Country house: Invisible technology – tangible comfort
Rustic country house look and state-of-the-art building services engineering are not incompatible: In this reference you can learn how the the almost invisible KNX technology brings more comfort to this country house in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps.
Good for body and soul and building services engineering
Petra Waldherr-Merks used to have a small shop where she sold antiques, gifts and "everything that does the soul good" as she said. You could add: "What does body and soul good." That has certainly been the case since the young businesswoman inherited an old liqueur recipe and produced tasty, herb liqueurs. Under the "Hirschkuss' brand, turnover grew so quickly that a new production site had to be built. The new building, constructed in an Alpine style, houses sales areas, a tasting room and company office. It's obvious that such a commercial building needs needs a contemporary electrical installation with automation. But how can you combine high tech with the ambience of the good old days? The electrician Hans Schmid in Lenggries has a tried and tested approach: "It was important to the client that the technology was as invisible as possible. We therefore installed conventional switches on the surface and put the KNX bus system with Theben devices behind them."
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| The herb liqueur is made of 40 different herbs and roots |
Operating as normal
As with production, distribution and administration, the use of a building has to be economic for a business. Modern electrical installations support that with functions for easy use, economical use of energy and flexibility. Therefore, Elektro Schmid had a set brief such as: Central switch off, individual room control, time programs and effective lighting scenes. All functions should be operated as simply as possible using light switches or automatically. The RAMSES 713 S KNX temperature controllers are available as multiple use components. They complement the standard switch program well in colour and design. They provide a uniform room temperature and can easily be switched from 'Comfort' to 'Stand-by' via the presence button. It is reset automatically at the end of business hours. The VARIA 826 KNX multifunctional display has temperature profiles for up to eight rooms. Moreover, conventional push buttons can connected to the unused inputs of the RAMSES 713 S KNX with switching, dimming and blinds parameters – an ideal and affordable solution for this project.
Attractive external lighting
Elektro Schmid is not short of ideas for the efficient use of bus technology: The KNX expert's choice of the reasonably-priced HMG 4 KNX heating actuator from the Theben MIX range as a basic device, with RME 4 S KNX switching actuators and/or DME 2 S KNX universal dimmers added on as extension modules, reduced the channel price. Combinations from the MIX range are particularly valuable for decentralised small control units. All room functions can be performed using just one bus participant. In the evening, spotlights bathe the business in imposing light. Scene functions provide the desired mix of light sources and dimming levels. The digital TR 644 S KNX annual time switch ensures it goes on and off punctually. After that, the SPHINX 105-300 KNX motion detectors installed throughout the building are activated to automatically turn on the site lighting when people approach. Elektro Schmid is convinced a bus installation should not cost more than a conventional system. Expenditure levels out through flexible planning, quick installation and simple programming This made it possible to easily make changes just after completion.
References (pdf)
" Invisible technology – tangible comfort."
Image source: Elmo Schwandke, Geretsried