There are just two international standards for lighting control, with commercial lighting control & building automation using the DALI protocol, and the entertainment industry using DMX512. Creative Lighting's team of electronics engineers design and manufacture a range of lighting control solutions that are both DALI and DMX512 compliant, and scalable for the smallest to the largest projects.  

CURRENT Projects

In response to Queensland Rail's decision to minimise energy consumption, programming by Creative for a Q Rail Train Station is underway, with 3 DIDIO 7017s being used to control the railway station's platform and foyer lighting as well as the entry signage. The DIDIOs will be controlling contactors for HID loads, and DALI lines for fluorescent lighting. Occupancy sensing will be used with the DIDIOs receiving sensor triggers and dimming the lighting accordingly. There will also be timer based functionality and manual overrides with background timing in the DIDIO firmware. The project is due form commissioning late Q2 09.

Already regarded as a benchmark for the best lighting control equipment in Australia with its GrandMa dimmer system for the theatres, the $34 million refurbishment to the Queensland Performing Arts Centre features extensive use of leds to replace front of house lighting, and they are all controlled by over 100 Control Freak SLAMMO DMX-512 dimmers. In addition to the SLAMMOs for the Concert Hall's front of house lighting, Creative Lighting have also supplied SLAMMO led power supplies and Tridonic Tallex led luminaires for the lift lights, Osram linearlight leds and SLAMMOs for the bars, SLAMMOs with simple rotary pot control for the change rooms, and custom SLAMMO 5v and 7.5v LED dimmers for aisle lights in both the Lyric Theatre and Concert Hall.

The new Telstra high rise in George Street Brisbane has also just been completed. The cbd high rise building is outlined in rgb leds controlled by Control Freak SLAMMO DALI dimmers, with a Control Freak DIDIO colour and sequence control system, with custom programming by Creative Lighting. Creative used its own unique DALI Simulator programme to visualise the end result including colour change and sequencing. Design of the project was by Deepi Naru at NDY Light, and solutions provider was the Lighting Group with installation by Stowe. The building is owned by Charter Hall.

The Ipswich City Council's new nocturnal enclosure for bilbys has just commenced construction and the control system is a Control Freak DIDIO DALI controller which will automatically ramp up the dimmable fluorescent and Control Freak LIDA DALI HID lighting over a one hour period for 'dawn' lighting at night, and a separate 'dusk' lighting sequence during the day. There is also a SLAMMO led dimmer for the sign leds in the walk through tunnel.

RESEARCH & Development

Creative Lighting is engaged in ongoing r&d and current projects due for product release this year include:

• SLAMMO 3 channel DALI and DMX-512 dimmer for both constant voltage and constant current leds with DMX512-RDM remote device management and remote selection of DALI or DMX512 operation via DMX-RDM command. The RDM software is being written now and prototype pcbs have already passed the testing phase. Revised prototypes are being engineered to include brownout detection, additional filtering, and dedicated 10 bit timers for each of the 3 channels for >200Hz operation.
• ADDICT DMX-RDM - the firmware has been written to add the Remote Device Management features for DMX512 to the ADDICT, and testing is under way. The ADDICT with DMX-RDM is due for release Q3 2009
• ADDICT v1.07 (hardware revision) - the ADDICT's hardware is being redesigned to increase the rating of the integral DALI power supply to match the 245mA DIDIO power supply with a starting voltage of 21vdc. Prototyping of the revised ADDICT hardware is scheduled for Q3 2009 with a scheduled  production release during Q4.
• LIDA-F builds upon Creative's success with the LIDA contactor driver. The new LIDA-F suits DALI control of fans such as Hunter Pacific's Sycamore fan, as well as being able to drive 4 channels of 50w 240v loads without the need for a contactor, or much larger loads with an external contactor. The LIDA-F prototype testing has passed a 25 year accelerated life test (along with a Sycamore fan) and production is due to commence in the coming weeks. The standard LIDA-F aluminium enclosure will feature a wiring slot for ease of wiring, and 2 LIDA-F pcbs per enclosure. Each LIDA-F enclosure will therefore be 8 channels, requiring only 4 addresses for low medium and high speeds for 4 fans or 8 addresses for 8 external contactors. Room is also provided in the enclosures for easy mounting and wiring of the capacitors normally supplied with the fans. Supply of LIDA-F will be available mid 2009
• The new firmware for the DIDIO models 7110 DMX512 9 colour, 2 sequence controller - and model 7119 with infra red remote control and mains adaptor - both with Creative's unique patented PAINT programming has been completed and the first production units have already been supplied.

DIDIO Series 7

The DIDIO Series 7 features DALI and DMX512, standard din mount, removable terminals for easy wiring, rs-232 interface for Serial Communications between third party computers and systems and the DALI line, 24vdc input, high capacity DALI power supply, modular daughterboard arrangement and much more. 

Already significant numbers of Series 7 DIDIOs have been installed and supplied for a wide variety of projects for example:

• Telstra cbd building 275 George Street Brisbane - DIDIO 7001 with custom rotary colour and sequence selector, custom colours and sequencing of 60 DALI addresses
• Eraring Power Station - DIDIO 7017s (one without DALI line power supply) controlling 10 groups via 20 pushbutton controls
• Cimitiere House, 113 Cimitiere Street LAUNCESTON - DIDIO 7001 is being employed by Contact Electrical with an ADDICT wireless kit to commission this new 5-star rated green building 
• ABC Studios Australia - DIDIO 7035 DMX512 to DALI translators with  pushbutton scene control
• 52 Clarence Street Sydney - 22 x DIDIO 7017 will soon be installed by CTI Australia
• Epygi USA - DIDIO 7001 DALI PS + SC + SCI controllers for a project in Armenia
• Gerard Lighting - DIDIO 7050 RGB 9 colour, 2 sequence controller with infra red remote control option and Creative's unique patented PAINT programming
• Australian National Maritime Museum - DIDIO 7001 - installation by Edge Electric
• Solus Corp RGB LED luminaire control - Solus choose to use the DIDIO 7111 with custom functionality
• Health Matters Karalee - DIDIO 705x DALI PS & SCI & 3 gang momentary mech plates x 7

 
RECENT Projects
SKM Brisbane 8-story commercial fit out. 


Designed by D&M, the lighting of Sinclair Knight Mertz's new headquarters at Southbank had to meet the exacting requirements of a 5 star energy rated project. Commissioning the thousands of lights and sensors was undertaken using the latest Control Freak ADDICT v1.04 wireless tools, and every DALI loop is controlled and powered by Control Freak DIDIO- PSCI.

Facts and figures: 37 DALI lines, 37 DIDIO 7001 DALI Power Supplies with SCI, 6 DIDIO 705X with pushbutton triggers, 18 Control Freak LIDA 1 and 2 channel DALI contactor drivers for switched loads, 396 occupancy sensors, 167 Tridonic LS2 daylight harvesting sensors and 9 pe cells, DALI fluorescent luminaires with 1,808 Tridonic Ballasts, 16 Tridonic DALI transformers, plus switched loads. 22 DALI Control ip addressable controllers and 14 Expansion Units. Designer: D&M Designs, Brisbane.