478 Userguide en
478 Userguide en
Product description
The 478 is for controlling DALI ballasts, LED drivers, emergency devices and load interface units (except for the 490 Blinds
Controller). The flexible control inputs route an input address/group command, as a broadcast, to its corresponding DALI
channel output. The 478 operates in one of two modes to support the connection of controls:
• Normal mode: No device addressing is required. Helvar compatible presence sensors can be connected in addition to
DALI compatible control gear. The sensors provide local occupancy control for the DALI channels’ output to which they
are connected. Do not connect controls other than those listed (see ‘Sensors’ on page 7) to the DALI outputs (DALI
channels 1–8). This mode provides support for emergency devices only when using the DALI control input.
• Toolbox mode (Default): This allows a DALI output channel to act as a power supply, so that any DALI compatible
control gear or Helvar DIGIDIM controls can be connected. No automatic addressing takes place, so all the devices
connected on the DALI output channel must be programmed using Helvar’s Toolbox software. Output levels received
on the control inputs are broadcast on the corresponding output channel to provide local override. The ‘Toolbox mode’
option is available from the control panel. For more information, see ‘Set Toolbox mode’ on page 10.
SDIM/DMX Override
control input DALI channels 5–8
Status LED
TERM B SC 0V A 0V OVR D5 D- D6 D- D7 D- D8 D-
LCD
DALI CHANNELS
OK
Control
Panel
478 DALI Controller
Buttons
DALI CHANNELS
(85 to 264)VAC DALI SYSTEM
OVERRIDE Ch1 Ch2 Ch3 Ch4
L N E DA+ DA- D1 D- D2 D- D3 D- D4 D-
DALI channels
The 478 can control up to 8 DALI channels, each of up to 64 devices (limited by current consumption).
Control inputs
The 478 can be controlled using DALI, SDIM or DMX, and an override input.
NOTE: DALI AND SDIM/DMX MUST NOT BE CONNECTED SIMULTANEOUSLY.
Note: The content of this manual refers to the operation of a 478 with firmware version 2.4 or later.
Installation
Installation steps 5. Connect mains wiring and power on the 478
1. Attach the 478 to a DIN rail 6. Set SDIM/DMX mode & base address
2. Connect DALI channel wiring (if using SDIM/DMX control)
3. Connect control wiring (DALI or SDIM/DMX) 7. Configure the 478 using Designer or Toolbox software
4. Connect Override input wiring (optional)
Connections
SDIM/DMX Override DALI channels
(–) (+) 5 6 7 8
Term B SC 0 V A 0 V OVR D5 D– D6 D– D7 D– D8 D–
TERM B SC 0V A 0V OVR D5 D- D6 D- D7 D- D8 D-
OK
DALI CHANNELS
(100–240) VAC DALI SYSTEM
OVERRIDE Ch1 Ch2 Ch3 Ch4
L N DA+ DA- D1 D- D2 D- D3 D- D4 D-
Mains
supply
DALI D1 D- D2 D- D3 D- D4 D-
control 1 2 3 4
DALI channels
DA– DA–
L N E
DA+ DA+
Input/Output terminals
SDIM/DMX Override Mains supply (AC)
A: (Data + ) OVR Vin < 1.5 V; Ishort = 1 mA L (Live)
B: (Data –) 0V 0V N (Neutral)
0 V: (Data reference) DALI channels (1–8) E (Earth/Ground): must be
DA+ D1;D2;D3;D4;D5;D6;D7;D8 connected
SC: (Screen: not data reference)
Term: (Link to B for termination) DA– D– DALI control
Note: Max. 64 devices per channel DA+ & DA–
DALI channels 1 2 3 4
3b. SDIM/DMX
SDIM/DMX termination
iii
iv
6. Set SDIM or DMX mode and base address (if using SDIM or DMX control)
Set SDIM or DMX base address
Use the control panel buttons to set the SDIM or DMX base
address, as shown below.
OK
OK OK
OK OK
OK
Toolbox
You can configure the 478 using a Windows PC (running Helvar’s Toolbox software, v. 2.3.3 or later) connected
via USB or serial cable to the DALI network. Use a 510 USB interface, or other Helvar serial interface.
