News

Hong Kong – When the difficult decision to cancel LightFair 2020 was made, GRE Alpha supported it 100%. Against a backdrop of growing health concerns, there was no question about priorities. The show is now slated to take place in New York City in May 2021 with registration opening in early 2021. While supply chains have been signficantly impacted, it does not mean that the lighting industry has come to a halt.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, GRE Alpha has taken steps to ensure the well being of our employees is not compromised while also serving clients across critical industries. According to GRE's Executive Director, Richard Fong, "While GRE Alpha is laser focused on health and safety, we are simultaneously looking forward to the future and finding new ways to continue our LED driver development and helping our customers maintain sustainability through the crisis and beyond."

The logistics may be virtual, but GRE Alpha is most definitely open for business. In the spotlight today are two wireless LED smart powering solutions that are breaking boundaries in performance, flexibility, ease of installation and interoperability. These innovations in wireless diming have been made possible by GRE Alpha's work with leading partners in the LED lighting field.

GRE Alpha's 240 watt, constant voltage BLE Dimming Module enables hassle-free lighting control without compromise in performance. Utilizing the latest in Bluetooth mesh, the module features direct, peer-to-peer communication between nodes, ensuring instantaneous response to input from switches, sensors and mobile devices without the need for hubs or a central controller. GRE Alpha's BLD dimming module is part of the Xicalto's GalaXi ecosystem and runs on their GalaXi app, allowing quick and seamless installation and commissioning of lighting systems. This module is one of a series bringing new wireless design capabilities to:

• Theme parks
• Stage lighting
• Color controls for decorating
• Architectural lighting
• Effect & contour lighting

GRE's EnOcean Wireless Constant Current LED Dimming Module (ENO-DIM-CC). This is a new version of GRE's cutting-edge ENO-DIM dimming module. While the original is constant voltage, the CC is constant current which fills a critical need when constant power supplies work best, like with high powered LEDs. Both are available in three regional power supply versions: 902MHz in North America, 928MHz in Japan, and 868MHz in Europe and China. With GRE Alpha's unparalleled LED dimming module and LED driver expertise and EnOcean's trailblazing wireless technology, trillions of IoT sensors can be powered and efficiently deployed. That will allow for quicker innovation and rapid adoption of IoT in smart lighting spaces, optimizing productivity, lowering costs and boosting the customer experience. Applications include:

• Architectural lighting
• Effect & contour lighting
• Signage and strip lighting
• Swimming pools
• Fountain lighting

Despite the postponement of trade shows like LightFair2020, GRE Alpha is determined to show their leadership in modular LED product development by providing virtual service and support with the same creativity and passion as always. GRE has a supply of legacy and new products available and ready to ship, including the LED dimming modules described above. The full line of GRE products and spec sheets are available online at https://grealpha.com/products and through their U.S. distributing partner Arrow Electronics at https://www.arrow.com/en/manufacturers/gre-alpha-electronics-ltd/view-all.

About GRE Alpha

GRE Alpha® Electronics, Ltd. specializes in the design and manufacture of solid-state lighting power supplies and lighting control accessories, which are the lifeblood of indoor and outdoor LED lighting systems. Their superior performance products are the power behind LED lighting systems. GRE's modular approach allows their dimming modules and drivers to be used either with existing systems or new setups.

For more information about GRE Alpha products or services, please visit the visit the GRE contact page. Their team of experts will bend over backwards to give you the support you deserve during this extrarodinary time.

MESSE FRANKFURT MOVES LIGHT + BUILDING 2020 TRADE FAIR FROM MARCH TO SEPTEMBER DUE TO CORONAVIRUS

Messe Frankfurt, the organizers of the Light + Building 2020 trade fair which was scheduled to take place at Messe Frankfurt’s exhibition space in Frankfurt am Main from March 8^th to March 15^th, has postponed the event due to the unexpected appearance of Covid-19 in Italy. The Light + Building 2020 trade fair is now slated to be held in Frankfurt am Main in mid-to-late September, though an exact date has not been specified.

In a press release published on February 24^th, 2020, Messe Frankfurt lists several logistical challenges that lead to the decision to postpone the trade fair.

“The unexpected appearance of Covid-19 in Italy since last weekend demanded a new analysis of the situation in close cooperation with the public-health authorities of the City of Frankfurt. A multi-stage health check on guests from China has been called for, the implementation of which would be extremely challenging for Messe Frankfurt. Additionally, more and more travel restrictions are being put into place thus making it difficult for both visitors and exhibitors to attend the fair.”

GRE Alpha will post an update with new dates and times for the Light + Building 2020 trade fair when Messe Frankfurt makes them available.

Collaboration with EnOcean Proves to be a Big Win for Architectural LED Lighting

GRE Alpha is excited to be returning to Messe Frankfurt for Light + Building 2020 – the world’s largest trade fair for innovations in lighting and building services engineering. This is the second year that GRE will join the EnOcean Alliance Booth; celebrating a valued partnership and putting a spotlight on the extraordinary results of their self-powered wireless LED dimmer collaboration.  The fair runs from Sunday, March 8th to Friday, March 13th in Frankfurt am Main, and you can find GRE Alpha among 15 star members of the EnOcean Alliance exhibiting their energy harvesting, wireless building solutions at Booth C60 in Hall 9.1.

