DALI Part 151 certification reaches products, targets surge protection for outdoor lighting

DALI Part 151 is moving from specification into certified products, providing manufacturers with a defined framework for protecting DALI control devices against induced electrical surges in outdoor lighting applications.

Surge protection framework

Developed by the DALI Alliance, Part 151 defines minimum requirements for surge protection where DALI control devices may be exposed to electrical transients. This can be particularly important in outdoor installations, where signal cabling running between luminaires and remotely mounted sensors or control devices can be affected by nearby lightning activity or switching events on adjacent power lines.

As outdoor lighting becomes increasingly connected, control devices are not always housed within the luminaire itself. Remote sensors and controls can require DALI and auxiliary lines to extend beyond the luminaire, introducing additional considerations around protecting connected devices from induced surges.

Paul Drosihn, General Manager of the DALI Alliance, said,

“DALI Part 151 provides manufacturers with a consistent framework for addressing surge protection in applications where DALI control devices may be exposed to induced electrical transients. Seeing products certified to the specification demonstrates how these requirements can be applied in real-world outdoor lighting applications and supports the continued development of robust, interoperable DALI solutions.”

Certified product example

Among the products now certified to DALI Part 151 is TE Connectivity’s LUMAWISE Endurance bridge assembly. Designed to connect remotely mounted sensors or control devices to a luminaire, the pole-mounted solution extends control and power lines beyond the luminaire and incorporates surge protection on both the DALI and auxiliary lines. The product provides 800 V surge protection in both polarities.

The LUMAWISE Endurance bridge assembly is designed for applications including heritage and decorative luminaires, high-mast lighting and urban lighting, and is available with pole- and wall-mounted options. It can also facilitate controls to be retrofitted to existing LED luminaires in the field.

Jonathan Catchpole, System Architect, Connected Living Solutions Business Unit at TE Connectivity, added,

“We recognise the importance of surge protection in streetlighting pole-mounted bracket assemblies, such as the LUMAWISE Endurance bridge assembly. Zhaga-D4i control devices have been available since 2019, but because they were typically mounted within luminaires, surge protection was not a key design consideration. This changed with the introduction of Zhaga Book 18 Edition 4, making this new DALI part an extremely important addition.”

The certification provides a practical example of how DALI Part 151 can be incorporated into products for connected outdoor lighting, helping manufacturers address surge protection while continuing to build on the interoperability provided by the DALI ecosystem.