> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://wiki.inels.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://wiki.inels.com/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-dali-manager-reference/dali-unit.md).

# DALI unit

Step by step - add a DALI-DMX-Unit to an iDM3 project and control DALI lights with it.

The **DALI-DMX-Unit** is how you control ordinary DALI lights (ballasts and LED drivers) from iNELS. One unit has **4 channels**, and each channel controls **one DALI light** by its address.

{% hint style="info" %}
**In short:** add the DALI master, give each light a DALI address in the **Dali manager**, add a **DALI-DMX-Unit** under the DALI master, type each address into a channel, then wire the channels like any dimmer.
{% endhint %}

***

## What you need

| You need                               | Why                                                         |
| -------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| A **CU3-09M** central unit             | It has the built-in DALI master (**Internal-DALI-Master**). |
| A **DALI bus power supply**            | The DALI bus is not powered from the iNELS BUS.             |
| The central unit **connected** to iDM3 | The Dali manager talks to the real lights.                  |
| Lights with **DALI addresses**         | Each channel points at one address (step 2).                |

***

## How it looks in the project

```
CU3-09M
 └─ Internal-DALI-Master
     └─ DALI-DMX-Unit
         ├─ ChannelA   → one DALI light (e.g. address 0)
         ├─ ChannelB   → one DALI light (e.g. address 1)
         ├─ ChannelC   → one DALI light (e.g. address 2)
         └─ ChannelD   → one DALI light (e.g. address 3)
```

Need more than 4 lights? Add another DALI-DMX-Unit. You can add up to **32 units** under one master, but a DALI bus has only **64 addresses** (0 – 63).

***

## Step 1 — Add the DALI master (only once)

The Dali manager can only talk to a DALI master that is in your project. Skip this step if **Internal-DALI-Master** is already there.

1. **Project** ribbon tab → **Device manager**.
2. Select the **central unit** → **New unit** → **Internal-DALI-Master** → **OK**.
3. Close the Device manager and **save**.

***

## Step 2 — Address the lights in the Dali manager

New DALI lights come **without an address**, so give them one first. This is done in the **Dali manager**, while connected to the central unit.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Full reference:** the Dali manager is described in detail on the [DALI](https://wiki.inels.com/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-dali-manager-reference) page — see [21.2 Getting to the Dali manager](https://wiki.inels.com/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-dali-manager-reference#id-21.2-cu3-09m-getting-to-the-dali-manager), [21.3 The toolbar](https://wiki.inels.com/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-dali-manager-reference#id-21.3-the-toolbar) and [21.4 Addressing](https://wiki.inels.com/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-dali-manager-reference#id-21.4-addressing).
{% endhint %}

### Open the Dali manager

1. **Connect** iDM3 to the central unit.
2. **Managers** ribbon tab → **Dali manager**.
3. Select **Internal-DALI-Master** (double-click it, or select it and click **✓ OK**).

### Give the lights an address

| Situation                                    | Button to use | What happens                                           |
| -------------------------------------------- | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| **First time** – no light has an address yet | **New DALI**  | Deletes all addresses and gives every light a new one. |
| **Adding lights** to a working installation  | **Add new**   | Addresses only the new lights. Existing ones stay.     |
| **Just checking** what is on the bus         | **Search**    | Reads the current addresses. Changes nothing.          |

{% hint style="danger" %}
**Never use New DALI on a working installation.** It gives every light a new, random address, so all your buttons will control the wrong lights. To add lights, use **Add new**.
{% endhint %}

### Find out which light is which

1. Press **Search**. The list on the left shows every light it found.
2. Select a light and press **TEST**. The physical light blinks.
3. Write down which address belongs to which light.

### Change an address (optional)

The addresses are given in random order. To make them easier to work with (for example, all lights in one room next to each other):

1. Select the light in the list.
2. Click its address (`DALI 0x..`) and type the new one.
3. Click **Change address**.
4. Press **Search** again to check.

{% hint style="warning" %}
**A red exclamation mark** next to a light means two lights have the same address. Select it, click **Delete address**, then give it a new one.
{% endhint %}

### Write down your address list

| DALI address | Light       | Room        |
| ------------ | ----------- | ----------- |
| 0x00 (0)     | Downlight 1 | Living room |
| 0x01 (1)     | Downlight 2 | Living room |
| 0x0A (10)    | Pendant     | Kitchen     |

You will need this list in the next steps — and the next time someone changes a light.

