Rail-DALI-DMX - Artistic Licence

Artistic Licence

Rail-DALI-DMX User Guide

Rail-DALI-DMXUser Guide

Version 1-5


Please read these instructions before using the product.

This product has been designed & manufactured for professional use only. It should only be installed by a suitably qualified technician and in accordance with

electrical regulations in the country of use.

Unless directed in the instructions there are no user serviceable parts inside the outer case of this product.

Always disconnect from the power supply when not in use.

Any specific IP rating, where appropriate, is given in the instructions. Unless other-wise stated this product is designed for indoor use only. If used outdoors it MUST be installed in an appropriate IP rated cabinet. Do not allow this product to be exposed

to rain or moisture. Do not allow liquid to penetrate the product.

Please recycle all packaging.

Copyright © Artistic Licence Engineering Ltd. All rights reserved.

Download the user guide by scanning the following QR code:


Reference Type Description

1 LED DALI Received2 LED Power3 Connection DMX Output4 DIP Switch See below5 Power Input GND Connection6 Power Input 9 - 24 VDC7 Connection DALI Connection

Connections

Dip Switch Function1 Not Used2 Not Used3 Number of virtual ballasts

(See Table 1)4 Number of virtual ballasts

(See Table 1)5 Dimming Curve

(OFF: No correction / ON: Exponential correction)

6 Operation Mode(OFF: Ballast / ON: Trigger)

Mounting Diagram


BackgroundRail-DALI-DMX converts DALI into DMX512. It is designed for environments that require integration between the two protocols.

Overview

To understand the power of Rail-DALI-DMX, consider the following illustrative example:A cinema foyer contains an existing DALI controller which is being used to control white fluorescent overhead lighting. The customer wishes to use it to control some new DMX colour-changing lights that are being installed in the foyer. Additionally, there is a media wall on the outside of the building, which is being run by a dedicated DMX controller. The customer would like to be able to trigger shows on the media wall from the DALI controller located in the foyer. Both of these tasks can be achieved by using Rail-DALI-DMX in conjunction with the existing controllers. The product has two modes of operation, Ballast or Trigger. Ballast mode would be used to control the DMX colour-changing lights, while Trigger mode would be used for the media wall. The two modes are selected on the product using DIP switch 6 (OFF for Ballast mode, ON for Trigger mode).

DALI - Digital Addressable Lighting Interface

DALI was primarily designed for commercial lighting to respond to the growing demands of energy efficient lighting systems. It was developed to provide two-way communication between controller and ballasts.The most common DALI device is a fluorescent ballast. Compared to DMX512, speed has been sacrificed in favour of flexibility and ease of use.

Each DALI circuit must have a DALI Bus PSU to provide the voltage on the line. An example is the Artistic Licence Rail-PSU-D4. There can be no more than 64 ballasts on a single bus (this corresponds to one circuit). Ballasts being used for the first time require commissioning to give them a unique short address. A tool such as the Artistic Licence Dali-Scope can be used for this.

The DALI data packet comprises three parts: Address (ballast(s) being signalled), Command (what type of message is being sent) and Data (the value associated with the command). On any given circuit, DALI ballast intensity can be controlled in four ways: Broadcast, Individual Channel, Groups (up to 16) and Scenes (up to 16 per ballast).

For more information about DALI, please refer to www.DALI-ag.org. A handy guide to DALI for those more familiar with DMX can be downloaded from www.ArtisticLicence.com.

DMX512 - Digital MultiplexDMX512, released in 1986, was created by the entertainment industry to control 512 channels of lighting fixtures per cable at near-video rates. Since then DMX has been used in the majority of effects lighting fixtures and, due to its qualities in fading RGB devices, has also migrated into architectural fixtures.

Ballast Mode

Ballast mode is used when one wants to control DMX fixtures using a DALI controller. Figure 1 on the next page shows the data flow in Ballast Mode.

ConventionsIn this document, for clarity, we number DALI ballasts 1-64, and Groups and Scenes 1-16. On the wire, these actually appear as 0-63 and 0-15 respectively. Most DALI commissioning tools use the latter numbering system.


In Ballast Mode, Rail-DALI-DMX simulates virtual ballasts, each of which has control over a single DMX channel. Figure 2 below demonstrates this for 4 virtual ballasts. A virtual ballast acts in the same manner as a normal DALI ballast and responds to a sub-set of the standard DALI commands (see DALI Commands - Overview in the Appendix).

DIP Switch 3

DIP Switch 4

Total no. of Virtual Ballasts

Off Off 1Off On 4On Off 16On On 64

Virtual Ballast No. DMX Data Slot1 12 23 34 45 5

63 6364 64

Table 2

Table 1

Virtual Ballast Set-Up

The product assigns each virtual ballast a number that defines the output slot for the DMX data as shown in Table 2. These numbers are pre-programmed; however, the system does allow editable short addresses, as explained in the next section.

