DIMMING & COMPATIBILITY
LED lights flickering when dimmed?
Check the lamp, driver and dimmer as a combination. Changing to DALI alone does not guarantee the result.
Read the checks →LIGHTING HELP FOR EUROPEAN PROJECTS
Tell us what your lighting
needs to do better.
Lights flickering when dimmed? Switching off while people are still there? Planning an upgrade and unsure what can stay? Start with the problem. We can help you identify what to check and discuss a suitable next step for your project.
For electricians · System integrators · Project buyers · Owners
CONTROL ARCHITECTUREILLUSTRATIVE
◫Wall control
◎Presence
◷Schedule
KNX building controlRoom logic · Scenes · Commands
KNX–DALI gatewayMatched DALI control gear
Switch / dim actuatorCompatible lighting circuits
START WITH THE PROBLEM
What is your lighting not doing?
Practical starting points for European electricians, system integrators and project buyers. Read the first checks, then tell us what is happening on your project.
PRESENCE & ROOM CONTROL
People are still in the room. Why did the lights go out?
Walking detection is not the same as seated-work coverage. Check the actual occupied area and the control logic.
Read the checks →RETROFIT & PROJECT PLANNING
Can your existing lighting become smarter?
Some fittings may be retained. Start with the existing driver, wiring and the control functions you actually need.
Read the checks →Still at the planning stage? Compare DALI options, project budgets and control choices →
SOLUTION STORIES / TRY THE SCENES
Show the experience.
Then define the controls.
A car arriving, a guest settling in, a meeting about to start. Explore how a control brief can respond to each moment.
Illustrative solutions prepared for project discussions. These are concept demonstrations, not completed customer installations or measured performance results.
Parking · Illustrative solution
A calmer arrival. A quieter setting between visits.
The garage feels unwelcoming on arrival, yet stays unnecessarily bright when no one is passing through.
Explore lighting responses at different moments
Arrival
Entry detection raises the arrival zone and the next agreed route zone; other zones retain their base setting.
Aim for a smoother arrival, with gentler changes in brightness between adjoining zones.
Explore the design brief
The customer problem
People want to see where to turn, park and walk without abrupt changes in brightness. At quiet times, the property team also wants less unnecessary output, while keeping agreed key routes visibly lit.
The proposed approach
Divide the garage into entrance, traffic and parking zones. In this example, detection raises the relevant zone from its base setting, then returns it after an agreed delay. Keep base lighting on key routes in every mode and provide a timed service override. Emergency lighting operates independently.
Documents to agree
- Entrance, traffic and parking-zone plan with sensor locations
- Arrival, quiet and service schedule with base settings and delays
- Site review checklist for coverage, transitions and manual overrides
Confirm sensor coverage, brightness transitions and base-light settings against the actual layout and project requirements on site.
Hotel guestroom · Illustrative solution
One room, different ways to unwind.
One guest wants to read while the other is ready to sleep.
Explore lighting responses at different moments
Welcome
The entrance control brings selected room lights to the welcome setting, with bedside lights available for separate adjustment.
Help guests settle in without having to work out several switches first.
Explore the design brief
The customer problem
A guest arriving late should not have to test several switches. One person may want to read while another rests, and a night-time trip to the bathroom calls for a different lighting setting.
The proposed approach
Group the entrance, bedside and low-level route lighting separately. A small set of labelled scenes can be selected from the entrance and bedside. Welcome brings up selected room lights, reading favours one side of the bed, and night lowers general lighting while illuminating the agreed route.
Documents to agree
- Guestroom lighting-zone and entrance / bedside control plan
- Welcome, reading and night scene schedule with adjustable settings
- Sample-room review checklist for glare, switching and scene exit
Review glare, independent bedside operation and night-route lighting in a furnished room; the scenes control only the selected lighting circuits.
Meeting room · Illustrative solution
Keep the meeting moving when the screen comes on.
The lights are right for note-taking until someone starts the presentation.
Explore lighting responses at different moments
Everyday work
Presence detection brings task lighting to the agreed setpoint; perimeter lighting responds to the available daylight.
Aim to make everyday discussion and note-taking comfortable with fewer manual adjustments.
Explore the design brief
The customer problem
A meeting room has to support conversation, note-taking and screen use without repeated adjustments. The team wants a clear presentation setting, while the building operator wants unattended room lighting to return to an agreed unoccupied state.
The proposed approach
Use the MR-01 example to separate screen, table and perimeter lighting. Presence selects the working scene, daylight influences the perimeter, and a wall control recalls presentation. After the agreed vacancy delay, selected lighting groups switch off. These three modes are a demonstration subset; the full example also includes cleaning.
Documents to agree
- Screen, table and perimeter lighting-zone plan
- Scene and trigger schedule aligned with the MR-01 control example
- Site review checklist for presence, screen reflections and scene priorities
Check detection of people sitting still, screen reflections and return-to-use behaviour on site before agreeing delays and scene priorities.
Read the detailed room-control brief →FOR YOUR EUROPEAN PROJECT TEAM
A useful next step for each project role.
