Overview
IEC 62756-1:2015 - Digital load side transmission lighting control (DLT) - Part 1: Basic requirements specifies a digital control protocol, the electrical interface and required test procedures for sending digital control signals over the load-side mains wiring to electronic lighting equipment. The standard defines how control devices (masters) communicate with control gear (slaves) via telegrams carried on the mains. Safety requirements are explicitly not covered by this part.
Keywords: IEC 62756-1:2015, DLT, digital load side transmission, lighting control protocol, mains communication.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and architecture
- Defines a master–slave structure for DLT systems and general specification overview.
- Electrical specification
- Requirements for voltage rating, frequency rating, wiring methods and wiring diagrams.
- Block diagrams for control devices and control gear and electrical characteristics across mains waveform periods.
- Data and signal timing
- Detailed timing rules for information bits, permissible frames and rise/fall times at the control interface.
- Telegram structure and types
- A structured set of telegrams for common lighting commands:
- Brightness (dimming)
- Colour control
- Colour temperature (CCT) control
- Commissioning / group number assignment
- Manufacturer-specific and extended telegrams
- Method of operation
- Behavioural requirements: response time, light output level, start-up and colour gamut considerations.
- Test procedures
- Test methods covering electrical characteristic tests for control devices and control gear, data timing tests, telegram structure and content tests, plus commissioning examples in an informative annex.
Practical applications and users
IEC 62756-1:2015 is applicable where digital lighting control is required over existing mains conductors (load-side communication). Typical users include:
- Luminaire and LED driver manufacturers implementing DLT-compatible control gear.
- Lighting control system designers and integrators creating master/control-device hardware.
- Building automation and energy-management specifiers seeking retrofit control solutions without new data cabling.
- Test laboratories and compliance engineers executing the standardized test procedures and verifying telegram conformance.
- Installers and commissioning engineers using group-number commissioning and commissioning procedures defined in the annex.
Benefits: enables interoperable dimming, color and CCT control over mains wiring, simplifies retrofit installations, and standardizes test/commissioning practices for reliable operation.
Related standards and considerations
- IEC 62756-1 is focused on protocol, interface and test methods; safety and installation regulations remain governed by separate national and IEC safety standards.
- For systems comparison or integration, consider other lighting control families (for example DALI/IEC 62386) and applicable wiring codes when planning deployment.
For manufacturers and specifiers, IEC 62756-1:2015 is a primary reference for designing and validating DLT-compatible lighting products and systems.
Open preview (PDF)Digital load side transmission lighting control (DLT) - Part 1: Basic requirements
