Our websites use cookies on your device to give you the best user experience. By using our websites, you agree to the placement of these cookies. To learn more, read our privacy policy.

Wireless to DALI Gateways

Wireless to DALI Gateways

Wireless to DALI Gateways enable existing wired DALI lighting products to be used in non-DALI wireless ecosystems. Our specifications (see right) support Bluetooth® mesh and Zigbee® wireless ecosystems. 

Technical Guide DALI Gateways Implementing Part 341 or 342 (September 2021)
Blog Wireless lighting control with DALI gateways (October 2021)
Webinar DALI and Connectivity: Choice and flexibility with DALI+ and Wireless Gateways (July 2021)
Specifications See right
Press release DALI Alliance issues specifications for Wireless to DALI Gateways (April 2021)

 

 

Technical overview

Wireless to DALI gateways:

  • Allow existing DALI wired products to be used in a non-DALI wireless ecosystem
  • Translate between DALI and a wireless protocol
  • Connect to the wireless ecosystem and to the DALI system

 

Gateways allow existing wireless ecosystems to control and query common DALI wired products, such as LED drivers. Devices in the wireless ecosystem communicate using their existing protocol, and can talk with the gateway.

The gateway is part of the wireless ecosystem, and also provides a wired DALI connection, which supports up to 4 control gear in the same luminaire (broadcast control).

The gateway allows the wireless ecosystem to control light output and fading of the DALI control gear (LED drivers) on the wired DALI bus. The gateway supports querying of lamp failure information.

DALI control gear (LED drivers) are able to report luminaire, energy and diagnostics data (as defined in Parts 251-253) to the wireless ecosystem via the gateway.

See our Technical Guide for more detailed information.

Specifications
The DALI Alliance has published two specifications for Wireless to DALI Gateways

► Part 341 – Bluetooth Mesh to DALI Gateways

► Part 342 – Zigbee to DALI Gateways

>> Download the DiiA Specifications

 

TESTING & CERTIFICATION

Tests are already in development, which will enable gateways for both ecosystems to be added to the DALI-2 certification program, providing interoperability between products from different vendors.

 

TECHNICAL GUIDE

 

LINKS

>> DALI+

>> More about DALI over IP solutions 

>> More about DALI and wireless

 

 

FAQs - Wireless to DALI Gateways

Why do we need standardized gateways?

View answer

Standards promote interoperability, build market confidence and accelerate adoption. There are a number of examples of closed, proprietary solutions that are designed to act as gateways between DALI and other protocols, both wired and wireless. Without open, industry-defined specifications there is no guarantee that these gateways will function correctly.

Close

How did you decide which gateways to standardize?

View answer

All our work on specifications and certification is guided by the priorities set by our members, as well as the availability of volunteers to carry out the necessary tasks; these include creating the specifications and test procedures, and evaluating the tests so that certification can begin. For Wireless to DALI Gateways, our members looked at various options and initially decided to work with the Zigbee Alliance and Bluetooth SIG.

Close

Will further gateways be standardized in future?

View answer

We will continue to evaluate other options to develop standardized gateways between DALI and other protocols, both wireless and wired. Currently, aside from these new Zigbee and Bluetooth mesh gateway specifications, there are no other standardized gateways between DALI and other protocols.

Close

Instead of using a gateway, why not implement the entire network using the wireless ecosystem?

View answer

The gateway specifications enable well-defined and consistent lighting behaviour. DALI was developed specifically for lighting and has a number of tailored lighting-control features, as well as the availability of luminaire, energy and diagnostics data. Crucially, DALI is based on a global standard. Other protocols cannot offer the same rich set of standardized, lighting-specific features. Also, gateways allow existing DALI products to be re-used. Especially for LED drivers, there are many certified products from a wide range of suppliers, providing choice and future-proofing.

Close

When will gateway certification start?

View answer

Following completion of the specifications, we have already started to develop the tests that are necessary to enable certification. This process will take several months. Gateway devices will be added to the DALI-2 and D4i certification program.

Close

Can you describe this technology as “wireless DALI”?

View answer

“Wireless DALI” is a different approach, where the DALI commands are transported over a wireless carrier, and a mesh network is formed by the wireless DALI devices. For gateways, the DALI side is wired – either a single luminaire containing an intra-luminaire DALI bus, or a wired bus with several luminaires – while the non-DALI side is wireless.

Close

Will the gateways allow interoperability between Bluetooth mesh and Zigbee?

View answer

Gateways are specific to one ecosystem only, and there is no crossover between wireless ecosystems.

Close

Can I use the same DALI-2 or D4i drivers with either a Bluetooth mesh gateway or a Zigbee gateway?

View answer

Yes, the same certified devices can be used. A wide choice is already available from multiple suppliers (see the DALI Alliance product database).

Close