KNX System overview

KNX Association
KNX BASIC COURSE

Table of Contents
1 Definition ............................................................................................................................. 3

2 Minimal structure of a KNX TP installation ............................................................................ 4

3 Addressing ........................................................................................................................... 5

3.1 Individual address ........................................................................................................ 6

3.2 Group address .............................................................................................................. 7

3.3 Configuration steps .................................................................................................... 11

3.4 Function after commissioning stage ............................................................................ 12

4 Group object ...................................................................................................................... 13

5 Useful data of a TP telegram .............................................................................................. 14

6 Standardized datapoint types ............................................................................................. 15

6.1 On/Off (1.001)............................................................................................................ 16

6.2 Functional block „Shutter and blinds actuator - basic“ ................................................. 17

6.3 Functional block „Dimming“ ....................................................................................... 18

6.3.1 Switching - On/Off (1.001) ............................................................................................................ 18

6.3.2 Relative dimming (3.007) .............................................................................................................. 18

6.3.3 Absolute dimming – Scaling (5.001) .............................................................................................. 19

6.4 2-octet float value (9.0xx) ........................................................................................... 19

7 TP bit structure................................................................................................................... 20

8 Bus access – Telegram collision ........................................................................................... 21

9 Symmetrical signal transmission ......................................................................................... 22

10 Superimposing data and supply voltage .............................................................................. 23

11 Connection of the power supply unit to the TP bus .............................................................. 24

12 Cable lengths ..................................................................................................................... 25

12.1 Cable length between TP power supply unit – TP bus device ....................................... 26

12.2 Cable lengths between two TP bus devices ................................................................. 27

12.3 Total cable length per TP line segment ........................................................................ 27

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1 Definition
The following terms are used as synonyms in KNX literature:

Terms used in the KNX training

Alternative term
documentation and in ETS

Individual address Physical address

Group object Communication object

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2 Minimal structure of a KNX TP installation

Figure 1: Minimal structure of a KNX TP installation

A minimum TP KNX installation consists of the following components:

KNX Power supply unit

(30 V DC)

▪ Is mostly integrated in the power supply unit.

Choke

▪ A single push button with one rocker or two buttons is

Sensor(s)
represented in the figure above

▪ Sensors usually get their power from the KNX power supply
unit.

▪ A single switch actuator is represented in the figure above

Actuator(s)

▪ only two wires of the bus cable are required for

Bus cable
transmission of telegrams (data exchange) and in most
cases for supplying the bus device with power

▪ In the figure above it is represented as a green line

▪ Connects sensors, actuators and KNX power supply unit.

▪ Can serve for providing ancillary power to bus devices

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3 Addressing
In KNX there are two types of addressing, i.e. the individual addressing and the group addressing.

Figure 2: Addressing

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3.1 Individual address1

Figure 3: Structure of the individual address

An individual address shall be unique within a KNX installation. Its primary goal is to forward
“programming telegrams”, new application - / and parameter data via the ETS to the bus device.

The individual address in a telegram has a fixed structure of 16 bits and has the format as shown in
the figure above.

In the user interface of ETS and in KNX documentation, individual addresses are represented in
decimal format with two separating points.

The bus device is usually prepared for the acceptance of its individual address by pressing a
programming button on the bus device. The programming LED is lit during this process.

The individual address is permanently assigned to the bus device by means of ETS. ETS is now able to
forward all required data (application, configuration, parameters, group address assignments) via the
bus to the device.

If the commissioning including all customization and diagnostic steps have been carried out, the
communication (e.g. light on/off) is exclusively done via group addresses.

1 Synonym for “physical address”

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3.2 Group address

Figure 4: Structure of group addresses

The normal communication between devices in an installation is carried out via group addresses. The
project engineer defines for each function in the installation an appropriate group address. He can
freely select the group address structure.

65535 group addresses are available2 in ETS. How many group addresses one can assign to a KNX
device, may depend on the KNX system profile, the application program and/or the amount of
parameters.

Important: a group address cannot be zero. For an ETS project with 3-level representation this means
that '0/0/0' is not allowed and for 2-level that '0/0' is not allowed.

