DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) is a protocol for digital lighting control that allows reliable, scalable and flexible lighting networks to be connected and configured. DALI is currently the most widely used digital protocol. When talking about DALI control, in addition to DALI-2, DALI DT6 and DALI DT8 are often mentioned. But what do these definitions mean? What are their differences?

DALI Device Type

The DALI protocol is supported and promoted by the DALI Alliance (DiiA), a group of global lighting companies established to develop the market for DALI-based control solutions.

The protocol was originally developed to allow digital control, configuration and interrogation of fluorescent lamp ballasts to replace simple one-way, broadcast-like 0/1-10V dimming applications. In the DALI protocol, basic broadcast options are available, and through simple configuration, each DALI device can be assigned an individual address, allowing digital control of individual devices.

DALI is a two-way communication protocol. The DALI protocol has been expanded many times since its inception and now makes it possible to determine whether a light fixture is working properly and its luminous intensity level, with each new device being assigned a new unique number. The device type (DT) number is derived from the IEC 62386 standard. They are only used with control gear-specific requirements (Part 2xx). Note that input devices and application controllers do not have DT numbers.

The following figure is the components of IEC 62386: When you need to distinguish the different commands required for different types of equipment, you need to add the DT number.

The DT number is related to the IEC 62386 Part number as follows:

[DT number]=[Part number]- 201

The most commonly used DT numbers are as follows:

DT6 and DT8 are just abbreviations

DT6 is the abbreviation of Device Type 6. DT6 refers to LED driving power supply. It is a DALI dimming LED driving power supply. It is mainly used in outdoor and indoor lighting control systems. The product forms include constant current and constant voltage LED driving power supply.

Similarly, DT8 is the abbreviation of Device Type 8 (color control device), which refers to an LED driving power supply with dual outputs supporting adjustable color temperature lamps or an LED driving power supply with more outputs supporting RGB color-adjusting lamps. It only needs one DALI address to enable a multi-output power supply to achieve color temperature or color control. Sometimes DT8 is also incorrectly described as "DALI-8", but DALI-8 does not exist. DALI-2 is the only example of using DALI with digital extensions.

What is the difference between DALI DT6 and DALI DT8?

Each Device Type has a specific set of capabilities that do not overlap or conflict with each other. DT6 has a set of functions available for all LED drivers, while DT8 commands and functions only deal with color control.

They have obvious differences in application scenarios, control methods and supported protocols:

Application scenario: DALI DT6 is mainly used for single-channel dimming of ordinary LED lamps, while DALI DT8 is mainly used to support RGB color adjustment.

Control method: DALI DT6 uses one address to adjust the brightness and color temperature of the light. If you want to adjust the color temperature, you need to use two addresses. Relatively speaking, DALI DT8 only needs one address to achieve adjustable color temperature and brightness adjustment, saving addresses and wiring.

Supported protocols: DALI DT6 supports IEC62386-102 and IEC62386-207 protocols, while DALI DT8 supports IEC62386-102 and IEC62386-209 protocols. In addition, DALI DT8 is compatible with DALI DT6, and both types of lamps can be mounted on the same DALI bus at the same time.

Overall, DALI DT6 and DT8 are important equipment types in the DALI lighting control system. DALI DT6 is suitable for single-channel dimming or dual-channel color temperature adjustment of ordinary LED lamps, while DALI DT8 is more suitable for LED lamps that support RGB color adjustment and white light adjustment. Both have their own characteristics, and the appropriate equipment type needs to be selected based on actual needs.