DALIController

Rail-PSU-D4

Rail-DALI-DMX

DMX

DMX RGB Fixtures

DALI

DALI

Figure 1: Ballast Mode Data Flow

Figure 2:

Ballast Mode with 4 Ballasts

Ballast1

DMXSlot 1

DMX

DALI

ChannelCommand

SceneCommand

BroadcastCommand

GroupCommand

Ballast2

DMXSlot 2

ChannelCommand

SceneCommand

BroadcastCommand

GroupCommand

Ballast3

DMXSlot 3

ChannelCommand

SceneCommand

BroadcastCommand

GroupCommand

Ballast4

DMXSlot 4

ChannelCommand

SceneCommand

BroadcastCommand

GroupCommand

Rail-DALI-DMX offers the user the option to simulate 1, 4, 16 or 64 ballasts. The choice is made via setting DIP switches 3 and 4 as shown in Table 1. The DMX channels that are not being used are set to zero.

DALI-DMX conversion for 4 ballasts in Ballast mode


CommissioningAs with any DALI product, the Rail-DALI-DMX must be commissioned (using a tool such as Dali-Scope) to give each virtual ballast a unique short address. The choice of short address depends on what ballasts are already present on the network. If no short addresses are taken up already, the default course would be to assign sequential short addresses starting at 1.If the total number of virtual ballasts is changed (using DIP switches 3 and 4 as shown in Table 1), the commissioning procedure must be carried out again. If the product is not commissioned, it can still control the DMX fixtures when receiving DALI broadcast commands. This can be useful during the installation phase prior to commissioning to check for system response.

In Ballast Mode, Rail-DALI-DMX offers three fade times of 0 (instant), 1 or 4 seconds. Other input values of fade times are treated as 0 (instant). Simulated fades only happen when ‘Direct Arc Power’ commands and ‘Go To Scene’ commands are used. Fade times are selected on a ‘per virtual ballast’ basis using a tool such as Dali-Scope. Fade times allow the virtual ballast to perform a simulated fade when they receive a commanded to adopt a new level. A one-second fade executes using a fade ramp of approximately 30 steps, while a four-second fade uses a fade ramp of approximately 120 steps (note that this feature applies to products with serial numbers above 0129).

Fade Times

The DALI specification provides four ways of controlling the ballast power:

1. Individual Channel level.

2. Group control (each virtual ballast can be assigned to any of 16 groups, and can also belong to more than one group).

3. Scene selection (each ballast can store up to 16 scenes).

Intensity Control

4. Broadcast (all ballasts receive a command to respond to a given value).

Rail-DALI-DMX supports all of these control commands in Ballast Mode for 1, 4, 16 or 64 virtual ballasts.

Dimming CurveThe majority of DMX devices operate using a linear dimming curve with the level selected by a decimal value between 0 and 255.

DALI works with a non-linear (exponential) curve. As the graph shows, each method produces a different output.

0

DMXDALI

0 255

100%

Ballast Power

Control Value

Rail-DALI-DMX offers the user the ability to adjust the response curve of the DMX output in order to mimic that of DALI ballasts. The choice is set using DIP switch 5. OFF means no curve correction, while ON will apply the exponential curve correction. The correction affects all control modes (Broadcast, Channel, Group and Scene). The correction is, however, an approximation, and due to the nature of the conversion the top end is steppy.

Trigger ModeTrigger Mode (set when DIP Switch 6 is ON) is used to trigger a DMX controller, as explained in the Overview section. It enables integration between existing DALI installations and DMX systems such as the media wall discussed in the Overview example. Figure 3 on the next page shows the data flow in Trigger Mode. In this mode, Rail-DALI-DMX is usually only connected to one device; in the example of Figure 3, this a Multi-Play unit (a show recorder and playback product made by Artistic Licence).


Virtual Ballast Set-UpTrigger Mode also uses virtual ballasts but, in contrast to Ballast Mode, they are not proxies for actual fixtures. As such, the DALI control commands Channel, Group and Scene lose their literal meaning. Instead, they should be viewed simply as data streams that enable various triggering options. The virtual ballasts are pre-commissioned to define this triggering structure. Appendix Tables 3-6 detail the pre-programmed relationship between the virtual ballasts and the DMX output slots. The number of virtual ballasts can be set to 1, 4, 16 or 64 using DIP switches 3 and 4 (see Table 1). Figure 4 below shows the DALI-DMX conversion for 4 virtual ballasts in Trigger mode.The Dimming Curve Translation (DIP Switch 5) is operative for Channels and Groups. Again, it should be remembered that, in trigger mode, there is no concept of this describing actual fixture intensity levels.