The group address 0/0/0 is reserved (Broadcast). This address is required for assigning and
establishing the individual addresses.

2 Only valid from ETS4 onwards. Until ETS3 the most significant bit was set to 0. Main groups were therefore
limited from 0….15. 32767 group addresses were available in total.

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For each ETS project it is possible to select the representation of group addresses in a:

✓ 3-level structure (main group / middle group / subgroup)

✓ 2-level structure (main group / subgroup)

✓ Freely defined structure

The levels only serve for a clearer overview of the functions / group addresses created in ETS.

The default level is the 3-level structure. The level structure can be set for each project in the project
properties of ETS.

Example of a 3-level structure:

5/2/66 Room 424, switch light 1

5/2/67 Room 424, switch light 2

5/2/68 Room 424, switch all lights together

14/2/69 Switch lighting building 4

Etc.

The free-level group address structure offers the most flexible structuring option (see chapter Project
planning – Basic).

The meaning of each individual level can be freely defined by the ETS project engineer.

A common structure is however the following:

Main group Floor number

Middle group Functional domain (e.g. 1 = lighting, 2 = heating, 3 = Shading, …)

Subgroup Function of load or group of loads

(e.g. Light 1 R424 on/off, Window bedroom open/close, Ceiling living room
on/off, Ceiling living room dimming, Blinds room 424 up/down,…)

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Figure 5: Example: structure of group addresses in ETS

It is recommended to define a company default group address structure and to stick to this structure
in all projects in order to facilitate the insight into different projects.

Each group address can be assigned to bus devices at one’s discretion, regardless where the device is
installed.

The group addresses are assigned to the group objects of the respective bus devices, either with the
help of ETS (S-mode) or automatically and invisible in E-mode.

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Summary:

The individual address is important for the commissioning and diagnostic in an installation via ETS (in
order to address individual devices).

Group addressing dominates however during “normal operation” of a KNX installation: in that case,
the individual address is of a lesser importance.

Address type Application See example letter post

Individual address Destination address in ETS „programming To

telegrams“ in order to forward to one John Smith
single bus device new application – / and Samplestreet 12
parameter data. US-12345 Tinseltown

Destination address in „normal“ operation Bulk mail

Group address
telegrams like e.g. “Lighting room 424 To all households with a
on/off” photovoltaic installation

Important note3:

Actuators can listen / react to several group addresses.

Sensors can however send only one group address per telegram

Note:

✓ Recommendation: Use group addresses with main group 16 or higher only in projects containing
the latest devices.

✓ When using main groups 14 to 31 (in two-level + three-level group address structure) in ETS, one
should take into account that these group addresses cannot be filtered by TP line -/ backbone
couplers from the older generation (before 2003). This could negatively influence the dynamics
of the entire bus system. Consequently, for these older generation couplers, these main groups
can only be routed or blocked collectively and are primarily to be used for central functions.

✓ The number of group addresses that can be assigned to sensors and actuators is variable and is
limited by the memory size of the bus device. ETS will prevent that the available memory space
for that specific device is exceeded and will give an appropriate warning to the ETS user.

3 These rules of thumb have been somewhat simplified. More precisely, one should state: group objects can
react to several group addresses, however - after an event (e.g. pressing a rocker) - only the first group address
assigned to a sensor object will be used during sending.

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3.3 Configuration steps

After mounting the devices, a KNX installation (especially for S-mode compatible products) is not
ready for operation until sensors and actuators have been downloaded with the application program
via the ETS program. The project engineer first needs to carry out the following configuration steps
using ETS:

✓ assigning individual addresses to the different devices (for the unique identification of a sensor
or actuator in a KNX installation);

✓ selecting the appropriate application program for the bus devices;

✓ Setting the parameters for the bus devices;

✓ Assigning group addresses in order to logically connect sensors and actuators and by doing so
realize the desired functions.

In the case of E-mode compatible products, the same steps as above are applied, whereby the
settings for:

✓ the individual addresses, but also

✓ the parameters of the bus devices and

✓ the group addresses (for linking the functions of sensors and actuators)

is done either via local settings on the products or automatically or semi-automatically by a central
controller module.

