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DALItoDMX User Guide
Each of the virtual DALI devices controls
a consecutive DMX channel, as shown in
Table 2 below.
Mapping to DMX512
Commissioning the virtual devices
The virtual DALI devices can be
commissioned with a short address (this
requires a commissioning tool such as
Commissioner dali).
If no commissioning of the virtual DALI
devices is undertaken, only broadcast DALI
will work. This can be useful during the
installation phase prior to commissioning
to check for system response.
To access the other DALI addressing
modes (Group, Device and Scene),
commissioning
MUST
be undertaken.
Device Mode (continued)
Fade time configuration
This option applies when ‘Direct Arc Power’
commands and ‘Go To Scene’ commands
are used.
Fade times allow the virtual device to
perform a simulated fade when they receive
a command to adopt a new level.
DALItoDMX offers three fade times of 0
(instant), 1 or 4 seconds. Other input values
of fade times are treated as 0 (instant).
Fade times are selected on a ‘per
virtual device’ basis using a tool such as
Commissioner dali.
A one-second fade executes using a fade
ramp of approximately 30 steps, while
a four-second fade uses a fade ramp of
approximately 120 steps.
The majority of DMX devices operate using a
linear dimming curve with the level selected
by a decimal value between 0 and 255.
DALI works with a non-linear (exponential)
curve. As the graph shows, each method
produces a different output:
DALItoDMX offers the user the ability to
adjust the response curve of the DMX output
in order to mimic that of DALI devices.
The choice is set using DIP switch 5. OFF
means no curve correction, while ON will
apply the exponential curve correction.
The correction affects all addressing modes
(Broadcast, Group, Device and Scene).
The
correction is, however, an approximation,
and due to the 8-bit encoding, some loss of
resolution will occur.
0
DMX
DALI
0
255
100%
Device Power
Control Value
Dimming Curve
Table 2
Virtual DALI
Device number
DMX Channel
0
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
63
64
