RAPIX Lighting Control system is a powerful, cost effective means for delivering smart DALI Lighting Control solutions simply and easily.
RAPIX Lighting Control scales from very small and simple, to very large and complex.
RAPIX LCS IS A SECURE COMMERCIAL LIGHTING CONTROL PLATFORM OFFERING IOT CONNECTIVITY AND EXCEPTIONAL PROJECT OUTCOMES
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A challenge for any Lighting Control System is the commissioning process: software tools typically require highly skilled and expensive commissioning engineers, with a great deal of time to design and implement the customer solution.
Maintaining a Lighting Control System after building hand-over can be challenging for facility managers, owners and tenants. Facilities personnel or a new maintainer need to use the same commissioning systems for maintenance activities. Examples are re-commissioning when DALI ballasts or drivers fail, or building / tenancy re-configuration. Systems that are complex or need high skills lead to increased ongoing operating costs.
The RAPIX DALI-2 Lighting Control System uses hardware and software designed by industry veterans, with workflows that save time and money for the initial install as well as the ongoing maintenance.
RAPIX from its first design meeting was built with simplicity in mind. This begins with the idea of DALI for the lighting bus and Ethernet to make up the backbone of a solution and to allow communication between DALI lines. There is no requirement for any additional bus systems for communication between devices, unlike systems of the past.
With DALI being at the forefront of the lighting world and becoming widely adopted globally, Ozuno has integrated the latest DALI-2 standard into the RAPIX Lighting Control System.
This latest standard has set the new benchmark for DALI and has remedied many of the nuances and gaps of the original DALI Version 1 standard.
A new IEC standard. Open protocol. Revised specifications. Tighter tolerances. Better performance.
A bus system for all your lighting system requirements including sensors, switches, light fittings, emergencies, relays and dimmers.
Manufacturer interoperability. Talk the same language across multiple vendors and manufacturers.
RAPIX Lighting Control can work with a single DALI line using a single DALI luminaire. It also scales up to hundreds of DALI lines and thousands of devices.
The smallest RAPIX Lighting Control System is the simplest: The RAPIX Occupancy/Presence Sensor. This smart sensor includes movement and light level measurement, allowing all the usual functions for movement, occupancy sensing, light level gating and constant light level maintenance (daylight harvesting). It also includes a set of terminals that can be wired to a toggle switch, a momentary switch, any device with dry contact terminals, or some other motion sensor with dry contacts.
The RAPIX Occupancy/Presence sensor has ultra-low power consumption and uses no DALI Short Addresses.
Multiple RAPIX Occupancy/Presence sensors can work together – easily expanding the coverage area and maintaining consistent occupancy detection in larger open areas, rooms, corridors or walkways.
RAPIX Occupancy/Presence Sensors can work together on the same DALI line, with no other devices needed and commissioning performed quickly and easily using the free RAPIX Addressing software. Functions are configured using templates: just select the template with the required features, then select any options.
Sensors can also work together as part of larger RAPIX systems including RAPIX Modular Switches, the RAPIX Universal Input, and RAPIX Zone Controllers. When a Zone Controller is used, sensors can work together across multiple DALI lines presenting a seamless commissioning and user experience.
The RAPIX Zone Controller includes 4 separate, electrically isolated DALI connections. Each is completely distinct, allowing separate control and monitoring for each line. Zones can be made up of DALI devices in any of the DALI lines on the Zone Controller.
When a control function is performed by a device on one of the lines, the Zone Controller knows how to map the required action to other DALI devices on other DALI lines.
For example, a RAPIX Occupancy/Presence Sensor on line A might cause lighting to be controlled on both line A and line B. The Zone Controller coordinates the response, through the Zone definition. When commissioning, installers don’t need any special setup actions, programming knowledge or extra skill to get the desired response: just put the relevant lighting in the Zone and then set up the sensor to control the Zone.
A single Zone Controller is the fast, effective way to link and control up to 256 DALI devices.
Larger installations can use many Zone Controllers, communicating using Ethernet.
