--- title: "DALI" description: "Control up to 64 DALI devices per line from TapHome. DALI runs at 1200 bps, so DALI scenes and groups give fast simultaneous control of many lights." url: "https://taphome.com/en/docs/integration/dali/" language: en lastmod: 2026-11-06 generator: hugo ai: topics: ["dali","lighting-control","scenes","groups","smart-home-integration"] questions: ["What is DALI and how fast is its communication speed?","How many devices can be controlled on a single DALI line?","What are DALI scenes and how many can each device store?","Why should I use DALI groups instead of addressing devices individually?","What new DALI features are coming in TapHome 2026?","What is the power supply capacity of the new TapHome DALI gateway?","How long does it take to address all 64 DALI devices individually?"] --- # DALI Last updated: 2026-11-06 DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) is a standardized lighting-control protocol that runs at 1200 bits per second and addresses up to 64 devices per DALI line. TapHome controls DALI lights through its DALI interface (DALI gateway), where smart rules can control individual lights as well as groups of them. Because the bus is slow, DALI scenes and groups let one command switch many lights at once instead of addressing each light separately. This page covers DALI performance, scenes and groups, and the upcoming new gateway and hardware scene support. [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kubRU45IPd8) ## Understanding DALI Performance DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) is a standardized protocol for lighting control that operates at a relatively slow communication speed of 1200 bits per second. This low baud rate was intentionally chosen to ensure reliable communication over simple two-wire cables without the need for special wiring or termination resistors. ### Performance Characteristics - **Bus Speed:** 1200 bps (bits per second) - **Command Rate:** Up to 40-50 commands per second - **Command Duration:** Each command takes approximately 25 milliseconds - **Network Capacity:** Up to 64 individually addressable devices per DALI line The slow communication speed means that addressing all 64 devices individually would require approximately 1.5 seconds. While this is acceptable for many applications, it can become a limitation when simultaneous control of multiple fixtures is required. ## Optimizing Performance with Scenes and Groups To overcome the performance limitations of the DALI bus, the protocol includes built-in support for **scenes** and **groups**, which enable fast, simultaneous control of multiple devices with a single command. ### DALI Scenes Each DALI device can store up to **16 programmable scenes** (numbered 0-15). A scene is a pre-configured lighting level that can be recalled instantly: - **Storage:** Each driver stores its own level for each of the 16 scenes - **Recall:** A single scene command is broadcast to all devices on the DALI line - **Execution:** Each device checks its memory and, if it has a stored level for that scene, executes it simultaneously - **Speed:** All participating devices respond at once, regardless of their number **Example:** A "Movie Mode" scene could dim audience lights to 10% while setting accent lights to 50% and turning off decorative lights - all with one command. ### DALI Groups DALI supports up to **16 groups** (numbered 0-15) per interface. Groups allow logical organization of devices: - **Membership:** Each device can belong to multiple groups (up to all 16) - **Addressing:** Commands can target an entire group instead of individual devices - **Response:** All devices in a group respond simultaneously to group commands - **Hardware-based:** Groups are a property of the DALI interface itself, ensuring synchronized execution **Example:** All hallway lights can be grouped together, allowing a single command to control all of them at once instead of addressing each fixture individually. ### Why Scenes and Groups Matter Using scenes and groups is **essential for responsive DALI control** because: 1. **Simultaneous execution** - All devices respond at the same time 2. **Reduced bus traffic** - One command instead of dozens 3. **Faster response** - 25ms instead of 1.5 seconds for 64 devices 4. **Better user experience** - Lighting changes appear instant and synchronized ## Upcoming TapHome Enhancements ### New DALI Gateway Hardware TapHome is preparing a new DALI gateway with enhanced capabilities: - **Integrated DALI Power Supply:** Built-in 200mA DALI power source - **Flexible Configuration:** Software option to disable internal power supply and use external source when needed - **Improved Performance:** Optimized for faster scene and group operations ### Software Version 2026.1: Groups of DALI Lights In version 2026.1, smart rule priorities between a group and individual lights apply to a group of devices created in TapHome — an analog output group with DALI lights as its members (**Settings** → **Device groups**): - Smart rules can control the whole group as well as individual lights in it. - Each light has a row for the group in its **Affected by** section. The order of the rows is the priority: a group command does not change a value held by a smart rule higher in the list. A group defined in the DALI interface (for example, a separate "Group N" device in the Resi DALI template) does not get a row in the **Affected by** section of its lights, so these priorities do not apply to it. ### Post-2026.1: Hardware Scene Support Shortly after the 2026.1 release, full hardware scene support will be introduced across the entire TapHome system, including DALI: **For DALI, this means:** - **Native Scene Programming:** Direct programming of DALI device scenes through TapHome - **Scene Recall Integration:** Hardware scenes can be triggered by Smart Rules, schedules, and buttons - **Cross-System Scenes:** DALI scenes can be synchronized with other TapHome device types - **Faster Execution:** Scene recalls execute at the DALI hardware level, ensuring minimal latency - **Scene Management:** Easy configuration, modification, and backup of all 16 scenes per device through the TapHome interface This integration will make DALI scenes fully accessible within TapHome's automation logic, enabling complex lighting scenarios that execute with hardware-level speed and reliability. **See also** — [DMX](https://taphome.com/en/docs/integration/dmx/), [Lighting](https://taphome.com/en/docs/functional-areas/lighting/). ## Troubleshooting Common issues related to this topic: - [DALI lights switch on by themselves](https://taphome.com/en/troubleshooting/wiring/dali-lights-switch-on-by-themselves/) — DALI lights behind a DALI gateway switch on at minimum or change brightness without any command, usually the same few lights each time. The bus is disturbed for a moment — by the gateway, a short on a branch or a voltage drop. [View all troubleshooting articles](https://taphome.com/en/troubleshooting/)