HF presence detection for KNX room control

The STEINEL HF 360-2 KNX UP is a black concealed-wiring detector for indoor ceiling installation. The article supplied here is 086749 from the Control PRO II family. High-frequency detection suits stairwells, ancillary rooms, kitchens and washrooms with cubicles. The detector provides presence information to the KNX system together with temperature and relative humidity data. This supports projects in which several room functions are linked to occupancy. The actual response of lighting, ventilation or heating depends on the commissioned system and its connected actuators, so the detector should be selected as one component within that system.

The KNX bus supplies power and carries control information. The current article page specifies 30 V and a rated current of 30 mA; the supplied manual gives a KNX supply range of 21–30 V. Allow for the 30 mA rating and the other devices when planning bus power. This version contains no lighting-load relay, and 230 V must never be applied to its terminals. Suitable separate KNX actuators perform the switching or dimming of luminaires. A bus power supply, lighting actuators and luminaires are not included with the detector.

Coverage and room-specific adjustment

The detector uses 5.8 GHz HF technology with 360° coverage and a 160° aperture angle. The manufacturer specifies a movement-detection zone of up to Ø12 m, both for radial and tangential movement. This is the full diameter rather than twelve metres in each direction. The KNX application description relates that coverage to a mounting height of 2.8 m. The current exact-article mounting range is 2.5–4 m, with 2.8 m recommended as the optimum. No separate equally large small-motion presence zone is specified, so detection should be checked in the intended room after installation.

HF detection can respond through glass, wood and lightweight partitions. That can help cover toilet cubicles, but it can also create responses from an adjacent area. Set the reach and sensitivity through ETS or the STEINEL Connect app to suit the room boundary and the paths people actually use. The supplied manual also permits the two included stickers to mask detection in selected directions. These are physical directional shields, rather than individually programmable sectors. A stable mounting surface and properly adjusted sensitivity help align the detector’s response with the space it is intended to serve.

Lighting and environmental functions

The black article has no internal light measurement. It detects movement and provides temperature and relative humidity information, but it cannot measure room brightness through its own housing. Where daylight-dependent switching or constant-light control is required, the project needs a separate compatible brightness sensor and the appropriate configuration. The manufacturer provides for integration of an external light measurement through Bluetooth or KNX. That external sensor is not included. The KNX application’s dedicated twilight output can operate according to brightness independently of presence when the system supplies the required external brightness measurement; a compatible KNX actuator switches the load. This distinction matters when selecting the black finish: its independent light-measurement capability must not be assumed to be the same as the white version.

The KNX application provides four lighting outputs as control telegrams, alongside two constant-light controllers that calculate and send dimming values to a compatible KNX actuator, basic lighting and fully automatic or semi-automatic operation. Brightness-dependent functions require valid brightness information and suitable actuators. Presence, absence and HVAC information can also be used separately. The temperature and relative-humidity measurements make dew-point and comfort functions available to the KNX project. These measurements do not directly switch a fan or a heating load: the connected equipment and configured logic determine the real action. This separation lets the system designer choose which information is useful for each room.

ETS configuration and Bluetooth communication allow commissioning and adjustment to suit the installation. The manual also describes networking several detectors through Bluetooth Mesh to extend detection coverage. Bluetooth is neither a replacement for the KNX bus nor a general gateway between the two networks. The detector still needs its powered KNX connection. When planning the ceiling layout, follow the manufacturer’s requirement to keep at least three metres between the detector and a Wi-Fi router or access point. This spacing forms part of a suitable installation position, alongside the required coverage and secure fixing.

Concealed-wiring housing

The plastic housing is black, RAL 9005, and the exact article has a 140 g net weight. The UP drawing shows 103 × 103 × 60 mm: the two footprint sides and full depth including the mounting module. This UP article requires a suitable concealed installation box; the AP housing and dimensions describe a different article. Its IP20 enclosure is intended for indoor use. The manual specifies −20 to +40 °C, whereas the current page gives −25 to +50 °C; this listing uses their common −20 to +40 °C operating range. The manufacturer provides a five-year warranty subject to its terms.

Images and documents

The main manufacturer photograph shows the exact black HF 360-2 KNX UP article 086749. The second product photograph shows the white HF 360-2 KNX UP 086695 as an alternative colour comparison; that additional detector is not included with this article. Drawings provide additional dimension and coverage information. Refer to manual figure 4.1 for the concealed-wiring KNX connection and to the separate V3.5 application description for KNX settings.

Manufacturer documents

• Data sheet (PDF)
• Installation and operating manual (PDF)
• Dimension drawing (PDF)
• STEINEL product page