DT8 tunable white: engineering DALI-2 colour temperature control
DT8 is the DALI-2 device type that couples intensity and colour temperature (or Tx/Ty colour point) in one control channel. This is a vendor-neutral commissioning framework for specifying and programming DT8 lighting correctly — not a single product spec.
Commissioning a DT8 group
Confirm DT8 support per driver
Verify every driver in the intended group actually reports DT8 colour capability before wiring the group logically — mixed DT8/non-DT8 drivers cause inconsistent colour rendering.
Define the colour range
Set the warm-to-cool range the group should span, typically from a warm evening tone to a cooler daytime tone, matching the fixtures' rated capability.
Commission per device or group
Assign DT8 control at the device or group level so intensity and colour temperature move together under one command, avoiding split commands that desync the two values.
Program the schedule or manual control
Build the schedule or manual scene control on top of the confirmed DT8 group, then verify colour and intensity track correctly across the full range.
What defines a working DT8 installation
Intensity and colour temperature in one command
A DT8 group mixes brightness and colour-temperature (or colour-point) control in a single command — every driver in that group should support DT8 to avoid inconsistent colour rendering across fixtures.
Built on the DALI-2 / IEC 62386 standard
DT8 is a device type extension within the certified DALI-2 framework, so certified DT8 drivers from different manufacturers are expected to interoperate on colour control.
Vendor-neutral commissioning discipline
The same DT8 commissioning logic applies regardless of manufacturer — verify capability, define range, commission as a group, then program the schedule.
No mixed DT8/non-DT8 groups
Mixing DT8 and non-DT8 drivers in the same tunable-white group is the most common cause of inconsistent colour rendering — keep groups homogeneous.
Schedule or manual control
Once commissioned, a DT8 group can run on a preset schedule shifting from warm to cool tones through the day, or be triggered manually per scene.
Fits within the same DALI line
DT8 devices share the same 2-wire DALI bus, addressing (up to 64 devices, 16 groups, 16 scenes) and PSU budget as any other DALI control gear on the line.
What a DT8 specification review covers
A vendor-neutral engineering pass before you commission
- DT8 capability check across all specified drivers
- Colour-temperature range definition for the group
- Group vs individual DT8 commissioning plan
- Mixed-driver risk review
- Schedule/scene structure recommendation
Frequently asked questions
What exactly does DT8 control?
DT8 couples two values in one command — intensity and colour temperature (or Tx/Ty colour point) — so a single DALI command shifts both together instead of needing separate commands.
Can I mix DT8 and non-DT8 drivers in one group?
Not recommended. Every driver in a DT8 group should support DT8, otherwise colour rendering across the group becomes inconsistent.
Is DT8 commissioned per device or per group?
Both are possible — DT8 control can be assigned at the individual device level or the group level, depending on how fine-grained the scene control needs to be.
Does DT8 require different bus wiring than standard DALI?
No. DT8 devices sit on the same 2-wire DALI bus, with the same addressing and PSU budget rules as any other DALI-2 control gear.
What's the typical colour range used in commercial projects?
Ranges commonly run from a warm evening tone to a cooler daytime tone, set on a schedule or switched manually, matching the rated capability of the specified drivers.
Specifying a DT8 tunable white installation?
Contact our engineers for a vendor-neutral review of your DT8 driver selection, group structure and commissioning plan.