DALI vs 0-10V Dimming Comparison
Addressable digital control against analogue dimming, on cost and capability.
0-10V is cheap, proven and good enough for a warehouse that dims in two zones. DALI costs more and does something 0-10V cannot: address and report on individual luminaires.
| Comparison | Option A | Option B | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wiring | Two-core control bus, polarity-free | Two extra cores, polarity matters | DALI |
| Addressing | Individual addresses per luminaire | Group or circuit level only | DALI |
| Dimming floor | 1% and lower, smooth curve | 10% typical, abrupt at the bottom | DALI |
| Scene control | Native scenes, groups, emergency status | Needs an external scene controller | DALI |
| Cost | Higher drivers, commissioning effort | Lower drivers, quick installation | 0-10V |
| Best fit | Offices, hospitals, spaces that change | Warehouses, car parks, simple dimming | Application-dependent |
Conclusion
If the layout will change, or if emergency and energy reporting per luminaire matters, pay for DALI up front. If the dimming is set once and left alone, 0-10V buys the same comfort for less.
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Post a sourcing brief → Compare more products📋 Authoritative Standards Reference
IEC 60529 · CIE 13.3 · ANSI C78.377 · IES LM-79 / LM-80 · UL 1598 / UL 8750 — data verified by the CompareDeals team.