passive potentiometer can be connected, make sure that if an active voltage source is being used it is designed for a current of approx. 2 mA.

  17. Has the Tridonic DALI USB been approved for software tools of other manufacturers?
    • No, DALI USB is currently approved only for use with Tridonic software tools.
  18. How is presence detection defined for PIR motion sensors?
    • PIR (Passive Infrared) sensors are always motion sensors and not presence sensors. Motion is detected when there is a change from one detection firld to another detection field. However since the detection fields in the centre of the sensor are very small, very small movements are detected. If a movement as small as working with a computer mouse can be detected this is defined as the presence detection range of the PIR sensor.
  19. What are the technical limits and features of DALI?
      • Maximum number of DALI units: 64 
      • Maximum no. of DALI groups: 16 
      • Maximum no. of DALI scenes: 16
      • DALI voltage: 9.5 – 22.5 V, typically 16 V 
      • DALI system current: max. 250 mA (depending on the installed DALI power supply)
      • Data transfer rate: 1200 baud
      • Maximum cable length:
        The maximum cable length depends on the maximum permitted voltage drop along the DALI cable; this is defined as 2 V max. This corresponds to a maximum cable length of 300 m for a line cross-section of 1.5 mm².
      • Contact resistances must also be taken into consideration. A voltage drop of 2 V must not be exceeded. 
 
 
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