Casambi lighting sensors use motion, presence, and lux inputs to activate or adjust lighting scenes across a wireless mesh network. In the Casambi App, occupancy control can use Presence, Presence/Absence, or Absence modes, while daylight scenes can use Basic ON/OFF, Open Loop, Closed Loop, or External control. Detection range, mounting height, and electrical interfaces remain product-specific.
This article primarily describes sensor configuration in the Casambi App, especially for Casambi Evolution networks. Casambi Pro supports presence sensing and constant-light control, but its supported sensor parameters, device profiles, and daylight-control options are not identical to those in the Casambi App.
What Types of Casambi Lighting Sensors Are Available?
Casambi lighting sensors should be understood across four layers: detection technology, Casambi control logic, electrical or control interface, and installation format. In technical planning, Casambi lighting sensors should be evaluated at all four layers together.
Detection technology can include PIR, microwave, mmWave, ultrasonic, and lux sensing. Control logic includes Presence, Presence/Absence, Absence, and Resume Automation. Interfaces may include Casambi Ready devices, DALI, 0–10V, relay outputs, or sensor-input connections through a compatible Casambi unit. Installation formats may be fixture-integrated, ceiling-mounted, recessed, surface-mounted, battery-powered, or mains-powered.
Casambi does not define one universal detection range, mounting height, coverage pattern, or sensing technology. Those values come from the individual manufacturer, device profile, and integration method.
Detection Technology Comparison
| Technology | What it does | Best use cases | Important limitations |
| PIR | Detects infrared change across lens zones | Offices, corridors, controlled coverage | Needs line of sight and suitable geometry |
| Microwave | Detects movement from reflected RF signal | Parking, industrial areas, enclosed luminaires | Metal and unwanted movement can distort coverage |
| mmWave | Detects fine movement with higher-frequency radar | Fine presence detection where supported | Product-specific, not a Casambi standard |
| Ultrasonic | Detects occupancy from reflected sound waves | Partitioned areas where supported | Sensitive to room conditions and device design |
| Lux sensor | Measures available light for daylight control | Daylight harvesting and constant-light control | Reading is position-specific, not a work-plane guarantee |
How Are Sensors Connected to Casambi?
Casambi lighting sensors can enter a project in several ways: native Casambi Ready sensors, luminaires with integrated Casambi modules, conventional sensors connected through compatible units such as CBU-ASD or CBU-TED, or compatible DALI sensors connected through units such as CBU-DCS or CBU-A2D.
Third-party combined sensors with DALI, 0–10V, or relay outputs may also be used when the exact Casambi unit, profile, power conditions, and firmware support are suitable. Compatibility depends on the exact unit, device profile, bus power, sensor output type, firmware grade, and manufacturer documentation.
What Is the Difference Between Motion, Occupancy, and Presence?
Motion, occupancy, and presence should be separated into two layers. The physical sensor detects movement or presence, while Casambi uses that input to run a configured control mode. In the Casambi App, the available modes include Presence, Presence/Absence, and Absence. Therefore, a Casambi presence sensor is the input device, while Presence is one of the software control modes assigned to that input.
This also means a Casambi motion sensor and a Casambi occupancy sensor may describe the same hardware from different angles. One term emphasizes detection, while the other emphasizes how that input is interpreted for control. In practical specification work, Casambi lighting sensors are selected by coverage, sensitivity, and control behavior rather than by naming alone.
In North American lighting-control terminology, Casambi Absence mode is broadly comparable to vacancy control: the user turns lights on manually, and the sensor removes manual control after the area is no longer occupied and the linger period expires.
How Do PIR, Microwave, and High-Bay Casambi Sensors Differ?
A Casambi PIR sensor detects changes in infrared energy within defined lens zones. Selection should be based on lens pattern, mounting height, coverage geometry, line of sight, and expected direction of movement. In many indoor projects, Casambi lighting sensors based on PIR are chosen for predictable zone control.
A Casambi microwave sensor detects movement from changes in a reflected radio-frequency signal. It can work well in parking structures and industrial spaces, but reflective metal, machinery, partitions, and movement outside the intended area can distort performance. Casambi lighting sensors using microwave detection therefore need careful field verification.
A Casambi high bay sensor is not one fixed Casambi specification. High-bay mounting height is product-specific rather than a Casambi system limit. Casambi ecosystem listings include, for example, PIR products rated around 12 meters, microwave products around 15 meters, and selected models rated up to 17 meters. Designers must verify the exact model’s mounting-height range and coverage diagram.
How Do Presence, Presence/Absence, and Absence Modes Work?
