Basic Concepts (Glossary)
An explanation of key smart home and automation terms you will encounter in our documentation.
Welcome to the world of the smart home! Below you will find explanations of the most important concepts that will help you understand how our devices work and how to use them to their full potential.
Electrical and Hardware Concepts
Relay
A remotely controlled, electromechanical switch. Its job is to physically open and close an electrical circuit (e.g., turn a 230V light on and off) in response to a low-voltage control signal from the controller's processor. It's the heart of every output (OUT) on a boneIO device.
Digital Input
The "sense" of the controller. A port (e.g., IN01) where you connect a wall switch or a sensor. It registers two states: low (no signal) and high (signal present), informing the processor that a button has been pressed.
Ground-controlled (GND)
This is the most common and recommended method for controlling digital inputs on boneIO devices. Activating an input (e.g., by pressing a button) involves connecting the input pin (IN) to the power supply's ground (GND). The device's processor detects this drop in potential as an active signal. This method is very safe and resistant to electrical interference.
Plus-controlled (+VCC)
An alternative control method. In this case, activating an input involves applying the positive supply voltage (e.g., +12V or +24V, depending on the power supply model) to the input pin (IN). The input is active when a high-potential current flows through it.
Momentary Switch (Bell-Press)
A push-button that returns to its original position after being pressed (like a doorbell). This is the recommended type of switch for use with boneIO because it allows the software to recognize single-clicks, double-clicks, and long-presses.
Bistable Switch (Latching/Toggle)
A traditional ON/OFF light switch that has two stable positions. Using it with boneIO is possible but limits its functionality to a simple on/off action.
Star Topology
A wiring method where each point (lamp, switch) is connected by a separate cable directly to a central location—the electrical cabinet where the controller is located. This is required for boneIO to function correctly.
Bus Topology
A wiring method where devices (e.g., for Modbus communication) are connected sequentially in a daisy-chain fashion, from one device to the next, using a single continuous cable.
DIN Rail
A standardized metal mounting rail used in electrical cabinets worldwide. All main boneIO modules are designed to be mounted on a DIN rail.
Software and Automation Concepts
Home Assistant (HA)
A free and open-source platform for creating a smart home system. It acts as the "brain" of the entire operation, connecting devices from different manufacturers, including boneIO, and allowing you to create advanced rules and automations.
Integration
The process of connecting two different systems or devices so they can work together. In our case, this most often refers to connecting a boneIO controller to the Home Assistant platform.
Entity
A basic "object" in Home Assistant that represents a single device, sensor, or piece of information. For example, a lamp connected to output OUT01 will appear in HA as a light.living_room_lamp entity, which you can control.
Automation
A set of rules that execute automatically when specific conditions are met. A simple example: IF the sun has set AND the motion sensor detects motion, THEN turn on the hallway light.
Scene
A saved state of one or more entities. Unlike an automation, a scene has no trigger—it simply sets devices to a predefined state. Example: A "Movie Night" scene might set the main light to 20% brightness and the LED strip to blue.
Network and Communication Concepts
Web Interface
A website built into the boneIO controller, accessible via a web browser by entering the device's IP address. It allows for basic configuration and control without needing to install any additional systems.
IP Address
A unique number that identifies a device on a computer network (e.g., 192.168.1.55). It is necessary to access the controller's web interface.
Modbus RTU
A communication protocol often used in industrial and building automation to communicate with devices such as heat recovery ventilators (HRVs), heat pumps, or energy meters.