DALI emergency devices are wired in the same way as any other DALI device. A DALI emergency device should be treated as a DALI device and follows the same wiring rules. The limit of 64 devices per DALI line still applies to DALI emergency.
Emergency devices require an Un-switched Active, Neutral, Earth and communication wires. This happens to be exactly the same as a traditional DALI device since all switching on the Active is located inside the DALI device.
No. You can have a combined total of 64 DALI or DALI emergency devices on a single DALI line. Installers and designers should consider these units as the same type of product.
Adding a backup generator is very easy and no change in the wiring is required. When an emergency situation occurs and power is lost and then returns the DALI devices will return to the DALI EMERGENCY LEVEL which is a parameter stored within the device. On commissioning the device an installer can set this level. Most devices will support a value between 0-100% giving the designer unlimited flexibility. This means that when power is restored (through a generator or normal resumption) the load can be controlled. After the power is restored the control system can retake control of the building and return the building to normal or a controlled state.
If the system is designed correctly additional DALI devices (Any DALI type device) can be added at a later date with relative ease.
Yes, in most cases. There are suppliers that manufacture DALI inverters that are compatible with most types of lighting. Evolt is the leading manufacture in this area, although there are other manufactures that support DALI emergency devices.
Any true DALI compatible control system can be used for DALI emergency monitoring. Contact your DALI system provider for more information. Some providers of DALI control systems are:
- TridonicAtco ( Worldwide)
- Dali-Control ( Worldwide)
- Monitor Software (Australia/ New Zealand)
- HPM ( Australia / New Zealand)
- Clipsal ( Australia / New Zealand)
- Dynalite ( Asia Pacific)
The calendar functions inside the DALI emergency device allow for self testing. This means that DALI emergency devices can perform a function or duration test periodically and display the results to these tests either through the LED or it can be polled from a DALI control system. The time between testing times can be changed through the use of the DALI protocol.
Prolong time is a time that the emergency device will stay on after the resumption of the normal supply. This time is important when HID or other special lighting is used that may not re-light when the normal supply is resumed. In Australia the emergency standard AS2293 defines the requirement of this condition when HID lighting is used.
Yes, you can use a DALI emergency light in situations where you need to prolong the emergency light. You will have to program the device using a DALI programmer or other commissioning device, but after this the device will become stand alone. The standard prolong time is 2 minutes but this can be increased to a period of 90 minutes.
DALI emergency devices can be addressed in the same manner and at the same time as other DALI devices. A DALI device has a number of additional variables that can also be programmed. This can be done with a DALI programmer or other DALI commissioning device.
Ektor has a number of commissioning tools available on request
DALI is the perfect choice when using CCFL or LED technologies in exit or emergency products. CCFL and LED products don’t fail, instead the light output of the device decreases. Only by knowing when the products reached 50% brightness will you know when to replace the lamp. DALI emergency devices have inbuilt functionality to count the number of hours the lamps have run for. By knowing this, a control system can initiate a lamp change when the lamp life has been reached. Without this technology it would be very hard and inaccurate to determine when to replace the CCFL or LED lamp source.