IHC vs KNX — what's the difference, and should you switch?
IHC vs KNX — what's the difference, and should you switch?
"Should I replace my IHC system with KNX?" It's a question many Danish homeowners ask. Both are wired control systems for homes, but they're fundamentally different in architecture, price and capabilities.
What is KNX?
KNX is an open, international standard for building automation. Where IHC is a proprietary Danish system from LK/Schneider Electric, KNX is an open protocol supported by 500+ manufacturers (Schneider, ABB, Gira, Jung, Busch-Jaeger). KNX is primarily used in commercial buildings and premium homes.
The fundamental differences
| Feature | IHC | KNX |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Danish (LK/Schneider) | International (KNX Association) |
| Protocol | Proprietary bus | Open standard (ISO 14543) |
| Manufacturers | Schneider Electric only | 500+ manufacturers |
| Programming software | LK IHC Visual (Windows) | ETS (paid, €1,000+) |
| Installation | Certified electrician | KNX-certified installer |
| Controller | Central controller in panel | Decentralized (no central) |
| Adoption in DK | ~400,000 homes | Primarily commercial |
| Status | Maintenance mode | Actively developed |
Why people consider switching
Arguments for KNX
- Open standard — not dependent on a single manufacturer
- Larger selection — 500+ manufacturers, thousands of products
- Decentralized — no single point of failure
- Future-proof — actively developed, new products yearly
- International — broad support and expertise
Arguments against switching
- The cost is enormous — a KNX retrofit of a typical house costs 50,000-150,000 DKK
- Everything must be replaced — IHC cables can rarely be reused for KNX
- Weeks of downtime — the house is uninhabitable during retrofit
- Programming costs — ETS software alone costs over €1,000
- Requires specialist — KNX installers are more expensive than regular electricians
- Your IHC works — why replace something that runs flawlessly?
The real calculation
Let's take a typical Danish house with IHC:
KNX retrofit:
- KNX modules and components: 25,000-50,000 DKK
- New wiring: 15,000-40,000 DKK
- ETS programming: 10,000-25,000 DKK
- Electrician hours: 20,000-40,000 DKK
- Total: 70,000-155,000 DKK
- BT Home Hub: 1,499 DKK
- Setup time: 15 minutes
- IHC system preserved: yes
- Modern smart home features: included
- Total: 1,499 DKK
What do you get with BT Home that you lack with IHC?
What drives most people to consider KNX isn't the KNX standard itself — it's the modern features that IHC lacks:
| Feature | IHC alone | IHC + BT Home | KNX |
|---|---|---|---|
| App/browser control | No | Yes | Yes (with gateway) |
| Hue/Sonos integration | No | Yes | Via KNX gateway |
| Energy optimization | No | Yes (DK2 spot prices) | Possible (add-on) |
| Zigbee/433 MHz | No | Yes | No (separate system) |
| Setup time | Installed | 15 min | Weeks |
| Price | Installed | 1,499 DKK | 70-155K DKK |
When does KNX make sense?
KNX is the right choice if you:
- Are building new — KNX from scratch is far cheaper than retrofitting
- Are fully renovating — walls and ceilings are already open
- Have commercial property — KNX is standard in offices and retail
- Want premium — and budget is not a constraint
When does BT Home make sense?
BT Home is the right choice if you:
- Have working IHC — why tear it out?
- Want modern features — browser control, Hue, Sonos, energy optimization
- Are budget-conscious — 1,499 DKK vs 100,000+ DKK
- Want to avoid downtime — 15 minutes vs weeks of renovation
Conclusion
IHC and KNX are both solid wired systems. But switching from IHC to KNX is rarely economically justifiable when your IHC system still works. With BT Home, you get all the modern features driving people toward KNX — at a fraction of the cost and without touching your existing system.
See hardware prices: BT Home Hub | Read more: The complete IHC guide