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Table of Contents
1
2
3
4

Basic Method of Operation .........................................................................................3

Individual address ...................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Group Address ...........................................................................................................6
Group object .............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.1

5
6

Flags ..................................................................................................................9

Useful Data of a TP1 telegram .................................................................................10

Standardized Datapoint Types (DPT).......................................................................11
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5

7
8
9
10
11
12

Switch (1.001) ..................................................................................................12

Functional block Shutter Control.......................................................................13
Switch Control (2.001) ......................................................................................14
Functional Block Dimming..............................................................................15
2 Octet Float Value (9.00x)...............................................................................17

TP1 Bit Structure......................................................................................................18

TP1 Telegram Collision ............................................................................................19
TP1 Symmetrical Transmission................................................................................20
Superimposing Data and Supply Voltage .................................................................21
Connection of the Power Supply Unit to the TP1 Bus ..............................................22
TP1 Cable Lengths ..................................................................................................23

12.1
12.2
12.3

Cable Length between TP1 Power Supply Unit and TP1 Bus Device ...............24
Cable Lengths between two TP 1 Bus Devices ................................................25
Total Cable Length per TP 1 Line Segment .....................................................25

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Definition
The following terms are used as synonyms in KNX literature:
Physical address and individual address
Communication object and group object
The terms individual address and group objects are commonly used In the KNX
training documentation as well as in ETS.

1 Basic Method of Operation

Figure 1: Basic method of operation

A minimum TP1 KNX installation consists of the following components:

a power supply unit (DC 30 V)
a choke (can also be integrated in the power supply unit)
sensors (a single switch sensor is represented in the figure above)
actuators (a single switch actuator is represented in the figure above)
bus cable (only two wires of the bus cable are required).

After the installation and in the case of S-mode compatible products, a KNX system is not
ready for operation until sensors and actuators have been loaded with application

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software with the help of the ETS program. The project engineer must first have carried
out the following configuration steps using ETS:
assignment of individual addresses to the different devices (for the unique
identification of a sensor or actuator in a KNX installation);
selection and setting (parameterisation) of the appropriate application software for
sensors and actuators;
assignment of group addresses (for linking the functions of sensors and actuators).
In the case of E-mode compatible products, the same steps as above have to be applied,
whereby:
the individual addresses
parameterisation of the appropriate application software for sensors and actuators
and;
the assignment of group addresses (for linking the functions of sensors and actuators)
is done via either local settings or automatically by a central controller.
After the above configuration, the installation could function as follows:
If the upper rocker of the single switch sensor (1.1.1) is pressed, it sends a telegram
which contains the group address (5/2/66) and the value (1) as well as
miscellaneous data.
This telegram is received and evaluated by all connected sensors and actuators.
Only the devices with the same group address:

send an acknowledgement telegram

read the value and behave accordingly. In our example, the switch actuator (1.1.2)
will close its output relay.

When the lower rocker is pressed, the same process occurs except that the value is set
to 0 this time and the output relay of the actuator is thereby opened.
The respective elements of the KNX system are explained in more detail on the following
pages.

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2 Individual address

Figure 2: Individual address

An individual address must be unique within a KNX installation. The individual address is
configured as described above. It has the following format: Area [4 bit] - Line [4 bit] Bus
device [1 byte]. The bus device is normally 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 also used for the following purposes after
the commissioning stage:
Diagnosis, error rectification, modification of the installation by reprogramming
Addressing of the interface objects using commissioning tools or other devices.
Important: The individual address has no significance during normal operation of
the installation.

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3 Group Address

Figure 3: Group Address

Communication between devices in an installation is carried out via group addresses.

When setting the group address via ETS, it can be selected as a 2-level (main group/
subgroup), 3-level structure (main group/middle group/subgroup) or a freely defined
structure. The level structure can be changed in the project properties of each individual
project.. The group address 0/0/0 is reserved for so-called broadcast messages
(telegrams to all available bus devices).
The ETS project engineer can decide how the levels will be used e.g. as in the following
pattern:
Main group = floor
Middle group = functional domain (e.g. switching, dimming)
Subgroup = function of load or group of loads (e.g. kitchen light on/off, bedroom
window on/off, ceiling living room on/off, ceiling living room dimming,).
One should stick to the selected pattern of group addresses in all projects.
Each group address can be assigned to the bus devices as required, regardless of where
the device is installed in the system.
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Actuators can listen to several group addresses. Sensors however can only send one
group address per telegram.
The group addresses are assigned to the group objects of the respective sensors and
actuators, either by creating and assigning them with the help of ETS (S-mode) or
automatically and invisible to the user in E-mode.
Note:
When using the main groups 14 resp. 15 or higher in ETS, you should take into
account that these group addresses are not filtered by TP1 couplers and could
therefore negatively influence the dynamics of the entire bus system.
The number of group addresses that can be attributed to a sensor or actuator is
variable and depends on the size of the memory.

