Crestron Introduces Advanced Fluorescent Ballast Control and Commissioning Tools

Crestron has announced the new DIN-DALI-2 DALI interface, which delivers the most advanced fluorescent ballast control available today. The DIN-DALI-2 supports two DALI channels and enables control of up to 128 individual DALI ballasts. DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) is the highly efficient, energy saving protocol that creates "smart" ballasts for fluorescent lighting fixtures. The DIN-DALI-2 enables direct, 2-way network connectivity between a Crestron 2-Series and a DALI-compliant ballast. It communicates with the Crestron control system via Cresnet or Ethernet, greatly simplifying network configuration.

DALI is ideal for open-space commercial environments. When cubicle and workspace layouts change, the lighting needs to be adjusted accordingly. DALI provides tremendous flexibility for both retrofit and new installations. Each DALI ballast contains a digital address and is part of a network. Multiple ballasts sharing a single power circuit can be independently zoned and controlled, and both ballasts and zones may be reconfigured with ease, even after a system has been installed.

"Controlling DALI ballasts with the DIN-DALI-2 is just like controlling any Crestron dimmers," explains Robin van Meeuwen, Managing Director at Crestron UK. "We've eliminated the need for complex hardware addressing and communication protocols, and developed an intuitive, menu-driven commissioning tool to further simplify the process."

Designed specifically for the DIN-DALI-2, the Crestron DALI commissioning software tool simplifies and expedites system setup. The intuitive menu-driven wizard provides step-by-step configuration of ballast properties, groups, and scenes. Guided by the software, simply set the ballast address and check connectivity status, edit minimum/maximum levels and fade time, and change ballast groupings and scenes. This powerful software makes ballast replacement straightforward through automatic identification of new hardware IDs. Settings from old ballasts are transferred to replacements with just a few mouse clicks, saving time and eliminating guess work and frustration.