The DALI Alliance (DALI), the TALQ Consortium (TALQ), and the Zhaga Consortium (Zhaga)–each focused on defining international lighting standards to ease investment decisions for public and private entities–recently announced the signing of a liaison agreement to collaborate on unifying data streams for smart street lighting systems.

In an article recently published by LD+A, Mark Duffy, chair of the Zhaga Consortium General Assembly, which develops specifications for luminaire interfaces and interoperable components, describes the transformative potential of the Zhaga-D4i partnership for smart outdoor lighting.

In the latest episode of the Lighting Controls Podcast, host Ron Kuszmar and C. Webster Marsh had the pleasure of hosting Margaret Wong and Stephen Zhou from mwConnect, a company renowned for its innovative Bluetooth Mesh technology. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, mwConnect, formerly known as McWong, has evolved from its humble beginnings manufacturing ballasts to becoming a leader in the smart lighting industry.

Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP recently had the pleasure of interviewing Stephen Zhou, Executive Vice President, mwConnect, for an upcoming article about lighting control trends for tED Magazine, the official publication of the NAED. Here’s the transcript.

The TALQ Consortium recently released a new version 2.6.0 of its Smart City Protocol, a global interface standard for smart city device networks.

The DALI Alliance recently unveiled much-anticipated certification details for its wireless specification: DALI+ over Thread.

The DesignLights Consortium recently released a draft update to its Networked Lighting Controls Technical Requirements (NLC5.1), continuing efforts to increase market adoption of energy saving and smart building-enabling NLC technology.

In September 2023, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) released Bluetooth® NLC, a series of specifications that define roles and responsibilities for common lighting control devices. Bluetooth NLC builds on wireless standards Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) and Bluetooth Mesh to provide full-stack standardization. By ensuring true multivendor interoperability across the control system, the Bluetooth SIG believes this will enable mass adoption of wireless networked lighting controls in commercial buildings, including small and medium-sized as well as large buildings.

In this episode of the Lighting Controls Podcast co-sponsored by NAILD and the Lighting Controls Association, the DALI Alliance’s Carol Jones draws attention to the inevitability of change emphasizing the need for lighting controls interoperability within the construction sector.

In this episode of The Lighting Controls Podcast co-produced by the Lighting Controls Association and NAILD, lighting designer and E1.68 DMX512 Compliance task group chair Javid Butler, LC, CEM, CMVP provides an update on what’s new with the DMX512 standard.

The DesignLights Consortium (DLC) recently announced the formation of a Horticultural Lighting Controls Technical Working Group that will advise and assist the DLC in efforts aimed at accelerating the horticultural lighting industry’s transition to optimized energy and production practices through networked lighting solutions.

“In the lighting controls industry, are we at an inflection point where vendors are starting to embrace the idea of cross-vendor interoperability?” asks Steve Mesh.

A new video from the DALI Alliance explains D4i technology, which enables luminaire-level lighting control with enhanced data and diagnostics.

Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP recently had the opportunity to interview Damon Barnes, Director of Technical Marketing, Bluetooth SIG, Inc. for an article about Bluetooth NLC for an upcoming issue of ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. Transcript follows.

Craig DiLouie recently enjoyed interviewing Stephen Zhou, Executive Vice President, McWong International on the topic of Bluetooth NLC for upcoming articles in ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR, tED Magazine, and the Lighting Controls Association. Transcript follows.

The TALQ Consortium, which developed the Smart City Protocol, a global interface standard for smart city applications, recently added more security to its certification procedures.

The Green Building Initiative (GBI) recently announced two new certification programs: Green Globes Net Zero Energy (NZE) and Green Globes Net Zero Carbon (NZC).

The DALI Alliance has extended the DALI-2 certification program to include firmware updates via the DALI interface in devices including control gear, application controllers and input devices such as sensors. Firmware updates are specified in Part 105 of the IEC 62386 standard.

ASHRAE Standard 228 sets requirements for evaluating whether a building or group of buildings meets a definition of “zero net energy” or a definition of “zero net carbon” during building operation.

In this episode of The Lighting Controls Podcast co-produced by the Lighting Controls Association and NAILD, Mitch Hefter, Sr. Systems Engineer – Design & Development for Signify provides a lesson in standards like DALI and DMX along with a refresher on acronyms like ESTA and USITT.

