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KNX BASIC COURSE

Result in Excel:

Figure 58: Group addresses - Export data in Excel

12.3 Export OPC

Many KNX installations are also equipped with a SCADA system (=visualisation). The
OPC server is increasingly used to display central system-independent data or to operate
functions.

Figure 59: Data export
In most cases, current building management systems use more than one communication
system. Apart from KNX, other field bus systems are used for different tasks. On the
processing and management level, it should however be possible to link and present all
data together. The operating and monitoring programs that are used here (SCADA
software) do not have special “low-level” data exchange drivers in order to communicate
directly with the relevant bus system, but use a so-called OPC server. (OPC Object
Linking & Embedding for Process Control). The OPC standard defines the most important
data types, which are identical in all systems. For instance, data types that can be
presented in a 1 bit, 8 bit, 16 bit and 32 bit format. The OPC servers are driver programs,
which on the one hand guarantee bus access via the available interfaces (for KNX:
RS232, FT 1.2, IP or USB) and on the other hand, if possible, convert the data that is sent
or received, in such a way that it can be clearly understood and interpreted on both sides.
These programs can be implemented either on standard PCs or in special hardware with

Home and Building Management Systems KNX Association
KNX Project Design with ETS: Advanced ETS4_Planning complex_E0411c 51/59