DALI

DALI

Rail-PSU-D4

Rail-DALI-DMX

DALIController

Multi-Play

DMX

Figure 3: Trigger Mode Data Flow

Channel4

DMXSlot 4

DMXSlot 5

DMXSlot 20

...Group1

Group16

Trigger Mode with 4 Ballasts

...

...

...

Channel1

DMXSlot 1

DMX

DALI

DMXSlot 21

Scenes1-16

Figure 4: DALI-DMX conversion for 4 ballasts in Trigger mode


Appendix

Trigger Mode Mapping Tables

DALI I/P Command

DMX O/P Slot

Channel 1 1

Group

1 22 33 44 55 66 77 88 99 1010 1111 1212 1313 1414 1515 1616 17

Scene All 18

DALI I/P Command

DMX O/P Slot

Channel

1 12 23 34 4

Group

1 52 63 74 85 96 107 118 129 1310 1411 1512 1613 1714 1815 1916 20

Scene All 21

DALI I/P Command

DMX O/P Slot

Channel

1 12 23 34 45 5

16 16

Group

1 172 183 194 205 216 227 238 249 2510 2611 2712 2813 2914 3015 3116 32

Scene All 33

DALI I/P Command

DMX O/P Slot

Channel

1 12 23 34 45 56 67 7

63 6364 64

Group

1 652 663 674 685 696 707 718 729 7310 7411 7512 7613 7714 7815 7916 80

Scene All 81

Table 3: Mapping for 1 virtual ballast

Table 4: Mapping for 4 virtual ballasts



Tables 3-6 detail the pre-programmed relationship between the virtual ballasts and the DMX output slots in Trigger Mode. For all tables, the permitted DMX values for Channels and Groups lie in the range 0-255. See Table 7 for the specific Scene selection values.

Scene Selection TableDALI

SceneDMX Value

1 12 23 34 4

DALI Scene

DMX Value

5 56 67 78 8

DALI Scene

DMX Value

9 910 1011 1112 12

DALI Scene

DMX Value

13 1314 1415 1516 16

Table 7:DMX values corresponding to individual scene selection


DALI Commands - OverviewTable 8: Supported DALI Commands in Ballast and Trigger modes. ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘G’ refer to Broadcast, Channel and Group respectively.

DALICommand Type Details Supported in

Ballast Mode?Supported in

Trigger Mode?Data LED?

999 Direct Arc Value Send direct level values

Y (B/C/G)

Y (B/C/G) √

0 Off Send the off command

Y (B/C/G)

Y (B/C/G) √

1 Up Increase value by 1 until Max Level

Y (B/C/G) N √

2 Down Decrease value by 1 until Min Level

Y (B/C/G) N √

3 Step Up Increase value by 1 until Max Level

Y (B/C/G) N √

4 Step Down Decrease value by 1 until Min Level

Y (B/C/G) N √

5 Recall Max Level Output Max Value Y (B/C/G) N √

6 Recall Min Level Output Min Value Y (B/C/G) N √

7 Step Down and Off

Decrease value by 1/ Turn off

Y (B/C/G) N √

8 On and Step Up Turn on / Increase by 1

Y (B/C/G) N √

16 - 31 Go to Scene x Go to Scene Command

Y (B/C/G)

Y (see Tables 3-7) √

144 Query: Status

Query:Status

Part supported:Replies: 4 hex only when unit power is ON

Part supported:Replies: 4 hex only when unit power is ON

x

145 Query:Ballast

Query:Ballast Y Y x

147 Query:Lamp Power On

Query:Lamp Power On

Part supported:Replies: FF hex only when unit power is ON

Part supported:Replies: FF hex only when unit power is ON

x

151 Query:Version Number

Replies: Current Version Y Y x

153 Query:Device Type

Replies: Device Type N N x

160 Query: Actual Level

Replies: Current Value Y Y x

161 Query:Max Level

Replies: Max Value Y N x

162 Query:Min Level

Replies: Min Value Y N x


No power light 1. Check that the DC power wires are connected to the correct terminals and correct polarity.

2. Check power is switched on.3. Disconnect all non-power cables. Switch off product and leave

for 20 minutes (this allows the thermal fuse to reset). Switch on. If power light illuminates, it is likely that an external fault or wiring error is causing the problem.

DALI controller is not ‘seeing’ Rail-DALI-DMX

1. Product not powered on.2. No DALI bus PSU present.

DMX fixtures can only be controlled by DALI broadcast commands

1. The Rail-DALI-DMX has not been commissioned. Use a DALI tool such as DALI-Scope to achieve this.

The data light on Rail-DALI-DMX is not illuminated

1. Product not powered on.2. No DALI bus PSU present.3. DALI controller not connected.

Scene and Group commands not working

1. Scene and Group commands are handled differently in Trigger Mode. Try switching to Ballast mode (set DIP switch 6 OFF).