Before configuring a Casambi presence sensor in the Casambi App, Control Hierarchy must be enabled. Evolution networks support up to 30 sensors controlling the same luminaire, while Classic networks support up to 10.
Control Sequence
Detection → Presence scene → Linger time → Fade time → Absence scene → Absence timeout → Next active command or off
Mode Comparison
| Mode | What it does | Main settings | Important limitations |
| Presence | Activates Presence scene when activity is detected | Presence scene, linger time, fade time | Can trigger up to two independent non-overlapping scenes |
| Presence/Absence | Changes from Presence scene to Absence scene after linger | Presence scene, Absence scene, linger, fade, absence timeout | Presence and Absence scenes must contain the same luminaires; absence timeout is disabled by default |
| Absence | Removes manual control after no occupancy and linger expiry | Selected manual scene(s), linger time | Does not provide automatic-on by itself |
In Presence mode, detection activates the Presence scene. In Presence/Absence mode, the system moves from the Presence scene to the Absence scene after linger time. Each side can use up to two independent scenes, and the Presence and Absence scenes must contain the same luminaires.
In Absence mode, lighting is usually turned on from a switch, the App, or another manual action. When the space is no longer occupied and linger time expires, the system removes the relevant manual-control command. In this area of configuration, Casambi lighting sensors act on hierarchy logic rather than on a simple on-off timer.
Resume Automation is separate from Absence mode. Resume Automation removes an active manual-control command so that lower-priority automated commands, such as presence sensors or timers, can take control again. It can be applied to a specific group or to the entire network.
How Should Presence Scene Levels, Minimum Dim Level, and Fade Time Be Set?
Use Casambi App terminology wherever possible. Designers should think in terms of Presence scene dimming level, Absence scene dimming level, Minimum dim level, and luminaire minimum or maximum dimming limits.
In Basic and Closed Loop daylight control, the Minimum dim level is relative to the scene’s configured dimming level. If the scene is set to 70% and Minimum dim level is 10%, the effective minimum output is 7%. This is one of the most important setup details for Casambi daylight harvesting.
For a presence sensor, Fade time defines how long lighting takes to fade to off, to the configured Absence scene, or to the next active lower-priority command after the linger period expires. Scene activation may also have its own fade behavior depending on the scene and trigger configuration.
How Does Casambi Daylight Harvesting Work?
Casambi daylight harvesting uses lux input to adjust scene output according to available daylight. In the Casambi App, daylight scenes can use Basic ON/OFF, Open Loop, Closed Loop, or External control. Casambi Pro mainly supports constant-light behavior that is broadly comparable to Closed Loop rather than every Casambi App option.
Daylight Control Comparison
| Mode | What it does | Main settings | Important limitations |
| Basic ON/OFF | Uses two lux thresholds for switching or minimum-dim response | Switch ON at, Switch OFF at, Minimum dim level | Minimum dim level is relative to scene dim level |
| Open Loop | Uses a response graph when the sensor should not be affected by controlled luminaires | Response graph, optional activation logic, Daylight Gain | Activation level graph is Evolution-only |
| Closed Loop | Maintains a target lux using feedback from the controlled area | Target lux, Minimum dim level | Minimum dim level is relative to scene dim level |
| External | Uses a 0–100% signal from an external sensing or control device | External signal behavior | Used only for compatible external setups |
Open Loop deserves special attention because the response graph is the core of the method. Daylight Gain can also be used in Open Loop so luminaires near windows can dim more aggressively than luminaires deeper inside the room. Daylight Gain applies only to Open Loop daylight scenes.
Activation level graph applies only in Evolution networks. Daylight scenes also cannot be used as part of an Animation. When configured correctly, Casambi daylight harvesting can be combined with occupancy logic without confusing the control hierarchy.
How Should Closed Loop Daylight Control Be Commissioned?
The best method is to tune the work plane first and then record the sensor reading. Place an independent lux meter on the work plane. Adjust the luminaires until the design target is reached, for example 500 lx. Then read the Casambi daylight sensor at that same moment. If the ceiling sensor reads 400 lx while the work plane is at 500 lx, use 400 lx as the Closed Loop target in the Casambi App.
This is usually better than forcing the ceiling sensor to numerically equal the work-plane value across the whole dimming range. Commissioning should be done with natural light minimized where possible and with the space close to its final furnished condition. This calibration approach is especially important when Casambi daylight harvesting is expected to maintain stable output.
What Happens with Multiple Daylight Sensors?
If no Dedicated Daylight Sensor is assigned, relevant sensor readings are averaged when multiple daylight sensors control the same luminaires.
