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:

 

If you are using KNX/DALI gateways that are not yet supported, please contact us. Other DALI gateways from other manufacturers can be included on request.

Installation

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. 

In order to test LaMPS, LaMPS is included within the demo license of the NETx BMS Server. This means that you can test the LaMPS module for 90 days for free.

Configuration

To be able to provide the required functionality, a correct ETS configuration of the KNX/DALI gateways is of utmost importance. Each KNX/DALI gateway has a multitude of different KNX communication objects and parameter. Only if the correct parameters are set within the ETS and only if the required KNX communication objects are correctly assigned to KNX group addresses, a proper functionality of LaMPS can be guaranteed.

To make the configuration and most important the transfer of the configuration from ETS to the NETx BMS Server more easier, an extended ETS app called NETx BMS App Secure has been developed. The NETx BMS App Secure includes the possibility to export the required KNX/DALI gateway configuration automatically. In addition, it warns the user if required or suggested ETS parameters are not set accordingly. 

If the LaMPS option is set within the NETx BMS App Secure, all required configuration data is included within the ".nxe" export file. For each KNX/DALI gateway type, one BMS definition file exist. All these definition files are accessible within the BMS studio via the menu "Modules" --> "LaMPS" --> "DALI".

In the remainder of this section, the different definition files are explained in detail. 

Module configuration

Here common configuration settings for the NETx LaMPS Module can be changed:

Circuit definitions

Here common lighting circuits can be defined that shall be monitored by the NETx LaMPS Module.  

KNX/DALI common configuration options

Some configuration options are common to all KNX/DALI gateways. These are the following:

ABB DG/S 1.1

The ABB DG/S 1.1 support two different DALI channels – channel A and channel B. For each channel, one definition has to be added within the ABB DG/S 1.1 definition table. If you are using both channels of a single gateway, you have to distinguish them only be the name. For example, you can use "My DALI Gateway - Channel A" and "My DALI Gateway - Channel B" as names for the two definitions.

For each channel, the following configuration options are available:

ABB DG/S x.64.1.1

For each gateway the following configuration options are available:

 The group object "Emergency Test Start #40 or #1154) has to be configured for "Yes, DGN/S1.16.1 format" within ETS. Otherwise the emergency lighting tests will not work.


The ABB DG/S x.64.1.1 gateway uses emergency test start and result objects for all devices on one channel – there are no individual objects for each emergency ballast as it is for other gateways. Therefore, there will appear no entry within the Emergency Mapping Definitions. If the emergency configuration is enabled it will appear within the ABB DG/S x.64.1.1 gateway definition.

ABB DGN/S 1.16.1

For each gateway the following configuration options are available:

The ABB DGN/S 1.16.1 gateway uses emergency test start and result objects for all devices on one channel – there are no individual objects for each emergency ballast as it is for other gateways. Therefore, there will appear no entry within the Emergency Mapping Definitions. If the emergency configuration is enabled it will appear within the ABB DGN/S 1.16.1 gateway definition.

EAE DA 100

For each gateway the following configuration options are available:

EAE DA 101

For each gateway the following configuration options are available:

Gira/Insta DALI Gateway Plus REG 218000, Hager Dali gateway KNX TYA670D, Jung KNX DALI-Gateway Plus 2098 REGHE

For each gateway the following configuration options are available:

The objects Fault General (#1524) and Emergency Lighting Failure (#1542) can be configure as passive or active feedback objects. If at least one of them is set as passive, "Poll Device" should be set to true.

The objects Fault General (#1524) and Error per DALI Device (#1544) needs to be linked to a group address. Otherwise the dali gateway will be seen as "not used" and therefore be ignored for the export.

Since these gateways do not have a global KNX communication object for starting an emergency test and for getting the result (they have a separate object for each device), the ItemIDs has to be configured for each emergency lighting separately. This is done in the Emergency Test Mapping.

Ipas DaliControl e64, 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

For each gateway the following configuration options are available:


 Since the communication objects #12, #14 and #16 are only getting true when a configured threshold is exceeded, it is of utmost importance to configure them correctly. In general, it is recommended to use a threshold of 1 in order to see all lamp faults.

 

Since these gateways do not have a global KNX communication object for starting an emergency test and for getting the result (they have a separate object for each device), the ItemIDs has to be configured for each emergency lighting separately. This is done in the Emergency Test Mapping.

