KNX Basics the KNX Standard – the Basics
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KNX Basics The KNX standard – the basics Introducing bus systems Intelligent bus systems make Bus technology buildings more cost-effec- A far better solution is to link tive to operate, safer, more all sensors and actuators in the flexible, more energy-effi- building with a “data cable”, cient and – above all – more and enable them to share infor- comfortable and conveni- mation with each other (Fig. 2). ent. The KNX standard oc- Each device can then commu- cupies a large share of the nicate with every other device, market for building automa- for example: a light switch can tion systems. “talk” to a dimmer and tell it how bright to set the ceiling Past, present light; a motion sensor can tell and future the actuator for the corridor People live differently from lighting that someone has en- how they did just a decade or tered the corridor, or tell the two ago. We get money from room thermostat that there is cash dispensers, buy and sell no one in the room any more, goods and services over the in- so it can turn down the tem- ternet, phone friends all over Figure 1. “Smart” houses that adapt to users’ needs? It sounds like something perature. The following are from a sci-fi novel, but it is already a reality. Intelligent buildings incorporating the world from our mobile networks of sophisticated devices that control the building as needed already examples of sensors that can phones, and start to moan if exist, and are making life easier for their occupants on a day-to-day basis. send information to the bus: an MMS or e-mail takes more • Light switches than 5 minutes to reach a des- • Dimmer switches tination in the USA. In our cars that. Before going away for More networking • Motion sensors we are guided around by sat the weekend, it is wise to turn The key to making a building • Presence detectors (which navs, and we lock and unlock down the temperature in our “intelligent” is to equip it with can detect whether there the doors remotely without hot water tanks and to turn off networked sensors and actua- is a person in a room even a key. The interior light goes all those electrical appliances tors. There are several differ- if they are not moving) on the moment we step inside, on standby. But no one actu- ent ways of doing this: • Window and door contacts then after a while slowly dims ally does – at least, not relia- (for security and heating down again. In short, for quite bly. It takes too long. Conventional methods control) some time we have been en- The immediately obvious so- • Doorbell buttons for front joying cutting-edge develop- Time to do lution is to employ a star to- doors ments in the areas of com- some catching up pology, i.e. an arrangement • Water, gas, electricity and munication, entertainment So electrical installations in where every socket outlet heat meters and automotive technology. buildings have some substan- circuit, ceiling or wall out- • Overvoltage sensors If we look at how technolo- tial catching up to do. Net- let, and light switch is linked • Temperature sensors for in- gy in buildings has developed worked sensors and actuators by its own (ideally five-core) door and outdoor air over the same period, it’s a have long since been a standard NYM cable to a central dis- • Temperature sensors in heat- very different story. We still feature of motor cars; build- tribution board in which the ing and hot water circuits open our flat doors with con- ings, on the other hand, are logical relationships are creat- • Modules for preselecting ventional keys; and if we can’t lagging some way behind. A ed by contactors, switch re- room temperature setpoints find our keys fast enough, the change of mindset is needed, lays, and a programmable logic • Brightness sensors for in- staircase light timer switch- not least because of the long controller (PLC). This works doors and outdoors, e.g. for es the lights off and plunges service life of an electrical in- well in reasonably small dwell- constant lighting control us into darkness. True, while stallation. Today’s new build- ings. However, the size of the • Wind sensors for control- we’re out working all day, the ings will have to adapt to nu- house only needs to increase ling blinds heating automatically keeps merous changes over the next by a fairly small amount before • Fault and system status mes- our homes at a pleasant tem- few decades. Now, more than the extent of the wiring work sages for white goods (wash- perature – but it doesn’t no- ever, buildings need to be flex- and size of the power distribu- ing machine, clothes dryer, tice whether we left the living ible and capable of accommo- tion boards required becomes dishwasher, cooker, etc.) room window open when we dating networked building ser- excessive. In a star topology, • Leak sensors, e.g. in laundry went out. Only