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4 Group object

Figure 4: Group object

KNX group objects are memory locations in bus devices. The size of these objects can be
between 1 bit and 14 bytes. The size of the group objects is dependent on its function.
As only two states (0 and 1) are required for switching, 1 bit group objects are used. The
data involved in text transmission is more comprehensive and therefore group objects
with a maximum size of 14 bytes are used.
The ETS only allows to link objects with the same size using group addresses. Several
group addresses can be assigned to one group object, but only one is the sending group
address.
An object value is sent on the bus in the following way:
a) If the upper left rocker is pressed for example, the two-fold switch sensor writes a 1
to its group object with the number 0. As the communication and transmit flag are set
for this object, this device will send a telegram on the bus with the information Group
address 1/1/1, write value, 1.
b) All the bus devices throughout the KNX installation that also have the group address
1/1/1 will then write 1 in their own group object.
c) In our example, the 1 is written in group object no. 0 of the actuator.
d) The application software of the actuator establishes that the value in this group object
has changed and executes the switching process.

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4.1 Flags
Each group object has flags which are used to set the following properties:

Communication

READ

WRITE

TRANSMIT

UPDATE

READ ON INIT

The group object has a normal link to the bus.

Telegrams are acknowledged. The group object is not modified.

The object value can be read via the bus.

The object value CANNOT be read via the bus.

The object value can be modified via the bus.

The object value CANNOT be modified via the bus.

A telegram is transmitted when the object value (at the sensor) has been
modified.

The group object will generate a response only when receiving a read request.

Value response telegrams are interpreted as a write command. The value of

the group object is updated (always enabled in System 1 devices)

Value response telegrams are NOT interpreted as a write command. The

value of the group object remains unchanged.

The device independently sends Read value commands for the initialisation of
the group object after return of current (only available on certain masks)

After return of current the device does not initialise the value of the assigned
group object via Read Value commands

Please note: The default flags should only be changed in exceptional circumstances.
For further information you can consult the topic Flags in the chapter Project Design of
the basic course documentation or the chapter Flags in the advanced course
documentation.

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Figure 5: Useful data of TP1 telegram

5 Useful Data of a TP1 telegram

The actual payload determines the type of command. The actual payload is explained in
the above figure using the example of a 1-bit telegram. In the case of the write
command the last bit on the right contains a 1 or a 0 for Switch on or Switch off.
A read command requests the addressed group object to report its status. The reply
may be a 1-bit message as in the example of the write command, or it can use up to 13
bytes (bytes 2 to 15).
The length of the data is dependent on the datapoint type used.

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Figure 6: Standardized Datapoint types

6 Standardized Datapoint Types (DPT)

Datapoint types were standardised to guarantee the compatibility of similar devices from
different manufacturers (e.g. dimmers, clock).
The standardisation includes requirements on the data format and structure of the group
objects as well as for sensor and actuator functions. The combination of several
standardised datapoint types (e.g. in dimming actuators) is called a functional block.
The designation of a datapoint type is geared towards the application for which it was
conceived. This does not always imply that the use of the DPT is limited to this area of
application. For example Scaling (Type 5.001) can also be used both for setting a
dimming brightness or for setting a heating valve position.
A selection of frequently used datapoint types is given on the following pages. The full list
of standardised datapoint types can be downloaded from the KNX web site
(www.knx.org).

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Figure 7: DPT Switch (1.001)

6.1 Switch (1.001) 1

The switch function is used for switching an actuator function. Other one bit datapoint
types are defined for logical operations (Boolean [1.002]), Enable [1.003]), etc...).
Other functions or extensions to the pure switching function (inversion, time delay and
toggle switch functions) are not part of the DPT description but parameters of the
functional block specification, in which this DPT is used (e.g. functional block light switch).

previously referred to as EIS1

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Figure 8: Functional block Shutter Control

6.2 Functional block Shutter Control 2

The functional block Shutter control is principally used for the control of shutter and blind
drive mechanisms and provides at least the following datapoint types as group objects
Up/Down (1.008)
Step (1.007).
By writing on the Up/Down, a drive is set in motion from an idle state or changes direction
while moving.
By writing on the Step, a drive which is already in motion is brought to a stop or a halted
drive is set in motion for short periods (step-by-step).
Important: Group objects which use this function should never reply to read requests via
the bus as they may unintentionally stop moving drives or set halted drives in motion. The
read flag should therefore be deactivated in the relevant group objects both in sensors
as well as actuators. This especially applies for central functions.

previously referred to as EIS7

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Figure 9: Switch Control (2.001)

6.3 Switch Control (2.001) 3

The Switch Control is used to operate actuators next to the normal operation via the
Switch by a group object with higher priority.
The switching function of a connected device depends on the state of the two group
objects Switch and Switch Control.
The group object of type Switch Control has a size of 2 bits.
If the value of the 2 bit object is 0 or 1, the connected actuator is controlled via the
switching object.
If the value of the priority object is 2, the output is switched off respectively on when the
value is 3. The value of the switching object is in both cases ignored.

