CE Pro May 2024 - 24

LIGHTING CONTROLS & FIXTURES: LIGHTAPALOOZA
breadth of products into
scope for interested parties.
Rather than engage in the
traditional talks of surge
protection, energy sessions
covered more cutting-edge
concepts in the space
such as power design, solar
integration, battery backup,
and power protection when
dealing with said batteries.
Many integrators may still
grapple with their energy
management options, as well
as how to incorporate these
systems into regular sales.
That's not meant to be
an indictment of how the
topic was handled; it's more
a comment on how new
the category is. As goes the
common phrase, the worst
thing about being an innovator
is that you may show
up a little bit too early, and
while some integrators have
already cracked the power/
energy code, there's still
plenty of work to be done.
Commanding a New
Level of Respect
It was genuinely surprising
to see how many product
launches were timed with
Lightapalooza 2024, both
in leadup to the show and
at the event itself. Usually
reserved for long-established
premier events such
as CEDIA Expo and ISE, the
amount of activity highlights
how much respect
Lightapalooza - and the
category in general - has
garnered to be warranting
such major announcements.
WAC had Colorscaping,
Coastal Source had EVO,
Séura introduced a smart
lighted mirror, DMF showed
off its dealer-centric Artafex
series, and USAI introduced
its LittleTwos LED lights,
just to name a few.
There were also manufacturers
demonstrating some
big developments in the
space, that, while maybe not
a new product launch, elevated
their hype. Snap One,
for instance, was showcasing
its new DALI gateway for the
American Lighting:
Getting the Most from
DALI-2 & DMX Systems
There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes
to choosing between DALI-2 and DMX. Each protocol
has its strengths and applications where it excels.
DALI-2 provides easier design, installation, and
interchangeability with its flexible system architecture
whereas DMX provides superior, real-time color
control capabilities and smoother dimming curves.
In many cases, a hybrid approach may be the most pragmatic solution. Integrating both
DALI-2 and DMX within a project allows for a comprehensive lighting control system that
combines the precision of DALI-2 with the dynamic creativity of DMX. This approach can
be particularly beneficial in spaces that require both functional, task-oriented lighting and
captivating, dynamic visual experiences.
When taking this hybrid approach, it is important to note that while DALI-2 has very
little problems controlling a DMX system, DMX is not designed to control a DALI -2
system. Because of this, it is recommended to integrate a DMX system into a DALI-2
system and not the other way around.
As lighting technology continues to advance, and the demands of various industries
evolve, understanding the unique capabilities of DALI-2 and DMX512 will become
increasingly critical to lighting designers, contractors, installers, and integrators. Both
DALI-2 and DMX512 stand as pillars of control in the lighting world, each contributing to
the overall spectrum of possibilities.
Learn more by visiting americanlighting.com.
DALI-2 protocol.
Meanwhile, in a small,
remote corner of the hall,
Converging Systems brought
out a program that was capable
of color mapping profiles
from a (Lutron-owned)
Ketra bulb to connected
fixtures in real-time.
The number of incredible
products that were on display
at the show just goes
on, so you'll have to stay
tuned for the highlight reel
when that comes out.
Key Industry Players
on the Same Team
What's more is that clearly
Lightapalooza hasn't finished
growing.
Expanding beyond its
HTSA origins, the event
has become a symbol of
collaboration inside the
industry, with this year
featuring plenty of support
from groups like Azione,
ProSource and even CEDIA.
" When you're talking
about building an industry
that has risen up out of
seemingly nothing like this
has, there's just not enough
resources, there's not
enough scale to do that individually, "
remarks Jim Pearse,
president of ProSource.
" When we are working
together, I do believe we
are able to deliver a better
service to the industry, and
in turn, a better service to
our members. "
Daryl Friedman, global
president and CEO of
CEDIA, also noted the
potential industry pressures
that may come as a result of
this growth.
24 | CE Pro May 2024
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AMERICAN LIGHTING

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CE Pro May 2024

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