the electrici- vices. In technical terms, all of adding to or extending the sys- room ty meter, ticking away quiet- this is already entirely feasi- tem is also very time-consum- • Level measurements e.g. for ly in a switch cabinet, notices ble (Fig. 1). ing in terms of installation and rain water tank, oil tank, programming. wood pellet store 2 The KNX standard – the basics • Radio receivers for door • Presence simulation locks • Displays and user interfaces • Receivers for infrared re- • Modules for connecting bus mote controls with telephone • Fingerprint modules and card • Modules for automatically readers for access control sending warning messages by text The following are examples • Modules for accessing build- of actuators that can be con- ing data from outside via the trolled via the bus: internet or a phone • Relays for switching room lights on and off Why KNX? • Dimmers and DALI-gate- There are several bus tech- ways nologies on the market. All • Electric thermostatic radia- of them are beneficial and tor valves appropriate for certain are- Figure 2. A bus system is a system of sensors and actuators joined together • Temperature displays as of application. But no oth- by a “bus cable”. • Drive mechanisms for awn- er bus system is supported by ings, blinds, curtains and ga- as many different manufactur- rage doors ers as KNX. This is because: • Drive mechanisms for win- • All strong brands in the build- • KNX is standardised in Eu- Do bus installations dows ing installation sector are rope, the USA, China and make sense financially? • Circulator pumps for heat- pushing KNX technology internationally, through e.g. This is one of the first ques- ing systems • KNX was developed spe- CENELEC EN 50090 (Eu- tions that building owners and • Valve control systems, e.g. cifically to meet the needs rope), CEN 13321-1/2 (Eu- tradespeople ask when con- for solar thermal installations of electrical installations in rope), ISO/IEC 14543-3 sidering bus technology. As • Alarms (lights and buzzers) buildings (International), GB/T 20965 so often – it depends. At first • Information displays and in- • KNX devices are installed, (China), and ANSI/ASHRAE glance, bus systems appear dicator LEDs programmed and parame- 135 (USA). More than 350 more expensive than conven- • Relays for making and break- terised by fully qualified sys- KNX members in 37 coun- tional installations. But appear- ing socket outlet circuits tem integrators tries manufacture products ances can be very deceptive! (standby cut-off) • KNX is well-established and according to the KNX stand- What need to be considered • Well pumps can accommodate a huge ard. Because the technology are the benefits offered by a • Air conditioning systems range of functions is standardised, KNX prod- system over its entire service • Ventilation systems (toilet/ • There are several thou- ucts are all mutually com- life. Depending on the build- bathroom extractor fans, sand KNX-certified prod- patible and KNX installa- ing type, the following may controlled ventilation for uct groups available, cover- tions can be easily modified be compelling arguments for living areas) ing every conceivable field or extended at a later stage. choosing a bus system: • Control of washing machine, of application dryer, dishwasher • KNX products are tested for • Consumer electronics conformity by an independ- • Trigger signals for alarm sys- ent third party test labora- tems tories Reduced energy consumption in % • Telephone systems • KNX products are compat- • Electric door openers and ible with products from all door locking systems manufacturers (interwork- 80 ing) 70 80 Examples of functional mod- • End customers benefit from 60 ules (may be self-contained or an extensive network of spe- 50 60 integrated in devices): cialist tradesmen with sol- 50 40 45 • Room temperature control- id KNX skills accredited by 40 lers KNX-certified training cen- 30 • Timer functions tres 20 • Freely-programmable logic • The PC software ETS can 10 modules be used to plan, design and • PLCs with KNX interface commission installations control • Constant lighting control of KNX-certified products Individual of Heating of Lighting Ventilation modules from any manufacturer Automation Automation Automation Automation of Room • Alarming and alerting • KNX supports all communi- of Sun shading • Telephone switchboards cation media: TP (based on connected to the bus a standalone 2-wire bus ca- Figure 3. A study conducted by the Institute for Building and Energy Systems at Biberach University of Applied Sciences, entitled “The potential offered by • Media control ble), PL (Powerline), RF (Ra- modern electrical installations for saving energy”, has revealed that the use of • Heating control dio Frequency), and IP/Eth- a KNX-based, networked home and building control system can reduce energy • Pump control ernet/WLAN consumption by as much as 50 %.