Amir, Soleimani Abyaneh - Smart Full Apartment

Use ABB i-bus based on KNX to make an apartment fully under control

NEW DESIGN, INSTALLATION, PROGRAMMING, CONFIGURATION, OPTIMIZATION, AND PROJECT HANDOVER

"THE PROJECT COVERS A 350 M² MODERN APARTMENT LOCATED IN A HIGH-RISE BUILDING IN WEST TEHRAN. I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TECHNICAL DESIGN, SYSTEM INSPECTION, PROGRAMMING, AND OPTIMIZATION OF THE WIRED HOME AUTOMATION SYSTEM, WHICH WAS BUILT ON BOTH KNX AND DALI PROTOCOLS. THE PROJECT COMMENCED IN AUGUST 2022 AND WAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED AND HANDED OVER TO THE CLIENT IN MAY 2023."

This residential project features a fully integrated smart home system using advanced control devices from ABB, based on the KNX protocol. While such systems are typically implemented in office or commercial buildings, the client requested a comprehensive home automation solution to control artificial lighting, fan coils, and motorized blinds.

Learn more about how we can work together....

BACKGROUND AND HISTORY

Installation, Statistics

The Installation Includes

This project represents a modern residential building that required advanced control system features to meet contemporary smart home standards. The installation includes:

8 fan coil units for climate control
20 on/off lighting circuits
4 motorized blind
43 dimmable lighting circuits controlled via a DALI system

The integration of these components ensures a seamless and energy-efficient smart home experience tailored to the client's needs.

Statistics

A total of 681 programming lines were written to run the core automation functions of the project. However, that’s only one side of the story. On the integration side, approximately 700 links were configured in the Miniserver (see image on the left) to enable mobile app functionality, providing full remote control and monitoring. Additionally, around 200 links were established in the Alexa voice control gateway (see image on the right), allowing the user to interact with the system through voice commands.

CONTROL CONCEPT

Server Configuration, Alexa Integration

Server Configuration

For this project, the ABB Miniserver played a central role in delivering a smooth and intuitive mobile visualization experience. After completing the KNX and DALI-based automation programming, we configured the Miniserver to act as a bridge between the building's smart systems and the end user's smartphone. More than 700 functional links were implemented within the Miniserver environment to cover all key aspects of control, including:

Lighting scenes and dimming levels
Fan coil operation and temperature settings
Blind positioning and scheduling
Real-time feedback from sensors and actuators

These links were carefully mapped to an interactive user interface, accessible via the ABB SmartTouch app on mobile devices. The result was a personalized, responsive control panel for the homeowner—allowing seamless monitoring and control of the entire home automation system from anywhere. This configuration not only enhances user convenience but also supports energy efficiency by offering remote access to system schedules and performance data.

Alexa KNX Configuration

To enhance the user experience with smart voice control, we integrated the system with the ABB Alexa Gateway. This allowed seamless interaction between the KNX smart home installation and Amazon Alexa voice assistant.For this project, approximately 200 links were configured within the Alexa Gateway to enable reliable voice commands for:

Switching lights on and off
Adjusting light brightness (DALI-controlled dimmable lighting)
Operating blinds (open/close and position control)
Setting fan coil HVAC modes and temperatures
Activating pre-defined lighting and comfort scenes

The configuration process involved:

Creating individual tags for each KNX function and mapping them to Alexa-supported skills
Defining clear and natural voice commands aligned with the client’s preferences
Testing and fine-tuning command recognition and device response
Ensuring data synchronization between the Alexa cloud service and the ABB control system

With this setup, the homeowner can simply say commands like “Alexa, turn on the living room lights” or “Alexa, set bedroom temperature to 23 degrees,” and the system responds instantly. This integration added a powerful, hands-free layer of convenience to the smart home experience, reflecting the growing demand for voice-first interfaces in modern residential automation.

TEAM WORK

Supervision

BRINGING DESIGN, INSTALLATION, AND LIGHTING TOGETHER FOR A TRULY SMART HOME

I Supervise the Team

In addition to my responsibilities in design and programming, I also supervised the on-site performance of the electrical technicians throughout the project. Ensuring precise implementation of the wiring and installation was crucial to the success of the smart home system.Furthermore, I maintained close collaboration with the lighting designer to help achieve the intended architectural lighting concepts. My technical input contributed to aligning the smart control system with the project’s aesthetic and functional lighting goals.As shown in Figure , this project brought together multiple disciplines—design, electrical installation, system integration, and lighting design—all working in coordination to deliver a seamless smart home solution.

CHALLENGES I FACED

First Challenge

One of the first major challenges I faced in this project was the design of a unified electrical panel capable of supporting both KNX and DALI systems for building automation. This cabinet also needed to include a power stabilizer to compensate for utility voltage fluctuations and a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) for critical electrical consumers—all within a single, compact structure.After investing significant time and effort, and consulting with other engineers and industry professionals, I successfully designed and implemented a solution that met both technical and safety standards.

Second Challenge

The second major challenge I encountered was programming over 50 DALI-based dimmable lights, defining multiple lighting scenarios, and integrating them seamlessly into the KNX system. This required precise configuration and synchronization between DALI drivers and KNX control units.By following a structured and disciplined programming approach with predefined steps, I was able to complete the configuration efficiently while fully meeting the lighting designer’s functional and aesthetic requirements.

SUMMARY

In my view, this project successfully met its initial goals, with clear potential for further optimization in the near future. The key factors behind our success were thorough planning at every stage and the implementation of strict programming policies that clearly categorized each system function.Moreover, strong teamwork and a commitment to performing every task professionally—strictly following official guidelines and avoiding unreliable sources—played a major role in delivering a high-quality outcome.

GALLERY OF PROJECT PICTURES

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse