Lighting control and IEC 62386

Digital addressable lighting interface (DALI) technology, as standardized in IEC 62386, is a dedicated lighting-control protocol that is widely used throughout the industry. The technology offers advantages such as flexibility, simplicity, ease-of-use and robustness.

IEC 62386 has been revised a number of times, and was significantly restructured in November 2014 with the publication of various new editions and revisions:

• Edition 2.0 of Part 101 (system components)
• Edition 2.0 of Part 102 (control gear)
• Edition 1.0 of Part 103 (control devices)
• New Parts designated 2xx (particular requirements for control gear) and 3xx (particular requirements for control devices and input devices e.g. push buttons, occupancy sensors etc)

IEC 62386 continues to be improved with the addition of new features.

The current version of IEC 62386 offers a number of advantages compared with earlier versions. The most important advantage is the assurance of multi-vendor interoperability when backed by the DALI certification program.

Also, the current version of IEC 62386 takes a system approach and now includes control devices in Part 103 and Parts 3xx. Input devices such as sensors, switches and controllers are incorporated, along with other new features. The scope for multi-vendor interoperability is therefore broadened and improved, while backward compatibility is maintained.

Restructuring into separate Parts has helped to reduce variations in interpretation of the standard from company to company. In the past, this has resulted in interoperability issues in the field.

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