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

For each gateway the following configuration options are available:

Since these gateways do not have a global KNX communication object for starting an emergency test and for getting the result (they have a separate object for each device), the ItemIDs has to be configured for each emergency lighting separately. This is done in the Emergency Test Mapping.

Siemens KNX/DALI Gateway N 141/02

For each gateway the following configuration options are available:

Since these gateways do not have a global KNX communication object for starting an emergency test and for getting the result (they have a separate object for each device), the ItemIDs has to be configured for each emergency lighting separately. This is done in the Emergency Test Mapping.

Zennio DALIBOX Interface 64-32

For each gateway the following configuration options are available:

Emergency Test Mapping definitions

Some gateways do not have a global KNX communication object for starting an emergency test and for getting the result – they have a separate object for each device. Therefore, the ItemIDs has to be configured for each emergency lighting separately. This is done in the Emergency Test Mapping Defintions Table:

Device Name Mapping definitions

Each DALI device behind a DALI gateway has a Server Item "Name" which shows the human-readable name of the DALI device. As default, this name has the form "Device<number>" i.e. Device1, Device2, ... This name is also used within the reports. The default name can be changed within the Device Name Mapping Defintions Table:

Functional description

ABB DG/S 1.1

The ABB DG/S 1.1 support two DALI channels and does not support emergency lighting. However, it provides the possibility to monitor lamp and device fault of all connected DALI devices. 

Fault information is provided by three Server Items which are located directly under the gateway branch within the Server Item Tree:

 For DALI testing, the following Server Items are available:

Testing is done by used the KNX communication selected device. First, LaMPS is setting the DALI number of the device under test to the communication "Select Device" and then the KNX communication objects "Selected Device Lamp Failure" and "Selected Device Device Failure" are evaluated. If the DALI gateway sends the fault information automatically ("Change of device sends faults" is configured to "F"), LaMPS waits for the KNX telegram. If it is not pushing the information, LaMPS sends a read request.

For each configured DALI device, a sub tree with the name "Device<number>" is shown within the Server Item Tree. Each device has the following Server Items:

ABB DG/S x.64.1.1

These KNX/DALI gateway types provide 1 or 2 DALI channels with up to 64 DALI devices. In addition to normal DALI testing, they support emergency lighting and extended tests for emergency lighting too.

For all these gateway types, the following Server Items are available:

Since these gateways also support emergency lighting, it has to be distinguished between a normal DALI test and an emergency DALI test. For normal DALI testing, the following Server Items are available:

For emergency DALI testing, the following Server Items are available under the sub tree "Emergency":

Please keep in mind that these items will only appear when emergency testing is available for the gateway. For these KNX/DALI gateways the "Emergency Test Start (#32, #40 or #1154)" and "Emergency Test Result (#33, #42 or #1156)" objects must be available and configured in order to support emergency testing. Note that emergency testing is only available for self contained battery lamps.

 

For each configured DALI device, a sub tree with the name "Device<number>" is shown within the Server Item Tree. Each device has at least the following Server Items:

If emergency functions are available, the following items are available in the sub tree "Emergency":

ABB DGN/S 1.16.1

These KNX/DALI gateway types provide 1 with up to 64 DALI devices. In addition to normal DALI testing, they support emergency lighting and extended tests for emergency lighting too.

For all these gateway types, the following Server Items are available:

Since these gateways also support emergency lighting, it has to be distinguished between a normal DALI test and an emergency DALI test. For normal DALI testing, the following Server Items are available:

For emergency DALI testing, the following Server Items are available under the sub tree "Emergency":

Please keep in mind that these items will only appear when emergency testing is available for the gateway. For these KNX/DALI gateways the "Emergency Test Start (#32, #40 or #1154)" and "Emergency Test Result (#33, #42 or #1156)" objects must be available and configured in order to support emergency testing. Note that emergency testing is only available for self contained battery lamps.

For each configured DALI device, a sub tree with the name "Device<number>" is shown within the Server Item Tree. Each device has at least the following Server Items:

If emergency functions are available, the following items are available in the sub tree "Emergency":

EAE DA 100/110

These KNX/DALI gateway types provide 1 with up to 64 DALI devices. In addition to normal DALI testing, they support emergency lighting and extended tests for emergency lighting too.

