The controller is the heart of the building automation. It switches the lights, controls the heating, moves the shading and reports faults.
If it fails - due to a defect, a power problem or a worn-out storage medium - none of this responds any more until someone is on site and replaces the device.
In a hotel, a care home or a business that cannot wait until the next working day.
The co-pilot flies along every minute. They know the route, see all the instruments and always know where the aircraft is - but they do not intervene as long as the captain is flying.
If the captain drops out, the co-pilot takes over at once - no briefing needed, because they were there the whole time.
This is exactly how the backup controller works alongside the primary controller.
Nobody has to go out at night or re-plug a device. The backup controller takes over by itself as soon as the primary controller has been silent for longer than the set waiting time.
After a restart of a few seconds, lighting, heating and shading respond again - the repair can wait until the next working day.
In standby the backup controller calculates everything along: measured values, states, recordings. Devices continue to be polled.
On top of that comes the daily sync with the primary controller - so project, scenes, switching times and settings are always up to date.
As long as the primary controller is working, the backup controller issues not a single command to the outside. Nothing is switched twice, no message arrives twice.
If the fault lies in the backup controller's own network or something is simply set up wrongly, it deliberately does not take over - it reports the problem instead.
Every takeover and every handback triggers a message - by e-mail, push message to the phone or Pushover. The same applies if the daily sync ever fails.
If desired, the backup controller reports “all OK” every day. That way you know the reserve is really ready when it is needed.
Once the primary controller is repaired or reachable again, the backup controller hands back by itself and returns to standby.
Nothing has to be switched over or copied back - the installation is back in normal operation and the reserve is ready again.
Nothing. The backup controller works invisibly in the background.
A short pause of a few seconds, then everything works as usual.
The backup controller is set up as a second connection. If the primary fails, you simply switch to it.
A message that a takeover happened - and time to plan the repair calmly.
In a distributed project several controllers run one installation together - if one fails, the others keep running.
The backup controller additionally protects the main controller (number 1). It receives the same number, waits in standby outside the network and joins it by itself on takeover.
Heating, lighting and ventilation must work around the clock.
A standstill costs more than the second controller.
Anyone living in a fully automated house does not want to be left in the dark by a defect.
Holiday home or branch office: the installation keeps running until a technician gets there.
Takes over without intervention, hands back by itself.
Runs along in standby and syncs daily.
In standby no command goes to the outside.
Via KNX, network or both together.
Message on takeover, handback and a daily “OK”.
Protects the main controller of a distributed project.