CORE AC GATEWAY — HOW TO CONTROL YOUR AC WITH KNX

The Core AC Gateway allows fully bi-directional communication between air conditioner indoor units and KNX systems — enabling complete control of temperature, operating mode, fan speed, vane position, and scheduling from any KNX interface: a Core touch panel, a push button, the Core Mobile App, or a voice command. It is the device that eliminates the AC remote control from Indian homes permanently — replacing it with intelligent, scene-integrated, energy-optimized climate automation.

The AC Remote Control Problem in Indian Homes

The average Indian home with four split AC units has four remote controls. Each remote operates one unit independently. There is no coordination between them — no occupancy awareness, no scheduling, no scene integration, no energy monitoring.

The result is predictable: ACs run in empty rooms, forgotten after everyone has left. Bedrooms cool to uncomfortable temperatures because nobody adjusted the setpoint after midnight. The kitchen AC runs at full blast during cooking — when the stove's heat has already warmed the room significantly — because no sensor has told it to adjust.

The Core AC Gateway solves every one of these scenarios by integrating your AC system into the Core KNX smart home — making each indoor unit a fully controllable, intelligent component of a unified building automation system.

What is the Core AC Gateway?

The Core AC Gateway is a compact KNX device that installs inside the AC indoor unit and connects directly to the unit's proprietary communication port — the same interface used by the manufacturer's wired controller. Once connected, it offers wide range of KNX DPT objects to be compatible with most of the KNX thermostats in the market, with total control and monitoring of all functions of the AC unit from KNX including temperature, mode, fan speed, vane and wide vane.

Bi-Directional Communication — What It Means

Most IR-based AC controllers are one-way — they send commands to the AC but receive no confirmation. The Core AC Gateway is fully bi-directional:

Commands sent to AC — On/Off, temperature setpoint, operating mode, fan speed, vane angle, scheduling

Status received from AC — Current room temperature, actual setpoint, operating mode, fan speed, error codes, running hours

This two-way data flow means your Core touch panel always shows the true current status of every AC unit — not just the last command sent.

Supported AC Brands — Indian Market Coverage

The Core KNX AC Gateway product range covers major brands of the AC industry including Mitsubishi Electric Domestic, Mr. Slim and City Multi, Daikin VRV and Sky Systems, Samsung Nasa VRF, and LG VRF Systems.

For the Indian residential market, the most relevant integrations are:

Complete AC Control via KNX — Every Function

The Core AC Gateway provides smooth integration of KNX thermostats allowing the control of the AC unit by the own temperature sensor of the thermostat. This means the Core Eclipse Thermostatic Push Button's built-in temperature sensor directly controls the AC — no separate thermostat needed.

Binary Inputs — Window Contact and Presence Integration

Two binary inputs provide the possibility to integrate external devices, such as window contacts or presence detectors, that allows launching internal functions focused to improve energy efficiency.

This is where the Core AC Gateway's energy intelligence becomes practically significant for Indian homes.

Window Contact Integration

A KNX door/window contact sensor connects to Binary Input 1 of the Core AC Gateway. The gateway is programmed in ETS to respond to window-open status:

Window opens → AC pauses automatically Window closes → AC resumes previous setpoint and mode

In Indian homes where balcony doors are frequently opened during evenings — or during monsoon for cross-ventilation — this single feature eliminates one of the most common sources of AC energy waste.

Presence Detector Integration

A KNX presence detector connects to Binary Input 2. The gateway responds to room occupancy:

Room occupied → Comfort setpoint (23–24°C) Room unoccupied for 15 minutes → Economy setpoint (27–28°C) Room unoccupied for 60 minutes → AC switches off

In a typical Indian 4BHK apartment, four AC units operating on presence-linked control reduce cooling energy consumption by 20–28% compared to manual operation — consistent with the energy saving figures documented for KNX building automation.

AC Control in KNX Scenes — Practical Examples

The Core AC Gateway's deepest value is its scene integration. Every AC function becomes part of a CoreOS scene — triggered by a single touch, button press, or voice command.

Each scene executes across all connected AC units simultaneously from a single KNX command — through a Core Eclipse Touch Panel, a Core Surface Switch button, or Alexa/Google voice command.

Installation — What Happens Inside the AC Unit

The Core AC Gateway features reduced dimensions allowing a quick installation inside the Air Conditioner unit, with a fixing metal and magnet combination providing safe and proper installation.

The installation process for each AC unit involves three connections:

Step 1 — AC communication port — The gateway connects to the indoor unit's proprietary communication port using the brand-specific cable included with the gateway. No modification to the AC unit is required — this uses the same port the wired controller would use.

Step 2 — KNX bus connection — The KNX twisted-pair bus cable connects to the gateway's KNX terminals, integrating it into the building's KNX installation.

Step 3 — Binary input connections — Window contact and presence detector cables connect to the two binary input terminals — if these energy-saving features are being used.

The gateway is configured using standard ETS programming — the same tool used for all Core KNX devices. All DPT (Data Point Type) objects, thermostat setpoints, operating mode logic, and binary input behaviors are programmed in ETS and loaded onto the gateway over the KNX bus.

• In a recent Brightmatic installation at a 5BHK villa in Sector 128, Noida — we installed Core AC Gateways across eight Daikin split AC units. All eight units became controllable from two Core Eclipse Home Controller touch panels and voice-activated via Alexa. The client's first observation after commissioning: "I haven't touched a remote control in three weeks."

Core AC Gateway vs IR Blaster AC Controllers

FAQ's

1. Does the Core AC Gateway work with all Indian split AC brands?

The Core AC Gateway range covers the major brands used in Indian premium residential projects — Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Samsung, LG, Toshiba, and Panasonic. Each brand requires a specific gateway model matched to that brand's proprietary communication protocol and port. Our lighting control and automation team at Brightmatic assesses the AC units in your project and specifies the correct Core gateway model for each brand and series before installation.

2. Can the existing AC remote control still be used after the Core AC Gateway is installed?

The AC unit can be simultaneously controlled by the manufacturer's remote controller and KNX. Both the KNX system and the original remote control operate concurrently — commands from either source are accepted by the indoor unit. Status changes made by the remote are reflected in the KNX system's status objects, maintaining synchronization between both control methods.

3. What happens to the AC if the KNX bus loses power?

If the KNX bus loses power, the Core AC Gateway loses its ability to send new commands — but the AC unit continues operating at its last commanded state. When KNX bus power is restored, the gateway reconnects automatically and resumes normal operation. The AC does not switch off during a KNX bus interruption — it maintains its last operating mode until a new command is received.

4. Can the Core AC Gateway control VRF systems in larger Indian properties?

Yes — the Core KNX AC Gateway range includes support for Daikin VRV and Sky Systems, Mitsubishi City Multi, Samsung Nasa VRF, and LG VRF Systems — the primary VRF platforms used in larger Indian residential villas and commercial properties. VRF integration allows individual indoor unit control across all zones from a single Core KNX installation.

5. How does the Core AC Gateway integrate with the Core Eclipse Thermostatic Push Button?

The Core Eclipse Thermostatic Push Button has a built-in temperature sensor that reads the actual room temperature and feeds this data to the KNX thermostat logic. The thermostat logic sends setpoint commands to the Core AC Gateway, which controls the AC unit accordingly. This creates a complete room-level thermostat loop — temperature sensed at the push button, AC controlled via the gateway — without any separate thermostat device. The push button, gateway, and AC unit together form an intelligent, self-regulating room climate system.