You Don't Have to Replace Everything—Here's How to Modernize Your DALI Lighting with Casambi

Author: KVS

DALI is one of the most common methods for implementing lighting control, particularly in office spaces, public buildings, and other large-scale facilities. Casambi, on the other hand, brings wireless connectivity, flexibility, and the ability to make changes without extensive rewiring to lighting control.

These two systems can also be used together. DALI lights can be integrated into the Casambi system, allowing them to be controlled, grouped, and programmed through Casambi along with other Casambi devices.

This solution is well-suited for modernizing existing DALI systems, but it is also used in brand-new projects. In new construction projects, the lighting can be implemented using DALI technology and integrated into the Casambi control system as early as the design phase.

This approach was used, for example, at Saikantalo in Lempäälä, where DALI lights were integrated into the Casambi Pro system using Salvador controllers. As a result, wired DALI lights and wireless Casambi devices function as a single, flexibly controllable system. Thanks to the wireless Casambi network, the system can also be easily expanded and modified later as spaces and needs change.

In this newsletter, we present the key solutions for integrating DALI lights into the Casambi system in both renovation and new construction projects.

CONTROL UNITS

CBU-ASD Long Range

The CBU-ASD Long Range is a compact control unit designed specifically for small DALI lighting groups. The device also serves as the DALI bus power supply, so a separate DALI power supply is not required. Its 6 mA rated output current is typically sufficient for three DALI luminaires. The Long Range version has a range of up to 50 meters in typical indoor environments and up to 200 meters in open spaces.

CBU-ASD is a simple solution for, for example, individual rooms or small groups of luminaires that do not require separate DALI grouping.

CBU-ASD Long Range

CBU-ASD Long Range at KVS Store


Casambi ASA DALI Controller 20 mA Long Range

Casambi ASA is a compact DALI controller designed for situations where a single Casambi device is used to control a DALI lighting group larger than that supported by the CBU-ASD. The ASA supplies up to 20 mA to the DALI bus and can control up to 10 DALI ballasts without a separate DALI power supply. The device supports DALI DT6 and DT8 devices as well as Casambi Long Range mode.

The ASA DALI controller is suitable, for example, for rooms and small lighting groups where you want to connect multiple DALI lights to the same Casambi control system. Thanks to its compact size, it can also be installed next to a light fixture or control box.

Casambi ASA DALI Controller 20 mA Long Range

Casambi ASA on the KVS Store

Casambi BasicDIM G2

BasicDIM G2 is suitable for small and medium-sized installations that require slightly more capacity and control options. The controller includes a DALI bus power supply, and its 10 mA rated output current is sufficient for five DALI luminaires. The device also features an input for a single wired pushbutton, and the lights can be divided into up to four independently controllable groups.

Casambi BasicDIM G2

Casambi BasicDIM G2 at KVS Store

Casambi-DALI SLK8

The Casambi-DALI SLK8 offers greater capacity and grouping options when there are multiple luminaires on the same DALI bus. The device includes a DALI power supply, and its 20 mA rated output current is sufficient for approximately 8–10 DALI luminaires. The luminaires can be divided into up to six separate groups, making the SLK8 well-suited for spaces where luminaires on the same bus need to be controlled as multiple independent groups.

Casambi-DALI SLK8

Casambi-DALI SLK8 at KVS Store

Casambi BasicDIM SR2

The BasicDIM SR2 is the “big brother” of the previously introduced BasicDIM G2. Its 50 mA rated output current allows it to control up to 25 DALI luminaires, making it suitable for offices, retail spaces, and classrooms, for example, where there are multiple DALI luminaires in a single area.

The SR2 features a built-in DALI power supply, so a separate DALI bus power supply is not required. The SR2 also has an input for a single wired pushbutton, and the lights can be divided into up to four separate groups.

Casambi BasicDIM SR2

Casambi BasicDIM SR2 at KVS Store

Casambi LIGA.AIR DALI

LIGA.AIR DALI is a compact yet highly efficient option for large DALI lighting groups. The device’s 120 mA rated output current allows for the control of up to approximately 50–60 DALI lights. The lights can be divided into four separate groups, and the device has an IP44 protection rating.

Casambi LIGA.AIR DALI

Casambi LIGA.AIR DALI at KVS Store

CASAMBI SALVADOR – WHEN YOU WANT TO CONTROL EACH DALI LIGHT FIXTURE INDIVIDUALLY

In the controllers described above, DALI lights form one or more controllable groups. In Salvador, the operating principle is different: each DALI address forms its own virtual Casambi light, and each light can be managed individually within the system. Lights can be grouped and programmed freely according to their intended use without the need for separate DALI programming tools.

Salvador controls DALI lights, but DALI bus buttons or sensors cannot be connected to the system through it. Instead, control can be supplemented with wireless Casambi buttons, sensors, and other Casambi devices. Salvador supports common DALI solutions, such as DALI D4i, DT6, and DT8 devices.

Casambi Salvador 2000 Series

The Salvador 2000 series is designed for both smaller retrofit projects and larger hybrid systems, and the appropriate model is selected based on the number of DALI addresses to be controlled. The controllers feature an integrated 130 mA DALI bus power supply, so a separate bus power supply is not required. The series also includes an internal clock with a backup runtime of at least 12 hours.

SAL-2000 Series:

SAL-2016

SAL-2032

SAL-2064

The SAL-2016 is well-suited for smaller renovation projects, while the SAL-2064 is designed for larger hybrid systems. Multiple Salvador controllers can be connected to the same Casambi network, allowing the system to be expanded as needed. The device measures 106 × 67 × 28 mm.

SAL-2000 at KVS Store

Casambi Salvador DALI 1000 Series

The Salvador 1000 series is a compact option for installations where the DALI bus power supply is implemented separately. The controllers are extremely compact, so they can be easily placed next to a light fixture or junction box, for example. The device measures just 40.4 × 36.3 × 14.0 mm. Products in the SAL-1000 series require a separate DALI bus power supply, such as the PS3 DALI2.

SAL-1000 Series:

SAL-1016

SAL-1032

SAL-1064

SAL-1000 at KVS Store


CASAMBI V-SENSE – CASAMBI, DALI CONTROL, AND A SENSOR ALL IN ONE DEVICE

V-Sense combines motion detection, a light sensor, DALI control, and wireless Casambi connectivity in a single device. It allows DALI lighting to be controlled based on occupancy and lighting conditions and integrates the control into the Casambi system.

The V-Sensen's 40 mA DALI output allows for the control of up to 20 DALI lights. The device also features two push-button inputs and a relay output that can be used to control loads outside the DALI bus.

Lighting functions and settings are configured through the Casambi app. The solution also supports energy-efficient lighting control in line with the objectives of the EPBD Directive, in which lighting adapts to the use of the space and the amount of daylight.

Casambi V-Sense

Casambi V-Sense at KVS Store

Which solution is right for your project?

There are several ways to update a DALI system for Casambi control.

For a few DALI lights, a small control unit may be the most practical solution. In larger installations, higher-capacity DALI controllers or Salvador controllers can be used, allowing each DALI light to be individually integrated into the Casambi system.

In sensor-controlled spaces, V-Sense can handle both detection and DALI control with a single device.

So not everything needs to be replaced—often, existing DALI lights can be used as is, and only their control system needs to be modernized.

KVS helps you choose the right solution, design the system, and implement Casambi.

Do you have a project where an existing DALI system needs to be upgraded to be more flexible? Contact us, and we'll find the most suitable Casambi solution for you.

myynti@kvsoy.fi

KVS https://www.kvsoy.fi
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