DALI-2 is the latest standard in intelligent lighting control systems, and is generally considered a significant upgrade from the original protocol—DALI, which was first introduced in the late 1990s to standardise digital lighting control.

The first version of DALI had some specific interoperability limitations. Devices from different manufacturers didn’t always work seamlessly together, and the protocol didn’t formally cover control devices like switches and sensors. To address these issues, the new and improved DALI-2 protocol was released in 2014. Since then, DALI-2 has become the global standard for advanced, interoperable lighting control.

But what is it? And how can it be used to improve efficiency in commercial environments? DALI-2 provides even more precise control than its predecessor, with complete management over brightness, grouping, and timing across a whole building. Unlike traditional systems that control lights in bulk, DALI lets you address and manage each individual light or group of lights, making it easier to customise, automate, and troubleshoot.

From DALI-2 constant current LED drivers to DALI-2 dimmers, as smart lighting specialists Crown Electrical Solutions can tell you everything you need to know about DALI-2 lighting control. This guide will walk you through the basics of how DALI works, and what you need to get started.

What is DALI-2 lighting control?

DALI-2 stands for Digital Addressable Lighting Interface, version 2, and it’s an open, international standard (IEC 62386) for digital lighting control systems. As the name suggests, it’s the second version of DALI protocol, and is widely used in commercial and architectural lighting applications.

The difference between DALI vs DALI-2

Original DALI only let you control lights — basically, it was a one-way street for dimming and switching, and you couldn’t reliably mix and match products from different brands.

DALI-2 introduced strict certification, which means products from different manufacturers can work together, with the additional to integrate sensors, switches, and controllers into the same system. Plus, DALI-2 supports two-way communication, which means your system can tell you if a light has failed or how much energy it’s using.

In short, DALI controls lights, while DALI-2 controls the entire ecosystem and gives you better diagnostics and reliability.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the differences between DALI and DALI-2:

Feature	DALI (Original)	DALI-2
Open standard	Semi-open	Fully open (IEC 62386)
Device types supported	Drivers only	Drivers, switches, sensors
Interoperability	Inconsistent	Strictly tested and certified
Two-way communication	Limited	Enhanced
Certification logo	Not mandatory	Mandatory for compliance

DALI-2 devices can still be used with previous DALI systems. That being said, DALI-2 introduces a few additional commands and features, which can sometimes be limited by older DALI devices. For instance, if a DALI-2 system includes legacy DALI products, certain capabilities—like the extended fade times available in DALI-2—won’t be supported by those older components.

How DALI-2 enhances lighting control

DALI-2 delivers smarter automation than ever before, with improved energy efficiency and more flexible control, which is ideal for complex commercial applications.

DALI-2 builds on the original DALI protocol with a much broader and smarter feature set. You can group lights, set scenes, dim them, tweak the colour, and adjust fade times exactly how you want. One of the biggest upgrades is that it now works with input devices like motion sensors and push-buttons. That means your lighting can actually respond to what’s happening in real time—like dimming when a room’s empty or adjusting brightness depending on how much natural light is coming in.

Benefits and key features of DALI-2 lighting systems

DALI-2 has some specific key features which make it highly desirable in commercial lighting applications. These include:

• Two-way communication: Fixtures can send feedback (for example, lamp failure or energy usage) to the control system.
• Standardised device types: DALI-2 includes not only drivers but also control devices like sensors, switches, and controllers.
• Interoperability: Devices from different manufacturers can work together more reliably, thanks to tighter testing and certification.
• More device types: DALI-2 expanded the DALI ecosystem to include application controllers (the brains of the system), input devices (like switches and sensors), and bus power supplies.
• Improved configuration: Easier setup with support for features like scenes, and fade times.

How to implement DALI-2 lighting control

From managing ambient lighting to daylight harvesting, here are some ways that DALI-2 can enhance energy efficiency and improve the lives of workers or residents.

Open-plan office with task lighting

Staff can control lighting at their own workstations via local switches or smart apps, without disturbing those around them.

Meeting rooms with scene control

With DALI-2, you can pre-program scenes, like ‘presentation’, ‘discussion’, or ‘break’, adjusting multiple lights at once with a single button press.

Corridors with motion sensing

Using DALI-2-compatible motion sensors, lighting in hallways and stairways can brighten automatically when occupied and dim when empty. This means you can save on energy and extend the life of your fittings without compromising on safety.  

Retail stores with zoned lighting

Retailers can use DALI-2 to create dynamic lighting zones like highlighting display areas, window features, or specific product zones. 

Healthcare facilities with tunable white lighting

In hospitals or aged care, DALI-2 supports tunable white lighting, allowing light colour and intensity to mimic natural circadian rhythms—improving patient comfort, sleep patterns, and general wellbeing, especially in rooms that don’t have access to natural light.

Education buildings with daylight harvesting

Classrooms and lecture halls fitted with daylight sensors can use DALI-2 to adjust artificial lighting based on the amount of natural light coming in. This ensures consistent brightness levels for students while reducing unnecessary energy use.

How Crown Electrical Solutions can help

At Crown Electrical Solutions, we specialise in designing and installing DALI-2 systems tailored to your needs. From consultation to construction, we pride ourselves on delivering tailored solutions for properties of any size and meeting your project needs.

DALI-2 is a future-ready lighting solution that’s flexible, and highly scalable. Contact Crown Electrical Solutions today to learn more about how we can make DALI-2 work for you.