Finder
Italian precision relays, timers and energy meters — the DIN-rail workhorse in European electrical panels.
Finder (Almese, Turin, Italy — founded 1954) is one of Europe's most respected manufacturers of miniature relays, timing relays, solid state relays and energy meters for DIN-rail panel installation. While Finder does not manufacture KNX devices, their products appear in virtually every European electrical panel: the Series 7S slim power relay (blue coil LED, 16A, 230V coil) is the standard interface relay for KNX actuator output extension; Series 22/25 astro-timers provide mains-powered time switching for applications outside the KNX bus; and the Finder SMART 7M Modbus energy meter is used for circuit-level sub-metering in projects where individual MID-certified meters per circuit are required.
Role in our panels
How we use Finder
Finder's relevance to KNX projects is as panel components that complement KNX actuators rather than replacing them. The most common use case is relay interface: KNX binary actuator output (24V DC or 230V) → Finder Series 7S relay coil → Finder relay contact switches the load (garage door motor, irrigation valve, water heater, security relay). This extends the KNX actuator's switching capability and provides galvanic isolation. Finder solid state relays (Series 62) are specified for silent switching in bedroom panels where the mechanical click of relay actuators is unacceptable. Finder SMART 7M energy meters with Modbus RTU output are used for circuit-level metering: one 7M per circuit (lighting, sockets, HVAC) feeds data to a Modbus-KNX gateway for real-time energy monitoring on KNX group addresses.
In PanelCraft panel design, Finder components appear across multiple panel sections: (1) Relay interface tier: Finder 7S-slim relay (DIN 6.2mm) on KNX actuator outputs — rated 16A/250VAC, covers heavy loads beyond the 2A KNX actuator contact rating; (2) Timer backup: Finder Series 22 or 25 astro-timer for mains-timed switching of exterior lighting when KNX timer function is not suitable (e.g., load-shedding required during KNX bus fault); (3) Metering tier: Finder 7M Modbus energy meters, one per monitored circuit — RS-485 bus to panel terminal, Modbus RTU to KNX gateway or HA; (4) Solid state relay tier: Finder 62 series (Series 62.82 for heating valve 24V AC control) for silent zone actuator switching in bedrooms.
Used in these project types
Finder products
Key components we install
Finder 7S Slim Relay 16A 230V
6.2mm width slim power relay, 16A contact, 230V AC coil. LED indicator, test button, manual override. Standard interface relay in KNX panels: KNX 230V output → Finder 7S coil → Finder contacts switch the load. Extends KNX actuator switching to 16A/250VAC. Ideal for gate motors, irrigation valves, water heaters and heavy-load relays.
Finder Series 22 Astro-Timer
Astronomical timer with sunrise/sunset calculation for latitude/longitude. Mains powered. 16A relay output. Used in KNX panels as backup timer for exterior lighting (driveway, facade) — operates independently of KNX bus, preventing dark entry when KNX bus is being maintained. GPS coordinate input via front panel buttons.
Finder 7M Energy Meter 65A Modbus
DIN-rail energy meter, 65A direct connection, Modbus RTU output. MID (Measuring Instruments Directive) certified — legally valid for billing in EU. Registers: active energy (kWh), reactive energy (kVArh), current (A), voltage (V), power factor. Used for sub-metering: one 7M per monitored circuit → RS-485 bus → KNX Modbus gateway → energy data on KNX group addresses.
Finder 62 Solid State Relay 16A 24V AC
Zero-crossing solid state relay, 16A output, 24V AC control input. Completely silent switching (no mechanical click). For floor heating zone actuator control in bedroom panels where relay click is unacceptable. KNX 24V output → SSR control → thermoelectric actuator 230V supply. Heat sink required for > 4A loads.
Finder 7E DIN Energy Monitor
Panel-mount digital energy display, clamp-type current measurement, Modbus output. Monitors total panel load in real time. Useful for main distribution board load monitoring alongside KNX sub-metering. Provides a visual current reading on the panel door for service engineers.
Finder FAQ
Why use a Finder relay instead of just the KNX actuator contact?
KNX relay actuator contacts are typically rated 16A for resistive loads and 6A for inductive loads. For motors, irrigation valves and large resistive loads, this rating is marginal. Adding a Finder 7S interface relay provides: (1) higher contact rating (16A inductive), (2) galvanic isolation between KNX actuator and load, (3) LED indication at relay for local maintenance, (4) manual override button for testing without ETS. Total cost per channel: ~€3–5 for a 7S relay vs significant risk of actuator contact failure on heavy loads.
Is the Finder 7M energy meter MID certified?
Yes — Finder 7M-38 series (65A, Modbus RTU) is MID certified per the EU Measuring Instruments Directive 2014/32/EU. This makes it legally valid for billing purposes in EU countries — suitable for EV charger billing in apartment blocks, sub-metering for rental units, and any application where energy measurement data is used for invoicing. Always verify the specific model's MID certificate (available on Finder's website) matches the installation current rating.
How do Finder solid state relays differ from mechanical relays?
Finder 62 series solid state relays (SSR) use TRIAC or SCR semiconductor switching — completely silent, no moving parts, unlimited switching cycles, faster switching (< 1ms). Disadvantages vs mechanical: higher on-state voltage drop (~1.2V at full load = heat dissipation), requires heat sink for > 4A, more expensive, and generates some leakage current when 'off' (~2mA — can cause LED indicator flicker on low-power loads). SSR is ideal for floor heating zone control (24V AC thermoelectric actuator, 2W load) where silence is the priority.
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