After months of research and planning, I finally started setting up my DALI lighting system in my new apartment. It’s been an exciting journey, but also a bit challenging! I wanted to share my experiences in case it helps others who are considering a similar setup.
Why DALI?
I’ve always been a fan of LED strips for background lighting, but after attending the Light Expo in Frankfurt, I realized that high-quality LED strips with good CRI values could transform my space into something truly special. I decided to go with DALI because of its flexibility and ability to integrate with my existing smart home ecosystem through OpenHAB.
The Setup
I started by mapping out where I wanted the LED strips. For the main areas, I chose RGBW strips to allow for more dynamic lighting scenarios. I also installed DALI ballasts for each strip and connected them to a DALI controller, which I plan to integrate with my KNX system later. The initial installation went smoothly, but configuring everything was a bit tricky.
Challenges and Solutions
One thing I struggled with was understanding the trade-offs between different types of LED strips. For example, RGBW strips offer more versatility, but achieving natural light tones requires careful tuning. I also had to experiment with the DALI flicker settings to ensure everything looked good at low brightness levels.
I found the OpenHAB community incredibly helpful. There are some fantastic resources and forums where people share their experiences and tips. For instance, learning about how others handled the RGBW to natural light conversion was invaluable.
Next Steps
Now that the basic setup is in place, I’m working on creating some OpenHAB rules to automate the lighting. My goal is to have the lights adjust based on the time of day and motion sensors, providing just the right amount of light without being too harsh.
I’m also keeping an eye out for any updates on the OpenHAB DALI binding. Having native support would make everything even smoother!
If anyone has tips or experiences to share, I’d love to hear them. It’s been a rewarding project so far, and I’m excited to see how it evolves!