Mapping out how to get Home Assistant in my home

Hello everyone

Please bear with a complete (?) noob.

I am looking into using Home Assistant to replace a Loxone setup on top of a KNX install using Theben components that the previous owner of my apartment had installed (the KNX was put in during construction, s.b.). As such I have some planning to do. And limited documentation :slight_smile:

Let me start with my understanding of the basic setup

  • All wired power delivery (light, window shutters) is controlled by KNX
  • Likewise, KNX controls the valves for the floorheating (this will be important
    later on)
  • KNX gets enocean based signals (light switches, temperature, window sensors, a few movement sensors that serve no real use afaict). As a result, there is NO wiring for sensors and switches anywhere (possible exception being the movement sensors).
  • Something provides localized real time weather data (insolation, rain, wind, temperature) that I can see in the Loxone app (no idea where those sensors live)
  • Ventilation control appears to be entirely separate (and can stay that way)
  • Finally, all major lighting is using Hue.
  • Likely not important considering the rest of the setup: whole apartment is blanketed in WiFi and has plenty of wired gigabit in every room

Loxone is wired into the KNX system with an unholy amount of wires (looks like point to point). I mainly control the apartment using Loxone (Hue with the associated app) which also seems to be in charge of actual heating valve decisions (not sure if KNX does anything there, for sure the thermostats are ignored) and can do follow the sun shade management. All quite nifty but seemingly impossible to update.

The last point is crucial as
a) I intensely dislike old stuff on my LAN
b) the whole building is supposed to get floor based geothermal cooling which means I need to upgrade valve management logic.

So I assume I am in need of a KVM IP bridge (router?) to hook up HA to KNX and will rely on the Hue integration for lighting (or is there a reason to go talk zigbee to hue directly?). Realistically, that KNX part sounds like a job for professionals?

Looking at the docs for the KNX integration looks like I will have to setup all items manually so how do I get to know what is where? Is there some way to scan/dump KNX for that info?

Thanks a lot for any inputs!

Hi :wave:!

You could use the Group monitor to find out by trial an error. But realistically, you will want to get the .knxproj file and a fitting license for ETS to inspect it and be able to change things like these heating actuator options etc.

Yes, if you want HA to communicate with KNX you will need a KNX IP interface (like “Weinzierl 732” or “Enertex IP Secure interface”). You probably won’t need a KNX IP Router (which would be 100€ more).