Application note

homeLYnk integration via BACnet

Configuration guide of homeLYnk integration into

StruxureWare Building Operation

AN001_v1.0
Table of Contents

1 Disclaimer ............................................................................................................................ 3
2 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 4
2.1 BACnet ........................................................................................................................................... 4
3 Design .................................................................................................................................. 5
4 Configuration ........................................................................................................................ 6
4.1 HomeLYnk configuration ................................................................................................................ 6

4.2 Building Operation WorkStation configuration .............................................................................. 10

5 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 13
6 Glossary ............................................................................................................................. 13

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 1 Disclaimer
The attached file contains an Application Note. The instructions and specifications within the document are

expected to work within the constraints described in the Introduction, Design and Configuration sections.
Use of this document has the potential to modify system configuration and should only be used by

competent personnel. The document is not intended for end-customer use. If you have questions
regarding this document, please contact your local =S= contact. Suggestions for improvement are

welcome but may not result in immediate changes to the document.

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 2 Introduction
This application note describes homeLYnk integration into a StruxureWare Building Operation WorkStation
via BACnet. HomeLYnk acts as a BACnet server in this scenario.

There are few neccessary competencies to follow procedures mentioned in this application note. First of all
is neccessary to have knowledge of basic homeLYnk configuration described in the product manual and
basic knowledge of BACnet and StruxureWare Building Operation WorkStation. This knowledge can be
obtained from official documentation.

Procedures contained in this application note were tested on the homeLYnk and StruxureWare Building
Operation WorkStation as specified in Table 1.

software version

homeLYnk 1.2

Building Operation WorkStation 1.4

Table 1: software versions of used software

2.1 BACnet
BACnet - A data Communication Protocol for Building Automation and Control Networks is a data
communication protocol for buildings automation and control networks. It is an ASHRAE – American
Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, ANSI – American National Standards
Institute and ISO – International Organization for Standardization protocol.

BACnet was designed to allow communication of building automation and control systems for application
such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning control, lighting control, access control, fire detection systems
and their associated equipment.

BACnet protocol provides exchange information for building automation devices, regardless of the
particular building service they perform.

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 3 Design

Picture 1: Architecture of homeLYnk integration into Building Operation WorkStation

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 4 Configuration
For integration of homeLYnk via Bacnet into a StruxureWare Building Operation WorkStation is neccessary
to follow next steps described in the following chapters.

 HomeLYnk configuration
o homeLYnk configuration
o Object import
o Object export
o BACnet configuration
 Building Operation WorkStation configuration

4.1 HomeLYnk configuration

There are many communication protocols supported in homeLYnk like KNX, Modbus etc. All data which
comes from supported protocols is bound with KNX objects and can be exported as BACnet objects.
Configuration of homeLYnk via BACnet involves choosing values which homeLYnk exports to BACnet and
configuration of BACnet server.

1) homeLYnk configuration

Basic configuration of homeLYnk according to the Product manual. Setting of IP address, date and time,
user access etc.

2) Object import

First of all it is necessary to create list of objects. It is clever to export communication objects from the KNX
software tool „ETS“ in the *.esf file and to import them into the homeLYnk.

Configurator » Utilities »Import ESF file

Picture 2 : Import ESF file

Import of *.esf file builds list of KNX objects which contains all data contained in the ETS project like group
addresses, name, data type.

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 3) Object export

Objects can be exported via Objects tab or via Object parameters

Configurator »Objects

Picture 3: Objects export via Objects tab

Picture 4: Objects export via Object parameters

Each exported object will be available as a BACnet object. Binary objects will appear as binary values,
numeric values will appear as analog values. Other data types are not supported.

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 4) BACnet configuration

BACnet configuration consists of setting BACnet server parameters in homeLYnk. HomeLYnk acts as a
server which expose all exported data to BACnet client.

Configurator »Utilities » System » Network » BACnet settings

Picture 5: BACnet settings

Property Description

Server enable Enable / Disable BACnet server

Device ID BACnet device ID which must be unique on BACnet network. Range (0 – 4194302)

Password BACnet password

Object priority Define to which priority array homeLYnk will write to. By default homeLYnk do not
write to priority array only to Relinquish Default Property

Port BACnet port, default 47808

Table 2: BACnet properties

Note: homeLYnk always write to Relinquish Default Priority. Writing to priority array is optional.

It’s recomended to use object priority 16 for use in StruxureWare Building Operation.

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List of all objects exported to BACnet is available to check here:

Configurator » Utilities » System » Network » BACnet objects

Picture 6: BACnet objects

Property Description

Device name Device name is combined from hostname and device ID

Download CSV Download BACnet objects in CSV file

Table 3: BACnet objects properties

Note: Downloaded file name and format is depending of the browser, not homeLYnk itself.

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 4.2 Building Operation WorkStation configuration
Schneider Electric StruxureWare is a BACnet certified Building Management System. Building Operation
WorkStation software can discover exported values provided by homeLYnk.

Picture 7: Building Operation WorkStation login page

Building Operation WorkStation will act as a BACnet client. Building Operation WorkStation configuration
consists of four steps.

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 1) Add BACnet Interface into Automation Server

Automation Server » New » Interface » BACnet Interface

Picture 8: add BACnet Interface into Automation Server

2) IP Network configuration

IP address and IP broadcast address must be set at the same range as homeLYnk in order to use Device
Discovery function.

Automation Server » BACnet Interface » IP Network » Properties

Picture 9: BACnet Interface configuration

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 3) Device Discovery

To discover devices like homeLYnk use Device Discovery function.

Automation Server » Device Discovery » Select device type » BACnet devices

When homeLYnk is discovered, drag and drop homeLYnk on the IP Network and upload BACnet objects
into Automation Server database via mouse right button.

Picture 10: Upload homeLYnk into AS database

4) Check uploaded BACnet objects and add column with required priority to reveal actual
exported values.

Automation Server » BACnet Interface » IP Network » homeLYnk » Application

Picture 11: Uploaded BACnet objects with values

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Application tab collects all exported values from homeLYnk to BACnet. Values of these exported objects
are dynamically changed according values in homeLYnk.

5 Conclusion
Procedures contained in this application note fully describe integration of homeLYnk into a StruxureWare
Building Operation WorkStation via BACnet. HomeLYnk functionality described in this application note
brings benefits to system integrator to create robust automation system complying with international
standards.

6 Glossary
Abbreviation Description

ASHRAE American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers

ANSI American National Standards Institute

BACnet A data Communication Protocol for Building Automation and Control Networks

ISO International Organization for Standardization protocol.

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