Dynamic facade lighting brings a set of protocols into the conversation. You do not need to be a lighting programmer to specify a scheme, but you need to know what each layer does.
DMX512: the luminaire language
DMX512 is a serial protocol that sends up to 512 channel values in one universe. Each luminaire or pixel takes a few channels, for example red, green and blue. A long linear luminaire with several pixels can use many channels; the universe fills up quickly.
Plan for: channel counts per luminaire, number of universes, and the cable topology (daisy chain with termination, within distance limits).
RDM: talking back
Remote Device Management runs over the same DMX cable and lets the controller address luminaires and read status remotely. It saves time during commissioning, but only if the luminaires and controllers support it. Check before assuming.
Art-Net and sACN: DMX over Ethernet
Large schemes carry many universes. Art-Net and sACN transport DMX data over standard Ethernet to nodes near the luminaires, which convert it back to DMX512.
Where our luminaires fit
Most of our architectural luminaires ship as static white or single-colour. Selected models offer DMX512 as an option, and some decorative and point products have built-in colour programs that run without an external controller. Each datasheet states which applies.
System-level design, controller selection, network layout, programming, is delivered as a project service with the integrator or control supplier on the job.
Questions to settle early
- Static, built-in program, or externally controlled scenes?
- Who will operate and change scenes after handover?
- How many addressable points, and how many universes does that imply?
- Where will nodes and power supplies live, and can they be reached for maintenance?