How you can build your own building in just a few hours with program KNX

The term “read out” is often misunderstood: Within a KNX system (in a building), all KNX devices are distributed decentrally and cannot be read out without an ETS project file. The parameterization of all KNX components is also completely lost with the loss of the ETS project file. In this case, the entire KNX system can only be set up again.

What is already possible is to “read out” the KNX telegrams using a bus monitor via a connected PC with ETS software. However, this has absolutely nothing to do with “reading out”.

Clear answer: No! KNX programming is not possible without ETS software. The ETS (Engineering Tool Software) is the only software that can be used to program a house or apartment with a KNX system.

Only the manufacturers’ own smart home systems from Busch-Jaeger with “Busch Free@Home”, Gira with “Gira One” and Theben with “Luxor Living” manage without ETS software. They offer their own software tools, which have a very limited range of functions and are only tailored to the respective manufacturer.

The ETS (Engineering Tool Software) is the prerequisite for commissioning a KNX system. As the building owner, I need the software for the project planning and parameterization of all KNX participants/devices. As soon as the individual KNX devices have been programmed, the ETS software is no longer required for ongoing operation. KNX is a decentralized system and runs without a central server, whereby the logic is stored in the individual KNX devices.

The current version is ETS6.0.4, which contains many small improvements compared to previous versions. In principle, it is not necessary to upgrade to the current ETS6 version if you already have the ETS5 version.

From ETS5 onwards, KNX RF has been extended to include radio transmission with components from various manufacturers. From the ETS5 software onwards, KNX can be transmitted via bus line, power cable/powerline, network/TCP/IP and radio RF. All transmission media can be edited consistently in the ETS5 or ETS6 software during KNX programming.

KNX is a manufacturer-independent standard for networking private homes and commercial buildings. There are over 400 manufacturers offering around 8,000 different KNX components.

This means that the perfect solution can always be achieved for each individual house or building with regard to the following criteria:

1. Budget
2. Desired equipment and comfort
3. Future viability and value enhancement

1987: The KNX standard evolved from the European Home System (EHS). EHS was a bus system via the power line and became part of the KNX standard. The origins of networked buildings go back to 1965, when fault reporting systems were first implemented via the conventional electrical installation.

The open EIB/KNX bus standard was founded in 1991. KNX is an amalgamation of EIB, BATIBus Club and EHS. In 2002, a binding and manufacturer-independent KNX standard was finally adopted.

In 2000, the companies Berker, Jung, Gira, Merten and Siemens initiated an interdisciplinary network for heating, cooling, ventilation, shading and lighting. Open means that devices from different manufacturers can communicate with each other via the KNX bus.

2004: From the designation EIB/KNX, only KNX is used as the bus system in the designation.

2023: Around 90 percent of all smart home private houses and villas in the upmarket and high-end sector in the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) are designed as KNX smart homes.

Commercial buildings were equipped with the KNX predecessor EIB very early on in the 1990s in order to automate processes and control buildings remotely. These buildings can still be brought up to date today and components can also be replaced as required. This is not possible with any other bus system in the world.

KNX is very flexible and can transmit data via

Simple cable (KNX-TP)

Wireless via radio (KNX-RF)

or via power line (KNX-PL).

The wired transmission (KNX-TP) achieves a data rate of 9.6 kbit/s. Compared to today’s IT standards – where data is measured in Mbit/s – data transmission is comparatively slow. Nevertheless, it is sufficient for controlling complex buildings with a lot of smart home equipment.

In any case, we always recommend using KNX-TP via green data cable, especially in new buildings. KNX-RF radio transmission is particularly recommended in old buildings and for retrofitting.

The KNX bus is designed to control all areas in the house and on the property:

1. Heating with individual room control,
2. Ventilation with air filtration,
3. Shading (blinds and shutters),
4. Lighting with colored light and stepless dimming and light scenes,
5. Multiroom audio (music in all rooms),
6. Garage doors,
7. Entrance doors,
8. Pool and swimming pool,
9. Garden irrigation,
10. Power generation via photovoltaics and wind,
11. Skylight,
12. Door opening and closing
13. Alarm system and home surveillance

A KNX bus system is always used when it is already clear in the planning phase of a house that the building should still be technically up to date in 25 or 30 years’ time.

This also means a high increase in the value of the property during this period. The main arguments in favor of KNX are a high level of living comfort – also and especially for building owners with a high affinity for material quality, architecture and aesthetics.

The high level of living comfort is reflected in the perfect living climate in all rooms of the house.

The high level of security against burglary or vandalism through the use of appropriate sensors (glass breakage sensors, presence detectors, etc.) is a matter of course when using a KNX system in conjunction with a burglar alarm/alarm system.

The use of a KNX bus system is most and best recommended for new buildings. This means that the costs for the electrical installation are also comparatively low. For retrofitting, KNX is only recommended if a core renovation and the renewal of the entire electrical installation is pending.

