The KNX technology is the result of the pooling of knowledge and experience gained over the last 15 years with the predecessor technologies to KNX, i.e. the European Installation Bus (EIB), the European Home System (EHS) and BatiBUS.
BY PRODUCT CERTIFICATION, KNX GUARANTEES INTEROPERABILITY & INTERWORKING OF PRODUCTS
The KNX certification process ensures that different products of different manufactures used in different applications operate and communicate with each other. This ensures a high degree of flexibility in the extension and in the modification of installations. Product compliance is checked at neutral laboratories (third parties).
KNX is the only home and building control standard running global certification schemes for products, training centers (vocational and private institutions) and even for persons (electrical contractors, building designers).
KNX STANDS FOR HIGH PRODUCT QUALITY
KNX Association requires a high level of production and quality control during all stages of the product life. Therefore all manufacturing members have to show compliance to ISO 9001 before they even can apply for a KNX product certification.
Besides the manufacturer compliance to ISO 9001, the products have to comply with the requirements of the European as well as International standard for Home and Building Electronic Systems. In case of doubt, KNX Association is even entitled to have certified products retested or can require from the manufacturer test reports underlying his declaration of hardware conformity.
AN UNIQUE MANUFACTURER INDEPENDENT ENGINEERING TOOL SOFTWARE ETS®
The PC software tool ETS allows the planning, engineering, and configuration of all KNX certified products. The tool is moreover manufacturer independent: the system integrator is able to combine products of different manufacturers to one installation.
KNX CAN BE USED FOR ALL APPLICATIONS IN HOME AND BUILDING CONTROL
KNX can be used for all possible functions / applications in home and building control ranging from lighting, shutter control to security, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, monitoring, alarming, water control, energy management, metering as well as household appliances, audio and lots more.
KNX improves comfort and security and contributes heavily to energy savings and climate protection (up to 50% for lighting control and the same amount for heating applications).
KNX IS FIT FOR USE IN DIFFERENT KIND OF BUILDINGS
KNX can be used in both new as well as existing buildings. KNX installations can therefore be easily extended and adapted to new needs, with little time and financial investment (e.g. when new tenants move into a commercial building).
KNX can be installed in both small-size single family houses as well as large buildings (office, hotel, conference centers, hospitals, schools, department stores, warehouses, airports…).
KNX SUPPORTS DIFFERENT CONFIGURATION MODES
- Easy installation (E-mode):
Configuration is done without the help of a PC but with a central controller, code wheels or push buttons. E-mode compatible products normally have limited functionality and are intended for medium size installations. - System installation (S-Mode):
Planning of the installation and configuration is done via a PC with the installed ETS Software, whereby the manufacturers’ product data is contained in the ETS database. S-mode is intended for KNX certified planners and contractors and for large size installations.
KNX SUPPORTS SEVERAL COMMUNICATION MEDIA
Each communication medium can be used in combination with one or more configuration modes, allowing each manufacturer to choose the right combination for the targeted market segment and application.
- Twisted pair (KNX TP):
This communication medium, twisted pair, bitrate 9600 bits/s, has been taken over from EIB. The EIB and KNX TP1 certified TP1 products will operate and communicate with each other on the same busline. - Power Line (KNX PL):
This communication medium, power line, bitrate 1200 bits/s, has also been taken over from EIB. The EIB and KNX PL110 certified products will operate and communicate with each other on the same electrical distribution network. - Radio frequency (KNX RF):
KNX devices supporting this communication medium use radio signals to transmit KNX telegrams. Telegrams are transmitted in the 868 MHz (Short Range Devices) frequency band, with a maximum radiated power of 25 mW and bitrate of 16.384 kBit/sec. The KNX RF medium can be developed with off the shelf components, allows uni- and bidirectional implementations, is characterized by low power consumption and for small and medium size installations only requires retransmitters in exceptional cases. - IP/Ethernet (KNX IP):
As documented in the KNXnet/IP specifications, KNX telegrams can also be transmitted encapsulated in IP telegrams. In this way, LAN networks as well as Internet can be used to route or tunnel KNX telegrams. In this way, IP routers are an alternative to USB data interfaces respectively TP line or backbone couplers. In the latter case, the normal TP backbone is replaced by a fast Ethernet based line.
KNX CAN BE COUPLED TO OTHER SYSTEMS
Several KNX manufacturers offer gateways to other networks, i.e. to other building automation systems, telephone networks, multimedia networks, IP networks, etc. KNX systems can be mapped to BACnet objects (as documented in the international standard ISO 16484-5) or offers the possibility to interface with the DALI technology.
KNX IS INDEPENDENT FROM ANY HARD – OR SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY
KNX can be realized on any microprocessor platform. KNX can be implemented from scratch but for easy market entrance, KNX manufacturers can also take recourse to providers of KNX system components. For KNX members, it is completely FREE of additional royalty fees.