European Installation Bus - Technical Description

The Installation Bus is laid parallel to the power supply network. The bus line connects the bus users (actuators and sensors) to all operational functions in an installation. In this way the structure of the network for supply of electrical power has simplified in comparison with earlier conventional power networks. The power supply is fed directly to the devices consuming energy and therefore makes no diversions via switching systems, be they conventional switches or thermostats. A stranded standard MSR-line PYCYM or telecommunication cable J-Y (St)Y 2 x 2 x 0.8 is used as a bus line. Two wires only are required from it. The bus cabling can be laid under the surface, in conduits, trucking etc. whereby the cabling lies directly parallel to the power supply lines of the 230 V/400 V supply. The line serves not only for open information exchange between the actuators and sensors but also as a protected low-voltage supply for these users. According to function and purpose of application there are bus components for flush/surface mounting, din rail mounting, and for fitting into or on users own devices. Typical Sensors are command initiators such as switches, pushbuttons, anemometers, temperature sensors and brightness sensors. Actuators are command receivers such as control devices, dimmers, switches, display devices.

In order that the Installation Bus may be economically implemented in the smallest installation or in the largest purpose made building, the system is hierarchically structured. Simple tasks are accomplished with the smallest unit, the Bus Line itself. On each bus line up to 64 bus devices can be operated. Up to 12 such Bus Lines can be joined together with a Line Coupler to one Bus Area. Up to 15 such Bus Areas can in their turn be connected together by means of an Area Coupler. Beyond this the EIB Installation Bus can be connected with other systems via appropriate interfaces. For more functions an application controller can be installed. These devices offer the user further functions such as:

Time functions
Event-driven handling of control sequences,
Logging
Connection to diagnostic and programming devices,
Greater chaining in control sequences.

Each Bus Line has its own power supply. In this way the entire system continues To operate in the event of the drop-out of a Bus Line, thus ensuring a high level of availability. The division of the bus system into Lines and Areas has the additional advantage that the local data traffic of one Line or of one Area raises the data throughput of the whole system. This is achieved by the Line Coupler ensuring that telegrams intended for participants in the same Line are not sent to other Lines or Areas. Thus communication within several Lines at the same time is possible. Similar considerations apply to the Area Couplers.

By allocation of groups of devices to individual Areas their independence is maintained despite their functional linkage.

By means of the hierarchical organization the system is transparently visible for commissioning, diagnosis and maintenance purposes. After beginning with one Bus Line at first installation, increasing requirements are met by stepwise expansion. The EIB European Installation Bus can be extended up to 12,480 bus devices.

The EIB Installation Bus permits the realization of manufacturer independent solutions. Often in residential or functional buildings the operational status of the various device groups should not only be recorded but also signalled and displayed. Above all this applies to-.

operation signalling,
technical alarms,
monitoring of the fabric of the building,
monitoring of personnel and movement reporting.

The EIB Installation Bus is used multifunctionally: all displays, signalling, operational and monitoring elements can be received as information via the Bus Line, and commands and messages can be sent to all other bus users. Thus sensors can be multiply used. This leads to transparent installations and cost savings.

In practice this means that the lighting can be controlled over the same Bus Line as that on which information for monitoring in and outside the building is transmitted, as for example-.

signalling of doors and windows which are open,
signalling of movement inside and outside the building, malfunction
signalling from the heating and air-conditioning,
malfunction signalling from the lifts,
monitoring of tanks.

The interaction between signal transmitter and signal or display can be freely configured by the flexibility of the bus technology, as for example in the case of usage alteration or by defining new signalling data.

The bus devices can be installed as rail mounted devices into distribution boards, as flush or as surface mounted devices or as in-built devices directly into an end product (example: luminaires). Further more they can be concealed in cable trunking systems etc. They are available in special designs to suit specific applications. All these devices are connected with each other via the EIB Installation Bus. The Bus Coupler and the terminations for the Bus Line are accommodated in the wall box. The end-equipment (user equipment), e.g. adapter with push-button, is attached to the Bus Coupler. A socket outlet is remotely switchable using a flush mounted a U-Bus Coupler and a connection adapter.

The placing of bus devices can be optionally adapted to the requirements of the installation, so that optimal use of all components is always guaranteed. Devices mounted in distribution boards are connected to the bus via the data rail which fit onto the DIN rail. By snapping the devices onto the DIN rail contact is automatically established between the device and data rail. control is adapted simply and flexibly without intervention in the existing wiring. Installations with the bus, can be adapted for additional requirements by the connection of further equipment to the existing network. Building transparency-.

Over and above the EIB Installation Bus offers the possibility of monitoring and switching lighting and blind installations from a central point. In contrast to conventional solutions this is easily achievable.