Taking LED Lighting to the Next Level

Mirroring the show’s theme of “Connecting, Pioneering, Fascinating” are the LED dimming modules created by GRE Alpha as a result of their EnOcean partnership. Integrating GRE Alpha’s proven smart dimming technology with EnOcean’s patented energy harvesting wireless technology, their leading-edge modules support multiple frequencies and are speeding up the path to industrial lighting systems that are flexible, sustainable and energy-efficient.

GRE’s Executive Director, Richard Fong, points out that “with GRE Alpha’s advanced LED dimming module and LED driver expertise and EnOcean’s innovative wireless technology, trillions of IoT (Internet of Things) sensors can be powered and efficiently deployed. That will allow for quicker innovation and rapid adoption of IoT in smart lighting spaces, optimizing productivity, lowering costs and boosting the customer experience.”

The ENO-DIM Solution – Wireless, Flexible, and Maintenance-Free

Powered by exploiting the energy generated at the push of a button, GRE Alpha’s ENO-DIM dimming modules allow for smooth flicker-free dimming of lighting fixtures. Compatible with Bluetooth, Zigbee, BLE, and other wireless protocols, ENO-DIM is pushing wireless LED lighting control to the future IoT level while providing significant savings in time, money and energy.

While the ENO-DIM model is constant voltage, the newer ENO-DIM-CC is constant current, filling a critical need when constant power supplies work best (like working with high-powered LEDs. Both ENO-DIM and ENO-DIM-CC are available in three regional power supply versions: 902MHz in North America, 868MHz in Europe and 928MHz which is specially customized for Japan to work smoothly in any environment.

Applications for ENO-DIM include:

• Architectural LED Lighting
• Effect and Contour Lighting
• General Commercial Illumination
• Warehouses, Signage, and Strip Lighting
• Swimming Pools and Fountain Lighting

Light + Building 2020 is a trade show of innovation. And GRE Alpha’s EnOcean Dimming modules are only the beginning for IoT lighting control products that provide more performance flexibility and meet specialized customer needs. Visit Booth C60 in Hall 9.1 for a hands-on demonstration of GRE’s ENO-DIM dimming modules and other GRE smart powering solutions. You will be warmly welcomed by the team of LED lighting experts.

About GRE Alpha

GRE Alpha® Electronics, Ltd. specializes in the design and manufacturing of solid-state lighting power supplies and lighting control accessories, which are the lifeblood of indoor and outdoor LED lighting systems. Their superior performance products are the power behind LED lighting systems. GRE’s modular approach allows their dimming modules and drivers to be used either with existing systems or new setups.

For more information on GRE Alpha products and services or to speak with a service representative and set up a one-on-one appointment with a technical expert, visit https://grealpha.com/contact/.

DALI-2 is the updated and improved version of the DALI lighting protocol, which extends and enhances the strengths of DALI as a dedicated, standardized protocol for digital lighting control. In 2019 a number of updates were made to the DALI-2 standard that created some confusion. To understand the latest changes, it is necessary to be familiar with DALI basics.

DALI Simply Explained

First drafted in the late 1990s, DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) was the language developed to allow digital control, configuration, and querying of fluorescent ballasts, replacing the simple, one-way broadcast-like operation of 0/1-10V analog control.

DALI control signals are transmitted over two low-voltage wires that connect to each DALI ballast or relay, each of which has a unique address. Control commands are sent out over the wires to tell individual devices or groups of devices to turn on and off, dim up and down, etc. The devices even have the ability to report back to the controller indicating a lamp failure or how much power they are using.

DALI is an open protocol defined by the International standard IEC 62386 and IEC 60929. Using an open protocol means anyone can develop their own DALI devices, ballasts, relays, sensors, etc. While DALI’s impact has been far-reaching, as digital lighting evolved, the need for a DALI update became apparent.

Enter DALI-2 and the DiiA

In 2017, the original DALI standard was restructured and improved, upgrading it to version 2 of the DALI standard IEC6236. DALI-2 added new features including color control and introduced standardization of control devices including the addition of input devices such as light sensors, push button switches, and occupancy sensors, which are the “brains” of a DALI system. Backward compatibility has been maintained.

In response to industry requests for an independently verified DALI-2 certification program, came a new consortium (Digital Illumination Interface Alliance or DiiA), which is now the key organization for promoting DALI on a global basis. The more detailed and rigorous testing requirements enable DiiA member companies to certify that their products meet the requirements of the DALI-2 standard, including features that ensure interoperability.

DiiA organizes regular Plugfests, which are events to allow member companies to get interoperability of their products with those from other manufacturers. DALI-2 certification is granted only after DiiA verifies that testing is complete and successful. Certified products can be identified by the DALI-2 logo and are all listed in the Product Database on the DiiA website.

Here are the 2019 milestones from the DiiA DALI-2 timeline...

