Home automation wiring guide

Before starting to connect your Miniserver please carefully read the information on this website.

General Information

If you have any questions or doubts during the installation process then please feel free to get in touch with our support team. Our technicians are always happy to help.

Working on your electrics
We strongly advice that you seek the advice of a qualified electrician before carrying out any work on your wiring. The Miniserver uses both low voltage and mains, which means that certain works should only be carried out by a qualified individual.

• Wiring basics for home automation
• Connecting the Miniserver to the power supply
• Connecting the Miniserver to several power supplys
• Connecting one or more Extensions to the Miniserver
• Connecting switches and actuators
• Connecting blinds or curtains
• Connecting lights to a dimmer
• Connecting several PWM-dimmers
• Connecting temperature sensors
• Connecting proportional actuators (0-10V)
• Connecting termal or other digital actuators (I/O)

Home Automation Wiring Basics

The wiring in your home can be compared to the nervous system in a human body - without it the automation system can neither sense nor act. Whilst nature has perfected its signalling system over thousands of years, home automation has only been around for a few decades. No one knows where this journey is taking us and there will be lots of new switches, sensors, light-fittings and much more to come.

It is therefore important to think ahead and future proof your installation. The wiring is the backbone of an automation system and whilst it is easy to replace a PIR, a switch or a light fitting it is much harder to replace the cables that are plastered into your walls.

We therefore recommend that you use cables that have stood the test of time and have become industry standards. For the sensor side, which is low voltage we recommend you use a data cable, i.e. Cat5/6/7. A Cat cable can be used for various applications, PC Networks, volt free contacts, serial communication, bus systems, etc. Note: It can't be used for 230V loads! For load switching you will have to use appropriately rated cables, i.e. 1.5mm, 2.5mm, Twin & Earth etc.

The most flexibility and future proofing is guaranteed by running cables as a star from a single point (the star-point) to sensors and actuators. To keep cable runs from getting too long multiple start points can be used, but please consider running a few cables between start points to link them.

A few Loxone specific facts and tips:

All our devices are powered using 24V DC, so using 24V sensors is desirable
If you use multiple start points and have got Extensions around the place, then the maximum allowable length of the Loxone Bus is 500m
The bus has to be terminated at the last device with a 120 Ohm resistor

Connecting the Miniserver to the power supply

1.	Connect the DC output of the 24V power supply to the power terminals on the Miniserver.
2.	Connect the 24V power supply to the mains only once you have finished the rest of the installation.

Note: Always turn the power supply off when working on the wiring!

Connecting the Miniserver to several power supplys

Wiring example for Connecting the Miniserver to several power supplys.

2power_supplys

Connecting one or more extensions to Miniserver

1.	Connect the power terminals of the Miniserver to the power terminals on the extensions.
2.	Connect the Loxone Bus connector of the Miniserver with the Loxone Bus connector of the Extension.
3.	Terminate the Loxone Bus at the last Extension with a 120 Ohm resistor!

Connecting switches and actuators

Connecting blinds or curtains

Wiring example for a blind motor (Auf=Up, Ab=Down).

Connecting blinds or curtains

Connecting lights to a Dimmer Extension

Wiring example for a single dimmed light circuit.

Connecting lights to a Dimmer Extension

Connecting several PWM-Dimmers

Wiring example for connecting several PWM-Dimmers with DMX

pwm_dimmer

Connecting temperature sensors

Temperature sensors are connected to the analogue inputs of the Miniserver or the Extension. +24 V and GND can, if necessary, be looped from one temperature sensor to the next whilst each requires its own link back to an analogue input.

Connecting temperature sensors

A/1: + 24 V
B/2: GND
C/3: 0-10V

Connecting proportional actuators (0-10V)

A proportional actuator for valves or heating manifolds needs to be connected to the 24V power supply and is then controlled by a 0-10V input signal to set the position.

Connecting proportional actuators (0-10V)