Uponor
Finnish radiant floor heating systems — manifolds, pipe and smart controls for KNX hydronic installations.
Uponor (Vantaa, Finland — founded 1620, modern PEX business since 1968) is Europe's largest manufacturer of PEX radiant floor heating systems. Their products — PEX-a pipe (Wirsbo), manifolds (Vario, Vario S), flow regulators and thermostatic actuators — are found in millions of European new-build and renovation projects. In KNX smart homes, Uponor provides the hydronic distribution layer while KNX handles zone control: KNX 24V thermoelectric actuators mount on Uponor manifold ports and are driven by KNX 24V output modules. Uponor's own Smatrix Wave control system provides an alternative for non-KNX projects, with a Smatrix Pulse module offering bridge connectivity to Home Assistant.
Role in our panels
How we use Uponor
Uponor floor heating integrates with KNX at the actuator level: KNX 24V binary output actuators (MDT TA-0424.03, Hager TXA412A, ABB SA/S 8.16.5.2) open and close the thermoelectric actuators on Uponor manifold ports. Each manifold port = one zone = one KNX output channel. The KNX actuator drives a 24V AC/DC signal to the thermoelectric actuator (Danfoss TWA-A, Uponor Aqua Plus, or Siemens electrothermal) — when energised, the actuator opens, allowing hot water to circulate that zone's pipe loop. The KNX room thermostat (PI controller in ETS6) calculates when to open each zone actuator based on measured vs setpoint temperature. Zone pump management: when all zones close, a KNX logic block must switch off the circulation pump (relay output) to avoid dry running — critical for system longevity.
In PanelCraft panels for floor heating projects, the standard design includes: (1) MDT or Hager 24V output module for zone actuators (8 or 16 channels depending on zone count); (2) KNX 24V SELV power supply for actuator bus; (3) relay output module for circulation pump and boiler enable; (4) KNX IP router for remote temperature setpoint access. Uponor manifolds are installed by the plumber — PanelCraft provides the panel with pre-wired, labelled 24V output terminals for each zone, with the electrical connection to the manifold actuators done on-site. Uponor Smatrix Wave Pulse (their smart controller with Home Assistant integration) can optionally run in parallel for detailed per-loop flow regulation — this data feeds the KNX energy monitoring system via HA.
Used in these project types
Uponor products
Key components we install
Uponor Vario Plus Manifold
Stainless steel manifold in 2–16 port configurations. Integrated flow meter per port (visual) for balancing. Thermoelectric actuator connection point per port. The standard Uponor manifold for residential KNX floor heating projects. Installs in Uponor cabinet or distributor niche. Each port connects to one floor zone — drives one KNX 24V actuator output channel.
Uponor Smatrix Wave Pulse
Uponor's digital room controller hub. Wireless or wired thermostats per room. Open API for Home Assistant integration (local polling). Provides demand-based pump control, per-room setback, holiday mode and flow temperature optimisation. Used alongside KNX when the client wants Uponor's own thermostat ecosystem plus KNX scene integration via HA.
Uponor Aqua Plus Actuator
24V AC/DC normally closed thermoelectric actuator for Uponor Vario manifold. Opens when energised (NO version also available). 2W power consumption. Compatible with any KNX 24V output module. 3-minute opening time. IP40. The standard actuator for Uponor manifolds in KNX projects — compatible with Danfoss, Honeywell and Siemens equivalents.
Uponor wirsbo-hePEX 20mm
20mm PEX-a (crosslinked polyethylene, Engel method) floor heating pipe. Flexible, shape-memory (returns to circular after bending), rated to 95°C/10 bar. Installed in serpentine or snail pattern at 100–200mm spacing. 12.5mm and 17mm variants for smaller rooms or tighter bend radius.
Uponor FAQ
Which KNX 24V output modules work with Uponor actuators?
Any KNX 24V SELV output module is compatible. Common choices: MDT TA-0424.03 (24-channel, 24V AC/DC, most popular in DACH), Hager TXA412A (12-channel 24V), ABB SA/S 8.16.5.2 (8-channel 16A relay, for NC actuators). All drive the Uponor Aqua Plus and Danfoss TWA-A actuators. Important: check the actuator's power consumption (typically 2W each) and the module's total output current capacity — an MDT TA-0424.03 can drive all 24 channels simultaneously.
How many KNX zones can one Uponor manifold serve?
Uponor Vario Plus manifolds come in 2–16 port configurations. Each port = one zone = one KNX output channel. For a typical villa with 15 rooms, you would have 1–2 manifolds (e.g., ground floor: 8-port, first floor: 8-port) and 14–16 KNX output channels. Zone count should match the actual pipe loop count, not the room count — large open-plan areas may have 2 loops.
Does Uponor Smatrix integrate with Home Assistant and KNX?
Uponor Smatrix Wave Pulse has an open REST API (local, no cloud) accessible via Ethernet. There is a Home Assistant integration (HACS) that reads all room temperatures, setpoints and valve states. In a KNX hybrid project: Smatrix handles per-room temperature regulation autonomously; HA reads Smatrix room data → pushes current temperatures to KNX group addresses for display on room controllers; KNX scene 'Holiday' → HA → Smatrix setback mode via API. This gives the comfort of Uponor's self-regulating thermostats with KNX scene integration.
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