2. Scenes and Groups have not yet been programmed.DMX fixtures behaving erratically

1. DMX cable not terminated at last fixture.2. DMX cable is not suitable (must be data cable).3. More than 32 DMX fixtures on the cable.

When I cycle power to my DALI ballast, it powers up at an unexpected intensity

1. All DALI ballasts have a setting called ‘Power On Level’ which defines their intensity after power cycle. The ballast will stay at that intensity until Rail-DALI-DMX next refreshes it. Dali-Scope can be used to both read and programme the Power On Level.

Troubleshooting

DALICommand Type Details Supported in

Ballast Mode?Supported in

Trigger Mode?Data LED?

163 Query:Power On Level

Replies: Power On Level Y N x

164Query:

System Failure Level

Replies: System Failure Level

Y Replies: FE hex

Y Replies: FE hex x

165 Query:Fade Time

Replies: Fade Time Y Y

Replies “No Fade” x

165 Query:Fade Rate Not implemented

Y Replies “Not applicable”

Y Replies “Not applicable”

x

176 - 191 Query:Scene Levels

Replies: Scene Levels Y N x

192 Query:Groups 0 to 7

Replies: Group Assignment Y N x

193 Query:Groups 8 to 15

Replies: Group Assignment Y N x

Rail-DMX-DALI User Guide

Rail-DALI-DMX Specification

Mechanical y Housing: DIN rail case

y Material: Lexan Plastic - UL94-V0 rated

y Overall dimensions: 90 mm (H) x 88 mm (W) x 58 mm (D)

y Weight: 0.2 kg

y Mounting: 35 mm DIN rail or surface mount

y Country of manufacture: UK Environmental

y Operating temperature: 0°C to 40°C

y Storage temperature: -10°C to +50°C

y Operating relative humidity (max): 80% non-condensing

y IP rating: IP20 indoor use only

y Certification: CE, WEEE, RoHS

y Warranty: 2-year (return to base)Power & Electrical

y Input voltage: 9-24 VDC

y Input connector: (1) 2-pin screw terminal

y Input power (max): 10 W

y Duty cycle: 80% @ 25°C

y DC fuse: internal resettable fuse for control electronics

DMX512 Ouput y Output mode: ground referenced

y Output ESD protection: 12 kV

y Output voltage protection: +/- 80 VControl

y Input Protocols: DALI

y Output Protocols: DMX512, DMX512 (1990), DMX512-A

Configuration y DIP Switch

y DALI configuration commandsData Connections

y 3-pin Screw Terminal DMX Output (1 no.)

y 2-pin Screw Terminal DALI Input (1 no.)LED Indication

y Power / DALI inputPackage Contents

y Rail-DALI-DMX

y User guideOrdering Info

y Product code: Rail-DALI-DMXAccessories (not included)

y PSU-24-2-DR

y Rail-PSU-D4

y Dali-ScopeDALI Input

y Input mode: optically isolated

If the DALI Bus power supply goes off, if it is not reinstated after 1 second then all the relevant DMX outputs will flash at full intensity.

Failure Mode

When I cycle power to my DALI bus power supply, the ballasts go to unexpected intensities

1. All DALI ballasts have a setting called ‘System Failure Level’ which defines their intensity after a fault such as loss of DALI bus power supply (see ‘Failure Mode’ below). The Ballast will stay at that intensity until Rail-DALI-DMX next refreshes it. Dali-Scope can be used to read the ballast’s System Failure Level.

WarrantyAll products are covered from date of purchase by a two-year return to base warranty.

By return to base, we mean that the customer is responsible for all costs of transport to and from Artistic Licence.

Returns will not be accepted without prior authorisation. In order to discuss a request to return goods, please email:

[email protected] ComplianceAll Products manufactured or sold by Artistic Licence Engineering Ltd are fully compliant with the appropriate CE and RoHS regulations. Product specific information is available on request. Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE)Artistic Licence is a member of a WEEE compliance scheme and will happily recycle any of our products that you, at your expense, return to us.

CE Compliance

Rail-DALI-DMX is CE compliant when installed in a shielded and earthed metal

case

Due to our policy of continuing product improvement specifications are subject to change without notice

Artistic Licence The Mould Making WorkshopSoby MewsBovey TraceyTQ13 9JGUnited Kingdom

Telephone +44 (0) 20 8863 4515

Email: [email protected]: www.ArtisticLicence.com

[email protected]

Rail-DALI-DMX - Artistic Licence

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