For all these gateway types, the following Server Items are available:

Since these gateways also support emergency lighting, it has to be distinguished between a normal DALI test and an emergency DALI test. For normal DALI testing, the following Server Items are available:

For emergency DALI testing, the following Server Items are available under the sub tree "Emergency":

Please keep in mind that these items will only appear when emergency testing is available for the gateway. For these KNX/DALI gateways the "Fault converter (#14 or #16)" object must be available and configured in order to support emergency testing. Note that emergency testing is only available for self contained battery lamps.

For each configured DALI device, a sub tree with the name "Device<number>" is shown within the Server Item Tree. Each device has at least the following Server Items:

If emergency functions are available, the following items are available in the sub tree "Emergency":

Gira/Insta DALI Gateway Plus REG 218000, Hager Dali gateway KNX TYA670D, Jung KNX DALI-Gateway Plus 2098 REGHE

These KNX/DALI gateway types provide 1 DALI channel with up to 64 DALI devices. In addition to normal DALI testing, they support emergency lighting and extended tests for emergency lighting too.

For all these gateway types, the following Server Items are available:

Since these gateways also support emergency lighting, it has to be distinguished between a normal DALI test and an emergency DALI test. For normal DALI testing, the following Server Items are available:

For emergency DALI testing, the following Server Items are available under the sub tree "Emergency":

Please keep in mind that these items will only appear when emergency testing is available for the gateway. For these KNX/DALI gateways at least one DALI device must support emergency lighting tests. This means that there must be a "Emergency Mapping Definition" for at least one DALI device. Note that emergency testing is only available for self contained battery lamps.

For each configured DALI device, a sub tree with the name "Device<number>" is shown within the Server Item Tree. Each device has at least the following Server Items:

If a device is also an emergency light (i.e. it has a valid emergency mapping definition), the following items are available in the sub tree "Emergency":

Ipas DaliControl e64, 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

These KNX/DALI gateway types provide 1 DALI channel with up to 64 DALI devices. In addition to normal DALI testing, they support emergency lighting and extended tests for emergency lighting too.

For all these gateway types, the following Server Items are available:

Since these gateways also support emergency lighting, it has to be distinguished between a normal DALI test and an emergency DALI test. For normal DALI testing, the following Server Items are available:

For emergency DALI testing, the following Server Items are available under the sub tree "Emergency":

Please keep in mind that these items will only appear when emergency testing is available for the gateway. For these KNX/DALI gateways at least one DALI device must support emergency lighting tests. This means that there must be a "Emergency Mapping Definition" for at least one DALI device. Note that emergency testing is only available for self contained battery lamps.

For each configured DALI device, a sub tree with the name "Device<number>" is shown within the Server Item Tree. Each device has at least the following Server Items:

If a device is also an emergency light (i.e. it has a valid emergency mapping definition), the following items are available in the sub tree "Emergency":

Siemens KNX/DALI Gateway N 141/03, N 141/21, N 141/31, N 141/02

These KNX/DALI gateway types provide 1 or 2 DALI channels with up to 64 DALI devices. In addition to normal DALI testing, they support emergency lighting and extended tests for emergency lighting too.

For all these gateway types, the following Server Items are available:

Since these gateways also support emergency lighting, it has to be distinguished between a normal DALI test and an emergency DALI test. For normal DALI testing, the following Server Items are available:

For emergency DALI testing, the following Server Items are available under the sub tree "Emergency":

Please keep in mind that these items will only appear when emergency testing is available for the gateway. For these KNX/DALI gateways at least one DALI device must support emergency lighting tests. This means that there must be a "Emergency Mapping Definition" for at least one DALI device. Note that emergency testing is only available for self contained battery lamps.

For each configured DALI device, a sub tree with the name "Device<number>" is shown within the Server Item Tree. Each device has at least the following Server Items:

If a device is also an emergency light (i.e. it has a valid emergency mapping definition), the following items are available in the sub tree "Emergency":

Zennio DALIBOX Interface 64-32

The Zennio DALIBOX Interface 64-32 supports one DALI channel with up to 64 DALI devices.

Fault information is provided by the following Server Items which are located directly under the gateway branch within the Server Item Tree:

 For DALI testing, the following Server Items are available:

For each configured DALI device, a sub tree with the name "Device<number>" is shown within the Server Item Tree. Each device has the following Server Items: