DALI Extension

Overview

The DBE-64 is a full-featured DALI bus master extension module for the Elausys Universal KNX Actuator System. Designed to seamlessly bridge KNX automation with professional DALI lighting installations, this extension enables control of up to 64 individual DALI devices or organization into 16 DALI groups through a single KNX interface. The integrated web commissioning interface simplifies DALI addressing and testing without requiring specialized DALI commissioning tools.

Technical Capabilities

The DBE-64 provides complete DALI bus master functionality with configurable channel capacity. In ETS, select between DALI Actuator 32-fold, 48-fold, or 64-fold configurations to match project requirements and optimize KNX communication object usage. Each KNX channel can be independently assigned to control a single DALI gear (addresses 0-63) or a DALI group (0-15), enabling flexible zone-based lighting control with custom labels for easy fixture identification.

The extension generates the standard 18VDC DALI bus voltage with internal current limiting protection at 230mA. An external 24VDC power supply capable of delivering up to 300mA must be connected to power the DALI bus output. All 64 DALI gears can be monitored in real-time for ON/OFF lamp status, and the system provides automatic gear failure detection with error status display for proactive maintenance.

Installation & Configuration

The DBE-64 mounts on standard 35mm DIN rail, occupying 4 space units (4SU). Installation involves mounting the extension adjacent to the MSA-810 master actuator and connecting via the provided side connector. Screw terminals accept conductors up to 2.5mm cross-section with 0.5Nm tightening torque for both the 24VDC power input and DALI bus output connections.

A network cable connection to the master actuator enables access to the built-in web commissioning interface. This embedded webpage provides visual DALI addressing with three operational modes: Search mode performs a complete bus scan to discover all connected gears, Add Unassigned Gears mode non-destructively adds new devices without affecting existing addresses, and Complete Readdressing mode performs full bus initialization for new installations. The interface supports direct gear control (ON/OFF/SET commands) without KNX bus communication for rapid testing during commissioning, plus address swapping and group assignment management.

In ETS5 or ETS6, configure the extension type and channel assignments through the MSA-810 application. The master automatically recognizes connected extensions during the addressing sequence. Refer to the MSA-810 User Manual for detailed DALI channel configuration options.

Applications

Commercial Office Lighting: Control DALI-equipped luminaires across open-plan offices, meeting rooms, and corridors with zone-based dimming and scene recall through KNX automation.

Retail and Hospitality: Integrate DALI track lighting, accent fixtures, and display lighting into KNX building management systems for coordinated lighting scenes and energy optimization.

Healthcare and Education: Manage DALI emergency lighting, examination room fixtures, and classroom luminaires through centralized KNX control with real-time status monitoring.

Industrial Facilities: Connect DALI high-bay lighting and warehouse fixtures to KNX systems with failure detection for maintenance scheduling and energy management.

Compatibility & Integration

The DBE-64 requires the MSA-810 master actuator to operate and cannot function as a standalone device. Up to 8 extension modules of any type can connect to a single master, enabling comprehensive building automation combining DALI lighting with switching, shutter control, heating, and analog outputs through one KNX interface.

The extension integrates with the complete Elausys Universal Actuator System ecosystem including switching extensions (SAE-810, SAE-816, SAE-2410), heating modules (HAE-805), phase dimmers (DAE-225), analog outputs (AAE-410), LED drivers (LAE-802), and digital outputs (DOE-825). Full support through the ElauPro cloud platform enables automated ETS application generation for efficient project deployment.