KNX automation : global standard for home control

KNX: the worldwide standard for controlling your home

What is KNX automation?

Created in 1999, the Konnex association was born from the unification of three European associations active in the field of intelligent buildings and homes: BCI, EIB and EHSA.

The Konnex association aims to :

define quality and control standards
establish technical support for manufacturers developing KNX compatible products
to provide training facilities
to continue the development of the unique design and commissioning software package ETS.

At the time of its creation, it had 9 members. By the end of 2020, it already had 500 members from 44 different countries. These include ABB, Jung, Merten, Hager, Siemens, Schneider, Zennio…

At the end of 2003, the KNX standard was approved by CENELEC (European Committee of Electrotechnical Standardization) as “Home and Building Electronic Systems (HBES)” as part of the EN 50090 series.

The benefits of KNX automation

Flexibility

A building is bound to change over time. The ideal solution is therefore to have a system that allows buildings to be adapted to their new use. These changes must be made without demolishing walls or installing new circuits. This is what the KNX system offers.

Comfort

Today, everyone is looking for more comfort at home or at work. A modern and easy-to-use electrical installation will simplify the daily life and work of the end user. KNX is the solution for building automation up to the electrical distribution.

Profitability

Installation costs and ongoing operating expenses are decisive for the profitability of such an investment. Therefore, the more flexible and easily adaptable the building is to new technologies, the more profitable it is. And when, in addition, ecological awareness and rising energy costs come into play, it becomes obvious that intelligent energy-saving solutions must be integrated into the construction of a building.

Security

In order to provide the users of a building with maximum security, the installed system must react quickly and intelligently to critical situations, regardless of whether the owner is present or absent. The possibilities of a conventional electrical installation are limited, and the interaction between the different applications can only be achieved with great effort: the KNX system allows to react quickly and intelligently to emergency situations.

Design

When choosing control devices, you want to have many alternatives to suit your taste. Thanks to the certification of all KNX/EIB devices (there are more than 5,000 of them), you are spoilt for choice.

Learn more about the architecture of a KNX automation setup.

The power circuit is supplied with 230 V/50 Hz. The control circuit consists of a twisted pair (TP) or a radio link (RF) or infrared (IR). The data transmission can also be done by carrier current on the power circuit (PL: Power Line).

Each element connected to the bus has its own independence; it is able to send and/or receive messages.

Learn more about the KNX technology

The EIB/KNX technology can be divided into 2 main layers:

the BCU (Bus Coupler Unit) layer: the manufacturer must provide the interface that will link the product’s own functions to the EIB standardized system. This element, developed in accordance with the standards in force, must pass through testing and certification centers before it can bear the EIB label, which guarantees the compatibility of the product.
the EIB layer: standardized communication system, by cable or wireless, which allows all the components to connect to each other and understand each other. In the case of a cable installation, the EIB technology uses a twisted pair that can run with the “heavy current” cables without any disturbance. A cable with 0.8 mm wires can be used in order to limit voltage drops in the line. If a standard U72 1 x 4 x 0.8 cable is used, the unused pair is used as a spare.6utiliser un câble avec des fils de 0,8 mm afin de limiter les chutes de tension en ligne. Si on utilise un câble standard U72 1 x 4 x 0,8, la paire non utilisée sert de réserve.

The control bus is a distributed intelligence system. It does not require a control computer or a centralizing PLC. Each communicating point connected to the bus has its own microprocessor that manages the communication on the network and is able to send or receive messages. The EIB bus must be supplied with a nominal DC voltage of 29 V. Most of the components draw the energy required for their operation directly from the bus.

The BCU layer is the universal electronic part that manages communication on an EIB network (coding and decoding of information). It is equipped with a microprocessor and a memory used to store the program for the product that will be attached to it (switch, detector, sensor, etc.). This program is provided by the manufacturer of the product, since he “translates” the functions of his product into EIB messages that can be understood by all the other components connected to the installation.