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3.4 Function after commissioning stage

Figure 6: Function after commissioning stage

After configuration, the installation functions as follows:

✓ If the upper rocker of the single push button (1.1.1) is pressed, it sends a telegram containing the
group address (5/2/66) and the value (“1” = switch on)

✓ This telegram is received and evaluated by all connected bus devices.

✓ All devices that have the same group address in their address table will:

▪ synchronously send an acknowledgement telegram (reception correct / reception incorrect);

▪ read the value and behave accordingly.

In our example, the switch actuator (1.1.2) will close its output relay because group address
5/2/66 was also assigned to it.

When the lower rocker is pressed, the same happens except that this time the value is set to “0” and
the output relay of the actuator is opened.

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4 Group object

Figure 7: More detailed description of bus devices with group objects

In the previous introduction example, a group address was assigned directly to a bus device (single
Push button – single channel Actuator).

In reality, one needs to think one level deeper, as there can be several channels that can
communicate in a device. Obviously this is the case when a push button has more than one rocker or
when an actuator has more than one switching output.

The individual rockers of a push button or the several switching outputs of an actuator are
represented by so-called “group objects”.

KNX group objects represent memory locations in a bus device. The size of these objects can vary
between 1 bit and 14 bytes. The size of the group objects is defined by the manufacturer and
depends on the related function.

As only two states (0 and 1) are required for switching, 1 bit group objects are used in this example.
The data for text transmission is more bulky and therefore group objects with a maximum size of 14
bytes are used. By means of group addresses, ETS only allows linking group objects that have the
same size.

Figure 7 shows the relation using a push button 2-fold and a switch actuator 2-fold as an example.

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A group communication in detail:

a) If e.g. the upper left rocker of a 2-fold push button is pressed, it will write a “1” to its group
object with the number 0. Consequently, the firmware in the device ensures that a telegram is
sent on the bus with the information “Group address 5/2/66, write value, Value = “1”.

b) All bus devices mounted in the KNX installation, to which the group address 5/2/66 have been
assigned (and thus listen to 5/2/66) will then take over the “1” in their own group object. In our
example, the actuator will take over the value “1” in its group object with number 0.

c) The application software of the actuator establishes that the value in this group object has
changed and executes the switching process.

5 Useful data of a TP telegram

Figure 8: Useful data of a TP telegram

The length of the data depends on the data point type used and can vary between 1 bit and 14 bytes.

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6 Standardized datapoint types

Figure 9: Standardized datapoint types (selection)

Several datapoint types were standardized to guarantee compatibility of similar devices from
different manufacturers (e.g. dimmer, clock…).

Both the data format as well as structure of the group objects both for sensor and actuator functions
is part of the data point standardization.

The combination of several standardized datapoint types is called a functional block.

The name of a group object can be freely decided by the manufacturer. For instance, a DPT_Step is
sometimes, depending on the manufacturer, referred to as short operation or as blind operation.
This does however not imply that the use of the DPT is limited to this area of application. For
example, “Scaling” (Type 5.001) can be used both for setting a dimming brightness or for setting a
heating valve position.

In the following pages examples of a number of data point types are presented. The full list of all
approved datapoint types can be downloaded from the KNX Association’s web site
(https://www.knx.org/wAssets/docs/downloads/Certification/Interworking-Datapoint-
types/03_07_02-Datapoint-Types-v02.01.02-AS.pdf).

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6.1 On/Off (1.001)

Figure 10: DPT On/Off (1.001),...

DPT_Switch (on/off) is used for switching an actuator function. Other one bit datapoint types are
defined for logical operations (Boolean 1.002), for Enable/Disable (1.003), etc....

Other functions or extensions to the pure switching function (inversion, time delay and toggle switch
functions etc.) are not part of the datapoint type, but are parameters of the functional block
specification, in which this DPT is used (e.g. functional block light switch).

