KNX SYSTEM & ETS APPLICATIONS
2016 Home control technology is growing up, the commonly used protocol to convoy this growing is the KNX protocol. This document contains a simple explanation about how deal with ETS application.
Abdullah T.A Albzoor
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Table of Contents 1. Communication protocols ..................................................................................................................... 3
1.2 List of communication protocols for building automation ........................................................... 3
2. KNX Protocol ....................................................................................................................................... 5
2.2 Physical Communication Media ................................................................................................... 5
2.3 International Standards that KNX Comply with ........................................................................... 5
2.4 KNX Field of control .................................................................................................................... 5
2.5 Configuration Modes .................................................................................................................... 6
2.6 Bus Topology ................................................................................................................................ 6
2.7 Bus levels ...................................................................................................................................... 8
3. ETS Applications ................................................................................................................................ 10
3.2 ETS Step by Step ........................................................................................................................ 11
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1. Communication protocols
In telecommunications, a communications protocol is a system of rules that allow two or more
entities of a communications system to transmit information via any kind of variation of
a physical quantity. These are the rules or standard that defines the syntax, semantics and
synchronization of communication and possible error recovery methods. Protocols may be
implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of both. [Licesio J. Rodríguez-Aragón: Tema 4:
Internet y Teleinformática. retrieved 2013-04-24. (Spanish)]
Communicating systems use well-defined formats (protocol) for exchanging messages. Each
message has an exact meaning intended to elicit a response from a range of possible responses
pre-determined for that particular situation. The specified behavior is typically independent of
how it is to be implemented. Communications protocols have to be agreed upon by the parties
involved.[2]
To reach agreement, a protocol may be developed into a technical standard.
A programming language describes the same for computations, so there is a close analogy
between protocols and programming languages: protocols are to communications as
programming languages are to computations.
1.2 List of communication protocols for building automation
Following a list for commonly used communication protocols for building automation:
1. BACnet – For building automation, designed by committee ASHRAE.
2. DALI - Digital Addressable Lighting interface – a standard for network-based that
control lighting in building automation.
3. EnOcean – Low Power Wireless protocol for energy harvesting and very lower power
devices.
4. KNX – World standard for building control
5. LonTalk – protocol for LonWorks technology by Echelon Corporation
6. Modbus RTU or ASCII or TCP
7. ZigBee – Open protocol for Mesh Networks ZigBee devices can transmit data over long
distances by passing data through a mesh network of intermediate devices to reach more
distant ones. ZigBee is typically used in low data rate applications that require long
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battery life and secure networking
Any building automation system must include three architectural levels:
1. Management level
2. Automation Level
3. Field Level
Figure 1 Identifies where KNX can be classified depends on home automation architectural
levels.
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2. KNX Protocol
KNX is a standardized (EN 50090, ISO/IEC 14543), OSI-based network communications
protocol for building automation. KNX is the successor to, and convergence of, three previous
standards: the European Home Systems Protocol (EHS), BatiBUS, and the European Installation
Bus (EIB or Instabus). The KNX standard is administered by the KNX Association.
2.2 Physical Communication Media
Physical media refers to the physical materials that are used to transmit information in data
communications, KNX defines several communication media, following:
1. Twisted pair wiring (inherited from the BatiBUS and EIB Instabus standards)
2. Power line networking (inherited from EIB and EHS - similar to that used by X10)
3. Radio (KNX-RF)
4. Infrared
5. Ethernet (also known as EIBnet/IP or KNXnet/IP)
2.3 International Standards that KNX Comply with
KNX is approved as an open standard to:
1. International standard (ISO/IEC 14543-3)
2. Canadian standard (CSA-ISO/IEC 14543-3)
3. European Standard (CENELEC EN 50090 and CEN EN 13321-1)
4. China Guo Biao (GB/T 20965)
2.4 KNX Field of control
KNX can control, or integrate for example the following applications:
1. Lighting control
2. Heating/ventilation & Air Conditioning control
3. Shutter/Blind & shading control
4. Alarm monitoring
5. Energy management & Electricity/Gas/Water metering
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6. Audio & video distribution
2.5 Configuration Modes
There are three categories of KNX device:
1. A-mode or "Automatic mode" devices automatically configure themselves, and are
intended to be sold to and installed by the end user.
2. E-mode or "Easy mode" devices require basic training to install. Their behavior is pre-
programmed, but has configuration parameters that need to be tailored to the user's
requirements.
3. S-mode or "System mode" devices are used in the creation of custom building
automation systems. S-mode devices have no default behavior, and must be programmed
and installed by specialist technicians.
2.6 Bus Topology
KNX allows different bus topologies, star, tree, line topology, a combination of these topologies
can be applied depends on the actual needs, ring topologies are not allowed.
1. Star topology: one or more point of junction can be used.
2. Line topology: Figure 2 refer to line topology
Figure 2: Line Topology
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3. Tree Topology: Figure 3 refer to tree topology
Figure 3: Tree Topology
KNX bus can be connected and branched by using several ways (KNX networks do not require
bus terminating resistors.), Figure 4 is an example for bus branching.
Figure 4: Branching and connection variants.
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The bus devices can be integrated anywhere in the KNX network by observing both the distance
between bus devices and maximum network size. The following distances and line lengths are
designed for KNX-specified bus cables.
1. Distance between two power supply units must not exceed 200m
2. Distance bus device to next neighboring PSU must not exceed 350m
3. Distance between two bus devices must not exceed 700m
4. Total length of one line must not exceed 1000m
Important notes:!
1. In KNX devices, the bus lines are connected to terminals CE+ (red) and CE–
(black). Observe the polarity of the bus lines CE+ and CE– and do not interchange
them.
2. KNX networks do not require bus terminating resistors.
3. At least one PSU is required for each line, and max. Two PSUs are allowed per line.
4. Install the bus supply as close to the network center as possible to achieve maximum
network size.
2.7 Bus levels
In the following illustration the device arrangement arranged on the three-tier KNX network, The
network address is composed of the area, line, and device address (A.L.D) even if no area and
line couplers are used. The network address reflects the bus device's unique position in a KNX
network and is unique within the related network. Area and line coupler addressing must already
be laid out during planning in accordance with the network structure. Up to 64 bus devices can
be installed on one line (also area line 0 and main lines 1…15).
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3. ETS Applications
The ETS software is the main programing tool for KNX projects. ETS is used to program any
KNX certified device regardless of manufacturer. Each manufacturer has their own ETS
database of their products. Figure 6 and 7 includes an example from ETS4 for the main
workplace.
Figure 6: ETS Workplace
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Figure 7: ETS Workplace
3.2 ETS Step by Step
Following screen shoots from ETS software that explains how to deal with ETS step by step.