IEC 62386-103:2022

Overview

IEC 62386-103:2022 - part of the IEC 62386 (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface, DALI) family - defines general requirements for control devices used to control electronic lighting equipment by digital signals. This second edition (2022) replaces the 2014 edition and its 2018 amendment and constitutes a technical revision. It is applicable to control devices such as application controllers and input devices in digital lighting systems.

Key topics and technical requirements

The standard covers device behaviour, communications and memory management for DALI-compatible control devices. Major technical areas include:

• Scope and versioning
  • Updated scope and version number handling to ensure interoperability and future extensibility.
• Transmission and protocol
  • Defines transmission protocol structure, 24-bit forward frame encoding, timing, and event message formats.
• Device operation and modes
  • Rules for application controllers, single- and multi‑master operation, quiescent mode, and operating modes.
• Instance and input handling
  • Instance types and configuration, instance numbering, groups and input notification/event message handling.
• Memory and non‑volatile storage
  • Detailed memory bank architecture (including revised memory bank 0 and common memory bank requirements), non‑volatile memory (NVM) save time and protected memory locations.
• Commands and queries
  • Standardized device commands, configuration instructions, queries (e.g., QUERY VERSION NUMBER, QUERY DEVICE CAPABILITIES) and the updated IDENTIFY DEVICE command.
• Bus configuration and addressing
  • Bus unit configuration, short address assignment (including random allocation), and priority/event filtering.
• Error handling and reset
  • System failure behavior, reset operations, and power‑on/power‑cycle notifications.

Practical applications and users

IEC 62386-103:2022 is essential for anyone designing, manufacturing, deploying or testing digital lighting control devices. Typical users include:

• Lighting control manufacturers - to build interoperable DALI control devices (application controllers, input devices).
• System integrators and installers - to configure and commission multi-device lighting systems with predictable behaviour.
• Specifiers and consultants - to select compliant hardware for projects requiring digital control and standardized event/command sets.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies - to validate device conformance to memory, timing, and protocol requirements.
• Building automation developers - for integration between DALI control devices and higher-level building management systems.

Related standards

• Part of the IEC 62386 series (DALI). For full system compliance, refer to other parts of IEC 62386 that define device types, power supplies and control gear. Search the IEC webstore for the latest parts and corrigenda.

Keywords: IEC 62386-103:2022, DALI, Digital Addressable Lighting Interface, control devices, lighting control systems, memory bank, quiescent mode, NVM save time, IDENTIFY DEVICE, bus unit configuration.