Bondi Beach Lighting Retrofit

Casambi DALI controller replacing an end-of-life system.

Type: Residential apartment

Scope: Smart lighting retrofit
System: Casambi DALI controller (Salvador 2000)
Timeline: Interim solution prior to refurbishment

Casambi Salvador 2000 series. An interim solution. A system at end of life. Lighting control restored without opening walls or replacing fittings.

The Starting Point

The existing system was built around two DALI gateways, tied into a broader smart home setup.

It had been in place for years and was starting to fail. Dropouts were becoming more frequent, and support options were limited. The system still controlled the lighting, but not reliably.

A full refurbishment was already planned within the next 3 to 6 months. The challenge was restoring control in the meantime, without opening walls or replacing fittings.

The Brief

The client was after a solution that would restore consistent lighting control without rewiring or major electrical work. It needed to retain the existing DALI luminaires, provide a simple and usable interface for day-to-day use, and allow for a clean transition into the future renovation.

Our Approach

The system was simplified. The two existing DALI gateways were removed and replaced with a single Casambi Salvador 2000. The existing DALI infrastructure remained in place. No changes to fittings. No unnecessary disruption. The Casambi DALI controller allowed the system to be centralised and stabilised without replacing existing components. Battery-powered wireless switches were introduced to restore manual control where it was needed. The setup works as a stable interim solution, while still allowing for a straightforward upgrade during the full refurbishment.

What Happened on Site

Combining DALI lines
Merging two existing DALI lines into a single unit required re-addressing all connected drivers. It added time and required careful setup.

Mesh network coverage
Using battery-powered switches created gaps in the Bluetooth mesh in some areas, reducing signal strength and consistency.

Key Takeaways

Keep DALI lines separate where possible.
Use powered devices to strengthen the mesh network.
Plan even temporary systems with the next stage in mind.

The Result

Lighting control was restored across the apartment without major disruption.

The system is stable, easy to use, and will carry through until the full renovation begins. When that happens, the groundwork is already in place.

Planning a retrofit?

If you’re dealing with an ageing system or want to simplify your next project, we can help.

GET IN TOUCH

Want to know more? Listen to Martin Bevz share his 'Lessons Learned' on the job