DOMIQ DALI Light – first steps

Lighting, alongside heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, is one of the main costs of operating a building. In this tutorial, we’ll introduce the basics of using DOMIQ/Light, a module you can use to build an inexpensive and efficient lighting control system. In the rest of this tutorial, we present the standard path for configuring and commissioning a lighting installation built with DALI ballasts.

DOMIQ DALI Light enables control of DALI-standard lighting directly from the DOMIQ system. The module provides two-way communication with DALI devices, so the system can not only send control commands, but also read back their status and fault information.

In the current version of the DOMIQ Base 2.0 system, you can connect up to 21 DOMIQ DALI Light modules. Each module creates an independent DALI segment supporting up to 64 addressed control devices, allowing you to build an installation covering up to 1344 DALI addresses.

Each segment can be configured and addressed independently, and all segments can simultaneously be used by the shared logic of the DOMIQ system.

In this tutorial, we’ll show the basic path for commissioning an installation:

• using DALI in DOMIQ automation and visualization,
  
• preparing the system,
  
• detecting and addressing devices,
  
• configuring DALI devices,
  
• creating groups and scenes,
• controlling lighting,
  
• handling fault information.
  

What do you need?
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To commission a DALI installation, you need:

• a DOMIQ Base 2.0 with the current system version,
  
• at least one DOMIQ DALI Light module,
  
• a correctly wired DALI bus,
  
• compatible DALI control devices, e.g. LED drivers.
  

One DOMIQ DALI Light supports a single segment with up to 64 DALI addresses.

If the installation requires a larger number of devices, you can add further modules:

• 1 × DOMIQ DALI Light → up to 64 DALI addresses,
  
• 2 × DOMIQ DALI Light → up to 128 DALI addresses,
  
• 3 × DOMIQ DALI Light → up to 192 DALI addresses,
  
• …
• 21 × DOMIQ DALI Light → up to 1344 DALI addresses.
  

Each additional module creates its own DALI segment. Segments are physically independent of one another, but from the DOMIQ side they form a single system and can be covered by shared scenarios and global control.

DOMIQ DALI Light Additional
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The DOMIQ DALI Light Additional module is used to expand an existing installation with another DALI segment. Its price includes a commissioning license that allows it to work with the specified DOMIQ Base 2.0.

If the module is moved to a different installation with a different DOMIQ Base 2.0, it must be reprogrammed and a new commissioning license purchased.

A previously owned DOMIQ DALI Light module can also be used as an additional segment, but this requires appropriate reprogramming and a license.

1. DOMIQ DALI Light – Capabilities
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DOMIQ DALI Light provides two-way communication with devices located within a given DALI segment.

The system enables, among other things:

• turning devices on and off,
  
• controlling the light level,
  
• reading the current dimming level,
  
• reading fault information,
  
• detecting power supply problems,
  
• automatic addressing of devices,
• manual address changes,
  
• assigning devices to groups,
  
• creating light scenes,
  
• controlling DT8 devices, including RGB and Tunable White,
  
• using the lighting state in DOMIQ logic and events.
  

Each control device can have an address in the range 0–63 within its segment. It can also be assigned to up to 16 groups and store the settings of 16 light scenes.

Thanks to the division into segments, the same addresses can occur in different segments — for example, a device with address 5 in segment 1 and a device with address 5 in segment 2 are independent elements of the installation.

2. Addressing of the installation #

Configuring the installation should start with addressing the DALI ballasts. The Light module allows two types of addressing: fully automatic or manual. All the functions described here are available in the DOMIQ Base 2.0 module interface, in the DALI tab.

2.1. Automatic addressing #

This type lets you program the entire installation with a single click. In the case of automatic programming, there are two forms to choose from. If you’re dealing with a new, not-yet-programmed installation, use the All button in the Random Addressing section. Pressing it initiates the addressing of the entire installation. Once the addressing procedure begins, the lamps will receive addresses in the range 0 to 63. Every control device in a DALI segment must have its own address in the range 0–63. The assignment of an address is confirmed by the given lamp lighting up. Keep in mind that starting the addressing process will erase all previously assigned addresses.

If your installation is already partially programmed and you would like to add new ballasts to it, you should initiate the programming by pressing the Unassigned button. It causes calling the procedure of addressing of those ballasts only that do not have any addresses assigned and the current addressing remains unchanged. In this case if the address is as- signed, it is confirmed by lighting of the lamp.

The Starting address field allows you to set the starting address, towards which the ad- dresses will be assigned in the procedure of the automatic addressing.

Automatic addressing is sometimes also called random addressing. This is due to the fact that during automatic addressing, addresses are assigned to ballasts randomly. Therefore, the addresses will not reflect the orderly installation of the lamps.

2.2. Manual addressing #

If you would like to keep the order of addresses in accordance with the order of assembly of ballasts, you should first of all conduct the automatic addressing and then use the option of changing the address manually. To do this select the lamp on the list of available ballasts and then in the Addressing section enter a new address and confirm it by pressing Set. In some cases you may need to change addresses of the two ballasts. In this case, you should lead to a situation in which both ballasts have an identical address, and then turn addresses crosswise.

3. Ballasts configuration #

3.1. Ballasts parametrization #

All DALI ballasts have a set of the predefined parameters: maximum level, minimum level, level by error, step and ramp. These parameters can be changed using the configuration interface. In the preview window of the installation first 5 columns are read-only, while the other ones allow you to change the above mentioned parameters of the ballast. The new value of the parameter is automatically sent to the ballast at the time of switching the cur- sor elsewhere in the interface

3.2. Groups #

Each ballast can be assigned to max. 16 groups. Grouping lets you organize controlling in a given way – for example, division into rooms or sections of the room etc. Grouping also helps to reduce configuration and movement on the bus, because instead of multiple commands you can send just one – to the group.