Previously referred to as EIS 8

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Figure 10: Functional Block "Dimming"

6.4 Functional Block Dimming 4

Apart from the 4 bit object (Dim Step 3.007), the functional block dimming consists of at
least a switching object (corresponds to Switch) and a value object (corresponds to
Scaling 5.001).
A dimming command, relative to the current brightness setting, is transmitted to the
dimming actuator using the Dim Step.
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 range. The area of brightness (0-100%) is divided into
64 dimming levels. The dimming actuator always dims to the next dimming level. For
example: a dimming actuator has a brightness level of 30%. If a sensor sends 1011 B as
useful data, a dimming brighter command is carried out until the next dimming threshold
is reached (or 100% divided by 4 = 25%, i.e. the next level is 50%).
The dimming code 0 (i.e. useful data 00 HEX or 80 HEX ) means Stop Dimming. The
dimming process is interrupted and the current brightness value is retained.

previously referred to as EIS 2

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Figure 11: Value object

With the Scaling, a brightness value between 1 (minimum) and 255 (maximum) is set
directly.
Depending on the manufacturers application, it may be possible to switch on (1 value
255) or off (value = 0) a connected device using this DPT.
The DPT has a size of 1 byte.

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Figure 12: 2 octet Float Value

6.5 2 Octet Float Value (9.00x) 5

With this data format (which has a number of different datapoint types according to the
nature of the sent value, e.g. room temperature C 9.001), numbers which represent
physical values can be transmitted.
S is the sign for the mantissa.
The four-digit exponent E is an integer exponent to the base of 2.
A resolution of 0.01 is defined for the mantissa M. Positive values (S = 0) take the form
of normal binary numbers. Negative values (S = 1) are coded by the mantissa as twos
complement numbers.
The size of the DPT is 2 bytes.

previously referred to as EIS 5

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Figure 13: TP1 bit structure

7 TP1 Bit Structure

0 and 1 are the two logical states a bit can possess.
Technical logic in KNX TP1:
During logical state 1, no signal voltage is available
During logical state 0, signal voltage is available
If several bus devices transmit simultaneously, the logical state 0 prevails!

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Figure 14: TP1 Telegram Collision

8 TP1 Telegram Collision

A bus device with data to transmit may start transmission immediately if it finds the bus
unoccupied.
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. 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 to listen to the network to await
the end of the telegram transmission and then retries its transmission.
In this way, if several bus devices are attempting to transmit simultaneously, the
CSMA/CA procedure ensures that only one of these bus devices can terminate its
transmission uninterruptedly. The data throughput is therefore not reduced.

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Figure 15: TP1 Symmetrical Transmission

TP1 Symmetrical Transmission

The data is transmitted symmetrically over the pair of cores. Bus devices evaluate the
difference in voltage between the two cores.
As radiated noise affects both cores with the same polarity, it has no influence on the
difference in the signal voltage.

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Figure 16: Superimposing Data and Supply Voltage

10 Superimposing Data and Supply Voltage

Data is transmitted in the form of a.c. voltage. The capacitor reacts with a low resistance
to a.c. voltage, i.e. it acts as a conductor and closes the circuit on the primary side. When
acting as a transmitter, the transformer sends the data to the primary side (in the form of
a.c. voltage) where it is superimposed onto the d.c. voltage.
When acting as a receiver, the transformer sends the data to the secondary side where it
is separately available from the d.c. voltage.

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Figure 17: Connection of Power supply to TP1 bus

11 Connection of the Power Supply Unit to the TP1 Bus

The power is supplied to the installation bus via a choke.
When d.c. voltage is supplied, the choke reacts with low resistance (as the frequency is
equal to 0 Hz).The data is transmitted in the form of a.c. voltage (frequency is not equal
to 0). The choke reacts with high resistance to a.c. voltage.
Hence the power supply units influence on the data is negligible.

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Figure 18: TP1 Cable lengths

12 TP1 Cable Lengths

Within a bus line, the following cable lengths are permitted:
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 lineAs specified by the manufacturer
When using a decentralised power supply, please check the chapter installation.

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Figure 19: Cable Length between TP1 power supply unit and TP1 bus device

12.1 Cable Length between TP1 Power Supply Unit and TP1 Bus Device
The bus device only transmits a half wave (shown in the picture as a negative half wave
at the positive core).
The choke as part of the power supply unit produces - together with the transformers of
the bus devices - the positive equalisation pulse.
As the choke has a major part in the forming of the equalisation pulse, the bus devices
may be installed up to 350 m cable length away from the choke (power supply unit).

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Figure 20: Cable lengths between two TP1 bus devices

12.2 Cable Lengths between two TP 1 Bus Devices

A telegram transmission over the cable requires a certain transit time.
If several bus devices try to transmit simultaneously, the occurring collision can be
resolved up to a distance of 700 m (delay time of the signal tv = 10 s).

12.3 Total Cable Length per TP 1 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) of
the signal.
To enable the data to be reliably transmitted despite these two effects, the total cable
length per line segment may not exceed 1,000 m and the maximum number of devices
per line segment may never exceed 64 (regardless of the used power supply unit type).

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