The Comms Indicator in the top left-hand corner of the main display screen indicates SDIM or DMX activity or DALI power/
activity:
• For SDIM/DMX it is normally off, and flashes on intermittently to indicate SDIM or DMX activity.
• If DALI power is on, then the Comms Indicator is on. It flashes to indicate DALI control activity.
The Overall Health Indicator in the bottom right corner shows whether there are faults in one or more channels:
• If there are faults, it shows ‘Fault’ (and the Status LED flashes).
• If there are no faults, it shows ‘OK’.
The main display screen appears: Use the control panel buttons to:
• When the 478 is powered on. • Set DALI channel levels
• After 60 seconds of inactivity on the control panel . • Navigate the system menus to adjust module settings
• After exiting the control panel options.
Channel 1 will flash, and the LCD will show the following
information about the nonemergency devices present on
this channel: how many devices there are (top left corner),
how many have failed (top right corner), how many lamps
are blown (bottom left corner) and how many devices are
missing (bottom right corner).
The selected channel will flash, and the LCD will show the
same status information about the nonemergency devices
present on that channel.
+
channels as required.
-
c. Return to the main display screen
Adjust parameters
Use the UP, DOWN, RIGHT, LEFT and OK buttons on the control panel to navigate, adjust and confirm parameters.
Main menu
This table lists the main options available from the control panel.
Full options details are in the next section.
Addresses Set SDIM, DMX and DALI addresses, including base addresses, and SDIM/DMX mode.
View module serial number, firmware version, and various other service-related
Unit Details
information.
Min fade time Set minimum fade times for DALI channels.
Failure level Set (or disable) DALI failure levels for DALI channels.
Override level Set (or disable) override levels for DALI channels.
Minimum level Set DALI minimum load levels for DALI channels.
Sets Toolbox mode, which requires that all the devices connected on the DALI output
Toolbox mode
channel are programmed with Helvar’s Toolbox software.
Use password Apply password lock to settings (except to ‘Unit details’ and ‘Enter password’ items).
Enter password Allow changes to settings when password lock is applied (see ‘Use password’)
Emergencies
When the unit detects an emergency light on a channel, it enables an emergency channel on the DALI system side. If there
are no emergency ballasts connected on that channel, you can turn this setting off manually with the DOWN button from
the ‘Emergencies’ screen. Subsequently, you can turn it on again with the UP button.
Sensors
The following Helvar presence sensors can be connected to this unit as long as their firmware versions are 6.37 or later:
311 Ceiling PIR Detector, 312 Multisensor, 313 Low-Profile Microwave Detector, 314 Tilting Microwave Detector, 315 iDim
Sense, 317 High-Bay Presence/Absence Detector, and 318 Wall-Mounted PIR Presence/Absence Detector.
Unit Details
Submenu items Options
Details (Read-only) Serial number and firmware version
Mode Mode, power and data information
If DALI power is on, a tick appears next to the DALI power field.
DALI or SDIM/DMX shows the last detected mode when the module was reset.
User mode (Read-only) ‘Normal’
Recall scene
Recall a scene previously stored (temporarily if connected to a Helvar router system).
Scenes are sets of lighting levels and can make use of any combination of channels.
This option is always available, even when password protection is applied to other options.
Range: scenes 1–16
Save as scene
The levels which are currently active for all channels of the dimmer are applied to this scene. You can recall stored scenes
in the ‘Recall scene’ menu (see above).
Range: scenes 1–16
Default scenes
Default lighting scenes can be applied to the dimmer channels.
Default scene levels are: scene 1 = 100 %; scene 2 = 75 %; scene 3 = 50 %; scene 4 = 25 %.
In addition, the following default scenes are available when a presence sensor is used: scene 14 = 10 %, presence sensor
min.; scene 15 = off, presence sensor off; scene 16 = 100 %, presence sensor on.
Note: Lighting levels are NOT changed automatically once you apply default scenes. However, once you recall a scene, lighting
is set to the levels for that scene.
Groups
Assign channels to DALI groups. Any channel can be assigned to any group.
Options:
Group: 1–16
Selected: (Up button);
Not selected: x (Down button).