Zone Controllers communicate with each other automatically, allowing a Zone to span multiple Zone Controllers. The Zone Controllers synchronise system conditions with each other. All Zone Controllers store the complete project definition. This is all performed without special commissioning or operating actions by the installer or building occupants.
Zone Controllers can be joined together by daisy-chaining: each Zone Controller has a built-in Ethernet switch. Alternatively, external Ethernet switches can be used.
RAPIX can scale up, from large to very large. Simply keep adding Zone Controllers and DALI lines.
RAPIX is a decentralised system. Distributed application controllers are far more complex than a single point controller – but in the case of failures, a distributed system is far more resilient.
RAPIX switches, sensors and interfaces include a small DALI-2 Application Controller. These controllers cooperate to create a software model of the DALI system. This model includes load levels, group memberships and scene settings.
When input units know the load state on the DALI line, lighting operations become straightforward, and watching the DALI commands allows the software model to always stay up to date.
Input units also include a dedicated programming language specifically designed for lighting. Operations performed by sensors and switches are code segments that get loaded into the product.
The software DALI model, along with the programming language and code segments allows new functions to be added to input units quickly, easily and with no requirement for firmware updates.
In a RAPIX system, Zone Controllers do not act as a central point of control: there is no central controller, and no single point of failure.
Any failure in the Ethernet infrastructure might split a RAPIX system into several parts that cannot communicate with each other. In that case, each part carries on working independently. When the Ethernet failure is repaired, the parts self-heal automatically.
The RAPIX DALI-2 Zone Controller links DALI lines to allow an action or operation on one line to perform a required function on other DALI lines. Zone Controllers communicate with each over Ethernet, allowing the ability to scale up the number of DALI lines in a site with practically no limit.
“The biggest single RAPIX installation has 90 Zone Controllers, 350 DALI lines and around 12,000 devices installed. It works as a single system.”
RAPIX provides resilience in the case of failures. Switches and sensors are Application Controllers that operate in their local environment – they control their local DALI line. Zone Controllers monitor switches and sensors, and push anything required to any other required DALI lines. This needs a sophisticated combination of messaging, firmware and software. The end result is a system that can tolerate and operate (albeit with reduced function) in the case of different kinds of system failures.
“Robustness is a key focus for the RAPIX Lighting Control System.”
In the modern world, encryption and security are integral parts of a safe and secure digital building infrastructure.
The RAPIX DALI-2 Lighting Control System was designed with security and encryption as core principles for Ethernet connected devices.
RAPIX security and encryption is built-in, with no need for additional hardware or software.
All communication between Zone Controllers operates over the Ethernet connection. That communication uses modern Information technology security practices including Encryption, Authentication and Authorisation for every Zone Controller to Zone Controller interaction.
Out of the box, RAPIX Zone Controllers have 128 bit AES encryption and authentication built-in. No external components or internet connection is needed to use best in class security and encryption protocols.
No internet or cloud services required for operation at any point.
128 Bit Authentication and Encryption out of the box.
Future Proof – Upgradeable technology and operating system as the worlds security needs change.
The DALI-2 standard allows up to 64 Control Gear devices to be connected on a single DALI line. These can be ballasts, lamp drivers, emergency drivers, DALI relays and similar.
There is no standard method of connecting the individual DALI Lines into a larger system. Growing beyond a single DALI line is often part of some other system; requiring an installer to create complex routing rules to make different system parts work together.
The RAPIX DALI-2 Lighting Control System allows hundreds of DALI Lines and thousands of luminaires, sensors and wall switches to be used as if they were a single network.
Like most lighting systems, DALI uses addresses. A DALI address applies to a physical device, on a physical piece of wire (the DALI line). When many addresses need to be controlled, the amount of commissioning work and documentation can quickly become difficult and tedious.
Most installers do not care a lot about device addresses – instead they want to perform useful operations on a space in a building. With RAPIX, the installer selects the devices to be controlled together and puts them into a ZONE. All operations are applied to Zones, and the RAPIX system looks after the complexity of making the whole system work.
Zones can normally be drawn on a floor plan. Examples of small Zones:
Zones can also be larger:
All these Zones are controlled in the same way:
When configuring a switch or sensor, there is no need to be concerned about the size or location of the Zone being controlled. Configuring a large site uses the same simple process as configuring a single room.
