Project type, luminaire count, zones, priorities and driver behaviour rank DALI, Casambi, fixed / analogue, BMS-linked and hybrid control options.
This quiz now follows the current live controls selector: project type, luminaire count, zones, project requirements, handover priorities, minimum dim level and emergency interface. It then points to the control option that is most likely to work without fighting the project.
The result is a control-direction guide, not an electrical design or commissioning schedule.
DALI tends to win where zoning, diagnostics, sensors or emergency monitoring matter. Casambi becomes stronger for occupied refurbishments, listed fabric and fast handover. Fixed / analogue control stays relevant for simple rooms. Hybrid sits between those options when old and new areas need to coexist.
The ranking does not replace a control schematic, driver schedule, emergency strategy, fire strategy or BMS integration review. Those still need to be checked before the project is signed off.
The top-ranked option gives the default control direction; the fallback tests whether a simpler, wireless or more integrated control approach fits better.
DALI usually rises to the top when the project requirement has enough scale, scene control, daylight response or multi-room coordination to justify a wired control backbone.
Casambi is often the better fit for retrofit projects, heritage spaces, smaller schemes or jobs that need app-led wireless control without a heavy hardwired control layer.
Hybrid control tends to win when the project mixes existing infrastructure, staged delivery or different space types that should not all be forced into the same control method.
No. It only becomes the leading option when the project is large, complex and already expects lighting to sit inside a broader building management strategy.
The control approach, luminaire range, driver, DALI or Casambi requirement, sensor strategy, emergency interface and project schedule should be reviewed together.
The calculator result gives a practical starting point for a commercial lighting project. Product cards carry the selected inputs into a quotation enquiry for the matched Lumenloop range.
When the estimate looks close, continue into lighting controls to compare product ranges, mounting choices, controls, emergency options and project-configured luminaires before enquiry.
The quiz narrows the starting point, but protocol selection should follow the operating brief. Establish which areas need individual addressing, scene setting, occupancy response, daylight control, energy reporting or central monitoring before the wiring and driver schedule is fixed.
Also identify who will commission the system and who will maintain it. A technically capable scheme can still be a poor fit if future users cannot make routine changes or obtain replacement components.
DALI is suited to projects needing individually addressed luminaires, groups, scenes and structured commissioning. Confirm the DALI version, device types, emergency-testing requirement and any gateway to the wider building management system.
A wireless approach such as Casambi can reduce control cabling and support flexible grouping, particularly in refurbishments. Radio coverage, gateway requirements, user permissions and the handover process still need to be planned.
SwitchDIM, phase dimming or fixed-output switching may be appropriate for smaller or self-contained areas. Check driver compatibility, cable lengths, control locations and minimum dimming performance before treating a simple interface as universally interchangeable.