The KNX bus system is installed in the form of green cables, which are laid throughout the house in all rooms and floors according to a plan. The green KNX cable is usually installed in so-called empty conduits – again according to an insertion plan for empty conduits.

The plans always come from a planner/system integrator who is very familiar with the subject.

KNX programming of a building is of course also possible remotely via the Internet. What do we need for this?

A KNX IP router that establishes the data connection to the Internet and a VPN router that establishes an encrypted remote connection. For the actual KNX programming, a so-called IP tunnel is set up in the ETS software. We show all this in detail in the video.

There is a very clear answer here: KNX programming only works with the ETS software (version 3, 4, 5 or 6). The ETS software is available in different versions, whereby ETS5 or ETS6 Professional is the professional version without limitations.

Initial tests can be carried out with the free ETS 5 Demo or ETS6 Demo software, whereby only very few participants and therefore not even a mini-apartment can be programmed.

With the help of our click-to-follow instructions , anyone can program a house or apartment with KNX themselves without any prior knowledge.

There is another significant advantage to programming KNX yourself: you no longer need a system integrator to make changes or extensions to the system.

There is a crack version of the ETS5 software that works without a dongle or cloud key . According to our tests, KNX programming is also possible with this – albeit with certain restrictions. We therefore advise against using the KNX ETS5 crack version without a dongle in any case.

Anyone who uses a KNX ETS5 crack version without a dongle in a business environment may even be liable to prosecution.

KNX programming costs between a few thousand euros and 50,000 euros, depending on the size and complexity of the building.

These costs can be saved by programming the KNX yourself. Our video course with click instructions to follow will help you a lot.

It is always possible to extend KNX cables in an existing KNX system in a building/house. It is best to use the typical WAGO 243 KNX terminals in the colors red/black with four connections.
The maximum cable length within a KNX system with a distance to the next participant/component must not exceed 350 meters according to the definition. However, this should hardly be an issue with an “extension”, as it should normally be just a few meters.

There is no difference between the terms “KNX” and “EIB”. The term “EIB” dates back to the early days of the KNX system and refers to the same bus system.

The term “KNX” was introduced in 2003, replacing the “EIB”. Nevertheless, some companies still have the designation “EIB” in the form of logos or information on their website or vehicles and are therefore no longer completely up to date.

Theoretically, a KNX cable may be 1000 meters long in a KNX installation. This specification refers to the maximum permitted voltage drop within a system where the distant KNX components still function perfectly.
However, the length of a KNX line can be extended many times over by creating several KNX lines: 2000 meters, 3000 meters or more can be implemented with the help of separate KNX lines and corresponding line couplers and are also implemented in practice (by people like us).

The KNX system has been around for almost 30 years and KNX programming has improved and developed significantly in recent years. As the technology and the standard are based on the original Konnex specifications from that time, we can already speak of a “very mature system”, which has several years behind it. Due to the possibility of always connecting newer or new components to an existing system, KNX programming is never outdated.

According to the specification, a maximum of 64 components/participants are permitted within a KNX line. This includes both actuators in the switch cabinet and buttons/sensors in the interior of a house. This somewhat outdated specification (as of 2003) assumes a current consumption of 10 mA per device, so that 64 x 10 mA = 640 mA is the maximum current load within a KNX system. However, there are KNX devices today that generate a much higher current load:
For example, 24-fold KNX switching actuators with a current load of 24 mA. Or KNX displays with 20 mA current load. A KNX power supply unit with 1280 mA is recommended here.
In principle, more than 64 devices can be used per line today if the KNX power supply unit provides sufficient power and the number of devices does not exceed 75 to 89.

The answer is quite simple: Ideally, KNX is laid from floor to floor within a building. A “tree structure” is permitted, but should not be exaggerated too much with reference to the maximum cable length (voltage drop).
A “ring” must be avoided at all costs and leads to failure/malfunctions of the KNX system

This question is sure to arise for many people interested in a smart home: Is the KNX system still up to date today in 2024? Should I rely on this system, which has been available for almost 30 years?
The answer is: When it comes to maximum flexibility in component selection, beautiful design of KNX push-buttons and KNX displays and a sophisticated detached house, villa or commercial building is to be equipped with them, then KNX is still the first choice. The KNX system is backed by a range of products from around 500 manufacturers worldwide, which no other smart home system can match. This is because most systems come from a single manufacturer who only has a small range of products to offer for simple applications.

A KNX line coupler is necessary for larger houses and buildings if the number of KNX components exceeds 64 devices or if longer KNX cable lengths of >800 meters need to be laid. For a normal detached house, a single KNX line is often sufficient, so that no line coupler is necessary.
A KNX line coupler connects two KNX lines together so that both can be used for KNX programming. In addition, certain group addresses can be filtered with a KNX line coupler and therefore not “let through”.
One variant that we have implemented in practice is the separation of the KNX lines in the indoor and outdoor areas. This also prevents attacks by “hackers” on the KNX system.