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What are your thoughts on Dali lighting systems from a maintenance point of view ?
This thread has 3 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Sunday December 1, 2019 at 08:25
james_aa
Long Time Member
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What are your thoughts on Dali lighting systems from a maintenance point of view ?

Dali can be a very cost effective option to install a "multi group (circuit)" system. For instance with Lutron HWQS you could have a single Dali controller controlling 64 Dali groups, which would allow a significant saving when compared to 64 mains / phase dim Lutron channels. Obviously with a mains / phase dim system you could use mains / phase dim light fittings, but what ive noticed is that most of the higher end light fittings, downlights etc use a driver anyway so the cost of the mains / phase driver off sets the cost of the Dali drive in a Dali system.

My concern is that with a mains / phase dim system if a driver fails over time, any qualified electrician is able to swap out the driver, and your up and running again. Where as with a Dali system a new Dali driver would need to be re-configured and added into the Dali control system, most electricians would not be capable of doing this as most are not Lutron registered.
Post 2 made on Sunday December 1, 2019 at 18:03
Glackowitz
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We just wired a home where it was spec’d as an eco system, 48 cans on main floor and 36 on lower floor. I think it’s about a wash. As the cans now cost more as internal drivers are required, all cans are now wired twice, once with ac and once again by us. Then time to identify all loads in software and set then additional programming adding each can to the button.

I think the cans the electrician installed were around 800.00 each retail with all parts...can, bulb, driver and trim.

We also have a few loads of rgbw I need to figure out on control with lutron and savant.
There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.
Post 3 made on Sunday December 1, 2019 at 19:35
davidcasemore
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On December 1, 2019 at 08:25, james_aa said...
Where as with a Dali system a new Dali driver would need to be re-configured and added into the Dali control system, most electricians would not be capable of doing this as most are not Lutron registered.

You're confusing DALI (all caps) with Lutron's proprietary EcoSystem. They both have the same basic functions, and Lutron's HWQS supports both. Even though DALI is an open standard, if it's being linked to a HWQS system then yes the person would need to be Lutron certified.

The thing that I love about addressable lighting is that it can be limitlessly changed on the fly. We've probably all had a client who asked if one of the three recessed lights above, say, the piano, can be on by itself to put a dramatic light on the piano. You have to explain that because all three lights are wired together there's nothing you can do. The electrician would have to pull new wires. With DALI or EcoSystem it's a simple matter of re-addressing the driver.

But the argument about needing a Lutron certified person doesn't just apply to these drivers. Any of the Lutron devices with serial number addressing requires such a person. If you replace an RF dimmer, a keypad of any type, a Pico remote etc. then you need a Lutron certified person.
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OP | Post 4 made on Monday December 2, 2019 at 10:21
james_aa
Long Time Member
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On December 1, 2019 at 19:35, davidcasemore said...

But the argument about needing a Lutron certified person doesn't just apply to these drivers. Any of the Lutron devices with serial number addressing requires such a person. If you replace an RF dimmer, a keypad of any type, a Pico remote etc. then you need a Lutron certified person.

Although for the most part keypads, RF dimmers, etc dont tend to fail (obviously there are exceptions). Where as drivers seem to be perishable items, just in the same way LED lamps are.


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