Functionality

The NETx LaMPS Module is an extension to the NETx BMS Server that has the aim to make the management of lighting control systems more easier. It consists of two parts: the first one provides general functionality for monitoring lighting circuits. It is possible to monitor the operating hours, and defining thresholds for triggering alarms. In addition it is possible to provide an approximation of energy and power calculation if no smart meter is available. 

The second part is dedicated to the management of DALI gateways and their devices. The Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) protocol is an application specific technology that is dedicated to lighting systems. Since it is a pure field level protocol without enhanced management features, it is integrated into other building automation technologies. The most important and most commonly used system for this integration purpose is KNX. So called KNX/DALI gateways are providing interfaces between the DALI devices and the KNX network. In addition to simply forwarding commands (e.g. on/off, dimming commands, ...) and information (e.g. on/off status, current brightness value), these KNX/DALI gateways provide sophisticated and enhanced functions. One of the most important feature is the testing of the functionality of the DALI devices.

However, the implementation of this function testing within the KNX/DALI gateways highly depends on the manufacturer of the gateway. Each vendor has its own way how function testing services are provided and how the test results are represented. This also concerns the mapping of this information to KNX communication objects. Even worse, most of the time a simple read and write to these KNX communication objects is not sufficient since a dedicated command sequence is necessary. A typical example is the reading of the fault status of a DALI device. First, the device has to be selected by sending the DALI number to a dedicated KNX group address and afterwards the fault status objects have to be read. This results in a complexity which is a major problem for system integrators and electrical engineers who have the task to provide such functionality.

To make the management of KNX/DALI gateways more easier, the NETx BMS Server is providing a dedicate module called LaMPS. The main goal of LaMPS is to provide a generic interface to initiate DALI tests independent of the used KNX/DALI gateway vendor. One of the most important functionality of KNX/DALI gateways is the possibility to monitor the fault state of DALI gateways and their DALI devices. This includes triggering of DALI device tests, the evaluation of test results and the monitoring of the fault states. Since each KNX/DALI gateway vendor are using their own KNX communication objects to provide this functionality, LaMPS provides an abstraction of these vendor-specific implementations. 

Currently, the following KNX/DALI gateways are supported:

• ABB DG/S 1.1, DG/S x.64.1.1, DGN/S 1.16.1

• EAE DA100, DA101

• Gira/Insta DALI Gateway Plus REG 218000

• Hager Dali gateway KNX TYA670D

• Ipas DaliControl e64

• Jung KNX DALI-Gateway Plus 2098 REGHE

• MDT DaliControl IP Gateway SCN-DALI64.02

• Merten KNX DALI-Gateway REG-K/1/16(64)/64/IP1 (MEG6725-0001)

• Schneider KNX DALI-Gateway MTN6725-0001

• Siemens KNX/DALI Gateway N 141/03, N 141/21, N 141/31

• Siemens KNX/DALI Gateway N 141/02
  

• Zennio DALIBOX Interface 64-32

LaMPS is provided for the NETx BMS Server as extension module. This means that it is not included within the setup per default. 

To install LaMPS, open the BMS Studio and shutdown the BMS Server. Afterwards, start the Extension Manager via the menu ("Extensions" --> "Manager" --> "Start Extension Manager ...").

Within the dialog, select "LaMPS" and press the "install" button. After having installed the LaMPS module, close the BMS studio and reopen it. Within the "Modules" menu of the BMS Studio you will find a new sub menu "LaMPS". It contains entries for all definitions that are necessary for configuration the LaMPS module.

Licensing

The LaMPS functionality is not included in a standard license for the NETx BMS Server. This means that an extra license has to be bought if the LaMPS module is required in your project. 

The price that has to be paid in addition to the normal fees of the BMS Server license of this extra fee is a fix amount which is independent of used amount of DALI gateways and DALI devices. In addition to this fix amount, 1 data point is counted for each DALI device that is used within the LaMPS module. These data points are subtracted from the total amount of available data points of your BMS Server license. For more information about the cost please contact our sales team.

The extra license itself is an option to the standard BMS Server licenses. This means the licensing process is exactly the same as for a normal BMS Server license. For a softlock license, the LaMPS option is encoded within your License ID and Unlock Code. For hardlock, the option is stored on your USB license dongle. 

Configuration