brightline Dali Busmaster and Wall Station Installation Guide
- June 17, 2024
- brightline
Table of Contents
brightline Dali Busmaster and Wall Station
Product Information
The DALI Busmaster and Wall Station are components of the Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) system, which is the primary lighting control digital protocol used by Brightline. The DALI bus consists of a digital signal and a low-voltage backbone. The Busmaster provides 12.5-15VDC power to the bus along with the signal path. The maximum device count on a single DALI bus is 64, and the maximum bus length is 300 meters.
DALI Topology
The DALI topology is very forgiving, allowing devices to be installed anywhere
along the bus. Bare-end connections can be T’d (wired in parallel) and spliced
for ease of wire pulls.
Wiring Specifications
All wiring provided by Brightline is 16/2 Stranded, unshielded, and plenum
rated with 3-pin XLR connectors installed. If your installation requires
conduit, please inform Brightline, and they will provide bare wire leads with
the appropriate fixture terminations.
Device Protection
The CD-250 device contains a sensitive communication chip that is susceptible
to arcs and excessive current, which can render it unusable and disrupt the
entire bus. When connecting and installing the CD-250, special care should be
taken to isolate the device from grounding against the single-gang back box.
If an error indicator appears on the Busmaster after connecting the station,
contact Brightline Tech Support immediately at
412-206-0106 x 211.
Product Usage Instructions
Installation
- Ensure that the DALI Busmaster and Wall Station are located within the maximum bus length of 300 meters.
- Connect the Busmaster to the DALI bus using the provided wiring with 3-pin XLR connectors.
- Ensure that the Busmaster is providing a power supply of 12.5-15VDC to the bus.
- If using a CD-250 device, carefully connect and install it, ensuring proper isolation from grounding.
- If required, splice and connect bare-end wires to T’d connections for ease of wire pulls.
Energizing the System
Once the DALI Busmaster and Wall Station are installed, follow these steps to
energize the system:
- Ensure that all fixtures are connected to the DALI bus.
- Power on the Busmaster, providing 12.5-15VDC to the bus.
- All fixtures should come to full brightness.
Using the Wall Station
If your installation includes a CD-250 Wall Station, follow these steps to
test presets:
- Press preset 1 on the Wall Station to activate a predefined scene.
- Press preset 8 on the Wall Station to turn off all fixtures.
Specifications
- Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) system
- Maximum device count on a single DALI bus: 64
- Maximum bus length: 300 meters
- Busmaster provides 12.5-15VDC power to the bus
- Wiring: 16/2 Stranded, unshielded, plenum rated with 3-pin XLR connectors
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
-
Q: What is the maximum number of devices that can be connected to a single DALI bus?
A: The maximum device count on a single DALI bus is 64. -
Q: What is the maximum length of the DALI bus?
A: The maximum bus length is 300 meters. -
Q: How should I connect and install the CD-250 device?
A: When connecting and installing the CD-250, special care should be taken to isolate the device from grounding against the single-gang back box. If an error indicator appears on the Busmaster, contact Brightline Tech Support immediately. -
Q: How do I test presets on the CD-250 Wall Station?
A: Press preset 1 to activate a predefined scene and press preset 8 to turn off all fixtures.
For additional support and documentation, visit Brig ht line’s website at https://brightlines.com/guides-manuals-downloads/
Contact Brightline at info@brightlines.com or call 412-206-0106 for further assistance.
Installation Instructions
- The Digital Addressable Lighting Interface system is the primary lighting control digital protocol used by Brightline. The bus consists of a digital signal AND a low-voltage backbone, so rules for both apply. The maximum device count on a single DALI bus is 64, and care should be taken on the bus length (300 meters maximum), as voltage drop can also be a factor. The Busmaster provides 12.5-15VDC to the bus along with the signal path.
- The Busmaster is the communication port for programming the system, providing power to the bus, and operating it via A/V system commands. It must be placed in an appropriate location for floor access by both the programmer and permanent connection to the A/V processor and requires connection to an AC source (a 120v-18v Wall-wart style transformer is provided). It should never be installed in a ceiling or other hard-to-reach location. The Busmaster has status and error indicators that must be readily viewable for troubleshooting, and a null-modem serial port for programming and external control system connection. As standard, Brightline provides a primary wire run of 100’ from the Busmaster to the first fixture, so location in the equipment room or even the A/V equipment rack is most desirable. The Busmaster is small and light, and can be installed easily in the back of a rack by various methods.
- DALI topology is very forgiving, so devices can be installed anywhere along the bus, and bare-end connections can be “T’d” (wired in parallel) and spliced for ease of wire pulls (for the Busmaster and CD-250). All wiring provided by Brightline is 16/2 Stranded, unshielded and plenum-rated with 3-pin XLR connectors installed. If your installation requires conduit, please advise Brightline, and bare wire leads with the appropriate fixture terminations will be provided.
- For connection, the bus is non-polarized, so the data and voltage on both wires is identical. The Busmaster is provided with a two-wire Phoenix connector for the DALI bus output. Wire trim should be ½” and care should be taken not to short the wires at the connector. All connections should be made with the Busmaster NOT ENERGIZED. This applies especially to the CD-250 (wall station) connection.
- While this device is essentially “dumb”, it contains a sensitive communication chip that is susceptible to arcs and current that can render it unusable, and will take down the bus. When connecting and installing the CD-250, special care should be taken to isolate the device from grounding against the single-gang back box. If you connect the station, and you have an “error” indicator on the Busmaster, please contact Brightline Tech Support Immediately at 412-206-0106 x 211.
- Once installed and energized, all fixtures should come to “full-on”. If your installation includes a CD-250, some basic “test” presets may be included (try preset 1 and preset 8 (off). All presets in Brightline Systems are set up as “scenes” and not “groups”.
- At Brightline, we make every effort to deliver your system “Install-ready”; and spend hours pre-testing individual systems prior to shipping. If you have included factory commissioning in your project, your job is done. If you are commissioning the system locally, support documents can be found at: https://brightlines.com/guides-manuals-downloads/
www.brightlines.com
info@brightlines.com