In its simplest form a Zone still needs to be made up from the DALI addresses of the devices in that space. Device addresses still need to be known in order to define the Zone. But after the Zone is defined all operations apply to the Zone. The separate components (the device addresses that make up the Zone) never need to be a concern again.
On small simple products like the RAPIX eHub and Occupancy Sensor, Zones can only contain DALI addresses: A Short Address, a Group Address, or the Broadcast. On large controllers, like the RAPIX Zone Controller – a Zone can contain other Zones inside it.
This ability to make a Zone contain other Zones inside it allows easy formulation of some common, and quite complex scenarios, such as:
Another example:
In the RAPIX products and software, all operations apply to Zones, and the software manages the Zone components.
Lighting Control Systems often need to set a number of loads to pre-set levels, and often with a gradual fade to the new lighting level. This is commonly referred to as setting a scene, or activating a preset.
DALI supports a limited number of scenes, and those apply to the devices on a DALI line. The RAPIX Lighting Control System allows scenes or presets to be easily extended, allowing control of any number of loads across a site, with varying levels, varying fade times, and fades that are longer than the times defined by the DALI standard. Such scenes are called Xi Scenes.
Similar to creating RAPIX Zones, the process to create Xi Scenes is simple: Lights (including whole Zones) are selected, along with the lighting level and the fade time. An Xi Scene can be set from any device, anywhere in the site.
Scheduled events allow common operations to be performed at defined times. Schedules are easily defined using the RAPIX Integrator software, and run in RAPIX Zone Controllers.
The RAPIX system allows an unlimited number of extremely powerful schedules.
Schedules are made up of three parts:
Date rules include a selected (single) date, every day, selected days of the week, selected day of every week/month/year, or a range of dates.
Time rules include a fixed time of day, sunrise ± offset; or sunset ± offset.
Actions include setting a Zone on or off, starting a Zone fade, setting a scene, or setting an Xi Flag or Property.
Sometimes the behaviour of a Lighting Control System needs to change based on factors such as the day of the week, time of day or building occupancy. To support this type of dynamic system behaviour, RAPIX provides two simple-to-use concepts: Flags and Operating Properties.
In combinations these concepts allow powerful changes to system behaviours.
An Operating Property is similar to a flag, but instead of just being true or false, the property has a value. This is simply a number from 0 to 255. A property with a value allows many different behaviours, based on the property value.
Examples include:
Operating Properties can be controlled from button presses, movement sensors, dry contact inputs, and schedules.
Operating Properties are used – as an option – when setting up the operation of RAPIX devices like eHubs, switches, sensors and the universal input unit. If not needed, they can be ignored. If needed, the template-based editing system allows easy selection of the appropriate properties.
An Flag has two states: true and false. Typical uses include:
Flags can be controlled from button presses, movement sensors, uiversal input unit, and schedules.
RAPIX Facilities software can monitor and report on the exit and emergency lighting installation.
Many RAPIX DALI-2 switches and sensors support RAPIX Zero-Commissioning. If there is no setup or commissioning by DALI-2 or RAPIX Software, then:
The brilliant simplicity of the RAPIX Lighting Control System helps eliminate the time and money-wasting patchwork of complex integration and post-installation troubleshooting that’s often needed to make lighting systems perform as expected.
We provide industry-standard protocols for integration with other systems: Control4, MQTT, Modbus and BACnet. A built in logic engine is available at no additional charge, and a JSON based API over TCP/IP allows seamless integration of third-party systems. Embedded or PC based integration can be quickly and easily achieved while preserving unrivalled information systems security.
RAPIX DALI remote relays are designed for on/off switching of up to 16 AX load using DALI commands. The on-board 240 V ac rated latching relay is capable of switching a full 16 A of LED, fluorescent, incandescent and HID lighting loads at 220-240 V ac, making it suitable for a wide range of commercial and industrial building applications.
RAPIX DALI-2 DIN mount relays are available in one and two channel models and are designed for on/off switching of up to 12 Amps of lighting load.
