Overview
IEC TR 63425:2022 - Connectivity for lighting systems is an IEC Technical Report that provides information and guidance on the connectivity aspects of lighting systems and their interconnection with other systems. It surveys common network topologies, the OSI model, relevant physical layers (wired and wireless) and a broad set of communication protocols and embedded functionalities used in lighting. The report is descriptive and does not recommend or prefer any specific topology or protocol.
Key Topics
- Network topologies used in lighting systems: point‑to‑point, bus, daisy‑chain, ring, star, mesh and hybrid topologies, with illustrations and examples of where each is used.
- OSI model mapping: typical layering for lighting control systems (physical, data link, network, transport and application layer considerations).
- Physical layers and standards: wired and wireless media covered include Ethernet (IEEE 802.3), Wi‑Fi (IEEE 802.11), Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1), LR‑WPANs (IEEE 802.15.4), and optical wireless (VLC / Li‑Fi, IEC 62943).
- Communication protocols frequently encountered in lighting: BACnet, IEC 62386 (DALI®), DMX512/RDM, Zigbee/Dotdot, ECHONET Lite (ISO/IEC 14543 series), EnOcean, KNX, LonWorks, as well as simple analog/digital control methods (0–10 V, PWM).
- Embedded functionalities and system behaviours: monitoring, control, energy management, and data collection for integration with IoT and building management systems.
- Examples and practical diagrams: typical OSI layer mappings, protocol characteristics, and schematic diagrams illustrating interconnection to non‑lighting systems.
Applications and Who Uses It
IEC TR 63425 is practical for:
- Lighting system designers and integrators selecting suitable connectivity options for indoor, outdoor and emergency lighting.
- Building and facility managers evaluating interoperability with BMS, IoT platforms and energy‑management systems.
- Manufacturers and component suppliers aligning product features (embedded functionality, supported protocols) to market interoperability expectations.
- Smart city and horticultural lighting planners assessing network topologies and protocol trade‑offs for large deployments.
Typical application areas: smart homes/buildings, adaptive roadways, smart cities, horticulture, energy‑efficient lighting and lighting monitoring & control.
Related Standards
The report references and contextualizes a number of international standards and specifications such as IEC 62386 (DALI), ISO/IEC 14543 (ECHONET Lite), ANSI/IES TM‑23‑17, and relevant IEEE 802.x family standards, helping professionals navigate interoperability and standardization choices for connected lighting.
Keywords: IEC TR 63425, connectivity for lighting systems, lighting control, DALI, Zigbee, Ethernet, IoT lighting, network topologies, communication protocols.