Whether you are shaping the design, planning the installation or making decisions for the building, start with the part you need to resolve.
Designers & consultants
Turn the intended lighting experience into room zones, scene descriptions and a control brief your project team can review.
Bring room plans, lighting layouts or your early design intent.
Installers & system integrators
Review drivers, gateway functions and control interfaces, then agree programming, site tests and the handover scope.
Bring equipment models, wiring context and questions from the site.
Owners & project managers
Define how people should use the lighting and who will approve, install and maintain the system.
Bring the project location, room uses, target dates and priorities.
01 / PROJECT DELIVERABLES
Agree the documents that move the project forward.
The items below are possible deliverables for an agreed scope. Confirm the files, review stages and responsibilities in the quotation.
Control intent & scene schedule
Put room behaviour into a document the designer, installer and owner can review together.
- Room and zone list linked to the layout
- Scene table, triggers and override decisions
- Presence, daylight and time-control intent
Equipment & interface review
Make the connection between luminaires, drivers and controls explicit.
- Luminaire, driver and control interface schedule
- Selected KNX–DALI gateway function review
- Grouping, capacity and open-decision list
Test & handover brief
Set out what needs to be checked and which final records the project team expects.
- Zone and group-address naming approach
- Scene-by-scene functional test checklist
- Agreed configuration files and operating notes
Start with planning support alone, or include product selection. Programming and commissioning support are defined separately in the agreed scope. Tell us what you need ↗
02 / WORKED EXAMPLE
One meeting room. Four defined responses.
A simple control schedule makes the intended behaviour clear to the designer, installer and people using the room.
Illustrative control intent · Not a client case study
Meeting room / MR-01
KNX wall control + presence input → selected DALI gateway and lighting groups
| Scene | Trigger | Lighting response | To agree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everyday work | Presence detected | Task lighting follows the agreed setpoint; perimeter lighting responds to daylight. | Sensor coverage and setpoint |
| Presentation | Presentation scene selected | Screen-zone lighting dims while the table retains reading light. | Scene priority and glare |
| Cleaning | Authorised manual selection | Selected lighting groups enter the cleaning scene. | Override and exit behaviour |
| Unoccupied | Agreed vacancy period reached | Relevant lighting groups switch off after the delay. | Timeout and manual override |
Light levels, delays and priorities are defined for the room, users and local project requirements. No fixed energy-saving result is implied.
See what a fuller control brief can contain.
Open the printable example ↗Zone names, interface questions, site-test prompts and a handover checklist. Read it online or print it for your project discussion.
Download project brief template ↓
Discuss a similar room ↗TXT · Editable · No registration
03 / SPACES
Built around the way rooms are used.
For new-build and retrofit projects, start with how people work, stay and move through the space.
Workplaces
Give work areas, meeting rooms and shared spaces the lighting control they need.
- Presence detection and time delays
- Daylight response and dimming zones
- Meeting, cleaning and after-hours scenes
Hospitality & homes
Balance intuitive room controls with the needs of building management.
- Welcome, reading and away scenes
- Bedside and entrance control points
- Shading and HVAC interface assessment
Retail & display
Organise lighting around focal points and the rhythm of the trading day.
- Separate display and circulation zones
- Trading, closing and event scenes
- Dimming matched to luminaires and drivers
04 / TECHNOLOGY
KNX for the room. DALI for the light.
Develop the control plan alongside equipment selection, so driver, gateway and interface issues surface early.
KNX
Coordinate building functions such as lighting, shading and HVAC. Selected actuators, sensors and controllers support room logic, configuration, commissioning and diagnostics.
About KNX ↗DALI / DALI-2
Address, group and dim lighting, and recall scenes. DALI-2 certification applies to specific products. Colour control, sensor support and feedback depend on the chosen equipment and gateway.
DALI system overview ↗Check every interface
A selected gateway links KNX and DALI. Tunable white requires compatible DT8 control gear and controllers. BMS requirements, including BACnet interfaces and point mapping, are reviewed separately. Existing luminaires may need changes.
05 / WORKING TOGETHER
Alongside your European project team.
Our Guangzhou-based team coordinates the agreed planning work in English. Your local designer, installer and owner contribute the site information and approvals.
Our agreed planning support
- Develop room zones, scene intent and decision records
- Review the proposed driver and gateway interfaces
- Prepare the documents and support listed in the scope
- Agree review dates and meeting times across time zones
Your local project team
- Provide drawings, site conditions and local requirements
- Approve room behaviour and identify decision owners
- Confirm installation, on-site commissioning and product-document responsibilities
- Record agreed site tests and approve the final handover
For a first enquiry, the location, room type and control objectives are enough. Drawings, equipment schedules and required product documents can follow.
06 / NEXT STEPS
From an early idea to an agreed scope.
You do not need a finished technical specification to start. Each step leaves the project team with a clearer decision or record.
Share the brief
Tell us your role, location, room uses and control goals. Add plans and equipment models when available.
Review the interfaces
Work through the room logic, driver types and gateway functions. Record unresolved questions for the relevant team member.