{% hint style="warning" %}
**The Dali manager shows addresses in hexadecimal** (`0x0A`). In the unit's channels you type a **normal number** (`10`). See the [conversion table](#hex-to-decimal) below.
{% endhint %}

***

## Step 3 — Add the DALI unit

1. In the **Device manager**, select **Internal-DALI-Master**.
2. Click **New unit** → **DALI-DMX-Unit** → **OK**.
3. Give the unit a **Description**, for example `Living room DALI`.

The unit appears with its four channels: **ChannelA**, **ChannelB**, **ChannelC** and **ChannelD**.

***

## Step 4 — Enter the address of each light

1. Expand the unit and select **ChannelA**.
2. In **DALI and DMX address**, type the address of the light (from your address list in step 2).
3. Change the **Description** to the name of the light, for example `Living room downlight 1`.
4. Repeat for **ChannelB**, **ChannelC** and **ChannelD**.
5. Close the Device manager and **save**.

| Parameter                | Values | What to enter                                      |
| ------------------------ | ------ | -------------------------------------------------- |
| **DALI and DMX address** | 0 – 63 | The DALI address of the light, as a normal number. |

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Every channel starts at address 0.** A channel you have not set up still points at the light with address 0. Only wire the channels you have actually set.
{% endhint %}

***

## Step 5 — Place the lights in the project

1. **Design** workspace tab → **Controls** ribbon tab → drag a dimmable light icon onto the plan.
2. Click it → **Connect** → double-click the channel (for example **ChannelA**).
3. Give it a clear name, for example `Living room downlight 1`.

***

## Step 6 — Wire the lights

Each channel is a normal **dimmer** (0 – 100 %), so you use the **Analog** functions — exactly as in [Tutorial 3 — dimming](https://wiki.inels.com/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/tutorial-dimming-with-analog-functions).

| Button action | Function                   | Result                  |
| ------------- | -------------------------- | ----------------------- |
| `Short down`  | `ANALOG_SWITCH`            | On / off                |
| `Long down`   | `ANALOG_LEVEL_UP`          | Brighter while you hold |
| `Long up`     | `ANALOG_STOP_LEVEL_CHANGE` | Stops when you let go   |
| `Short down`  | `ANALOG_SET_LEVEL_50`      | Straight to 50 %        |

To control several DALI lights with one button, put the channels into an **Analog group** — see [Tutorial 4 — groups and scenes](https://wiki.inels.com/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/tutorial-groups-and-scenes).

***

## Step 7 — Upload and test

1. **Compile** and **upload** the project to the central unit.
2. Press each button and check that the **right light** responds.

***

## Hex to decimal

The Dali manager shows `0x..` addresses. Type the decimal number into the channel.

| Dali manager | Type in channel |
| ------------ | --------------- |
| 0x00         | 0               |
| 0x01         | 1               |
| 0x05         | 5               |
| 0x09         | 9               |
| 0x0A         | 10              |
| 0x0B         | 11              |
| 0x0F         | 15              |
| 0x10         | 16              |
| 0x14         | 20              |
| 0x1F         | 31              |
| 0x20         | 32              |
| 0x28         | 40              |
| 0x30         | 48              |
| 0x3F         | 63              |

**Quick rule:** the first digit × 16 + the second digit (A = 10, B = 11, C = 12, D = 13, E = 14, F = 15). Example: `0x2C` = 2 × 16 + 12 = **44**.

***

## Troubleshooting

| Problem                                      | What to check                                                                                          |
| -------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| A light doesn't respond                      | Is the **DALI and DMX address** correct? Did you type the hex value (`10` instead of `16` for `0x10`)? |
| The wrong light responds                     | The address list is wrong. Check again with **TEST** in the Dali manager.                              |
| Two lights respond together                  | Two lights have the same address. Fix it in the Dali manager (**Delete address**, then reassign).      |
| The light with address 0 reacts unexpectedly | A channel that was never set up is still at address 0 and is wired.                                    |
| No DALI light responds at all                | Check the **DALI bus power supply** and the DALI wiring.                                               |
| Nothing changed after editing                | **Compile and upload** the project.                                                                    |