A switching function can additionally have a status or feedback object to report the switching state
(on or off) of an actuator. For this, you need to create a group address that links the status object of
the rocker with the feedback object of the actuator relay. Both the status object and the feedback
object have a data length of 1 bit.

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6.2 Functional block „Shutter and blinds actuator - basic“

Figure 11: Functional block "shutter and blinds actuator - basic"

The functional block “Shutter and blinds actuator –basic” is especially used for controlling shutter
and blind drive mechanisms and consists of two group objects with the underneath mentioned
datapoint types:

✓ Up/Down (DPT 1.008) (long operation of rocker)

✓ Step/Stop (DPT 1.007) (short operation of rocker).

By writing on the object with “Up/Down”, a shutter or blind is set in motion from an idle state or
changes direction while moving.

By writing on the object “Step/Stop”, a shutter or blind already in motion is brought to a stop or if
the blind is not in motion, the slats position of the blind will be adjusted for short periods (step-by-
step).

Important: Group objects using this function should never reply to read requests via the bus as they
may unintentionally stop moving blinds or shutters or set halted blinds or shutters in motion. The
“Read” flag should therefore be deleted in the relevant group objects – both in sensors as well as
actuators. This especially applies for central functions.
Also, a sensor generally does not know the exact position of a shutter or a blind.

Note: Although DPT_Switch (on/off) and DPT_Step or DPT_UpDown (or any 1 bit DPT) use the same
1 bit information (and could in fact be linked in ETS), they should only be linked if the linking is
meaningful, e.g. with the function: Lighting off, move up sun shading (DPT_Switch and
DPT_UPDown).

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6.3 Functional block „Dimming“

Figure 12: Functional block Dimming

Apart from the 4-bit object (Relative dimming - DPT_Control_Dimming [3.007]), the functional block
dimming consists of at least a switching object (corresponds to DPT_Switch [1.001]) and a value
object (corresponds to DPT_Scaling – [5.001]).
A dimming sensor supports at least the group objects DPT_Switch [1.001] and DPT_Control_Dimming
[3.007] whereas a typical dimming actuator additionally supports the DPT_Scaling [5.001] group
object.

6.3.1 Switching - On/Off (1.001)

Explained in § 6.1.

6.3.2 Relative dimming (3.007)

A dimming command, relative to the current brightness setting, is transmitted to the dimming
actuator using the relative dimming object DPT_Control_Dimming.

Bit 3 of the useful data determines whether the addressed device dims down or up compared to the
current brightness value.

Bits 0 to 2 determine the dimming step. The smallest possible dimming step is 1/64th of 100 %
(1 % in the ETS group monitor).

Figure 13: Dimming steps in ETS

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6.3.3 Absolute dimming – Scaling (5.001)

Figure 14: Scaling - Absolute dimming

With “Absolute dimming” (DPT_Scaling [5.001]), a brightness value between 0,4 % (minimum) and
100 % (maximum) is set directly.

Depending on the manufacturer‘s application, it may be possible to switch on

(0,4 % <= value <= 100 %) or off (value = 0) a connected device using this DPT.

This group object has a size of 1 byte.

6.4 2-octet float value (9.0xx)

Figure 15: 2-octet float value (9.0xx)

With this data format positive or negative float values with a maximum resolution of 0,01 can be
transmitted. This data format is used in many datapoint type definitions e.g. for transmitting room
temperatures in DPT „Temperature (°C) [9.001]” or wind speed in the DPT „Speed (m/s) [9.005]“.

Group objects with this data format have a size of 2 bytes.

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7 TP bit structure

Figure 16: TP bit structure

A “bit” can have two logical states, i.e. “0” and “1”.

Technical logic in KNX TP:

✓ During logical state “1”→ no signal voltage. There is no current flowing.

✓ During logical state “0” → signal voltage. Current is flowing.

This means that if several bus devices transmit simultaneously, the logical state “0” will prevail!

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8 Bus access – Telegram collision

Figure 17: Telegram collision

In KNX TP, bus access is not controlled centrally according to the master/slave principle.

A bus device with data to transmit can start transmission immediately if it detects that the bus is
unoccupied. This access happens randomly with no fixed time slots.

