When enabled, export sensors make Casambi sensors visible to the DALI controller as standard DALI-2 input devices. This includes:
- Occupancy sensors
- Light level (lux) sensors
Note: Typically, sensors use one or two instances (light and presence). Consider this when designing the network, having in mind the 64 input device limit and 80 instances limit.
Use cases:
If your DALI controller supports DALI-2 input devices, enabling this parameter allows it to react to sensor events (e.g., motion detection or ambient light changes) from Casambi sensors.
This is especially useful in hybrid installations where DALI is used for centralized control and Casambi for wireless flexibility.
Behavior of Exported Casambi Sensors in DALI Commissioning Tools
When “Export Sensors” is enabled in the Casambi CBU-DCS DALI gateway, Casambi sensors are exposed to the DALI network as DALI-2 compliant input devices. Here's how they behave in a DALI commissioning tool.
Once exported:
- The DALI commissioning tool detects each Casambi sensor as a separate input device. Each one is assigned a unique DALI input address, just like a wired DALI-2 sensor would be.
- These sensors can then be configured within the DALI tool. For example, you can assign a motion sensor to trigger a specific group of luminaires or use a light sensor to adjust brightness levels based on ambient light.
- The sensor data is transmitted in real time from the Casambi network to the DALI system via the CBU-DCS gateway. This means that when motion is detected by a Casambi sensor, the DALI system receives that event as if it came from a standard DALI-2 sensor.
- The DALI controller can then respond to these events using its own logic (such as turning lights on, dimming them, or activating scenes) based on how the input device is configured in the commissioning software.
- If you also enable "Export Switches", Casambi push-buttons or wall switches can appear as DALI-2 push-button devices, allowing for manual control within the DALI system.