DALI ⇄ KNX gateway

Need to connect DALI and KNX? The Weble WBox routes DALI KNX natively: one gateway speaks both protocols and maps data points in real time — no PC, no middleware, no cloud dependency.

The protocols

DALI

DALI (IEC 62386) controls and queries each luminaire individually or in groups — dimming, scenes, status and failure feedback over a simple wire pair.

DALI driver →

KNX

KNX is the worldwide standard for home and building control, running over twisted-pair, IP or RF.

KNX driver →

Typical use case

A lighting retrofit replaces fluorescent fixtures with DALI LED drivers, but the building keeps its KNX installation — push-buttons, presence detectors, scenes. The WBox couples the DALI line to the KNX bus: KNX switching and dimming commands drive the DALI ballasts, and lamp status flows back, so the new lighting behaves like any native KNX load — without a proprietary DALI gateway per line.

Example deployment

Typical scenario DALI lighting controlled from KNX An office building refits its lighting with DALI (dimming, scenes, failure feedback) while blinds and HVAC stay on KNX. The WBox maps DALI addresses and groups to KNX group addresses: KNX push-buttons and the building control drive the lights, and ballast failures surface as KNX states. Technical documentation →

How the WBox bridges DALI and KNX

The DALI driver addresses the line's ballasts — up to 64 short addresses and 16 groups — for arc-power commands, scene recall and status queries. The KNX driver exposes each fixture or group as group addresses with the right datapoint types: DPT 1.001 for switching, DPT 5.001 for the dimming level. Routes on the WBox bind the two: a KNX telegram sets the DALI level, a lamp or ballast failure raises a KNX status object. Conversion and scaling run on the gateway itself.

Capacity & limits

DALI — A DALI line addresses up to 64 control gear (short addresses), plus 16 groups and 16 scenes; the driver handles several lines, connected through a serial DALI interface.
KNX — KNX exposes the installation's group objects; a TP line carries up to 64 bus devices, extended through lines, areas and KNXnet/IP.

On the WBox, a driver licence enables the whole protocol — there is no artificial per-point tier to unlock. Capacity scales with the gateway model, from the compact S103 to the E413: you are bounded by the field bus, not by your licence.

Frequently asked questions

How do I connect DALI and KNX?

DALI is the digital lighting bus and KNX is the building field bus (lighting, blinds, HVAC). A single WBox gateway runs the DALI and KNX drivers, speaks both protocols at once and maps the data points between them — no PC, no middleware, no cloud dependency.

Is the DALI ⇄ KNX bridge bidirectional?

Yes. The WBox reads and writes on both sides: a value or command on the DALI side propagates to KNX, and vice-versa.

Do I need a PC, a PLC or proprietary hardware?

No. The DALI and KNX drivers are licence-activated on one WBox — no gateway PC, no intermediate PLC and no proprietary hardware.

Which WBox model do I need?

Any WBox with the DALI and KNX driver licences. The online configurator recommends the right model from your interfaces and point count. For KNX TP, choose the WBox S485 KNX, which has the twisted-pair interface on board.