How a wired smart home works
In a wired system, dedicated control cable runs through the walls, so every switch, light, curtain and sensor has its own physical line. Onwords builds wired homes on KNX, the worldwide wired automation standard (ISO/IEC 14543-3). A twisted pair bus cable joins every switch plate, sensor and panel.
Wall switches only send commands over the bus. Every load wire, for lights, fans, ACs and curtain motors, runs back to a KNX rack where actuators switch the loads. Each device stores its own programming, so there is no single brain to lose.
Why Choose Smart Home Wired?
Instant Response
Hardwired connections mean zero latency. Lights respond the moment you touch.
Maximum Reliability
No batteries to change, no wireless interference. Rock-solid performance.
25+ Year Lifespan
Professional-grade components designed to last decades, not years.
Scalable Architecture
Start small and expand. The infrastructure supports unlimited growth.
What You Can Achieve
The gold standard - here's what's included:
Who wired is for
New villas, before plastering
The only window when bus cable and load home-runs are cheap.
Large homes with many points
Point count is where wireless starts to strain and a panel-based wired system gets simpler.
Heavy dimming, shading and climate
Dimming, curtain limits and multi-zone climate show the clearest daily difference.
Building now, automating later
Pull the bus cable now, close the walls, and add actuators room by room as budget allows.
Typical rooms and controls
Living and dining
- Separate circuits for ceiling, cove and decorative lights
- Scene control from one switch
Bedrooms
- Fan on its own circuit, AC on a dedicated MCB
- Night and Morning scenes, control from bed
Kitchen, bathrooms and gate
- Geyser on its own MCB, with timer control
- Power point with earthing near the gate motor
How a wired installation happens
The stages follow your construction schedule. The cable stage cannot be redone, so supervise it closely.
- 1
Design before construction starts
We visit the site and create a complete wiring map, with every switch, sensor, actuator and panel marked on the floor plan.
- 2
Conduit and cable before plastering
Conduit goes in as the brickwork rises, then KNX bus cable is pulled through every run. We verify and give written clearance before plastering.
- 3
Panel and devices after finishing
After plastering and painting, actuators go into the distribution board, and switches, sensors and touch panels are fitted.
- 4
Programming, testing and handover
We program the system in ETS: button functions, lighting scenes, AC schedules and logic. Every room is tested before handover.
What to know before you decide
It is a new-build decision
Bus cable has to be pulled before plastering, so a finished house cannot take it without breaking walls.
Engineering is part of the price
Someone has to design and program the system, and that labour sits in the quote. Later changes need a programmer, not a phone tap.
Priced per point, not per square foot
A point is one controlled circuit: a light group, a fan, a curtain, a valve, an AC. Count points, not square feet.
Retro, Wireless or Wired?
Wired is strongest while the walls are open. For a finished home, a wireless route serves you better.
Smart Home Retro
Best for: finished homes and a first smart home
Onwords modules behind your existing switches. No civil work, and your switch plates stay as they are.
Smart Home Wireless
Best for: finished homes that want premium touch panels
Z-Wave or Zigbee touch panels and sensors on a central hub. A step up in design and feel, without breaking walls.
Smart Home Wired
Best for: new builds and villas, before plastering
KNX bus cable to every switch and sensor, with the switching done in central panels. Planned in during construction.
Frequently asked questions
Can a wired system be added to a finished house?
Technically yes, practically it is rarely worth it. KNX needs a bus cable to every switch position and load home-runs back to a panel, so it means opening walls. In a finished home, wireless retrofit gives you most of the daily benefit for a fraction of the disruption.
Does a wired smart home need the internet?
No. Each KNX device stores its own programming, so switches, scenes, sensors and schedules keep working with the router unplugged. The internet is only needed for remote access, voice assistants and notifications.
Will I be locked into one company?
No. KNX is an open standard, so devices from different manufacturers work on the same bus, and any trained KNX integrator can take over, provided the project file exists. At Onwords the ETS project file and drawings go to the homeowner at handover.
Should I choose KNX or Crestron?
They solve different problems. KNX is open wired infrastructure for lighting, climate and shading. Crestron is a single-brand ecosystem, strongest on AV, cinema rooms and touch interfaces. As an authorized Crestron dealer that also builds KNX, we can price both for the same home.
Related guides
KNX Living Homes
The global standard for serious automation.
KNX home automation in India
Cost logic, the process end to end, and brands sold here.
KNX wiring guide
Conduit, cable and panel needs, before plastering.
Smart home wiring checklist
Room-by-room points, panels and network.
Smart home for new construction
Plan the smart home from day one.
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