Each luminaire can instead be assigned a Dedicated Daylight Sensor so that it reacts only to one specified sensor. This is useful when one row of luminaires is near a window and another is deeper inside the room. A Casambi daylight sensor may therefore influence one luminaire, a row, or a zone depending on scene design and sensor assignment. In larger projects, a Casambi daylight sensor is often chosen to represent one daylight zone rather than the whole room.
How Does Control Hierarchy Affect Sensor Behavior?
Manual control has a higher priority than Presence control by default. That is why a sensor may appear unresponsive after a user has manually adjusted lighting from the App, a switch, or another manual interface.
A higher-priority command still overrides a lower-priority command even if the higher-priority dim level is lower. If several sensors at the same priority affect the same luminaire at the same time, the highest dimming level wins. When the highest active command is removed, the luminaire moves to the next still-active command and turns off only if no other command remains active. In troubleshooting, this explains many apparent failures of Casambi lighting sensors.
How Can Sensors Be Used for Adjacent-Zone Lighting?
Adjacent-zone pre-lighting is created through scene design. A sensor scene can set the detected zone to a higher level and selected neighboring zones to a lower level. Casambi does not automatically predict the direction of travel unless the project uses additional sensors and specifically designed control logic.
The more accurate description is that the sensor triggers one or more scenes, and those scenes may contain luminaires from one or several project zones. Well-planned Casambi lighting sensors therefore support adjacent-zone control through scene structure, not through automatic path prediction.
What Should Designers Check When Planning Sensor Placement?
Confirm the exact model’s mounting-height range, coverage diagram, technology type, environmental rating, and integration method. Then check line of sight, obstructions, movement direction, racks, machinery, reflective surfaces, and the intended detection task. For daylight control, place the sensor so it sees representative daylight rather than direct glare, one bright window, or a single luminaire.
Troubleshooting Checklist
If a sensor appears not to work, first check whether manual control is still active at a higher priority. If lighting does not return to automation, check whether Resume Automation is needed or whether a timer or manual command is still active.
If lights switch off too early, review sensor placement, mounting height, small-movement sensitivity, and linger time. If lights stay on too long, review overlap, unintended microwave detection, and absence timeout settings. If daylight output keeps changing, review sensitivity, tolerance, direct sunlight, sensor orientation, and whether Open Loop or Closed Loop was selected correctly.
FAQ
Do Casambi sensors need a gateway or internet connection?
No. A Casambi mesh network does not require an internet connection or gateway for normal local sensor automation. A gateway is needed when the project requires remote access, cloud functions, monitoring, API access, or BMS integration.
Can a standard wired PIR sensor be connected to Casambi?
Sometimes. A standard wired PIR may work when it is connected through a compatible Casambi unit and profile, such as supported uses of CBU-ASD or CBU-TED. The exact sensor output type must be verified first.
Can a DALI-2 sensor be used with Casambi?
Sometimes. A compatible DALI sensor may be integrated through suitable Casambi units such as CBU-DCS or CBU-A2D, but compatibility depends on the exact unit, bus power, profile, and firmware support.
Is a motion sensor the same as an occupancy sensor?
Not necessarily, but the terms can refer to the same hardware from different angles. Motion describes the physical detection event, while occupancy describes how that detection is interpreted for control.
What happens when manual control overrides a Casambi sensor?
By default, manual control has higher priority than Presence control. The sensor may still detect movement, but the luminaire will keep following the higher-priority manual command until that command times out, is removed, or Resume Automation returns control to automation.
Does a Casambi lux reading equal the illuminance on the work surface?
No. The sensor reports the light level at its own position and orientation. That value may differ from the work-plane illuminance, which is why Closed Loop commissioning should use the target-work-plane-first method.
Can each luminaire use a dedicated daylight sensor?
Yes. A luminaire can be assigned a Dedicated Daylight Sensor so that it responds only to one specified sensor instead of the average from several sensors. In that setup, a Casambi daylight sensor can serve a very specific luminaire or zone.
What is the difference between Casambi App and Casambi Pro sensor control?
The Casambi App supports Presence, Presence/Absence, Absence, and four daylight-control methods: Basic, Open Loop, Closed Loop, and External. Casambi Pro supports presence sensing and constant-light control, but device support, parameters, and available options are not identical and must be verified case by case.
Sources Consulted
Casambi Support: Presence sensors
Casambi Support: Daylight scenes
Casambi Support: Lighting Control Functionality
Casambi Support: Daylight sensor calibration and set up
Casambi Support: Control hierarchy
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