DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) is the standard behind a lot of modern office lighting. Each fitting has its own address, so it can be switched, dimmed and monitored individually by the lighting control system, whether that’s Simmtronic, Prolojik, Legrand or another make.
That flexibility is great when it works. When a part fails, the fix is rarely as simple as swapping a lamp.
What actually fails
Drivers
LED fittings run from a driver. On DALI systems the driver is also the part that talks to the control system. A failed driver usually means one fitting is dead, flickering or ignoring the controls. We see this most on suspended linear fittings above desks, which run long hours.
The replacement has to be a compatible DALI driver, and the fitting has to be addressed and set back up in the system so it behaves like the rest of the zone.
Ballasts
Older fluorescent fittings on DALI systems use DALI ballasts instead of LED drivers. They fail in the same way and are replaced in the same way. If a floor still has a lot of them, it is often worth talking about an LED upgrade.
Emergency inverters and batteries
Emergency fittings have an inverter and battery pack that keep the light on during a power cut. Batteries lose capacity with age, and fittings start failing their tests. On DALI systems the test results are often reported centrally, so the system tells you which fittings need attention. We replace the batteries or inverter units and retest.
LED engines
Sometimes the LED board itself fails. We replace the LED engine and driver together where needed, so the light output and colour match the fittings around it.
Planning the work in an occupied office
Most DALI work is above desks, so we plan it around the office:
- Out of hours. We often attend from 6am or at weekends.
- Riser access and isolation. Circuits need isolating safely, which may mean access to risers and distribution boards. We agree this with building management in advance.
- Floor plans. We work to the client’s lighting plan, and mark up any changes so the records stay accurate.
- Spares. Where it makes sense we leave a couple of spare drivers on site, so the next failure is a quicker fix.
Emergency lighting tests
Emergency lighting needs regular testing, with the results recorded in a log book. We carry out monthly checks for office clients, fill in the log book and replace failed batteries and fittings. DALI systems with central monitoring make this quicker, but someone still needs to act on the results.
Need help with DALI lighting?
We maintain DALI lighting and lighting control systems in offices across London. See our commercial lighting controls service, our guides to Simmtronic faults and Prolojik PIR faults, or call 020 8227 0035.