This overview gives guidance to connect the diverse assets, devices, and systems to be found in control applications. Of course, the ctrlX AUTOMATION ecosystem is evolving continously, so come back regularily to see new additions, changes, and updates 🚀
General information
Any communication is done either via Standard Ethernet protocols or ctrlX IO modules. Depending on this hardware interface and the required protocol one or more apps are needed to set up.
All roads lead to Rome: Often times there are several ways to achieve the desired connectivity. We list alternatives for you to choose from according to your other application requirements. This will help you minimize the amount of apps and onboarding effort.
This list is just a snapshot, with different versions of the device firmware/hardware or controller firmware the behavior can be different. Reach out to our ctrlX Community Forum when you run into troubles.
An extensive overview of third-party devices and their tested connectivity can be found in the ctrlX OS Interoperability list.
IT/OT Communication
Type
Application
Product
BACnet/IP & BACnet/SC
Connecting and controlling building components in the field and IT, e.g. from sensors to BIS, BMS.
BACnet MS/TP is supported via Codesys Library.
BACnet App (soon)
Codesys Library with PLC App
CODESYS Network Variable
Proprietary protocol from CODESYS to connect multiple CODESYS-based PLCs, e.g. ctrlX CORE & Beckhoff
Codesys Libraries with PLC App
ctrlX CORE & ctrlX OS
Connecting several ctrlX OS devices, e.g. multiple ctrlX CORE. An interconnected device fleet
DALI2
Connecting and controlling lights for lighting scenarios. DALI 2 allows for the usage of colors and dimming.Â
DALI2 function blocks with PLC App and ctrlX IO modules
EEBUS
Proprietary protocol by WAGO. Connect devices and energy managment systems, e.g. between grid operators and the EMS.
KNX & KNX Secure
Connecting and controlling building automation components, like shading systems or
light switches. KNX Secure allows encrypted communication.
KNX (Secure) function blocks with PLC App and ctrlX IO modules
M-Bus
A fieldbus to collect, analyze, optimize, and control energy and process data, e.g. from energy and water meters or other end devices or actuators. I uses a reverse-polarity protected two-wire serial connection from slave devices (like meters) to a master.
Modbus RTU
Client-Server communication to exchange data between PLCs, RTUs, sensors, and other field devices. Modbus RTU is the serial protocol for local, direct connections, e.g. to HVAC, lighting, and power meters.
Function blocks in PLC App
Modbus TCP
Modbus TCP is Modbus RTU communication packaged for Ethernet. Robust and open transport via TCP/IP, e.g. for remote monitoring and control of HVAC, lighting, and power meters.
Modbus TCP App (preferred)
Function blocks in PLC App
MQTT
Lightweight, publish/subscribe messaging protocol to connects a wide range of smart building devices and systems, enabling real-time data exchange for monitoring, control, and automation scenarios like HVAC, lighting, and access control.
OPC UA Client - Server
Robust, secure, and vendor-neutral standard to connect a broad range of devices, e.g. a building management system or other control.
OPC UA Pub/Sub
Variant of OPC UA to establish a publish-subscribe-system between OPC UA speaking devices.
SNMP
Standard protocol to manage a wide range of network devices (like routers, switches, servers, printers) and monitor them for issues requiring attention, such as alarms. We provide SNMP v3 for reading accesses.
Service in DeviceAdmin App
TCP & UDP
Do everything on your own in your own app (see SDK), e.g. managing sockets.
Natively included, use with PLC App or Node-RED App
ctrlX I/O Communication
I/O signals from ctrlX I/O modules are sent to ctrlX CORE via EtherCAT, ensuring a realtime, robust connection. The modules can be either plugged to the included bus coupler in ctrlX CORE or placed with a separate coupler by the point of interest to decrease wiring efforts. More information on the ctrlX I/O portfolio here and available modules here, including power supply.
Type
Application
Products
Serial
Define electrical charactertistics of serial interfaces, e.g. how bits are represented by voltage levels.
RS-232 for simple, short-distance, point-to-point connections.
RS-485 for robust, long-distance, multi-point networks.
Potential-free contacts
Relais Digital ctrlX Output modules
Potential-free Digital ctrlX Input modules (soon)
Regular Digital
Connect devices with a simple ON/OFF or OPEN/CLOSED state, or to count discrete events. Connect a binary input (e.g. sensor) or provide a binary output (e.g. actuator) with ctrlX CORE.
