VEmesh E2D – IoT Extension to DALI Products
VEmesh E2D (or IoT Extension to DALI) products have been designed to comply with wireless ISM/SRD regulations in the frequency bands of 863÷870 MHz for Europe, 902÷928 MHz for US and 915÷917 MHz for Israel. In Europe, the products also follow LBT & AFA requirements, for maximal utilization of the frequency band.
For connecting with DALI compliant DALI luminaires and sensors, VEmesh E2D products follow IEC 62386 set of protocols for DALI-2 and DALI-1 standards.
VEmesh E2D Bridge Node
On the RF side, a VEmesh network comprises of one VEmesh E2D Gateway and a number of Nodes. The VEmesh Bridges are the Nodes of an E2D Network.
On the DALI side, each VEmesh Bridge connects to one or more standard DALI devices or sensors, with a VEmesh Bridge capable to support up to 4 such devices – either on a pole for streetlighting or in a building. The Bridge actually forms a DALI loop, with the connection following DALI standard IEC 62386. Through this connection, the Bridge receives all DALI signals from the DALI devices that it is connected (such as LED drivers replies and input devices’ events), and forwards them to the VEmesh wireless network. In the opposite direction, the VEmesh Bridge receives the DALI Master commands and forwards them on its DALI loop to the devices that it is connected. One E2D Bridge supports 1 to 4 devices and it does not require a DALI address of its own.
The Bridge has a plastic case and its dimensions are 149.5mm x 40mm x 28.1mm (5.89” x 1.57” x 1.1”).
VEmesh E2D Zhaga Bridge
VEmesh E2D Zhaga Bridge’s functionality is basically similar to VEmesh E2D Bridge Node. Its form factor has been designed according to Zhaga book 18 standard, for fast installation and additional interchangeability in street lighting with DALI luminaires and sensors. VEmesh E2D Zhaga Bridge dimensions are 80 mm diameter / 65 mm height.
VEmesh E2D NEMA Bridge
VEmesh E2D NEMA Bridge has similar functionality to VEmesh E2D Bridge Node, except for the form factor, which complies with ANSI C136.41-2013 Twist Lock. In addition, the same case has been designed to be used in future products that include a photocell sensor. VEmesh E2D NEMA Bridge dimensions are 84 mm diameter / 86 mm height.
VEmesh E2D Modbus Bridge
On the wireless side, the functionality of VEmesh E2D Modbus Bridge is identical to any other E2D Bridge. The other side of the bridge is Modbus RTS, with RS-485 interface. As such, the Modbus Bridge can support up to 247 Servers (formerly named Slaves), with VEhub serving as the Client (formerly Master).
The typical use of the Modbus Bridge is to measure the energy consumption of DALI and other luminaires in VEmesh E2D wireless networks. The energy consumption control is important for evaluating the savings in energy cost and optimizing the configuration of the smart lighting, such as of the dimming vector – level and hours. Further use of Modbus Bridges is to control, read and monitor additional Modbus devices, such as sensors or actuators.
VEmesh E2D Modbus Bridge uses a standard DIN Rail (EN 60715) 3M Modulbox, and its antenna is internal.
VEmesh E2D Gateway
An E2D type of wireless network is formed by a VEmesh Gateway and up to 16,000 Nodes (luminaires). The Nodes of the Network are VEmesh Bridges that convert the wireless signals to DALI protocol for connecting to DALI luminaires. The other side of the Gateway connects to any TCP/IP network, though the usual connection is to a cellular router, such as GPRS, 3G, 4G, etc., or to Wi-Fi router, if available.
Through this connection, the Gateway receives all DALI commands that originate at the network hub from the cloud, and forwards them on the RF side to the VEmesh wireless network. In the opposite direction the Gateway receives the replies and other signals from devices and sensors, and forwards them to the cloud, to be subsequently received and processed by the network hub.
On the DALI side, the Gateway connects to a standard DALI Master (sometimes called DALI Router) on its DALI loop, with the connection following DALI standard IEC 62386.
The Gateway is powered by an external standard 5V Power Supply, available off-the-shelf from any appropriate vendor. The Gateway, in a 80mm x 115.1mm x 27.4mm (3.15” x 4.53” x 1.08″) metal case, can be also mounted on a DIN-rail.
VEmesh Modbus Gateway
VEmesh Modbus Gateway enables owners of Modbus management systems (Modbus CMS) to control E2D wireless networks, and to take advantage of the best of all worlds: Modbus for management, DALI for lighting control and VEmesh for wireless communications.
Such a lighting control system consists of two parts: the Modbus based management hub, and one or more Modbus E2D networks connected to DALI luminaires. In turn, each Modbus E2D network consists of one Modbus Gateway and up to 998 DALI luminaires.
Similarly to the standard VEmesh E2D Gateway, the Modbus Gateway is powered by an external standard 5V Power Supply, and the dimensions of its metallic case are 80mm x 115.1mm x 27.4mm (3.15” x 4.53” x 1.08”) metal case.
VEhub
A standard VEmesh E2D system comprises a management hub and a number of E2D networks, with each network comprising of one VEmesh E2D Gateway and a number of Bridges and in turn, each Bridge connected to a number of luminaires of sensors.
Essentially a cloud based IoT/M2M software package, VEhub is the standard management hub in use in a VEmesh E2D system. E2D being an open system, it enables not only the use of any standard DALI luminaire or sensor, but also of any open management hub as a replacement for VEhub.
Including a set of modern management and monitoring tolls, with high level security and sophisticated Graphic User Interface for all common operating systems, VEhub can manage up to 50,000 Networks per single IoT server and is expandable.
VEmesh E2D Toolkit
VEmesh E2D Toolkit is a computerized tool designed to assist in the deployment and maintenance of an E2D system. Its main tasks are of the commissioning, the configuration and the testing of the network elements.
The 3 parts of the Toolkit are a Hardware Unit, similar to a standard E2D Gateway, an MS Windows Application and a Windows laptop.