• Nov 2019: DiiA starts D4i certification of LED drivers
• Oct 2019: D4i specifications updated and new Part 351 published by DiiA
• July 2019: 500th certified DALI-2 device added to DiiA database
• June 2019: DALI-2 certification of sensors and input devices is now underway
• May 2019: First DALI-2 input device is certified by Zencontrol
• May 2019: Input devices added to DALI-2 certification program

GRE Alpha and DALI

GRE Alpha Electronics, Ltd., a driving force in the design and manufacture of LED power supplies and systems, has hit its own milestones with DALI. In November 2019, GRE became certified as one of the first and only DALI accredited test labs in ASIA offering full-service DALI-1 and DALI-2 testing. And, as part of their effort to deliver the benefits of DALI-certified dimming modules to lighting designers, GRE introduced two DALI-2 certified drivers which will be added to the DiiA database:

• SLD-DIM-DALI-B Intelligent DALI-2 Dimmer For Home Automation – With wide input voltage settings and compatibility with DALI enabled lighting control systems, provides flexibility and ease of use for home lighting automation projects
• GLD-DIM1-DALI Constant Current Output LED Dimming Module – Compact add-on for the GLV constant voltage type LED driver can be easily upgraded for constant current or constant voltage applications. Provides full range, flicker-free dimming.

With new test specifications in progress, you can expect to see many more certified DALI-2 products in 2020. Count on GRE Alpha to keep you posted on any further changes to the DALI-2 standard. For information about GRE’s DALI testing program or easy-to-install DALI compliant dimming modules, visit www.grealpha.com/contact.

Visitor Interest Sparked By New Modular LED Systems Solutions

Hong Kong, December 03, 2019 – GRE Alpha has just wrapped up a successful fall season by showcasing their latest powering technology at two of the world's leading lighting forums. With smart lighting themes and a combined total of over 50,000 visitors, the Hong Kong International Lighting Fair ran from October 27-30 and the LED Expo in New Delhi, India from November 14-16. At both events, GRE Alpha garnered major attention by unveiling next generation technology for projects that require connected lighting.

"We know that consumers are looking for a reliable supply of quality dimmers and power supplies that support LED applications," said GRE Executive Director, Richard Fong. "That's where GRE Alpha excels, and shows like these give us a welcome opportunity to display our leadership in modular LED product development to visitors from all over the world. Being on the front lines gives our GRE Alpha staff the chance to meet with current clients, build new relationships and exchange ideas that inspire future product development."

GRE Alpha's Latest Innovations Provide Welcome New Solutions for Users

There was no shortage of innovation on display at the GRE Alpha booths. GRE's expert team gave demonstrations of their smart lighting control modules, including Zigbee Dimming, DMX LED Controller, BLE dimming and DALI dimming. Also showcased was GRE Alpha's BLE solutions for architectural lighting with the Xicato Control App. Modular systems like these make it easy and cost effective to upgrade any lighting system to smart lighting.

Working with leading partners in the lighting field has enabled GRE Alpha to make even greater strides in LED powering solutions. The spotlight was definitely on two cutting edge lighting control modules that have been enhanced in multiple ways to provide more performance flexibility and meet specialized customer needs.

ENO-DIM-CC (EnOcean Wireless Constant Current LED Dimming Module): The ENO-DIM-CC is a new version of GRE's innovative ENO-DIM dimming module. While the original ENO-DIM is constant voltage, the CC is constant current which fills a critical need when constant power supplies work best, like working with high-powered LEDs. Both are available in three regional power supply versions: 902MHz in North America, 928MHz in Japan, and 868MHz in Europe and China. Applications include: Architectural lighting, effect & contour lighting, signage & strip lighting, swimming pools/fountain lighting.

SLD-DIM-XG4 (BLE LED Dimming Module): The XG4 is the newest in a series of dimming modules that are completely wireless and use the latest in Bluetooth mesh enabling hassle-free lighting control with superior performance. Working within DALI, Zigbee and EnOcean protocols, the XG series empowers OEMs to choose between several vendors to mix and match solutions. The XG4 and XG4-UL add greater control for color tuning and color changing applications. Uses include: Theme parks, stage lighting, color controls for decorating, architectural lighting, effect & contour lighting.

As excited as GRE Alpha is about sharing these technological advances, their top priority has and always will be their customer experience. For more information about GRE Alpha products or services, please visit the contact page. The support team is always happy to help. There are also numerous helpful articles on the GRE Alpha website, including one that clearly and simply explains the process of choosing a DMX controller.

ABOUT GRE Alpha

GRE Alpha® Electronics, Ltd. Specializes in the design and manufacturing of solid-state lighting power supplies and lighting control accessories, which are the lifeblood of indoor and outdoor LED lighting systems. Their superior performance products are the power behind LED lighting systems. GRE's modular approach allows their dimming modules and drivers to be used either with existing systems or new setups.

For more information on GRE Alpha products and services or to speak with a service representative and set up a one-on-one appointment with a technical expert, visit https://grealpha.com/contact/