DALI means Digital Addressable Lighting Interface. It provides bidirectional digital communication between lighting-control products, normally over a dedicated two-wire bus. Instead of relying only on a dimmed mains waveform, a controller can address compatible control gear, set levels and query supported status information.
DALI-2 is the DALI Alliance certification programme based on the relevant protocol requirements, including control-device support. It is not simply a new brand of lamp. Check the certified product's functions: colour control, emergency testing and energy data are not automatically present in every driver.
Hardware roles
- Control gear: for example a DALI LED driver matched to its LED load.
- An application controller that decides what should happen, whether standalone or built into a gateway/controller.
- Optional input devices such as push-buttons, occupancy sensors and light sensors, supported by that system.
- A suitable DALI bus power supply, separate or integrated, with a calculated current budget.
- A commissioning interface/tool supported by the controller, plus appropriate installation cable and enclosures.
A practical first design
Start with one room's behaviour: manual control, occupancy, daylight response and a small number of scenes. Choose compatible drivers and controller functions, then have the installer commission addresses, groups and scenes and record which physical fitting each address represents. Test supported feedback as well as commands.
D4i extends DALI-2 with defined power/data features, particularly for intelligent luminaires with attached sensors or communication nodes. It belongs within the DALI family, not as an unrelated competing bus. Integrated D4i bus supplies must be included when calculating a larger system's supply budget.
This is a documentation-based introduction. DALI wiring must not be assumed SELV or safe to touch simply because its normal signalling voltage is low. Use an appropriately licensed electrician for Australian mains and associated installation work.
Official reading
DALI Alliance public Quick Start Guide
Official D4i requirements and relationship to DALI-2
Tridonic DALI supply manual: DALI is not SELV