The simultaneous sending request of several bus devices is controlled by the CSMA/CA procedure
(Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance).

The bus devices listen to the bus while transmitting, if they are not sending themselves a logical 0.
This means: As soon as a bus device with the logical state “1” detects the logical state “0” (= flow of
current on the line), it stops transmitting to give way to the other sending device.

The bus device that terminated its transmission continues however to listen until the end of the
telegram transmission, evaluates it and tries once again to send its own telegram.

In this way, if several bus devices attempt to transmit simultaneously, the CSMA/CA procedure
ensures that only one of these bus devices can terminate its transmission without interruption (if
simultaneously sent, the telegrams will be sent in parallel until a collision is detected). The data
throughput is therefore not reduced.

Note: if a bus device cannot send its telegram due to another telegram with a higher priority, it will
wait until the telegram with the higher priority has finished and then it will make another attempt to
send its telegram.

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9 Symmetrical signal transmission

Figure 18: Symmetrical signal transmission

The data is transmitted symmetrically over the pair of wires. None of these wires are connected to
the ground or PE, nor are they connected to a fixed potential.

The bus device only evaluates the difference of the AC voltage between both wires.

Radiated noise affects both wires with the same polarity and hence have no influence on the
difference in the signal voltage.

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10 Superimposing data and supply voltage

Figure 19: The transformer-IC in the bus device separates DC supply voltage and AC information voltage

Data is transmitted in the form of AC voltage. It is superimposed onto the DC supply voltage. Both
voltage parts are separated by the transformer-IC.

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11 Connection of the power supply unit to the TP bus

Figure 20: Connection of power supply to TP bus

The power supply feeds the bus via the choke. A voltage regulator is included in the power supply,
which tries to immediately correct deviations in the 30 V nominal voltage. If the installation were
connected directly to the power supply, the voltage regulator would try to also correct the AC
information voltage. This would result in a “tug of war” between the sending bus device and the
regulator included in the power supply.

The choke with its inductance brings some “inertia” into the system.

It allows short-time deviations to the 30 V voltage and at the same time allows the regulation of the
DC supply voltage.

The second task of the choke is the generation of the second (positive) half of the AC voltage pulse.
Only the first (negative) half is generated by the sending bus device. The cooperation between bus
device and choke results in an AC signal voltage without a DC part. This is important for the correct
signal evaluation in receivers.

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12 Cable lengths

Figure 21: cable lengths

Power Supply Unit - Bus device .................................................................................... max. 350 m

Bus device - Bus device ................................................................................................ max. 700 m

Total bus line length ................................................................................................... max. 1000 m

Distance between 2 power supply units in one line……………..………See manufacturer instruction

Irreproducible data transmission problems can occur if the maximum total bus length in a TP line
segment is exceeded.

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12.1 Cable length between TP power supply unit – TP bus device

Figure 22: Cable length between TP power supply unit - TP bus device

A bus device only transmits a half wave (shown in the picture as the negative half wave at the
positive wire).

The choke as part of the power supply unit produces - together with the transformers of the bus
devices - the positive equalization pulse.

As the choke plays a significant role in the forming of the equalization pulse, the bus devices may
only be installed up to 350 m cable length away from the choke (power supply unit).

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12.2 Cable lengths between two TP bus devices

Figure 23: Cable lengths between two TP bus devices

A telegram transmission over the cable requires a certain transit time.

If several bus devices try to transmit simultaneously, a possible collision can only be resolved up to a
distance of 700 m (delay time of the signal tv = 10 µs).

12.3 Total cable length per TP line segment

The signal of the sending bus device will be damped by the continuous loading and unloading of the
cable capacity. At the same time, the signal edges are rounded by the cable capacity. The signal level
drops due to the resistive load (bus cable and device).

To ensure that data is reliably transmitted despite these two effects, the total cable length per line
segment may not exceed 1,000 m. The maximum number of devices per line segment depends on
their total power consumption: In newer installations, more devices per line segment can be installed
(see chapter Topology for more information).

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