To maximise contact life, RAPIX DALI-2 relay products include zero cross switching to ensure that for switch-on, the relay contacts are closed at the ac voltage zero-crossing point.
This DIN mounted relay is suitable for the control of ac and dc motors commonly used for curtains, blinds, shutters and tilting shade systems. This relay can be used in any DALI system. Operations include manual control – UP/OPEN, DOWN/CLOSE and STOP. Commissioning options allow proportional control, for example setting the open amount or tilt angle.
Trailing Edge phase dimming of lighting
loads from received DALI commands.
Suited to lighting loads up to 500 W (at 40 °C ambient) and 400 W (at 50°C ambient)
1 W minimum load.
Two wire dimming device: no Neutral required,
only the ac Line (Active) and Load is connected.
Worlds best performing Phase Dimmer for LED lighting loads
The new Ozuno range of DALI-2 light switches connect directly to the DALI line and include built-in LED indicators. This new range of light switches are available in two push button styles and a rotary, with optional accessories for small and large dials.
Secondary slave push buttons and rotaries can be added allowing up to 2 gangs per master switch unit. These push button and rotary styles can be mixed and matched without limitations. Both push buttons and rotary are compatible with a wide range of switch plates from most major Australia and New Zealand suppliers.
The RAPIX Movement and Light Level Sensor can act as a miniature application controller for its own built-in sensing functions, with passive infrared movement sensing, light level sensing, and a voltage-free input.
The RAPIX Movement Sensor allows all common movement operations as well as light level sensing and light level maintenance. Switching and control functions are available using the voltage-free input.
This sensor can act as a miniature DALI Application Controller. Multiple sensors can easily be used to expand coverage to larger areas.
RAPIX sensors can operate with no other controllers, or with RAPIX Zone Controllers, or as part of any DALI-2 lighting control system.
Too many lighting control systems are slow and difficult to program. The difficulties begin at the earliest of steps: getting the devices in the site to have the right addresses. After that, the time and effort continues.
RAPIX takes a different view: All systems need some kind of commissioning. Commissioning is expensive, so the best way to do commissioning faster and cheaper is to use better software.
Better software is not evolved from existing software with a little extra polish – better software is created with new designs, tailored to solve fundamental problems and a relentless focus on fast, effective commissioning.
RAPIX Addressing is the fastest and most powerful DALI address assignment for DALI.
With RAPIX Addressing, a single DALI line can have addresses set quickly, DALI and DALI-2 Control Gear properties can be changed, and there is fast, easy setup of single-line RAPIX devices like eHub, switches, sensors, and the universal switch input.
For single-line installations, no other software is needed, and RAPIX Addressing is free.
RAPIX Integrator grows on RAPIX Addressing, supporting multiple DALI lines, Zone Controllers, scheduling, Flags and Operating Properties.
RAPIX Integrator allows definition of a project that can be saved and worked on later. The project can also be defined off-line, allowing site programming to be created away from site and transferred to the system.
RAPIX Integrator includes sophisticated DALI logging, allowing the DALI traffic to be checked on any DALI line in an installation.
Like RAPIX Addressing, the RAPIX Integrator software is free.
When strange behaviour is observed – what do you do when everything seems crazy?
In spite of the best software, and the cleverest installers – sometimes building installs and system operation does not go to plan. When that happens, a powerful diagnostic tool can be be the difference between night and day.
Both RAPIX Addressing and RAPIX Integrator include the world’s best DALI logger: Every entry is fully decoded – no hexadecimal mess. Every entry is timestamped. And when there is extra information in RAPIX commands, this is all shown as well. Logging also includes extensive and powerful filtering, to allow narrowing down to only messages of interest. Naturally, logs can be exported for separate analysis.
RAPIX Integrator allows logging traffic on any DALI line in a connected installation, irrespective of which Zone Controller is used make the connection. RAPIX Addressing works with a single DALI line, and allows logging the traffic on that line.
With powerful logs and a little detective work, strange and complex problems are easily solved.
RAPIX Facilities is your complete lighting control facilities maintenance software. Designed forthe building owner and building manager, this software provides all the features required to maintain your entire lighting installation.
Key features
Learn more about RAPIX Facilities here…
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