Assignment to the group is very simple – just check the box next to the number of the selected group. If you uncheck the box, the ballast will be removed from the group.

The full list of commands to control DALI groups can be found in the DOMIQ/Base documentation.

3.3. Lighting scenes #

Each lamp can have 16 light scenes programmed. This allows for convenient control of the lighting level. To program a scene, select it from the list, then enter the brightness value you want (on a scale from 0 to 100) in the Brightness column, and confirm with the Save button. To load a scene, simply press the Load button.

Saving and loading scenes is also available by using commands that can be combined with buttons in the Remote application, on visualization or as effect of an event etc.

The following command is used to load scenes in single ballasts: C.DALI.1.evg.adr=load:xx, where adr, stands for ballast address and xx is the scene number.

The following command is used to load the scenes in a group of ballasts: C.DALI.1.group.g=load:xx, where g, stands for the number of the group and xx is the scene number.

Saving scenes using commands is similar: just replace the word load with save. The command which saves the scene will assign the current brightness to the scene.

4. Integration with LCN #

The DOMIQ/Base module allows you to control the Light module directly from the LCN system. In the next part of this chapter we will present how to control the DALI lighting using the LCN wall buttons. In order to minimize costs just use any logic LCN module, which allows connection of buttons such as LCN–UPS or LCN-SHS.

4.1. Configuration of the LCN module #

The LCN module should be configured in such a way, that pressing the buttons is passed to the Base module. For this purpose use the Send buttons key, while as the recipient of the command indicate the Base module. The definition of the command Send buttons should be repeated for all DALI commands that will be controled with wall buttons. In this case we describe the use of four commands: on/off and lighter/darker. For this purpose we are going to reserve keys from D1 to D4 with the command short and assume that the address of our module is 10.

4.1. Configuration of the DOMIQ/Base module #

If you would like pressing buttons to result in sending commands to the Light module and to the DALI bus, you should define the events that will implement it. In this case there are four events, each for another DALI command. All definitions are the same, so we will present the first in details but in case of the next ones we will just indicate the differences. For this purpose let’s assume that the command is sent to the ballast with address 1.

1. Add a new event.
2. In the Channel field enter: E.LCN.key.0.10.D1, and in Value: hit.
3. In the actions click on Add command…. In the new window in the Name field enter: C.DALI.1.evg.1, and in Value: on.
4. For the other commands repeat steps from 1 to 3. Remember to change the number of the button and change the names of the commands to : off, up, down.

The above example can be expanded by adding support for invoking scenes, controlling groups etc. Similarly you can control a group.

4.3. Direct sending of the DALI commands #

Due to the fact that Base identifies itself in LCN–Pro as a segment coupler, the LCN–Pro software will not allow you to select Base as the target for DALI commands. However, this can be done by first assigning another LCN module or group as the table target, and then changing the target to the Base module. The procedure is as follows:

1. As recipient select any LCN logic module.
2. As command type select DALI and set the type of command that should be sent.
3. Save the module configuration.
4. Change the recipient of the command for the Base module.
5. Repeat the above mentioned actions for all DALI commands, that should be control- led using LCN wall buttons.

5. Notifications about failures #

As mentioned in the introduction, thanks to the bidirectional communication the Light module receives information about failures from the ballasts: information about burning out lamps and power failure. In the aspect of service it is very important to receive notifications of failures which occur in the installation.

The Base module allows you to send an e-mail. In the next part of this chapter we will present how to use this functionality in order to send notification about failures. In view of the fact that there are two types of failures, you should define two separate events for each type. In both cases the definition is almost the same. It was described below.

At first we will present the event informing about the power failure.

1. Add a new event.
2. In the Channel field enter: E.DALI.1.evg.%d+.powerfail.powerfail, and in Value: 1
3. In the Actions section, click on Add command… In the new window, enter: SC.EMAIL.<ad-res1> in the Name field, where <adres1> is the email address to which the notification should be sent. There can be multiple recipients; in this case, separate the addresses with a comma. Examples of use:
   • A single recipient: SC.EMAIL.service@example.com. Many recipients: SC.EMAIL.service1@example.com,service2@example.com,ser-vice3@example.com
   • A single recipient: SC.EMAIL.service@example.com
   • Many recipients:SC.EMAIL.service1@example.com,service2@example.com,ser-vice3@example.com
4. In the Value cell enter the subject of the message and then the contents divided from the subject with a semicolon: temat;treść contents. In this case we will send information about the lamp with a failure: Power failure;Power failure occured: ballast Awaria zasilania;Wystąpiła awaria zasilania: balast $C1.
5. Similarly we create an event informing that a lamp has burn out. In the Channel field replace the word powerfail withlampfailand modify the subject and message. The other actions remain unchanged.

The presented events will be triggered in case of failure of any lamp (pattern matching %d+ is responsible for this).

6. DALI on visualization #

In this chapter we present how to display the status and control the DALI ballast on the vi- sualization. The configuration is very easy:

1. Add Light to visualization.
2. In the Channel field enter: DALI.1.evg.xx, where xx stands for the address of the lamp.
3. Save the configuration. From now on you can just turn on and off light and at the same time the current status of ballast will displayed.

Example visualization of the DALI installation is shown in the picture below:

More information on the DALI control commands and a detailed description of the configuration interface can be found in the configuration manual of the DOMIQ/Base module.