This guest post by the DALI Alliance discusses sustainability, future-proofing, and the opportunities offered by smart, data-rich lighting systems. It also looks at the role of established global standards such as the Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI®).

The TALQ Consortium, which developed the Smart City Protocol, a global OpenAPI interface standard for smart city device networks, has published version 2.5.0 of the protocol.

The DALI Alliance will present two seminars at LightFair 2023, a major trade show and conference for architectural and commercial lighting, which takes place in New York on May 23-25.

Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP recently had the opportunity to interview Paul Drosihn, General Manager, DALI Alliance. The topic: the recently introduced D4i global standard.

The Zhaga Consortium is launching the global Zhaga Smart City Sensor Awards to address the needs of cities that have installed Zhaga-D4i certified streetlights.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has opened the Prototype Phase of its L-Prize competition, which seeks to boost innovation in advanced LED luminaires and control systems for use in commercial and institutional buildings. The DALI Alliance, the Zhaga Consortium and PNNL will present a webinar on September 15, 2022, to discuss the technical requirements of the Prototype Phase and explain the opportunities for entrants when using standards-based connectivity technologies including Zhaga Book 20 and D4i data and control.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) recently published American National Standard for Lighting Equipment—LED Drivers Robustness (ANSI C82.15-2021), which applies to hardware and microcontroller and microprocessor-based LED drivers. This American National Standard describes testing methods used to evaluate LED drivers’ robustness or their ability to withstand the specific stresses.

The DALI Alliance recently published two new Technical Guides that detail DALI specifications for wireless and IP-based connectivity.

The Zhaga Steering Committee has approved the 3rd edition of the popular Book 18 specification for outdoor luminaires. The new edition allows for architectures combining an ANSI C136.41 dimming receptacle with a Zhaga receptacle next to the architectures already specified in Ed. 2.0. Additionally, Zhaga-D4i certification of hybrid luminaires as well as control devices with an ANSI interface have become available.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) published the 2021 Electrical Standards & Products Guide (ESPG), a comprehensive guide that includes nearly 800 NEMA publications for electrical and medical imaging industries, as well as product categories and NEMA Member manufacturers of those products.

The DesignLights Consortium recently announced the new membership of its Industry Advisory Committee (IAC), an 18-member body that will support the mission and strategic direction of the DLC to drive efficient lighting through education, collaboration, and expertise in 2021 and 2022.

The joint Zhaga-D4i certification program from the DALI Alliance and the Zhaga Consortium has already qualified a number of Zhaga-D4i Book 18 outdoor luminaires with Zhaga receptacles and D4i components. Now certified D4i control devices with Zhaga connectors can also be submitted for Zhaga-D4i certification, according to a recent statement by Zhaga. Eligible devices include light-level or occupancy sensors, as well as control nodes that can communicate wirelessly with external networks, enabling smart, future-proof LED luminaires with IoT connectivity.

The DALI Alliance recently announced it has extended the DALI-2 certification program to include control gear that function as switches and relays. Such devices implement Part 208 of the DALI-2 certification scheme, which is built on the international IEC 62386 standard.

The Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) recently published a whitepaper on Power Over Ethernet, or PoE, now available for free download.

Zhaga is planning a 3rd edition of the popular Book 18 specification for outdoor luminaires that will allow for architectures combining an ANSI C136.41 dimming receptacle with a Zhaga receptacle. Book 18 Ed. 3.0 will enable Zhaga-D4i certification of hybrid luminaires as well as control devices with an ANSI interface in addition to the certifications already offered by Book 18 Ed. 2.0.

The DesignLights Consortium (DLC) recently released a new version of its technical requirements for networked lighting controls, aiming to encourage wider market adoption of this energy-saving and smart building-enabling technology by focusing on issues it says are key to increasing customer confidence.    

The Lighting Controls Association (LCA) now offers EE305: Protocols as a new course in its popular Education Express program.

Zhaga Book 20 defines a smart interface between an indoor LED luminaire and a sensing/communication module. The module connects to the LED driver, and typically provides sensory inputs or enables communication between network components.

Published by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), American National Standard for Roadway and Area Lighting Equipment—Non-Locking (Button)–Type Photocontrols covers the electrical and mechanical interchangeability of nonlocking type photocontrols for mounting within a roadway or off-roadway luminaire. These controls are commonly called “button” photocontrols. This lighting industry Standard was updated to add ingress protection specifications, update labeling requirements, define environmental requirements, and define load test procedures.