Agree the work
Confirm deliverables, responsible contacts, review dates and any programming or commissioning support in writing.
Check & hand over
The local team records the agreed site tests. Final documents, configuration files and open items follow the agreed handover scope.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
A background in KNX and energy management.
View the original KNX Partner and CHINT energy-management certificates behind the technical conversation.
wison liang · Partner No. 149206
KNX Partner
KNX Basic course · 25 July 2026
View original certificate ↗
Weisheng Liang · No. 202602001
CHINT Energy Mastery Expert
CHINT certification · 27 July 2026
View original certificate ↗These are individual professional credentials. Product certifications and market requirements are checked against the selected equipment.
PUBLISHED EUROPEAN REFERENCES
See these ideas in real buildings.
Published third-party projects. Our team was not involved in these installations. They illustrate control approaches, not our project record.
HOTEL / LISBON, PORTUGAL
Bairro Alto Hotel
The KNX project record describes a 2019 refurbishment with lighting scenes, timed control and occupancy detection, alongside wider room automation. Room-occupancy information also supports maintenance coordination.
Published by KNX · Project integrator: Domotica Solutions
Read the KNX project record ↗CAR PARK / KENDAL, UNITED KINGDOM
Westmorland Shopping Centre
STEINEL describes a 2024 lighting retrofit using sensor-controlled luminaires and Bluetooth Mesh. Neighbouring groups coordinate lighting between parking decks and stairwells as people move through the building.
Published by STEINEL · Bluetooth Mesh lighting retrofit
Read the manufacturer’s case study ↗PRACTICAL ANSWERS
Your question.
A useful starting point.
General guidance with references you can check. Equipment, site conditions and the agreed scope determine the solution.
How do I choose DALI downlights without paying for features I do not need?
Start with the required light and control behaviour, then compare the complete luminaire-and-driver package. Check the ceiling cut-out, available depth, beam angle, colour temperature, light output and whether you need dimming or tunable white. Ask for the exact driver model and its dimming range; a DALI label alone does not describe the whole package. Where DALI-2 certification is claimed, verify the relevant component in the DALI Alliance database. Send the quantities and control requirements so the options can be compared on the same basis.
Check DALI components in the product database ↗
Discuss this question for your project →Will DALI stop my LED lights flickering when dimmed?
DALI is a control protocol, not a guarantee of flicker-free lighting. The result depends on the LED module, driver, dimming method and operating conditions. Before changing the system, identify the lamp, driver and dimmer, check their specified operating limits and test the proposed combination at the lowest brightness you intend to use. A different protocol may offer useful control functions, but the equipment still needs to match. Send the model numbers and describe when the problem occurs.
DALI Alliance: dimming and control features ↗
Discuss this question for your project →Why do the lights switch off while someone is sitting still?
Check whether the sensor can detect the activity in the occupied area, not just someone walking into the room. Detection coverage for seated work can differ from the advertised movement range. Sensor position, mounting height, furniture and the switch-off delay also matter. For a meeting room or desk area, choose a device with documented presence coverage and test it during normal seated use. Review the control logic and retain a practical manual override. Send a room sketch, ceiling height, sensor model and a description of when the lights go out.
STEINEL: presence and movement coverage examples (PDF) ↗
Discuss this question for your project →Do I need KNX or DALI for my project?
KNX and DALI can work together, so the decision is not always one or the other. DALI focuses on lighting control; KNX can connect lighting with other building functions through suitable devices. A compatible KNX–DALI gateway links the systems. A lighting-only project may use a suitable standalone DALI controller. Define the room functions, wall controls and commissioning responsibilities before choosing the architecture. Share the room list, required scenes and other building systems to clarify which interfaces are needed.
KNX: a DALI gateway example and its supported functions ↗
Discuss this question for your project →Can I upgrade existing lighting without replacing every fitting?
Sometimes, but the existing equipment must be checked before a retrofit route is chosen. Record the luminaire and driver models, control wiring, access above the ceiling and the functions you want to add. Existing equipment may be reusable; other fittings may need a compatible driver or replacement. Wireless control can help where new control cabling is difficult, but it does not make every lamp compatible. Verify a proposed combination in a representative area before extending it. Send equipment photos and a marked-up plan for an initial discussion.
DALI Alliance: wireless gateway options ↗
Discuss this question for your project →What information is needed for a useful KNX–DALI lighting budget?
Start with the required controls, then price the equipment and work together. List luminaires, drivers, rooms, sensors, wall controls, gateways, commissioning and handover. Count DALI addresses as well as fittings: a device can use more than one address. One DALI bus supports up to 64 control-gear addresses; that is not a promise that every 64-luminaire project needs only one line. The controller and layout determine the design. Send your lighting schedule, priorities, project country and target date to identify the main cost decisions.
DALI Alliance: Quick Start Guide ↗
Discuss this question for your project →TELL US WHAT IS HAPPENING
Your lighting problem.
Let’s find the next step.
Start with your email and a short description. We can identify what needs checking and what project information is useful next. Photos, drawings and equipment models can follow by email.
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