Nice
Italian gate and garage door automation — the most installed motorised gate brand in Europe.
Nice (Oderzo, Italy — founded 1993) is Europe's largest manufacturer of automated gate, garage door, and access barrier systems. With over 60 million Nice-branded products installed across 100 countries, ROBUS (sliding gate), WINGO (swing gate), FLO (remote controls) and OPERA (control boards) are found in virtually every market segment — from residential sliding gates and sectional garage doors to commercial barriers and parking systems. In KNX smart homes, Nice gate motors integrate via a simple dry contact trigger: KNX relay output → Nice OPERA control board 'command' input → gate opens/closes. Bidirectional state feedback uses the OPERA photocell/end switch output wired to a KNX binary input.
Role in our panels
How we use Nice
Nice gate integration with KNX is the simplest of all external systems: the OPERA control board accepts a dry contact pulse (50ms minimum) on its 'OPEN 1' input terminal — this is directly driven by a KNX relay output module. Wiring: KNX relay NO contact → OPERA 'OPEN 1' terminal + common terminal. One relay pulse = one command (open if closed, stop if opening, close if open, stop if closing — standard step-by-step logic). For KNX smart homes, this simple integration covers 95% of requirements. Additional integration via Home Assistant (using Nice OPERA connected via an OPERA 868 radio receiver and a Raspberry Pi USB radio transceiver) allows real-time gate state (open/closed/fault) to be read and pushed to KNX group addresses for display on room controllers and arrival/departure automation.
In PanelCraft panels, Nice gate integration requires: (1) KNX relay output channel (standard binary relay module — 230V or 24V dry contact) for the OPERA trigger; (2) KNX binary input for gate open/closed feedback (from OPERA end-switch output or external magnetic gate sensor); (3) Optionally: 24V DC supply from the panel to the OPERA photocell loop (Nice BUS-compatible safety beams). Panel wiring: low-voltage dry contact from KNX relay to OPERA control board — no mains voltage on the gate control cable. Key safety consideration: KNX gate automation must include photocell (safety beam) wiring to the OPERA board — EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC requires automatic reversal on obstruction detection. The KNX system does not handle photocell logic; the OPERA board handles safety autonomously.
Used in these project types
Nice products
Key components we install
Nice ROBUS 600
600kg sliding gate motor, 24V DC, rack drive. The most common Nice gate motor in residential KNX projects across Europe. OPERA NL control board integrated. KNX dry contact integration via OPERA 'OPEN 1' terminal. Includes ETAC safety encoder for motor overload protection. Suitable for residential gates up to 8m opening.
Nice WINGO 5000
In-ground electro-hydraulic swing gate motor, 500kg max leaf weight. Underground installation for aesthetic gate installations where no above-ground motor is acceptable. OPERA NM2E control board (separate). KNX dry contact trigger. For premium residential and villa entry gates.
Nice OPERA NL Control Board
Universal gate control board for Nice motors. Input terminals: OPEN 1 (step-step), OPEN 2 (partial), STOP, photocell loop (FOTO), safety edge (STOP NC). Output terminals: courtesy light, motor status. KNX integration via dry contact on OPEN 1. Configurable via dip switches and NICESOFT programming software.
Nice FLO2RS Remote Control
2-channel 433 MHz remote control for KNX projects as user handheld for gate. Codes to Nice OPERA via NiceConnect system. KNX integration handles automatic/scene-based gate triggering; the FLO remote provides manual override for non-KNX users (guests, delivery drivers).
Nice MOON Sectional Garage Door Motor
Nice MOON series sectional garage door motor. Integrated control board with KNX dry contact trigger (as ROBUS). Obstacle detection via encoder. Door open/closed status output for KNX binary input feedback. 'Arrival' scene: KNX detects proximity (via tag or phone geofencing in HA) → relay pulse → garage opens → drives inside → scene triggers on garage open sensor → lighting + heating activate.
Nice FAQ
How does a KNX relay trigger a Nice gate?
Wire the KNX relay module's NO (normally open) contact to the Nice OPERA control board's 'OPEN 1' command input and its 'C' (common) terminal. Set the KNX relay to pulse mode (50–200ms on, then off). When the KNX automation fires (e.g., 'Arrival' scene, or button press on room controller), the relay briefly closes → OPERA receives the command → gate opens. One pulse = one step in the step-step sequence: if gate is closed, it opens; if opening, it stops; if open, it closes; if closing, it stops.
Can KNX show whether the gate is open or closed?
Yes — two methods: (1) Wire the Nice OPERA 'status output' or end-switch magnetic sensor to a KNX binary input module (24V signal). The KNX group address reflects gate position. HA reads this and can trigger automations on gate open/close events. (2) For more detail (% open, moving direction), install an additional MQTT-capable Nice controller (Nice Yubii or E.One) that connects via Wi-Fi to Home Assistant — HA then bridges full gate state to KNX group addresses.
Is Nice compatible with BFT and FAAC gate motors?
Electrically, all Italian gate brands (Nice, BFT, FAAC, Roger Technology) use the same dry-contact step-step logic for command and similar control board terminal layouts. A KNX relay wired to BFT Icaro or FAAC E024S control board works identically to the Nice OPERA integration — the KNX panel doesn't care which brand the gate motor is. Remote controls and radio protocols are brand-proprietary. PanelCraft designs the KNX relay output identically regardless of gate brand.
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