Alarm Contacts & Sirens
To provide an alarm status to the BAS, e.g. upon leak, smoke, fire & CO detection. Provide an activation signal to sirens, strobes, or similar.
Regular Digital I/O
Status/Contact/
Occupancy Sensors
To detect physical status (open/closed or running/off) of equipment or presence of people. As an example, if people are present and the windows are closed, adjust HVAC controls.
Regular Digital I/O
Pulse (Counting) Meters
To count discrete events, e.g. from a utility meter in electricity, water, gas.
Regular Digital I/O
High/Low Limit Switches
To provide safety cut-offs or alarm conditions, e.g. on temperature limits or pressure switches.
Regular Digital I/O
Hand/Off/Auto (HOA) Switches
To override automation with manual operator intervention, monitored by BAS.
Regular Digital I/O
Critical Analog Signals and Actuators
High-Availability applications require a fast maintenance and repair procedure for connected devices. Multirange I/O can connect many different devices 'on hand' with a simple reconfiguration in the PLC App.
Analog Multirange I/O (soon) with PLC App
Actuators
Valve Actuators: Control the opening/closing of water or air valves (e.g., modulating valves for hot/chilled water, heating/cooling coils). A 0-10V signal might correspond to 0-100% open.
Damper Actuators: Control the opening/closing of air dampers in HVAC systems (e.g., mixing box dampers, zone dampers).
Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) / Variable Speed Drives (VSDs): Control motor speed for pumps and fans. A 0-10V or 4-20mA input often dictates the desired speed or frequency.
Dimming Ballasts/Drivers: For modulating light levels (e.g., 0-10V dimming).
Regular Digital I/O
Regular Analog I/O
Multirange Analog I/O (soon) for high-availability, e.g. in critical infrastructure or HVAC
Temperature, Humidity,
CO2/IAQ & Light Sensors
Thermistors (RTDs - Resistance Temperature Detectors): Resistance changes with temperature.
Thermocouples: Generate a voltage related to temperature difference.
Transmitters: Convert raw sensor data into a standard analog signal (e.g., 0-10V, 4-20mA).
Duct/Room/Outdoor Air Temperature (DAT/RAT/OAT) sensors.
Measure relative humidity and output an analog signal (e.g., 0-10V, 4-20mA).
Measure CO2 or air contaminant levels which output an analog signal proportional to concentration.
Measure light or photoelectronic levels for daylight harvesting or farming control which output an analog signal (e.g. 0-10V).
Regular Analog I/O
KNX I/O, even KNX Secure for encryption (soon)
DALI2 I/O for dimming or colored light scenarios (soon)
Pressure Sensors & Transducers
Measure static or differential pressure in ducts, pipes, or rooms.
Used for fan status, filter status, water pressure, steam pressure.
Output 0-5V, 0-10V, or 4-20mA.
Regular Analog I/O
Flow Sensors & Transducers
Measure water, air, or gas flow rates.
Used for chiller/boiler efficiency, zone air volume (VAV boxes), or hot/chilled water loops.
Output 0-10V or 4-20mA.
Regular Analog I/O
Software Connectivity
Type
Application
Product
AnyViz Cloud
Databases & IoT
Connect ctrlX OS device to datasources like MongoDB, MySQL, Redis, and others to collect and send metric
Connect ctrlX OS device to IoT sensors and devices (pressure levels, temp levels, etc.)
Connect ctrlX OS device to cloud systems, like container and orchestrators
FANUC Robots
IXON Cloud
Remote Access application for remote software maintenance and deployment.
MATLAB/Simulink
Connect ctrlX OS device to Matlab/Simulink to integrate control logic in real-time simulation. Let code be generated and deployed in Matlab/Simulink to ctrlX OS as target
SAP HANA
Connect ctrlX OS device with SAP HANA. Use with SAP HANA Predictive Analysis Library (PAL), from condition monitoring to time series analysis to predictive maintenance algorithms.
Simulation & Virtual Commissioning Tools
Integrate real ctrlX OS devices as 'hardware-in-the-loop' of a simulated system, e.g. machine. Connectable simulation tools are Visual Components (OPC UA), F.EE screen-sim (OPC UA), iPhysics, ISG-virtuos (EtherCAT), and many more.
👉 Do you know a connectivity that is missing here?
You’re welcome to share it with the community – please fill out directly our form here.