IEC 62386-101-2022 PDF

Full title and description

Digital addressable lighting interface - Part 101: General requirements - System components. Specifies general requirements applicable to system components used in bus systems for digital control of electronic lighting equipment; this third edition (2022) is a technical revision that replaces the second edition and its amendment.

Abstract

This part of IEC 62386 defines the general convention, architectures, terminology and mandatory requirements for system components (bus units) in DALI/DALI‑based digital addressable lighting interfaces. The 2022 edition updates the scope, clarifies use of bus‑power versus external power, updates safety and earthing provisions, adjusts polarity sensitivity rules for bus units with integrated bus power supplies, and removes the reservation of 32‑bit frame sizes.

General information

• Status: Current (third edition, technical revision).
• Publication date: 16 November 2022.
• Publisher: IEC — International Electrotechnical Commission (TC 34).
• ICS / categories: 29.140.50, 29.140.99 (lighting systems / interface and interconnection equipment).
• Edition / version: Edition 3.0 (2022).
• Number of pages: 128 pages (base IEC publication).

Scope

Applies to system components in a bus system for control by digital signals of electronic lighting equipment. The standard covers definitions, system architecture, command types, bus‑unit behaviour and power options for devices on the lighting bus. It does not specify application‑controller control algorithms and does not include EMC requirements (those are outside the IEC 62386 series scope). The part is intended to be used alongside product‑type parts (for example Part 102 and the relevant 2XX parts) that provide particular requirements for control gear.

Key topics and requirements

• System architecture, terminology and versioning conventions for DALI system components.
• Definition and behaviour of bus units (transmitters/receivers, control gear, input devices).
• Command types, addressing, scenes and device commissioning requirements.
• Clarified rules on bus‑power versus external power, and polarity sensitivity for bus units with integrated bus power supplies.
• Safety and earthing requirements for system components (updated/extended compared with previous edition).
• Specification changes to frame size allocation (32‑bit frames no longer reserved).
• Explicit exclusions: application controller algorithms and EMC requirements are out of scope.

Typical use and users

Used by lighting‑system designers, DALI device manufacturers (control gear, input devices, bus power supplies), firmware and hardware engineers implementing bus units, test laboratories, certification bodies, and specifiers writing procurement or installation documentation for intelligent lighting systems. It is also used by integrators and consultants when verifying system‑level interoperability.

Related standards

Part of the IEC 62386 series (DALI). Related parts include Part 102 (general requirements for control gear), Part 103 (control devices), various 2XX parts for particular control‑gear requirements, and other system/commissioning parts used together to specify complete DALI solutions. National and regional adoptions exist as EN/BS/UNE IEC 62386‑101:2022 versions.

Keywords

DALI, Digital Addressable Lighting Interface, IEC 62386, system components, bus units, bus power, commissioning, safety, earthing, addressing, scenes.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC 62386‑101:2022 is Part 101 of the IEC 62386 series and defines general requirements for system components of the Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers terminology, system architecture, bus‑unit behaviour (transmit/receive), command types, addressing and commissioning, and requirements related to power, safety and earthing for system components — while excluding application controller algorithms and EMC requirements.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Manufacturers of DALI control gear and input devices, system integrators, test and certification labs, lighting designers, specification authors and compliance engineers.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: Current — this third edition (published 16 November 2022) cancels and replaces the second edition (2014) and its 2018 amendment; the IEC record shows the 2022 publication as the active edition.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is one part of the IEC 62386 series (the DALI family of standards). Other parts address product‑type requirements (for control gear, control devices, etc.) and together define the full DALI system specification.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: DALI, IEC 62386, digital lighting control, bus units, bus power, commissioning, addressing, control gear, safety, earthing.