Failure level
Set channel levels for situations where the DALI bus goes low, such as when it is short-circuited or the DALI PSU is turned
off.
Options:
Channel: 1–8;
ALL
Failure level: 0 % 100 %;
**** (= do not apply Failure level);
(Default: 100 %)
Override level
If the override input connection is short-circuited, e.g. by contact closure on an alarm system, all channels are set to their
override level, regardless of external control signals.
Options:
Channel: 1–8;
ALL
Override level: 0 % 100 %;
**** (= do not apply override level);
(Default: 100 %)
Minimum level
Set the minimum DALI lighting level that the channel will achieve when turned on, no matter what scene is called or level
is set.
For example, if you set a minimum level of 50 % and call scene 4 (at 25 % level), the channel output level will be 50 %.
For SDIM/DMX, the level set here is actually the switch-on level, and the channel will not turn on unless it receives a
command to go to or above this level. See ‘Switch-on level’ (below).
The minimum level is 1 % by default. If you set the minimum level to 100 %, this forces the dimming curve into switch
mode. When using SDIM or DMX control, in switch mode, the ‘Switch-on level’ will apply. When using DALI control, in
switch mode, 0 % = OFF, and 1 % or more = ‘Loads at 100 %’.
Options:
Channel: 1–8;
ALL
Minimum level: 0.1 %;
1 % – 100 %;
(Default: 0.1 %)
Options:
Channel: 1–8;
ALL (Default)
Switch-on level: 0 % – 64 %;
(Default: 2 %)
Hysteresis
Note: Hysteresis is supported only when controlled by SDIM.
This setting affects the level at which the channel turns off. When hysteresis is on, the switch-off level is 80 % of the switch-
on level. At or below the switch-off level, the channel will be off. For example, if the switch-on level is 50 %, and the signal
rises to this level or above, the channel turns on; then, if the signal falls to 40 % or below, the channel turns off.
By default on the dimmer:
- When hysteresis is on and the signal rises to 2 %, the lighting for that channel turns on; when it falls to 0 %, the channel
turns off.
- When hysteresis is off (default setting) and the signal rises to 2 %, the lighting for that channel turns on; when it falls
to 1 %, the channel turns off.
Options:
Channel: 1–8;
ALL
On: (up button);
Off: x (down button)
(Default: x)
LCD Contrast
Set the LCD display contrast: 0 % –100 % (default: 40 %)
Note 1: At 0 %, the text is just visible.
Note 2: The display adjusts as you raise or lower the contrast value, but you must press OK to select that contrast level.
Factory reset
Reset the module to the original settings (defaults).
Note: Restoring factory settings returns all connected lighting to default levels immediately.
Press and hold OK for 10 seconds until a ‘ Done’ message appears.
Options:
Use password: (password is 58)
(up button);
x (down button)
(Default: x = no)
Press OK to confirm new selection, and a ‘ Done’ message appears.
The password lock will be applied after a period of 60 seconds from this message appearing.
Enter password
If the password is enabled and you wish to use all of the functions of the module, you must enter the correct password.
The password is 58.
Status messages
Status messages are displayed on the bottom row of the LCD display.
The status LED will flash red to indicate the states listed below (except the ‘OK’ state).
The status LED lights red for a second when the 478 is powered on.
TERM B SC 0V A 0V OVR D5 D- D6 D- D7 D- D8 D-
OK
DALI CHANNELS
(85 to 264)VAC DALI SYSTEM
OVERRIDE Ch1 Ch2 Ch3 Ch4
L N E DA+ DA- D1 D- D2 D- D3 D- D4 D-
Message Reason
OK The 478 unit and the DALI channels are working properly.
Fault Fault with one or more DALI channels: see messages under ‘DALI channel
selected’ on page 12.
No emergency ballast found No emergency ballast could be detected on the selected channel.
Message Reason
DALI BUS SHORTED Either:
DALI channel terminals are short circuited;
Or:
Too many devices have been connected to a channel (and too much current
is being demanded from the 478).
Note: The 478 also reports DALI lamp failure on the DALI control input. If no devices are connected to an output, it will
report back DALI lamp failure. This makes it easy to detect disconnected outputs.