Casambi
Finnish Bluetooth mesh lighting control — wireless DALI-2 for retrofit and areas where wiring is impractical.
Casambi (Helsinki, Finland — founded 2011) created the Casambi protocol: a Bluetooth Low Energy mesh network specifically designed for professional lighting control. Unlike consumer Bluetooth, Casambi uses a self-organising mesh (each device acts as a repeater), encrypted communication, and group/scene memory stored in each device — the network functions without any hub or cloud. Over 10 million Casambi units have been installed globally. Key advantage over wired DALI-2: retrofit lighting control without new wiring. Key disadvantage: Bluetooth range (~10m per hop) and no deterministic timing for emergency lighting. Casambi devices include LED driver control modules (CBU-ASD, CBU-DA), sensors (CBU-ASD-P presence) and KNX/DALI gateways for hybrid projects.
Role in our panels
How we use Casambi
Casambi integrates with KNX via the Casambi Gateway device — a DIN-rail or wall-mount unit that bridges KNX TP group addresses to Casambi mesh commands. Typical hybrid project: wired KNX for all control inputs (pushbuttons, room controllers, scenes, HVAC) + Casambi mesh for LED driver dimming in areas where DALI-2 wiring was omitted (retrofit, historic buildings, rental spaces). The KNX gateway maps KNX group addresses (DPT 1.001 ON/OFF, DPT 5.001 0–100% dimming, DPT 18.001 scene) to Casambi network units/groups/scenes. Bidirectional: Casambi motion sensor events → KNX group address → HVAC trigger or security alarm. The Casambi app (iOS/Android) provides direct commissioning and scene programming without ETS6 — useful for installers without KNX certification for the lighting layer of a project.
In KNX panels, Casambi integration is purely software with one hardware item: the Casambi Gateway (DIN-rail, 35mm) draws power from the panel 24V DC supply and connects to the KNX TP bus. No separate DALI bus wiring required — the Casambi mesh runs over Bluetooth. Panel design: allocate one DIN slot for the gateway, 24V DC feed, and KNX TP connection. The Casambi Gateway appears as a KNX device in ETS6 with group object assignments for each Casambi zone/scene. Architecture recommendation for large projects: combine wired DALI-2 (Helvar, Lunatone) for areas with new wiring, Casambi for retrofit zones, with the KNX panel as the central scene/logic controller for both systems.
Used in these project types
Casambi products
Key components we install
Casambi CBU-ASD
Universal Casambi control module for LED drivers with 0-10V, DALI-2, or PWM dimming input. Fits inside standard downlights, linear LED fixtures and drivers. Adds Casambi wireless control to any DALI-2 or 0-10V LED fixture without panel wiring. Most widely used Casambi device for retrofit commercial lighting.
Casambi CBU-DA
Connects an existing DALI-2 bus to the Casambi mesh. Allows Casambi app control of wired DALI-2 luminaires. Use case: building has legacy DALI-2 installation — add Casambi for app-based control and scene management without replacing the wiring infrastructure.
Casambi CBU-ASD-P
LED driver control + integrated PIR presence sensor. Occupancy-based dimming without a separate sensor. Presence event can be transmitted to KNX via gateway for HVAC or security triggers. Common in office/hotel corridor retrofit projects.
Casambi Gateway (KNX)
DIN-rail device that bridges KNX TP to Casambi Bluetooth mesh. Up to 127 Casambi units addressable from KNX. Maps KNX group addresses (ON/OFF, DIM, SCENE) to Casambi network commands. Essential for hybrid KNX + Casambi projects.
Casambi Xpress Switch
Batteryless (energy harvesting) 4-button wireless switch for Casambi mesh. No wiring required — sticks to any surface. For scene selection, group ON/OFF or zone dimming. Used where running KNX TP to switch locations is impractical (glass partitions, reception desks, temporary rooms).
Casambi FAQ
Can Casambi replace DALI-2 in a KNX project?
Casambi can replace wired DALI-2 for dimming control, but not for emergency lighting (EN 50172/IEC 62386 Part 202 requires wired DALI-2 test automation). For standard decorative and general lighting in residential and commercial spaces, Casambi provides equivalent functionality to wired DALI-2 without the DALI bus wiring. For large commercial projects requiring EN 15193 energy compliance, daylight-linked control and emergency lighting test automation, wired DALI-2 (Helvar, Lunatone) remains the professional standard.
How reliable is Casambi mesh in large buildings?
Casambi mesh is robust in open-plan spaces with 5–10m node spacing. In buildings with concrete walls, range can drop to 5–7m per hop — more nodes needed. The mesh self-heals if a node fails. For very large buildings (20,000+ m²), plan for sufficient node density (one CBU-ASD per 40–50m²). Casambi has been used in 100,000 m²+ projects with careful network planning. The Casambi Pro app network diagnostics tool shows signal strength between all nodes.
Does Casambi work without the app or internet?
Yes — all scene, group and dimming data is stored in every Casambi device's memory. The mesh operates entirely independently without app or cloud. The Casambi app is only needed for commissioning and changes. Day-to-day operation (pushbutton control, time schedules, sensor triggers) runs locally with zero cloud dependency. This is a key advantage over Z-Wave or Zigbee systems that require a hub.
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