52 lines
5.6 KiB
Markdown
52 lines
5.6 KiB
Markdown
---
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created: 2026-01-10T10:55:07
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category:
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- "[[Library]]"
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title: Vent-Axia Sentinel Kinetic MVHR Integration with Home Assistant
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source: https://www.marshflattsfarm.org.uk/wordpress/?page_id=5936
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author:
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published:
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topic:
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- "[[MVHR]]"
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- "[[Home Assistant]]"
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tags:
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---
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## Introduction
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The Outbuildings are getting a [Vent-Axia Lo-Carbon Sentinel Kinetic BH MVHR unit](https://www.vent-axia.com/range/lo-carbon-sentinel-kinetic-bh) which will ventilate the heated-and-insulated half of the building. There will be Extract vents in the Shower Room, the Utility Room, and the Plant Room (one in each) – and Supply vents in the Workshop (three). The [[Vent-Axia|Vent-Axia]] unit is rather less fancy than the PAUL Novus [[MVHR|MVHR]] unit in the House, but should be capable enough for its less demanding role – especially since any fan noise or inter-room noise transmission is really not an issue. The replacement filters are *much* cheaper than for the more ‘advanced’ MVHR units.
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These Vent-Axia units are relatively common and several other people have explored the options for integration with home automation ‘hub’ applications such as [[Home Assistant|Home Assistant]]. The manufacturer has also been helpful in publishing documentation that describes the (limited) integration capabilities – most notably this: [Sentinel Kinetic Range BMS Capabilities](https://github.com/aelias-eu/vent-axia-remote/blob/main/docs/sentinel_kinetic-BMS.pdf) (PDF). There is no option to (directly) control the unit via a smartphone app.
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## Integration Options
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In summary, the integration options boil down to:
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- Using the 230V ‘Switched Live’ input to trigger a ventilation Boost cycle
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- This input is intended to be connected to a light switch in a bathroom – the same as a standalone extractor fan might be connected to a bathroom light
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- The Switched Live wants to be from the same 230V circuit as supplies the Non-Switched Live – which would not normally be the case; Vent-Axia offer an [Isolator Relay Controller](https://www.vent-axia.com/range/isolator-relay-controller) which can address this
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- Using a momentary dry-contact input on any one of the SW1 – SW5 terminals to trigger a ventilation Boost cycle (when the unit is running in Control Mode 1)
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- These are intended to be connected to momentary wall-switches but can be any input that ‘behaves like one of those – such as a relay driven in a short on-off cycle
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- Using a persistent dry-contact input on one of the SW1 – SW3 terminals to force Low, Normal or Boost ventilation for as long as the input is active (when the unit is running in Control Mode 2)
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- Typically connected to relays controlled by a BMS or Home Automation system
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- Terminal SW5 can also force the unit to stop completely – primarily intended for integration with a fire alarm system
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- Using a 0-10V analogue input to emulate a CO2 or Humidity sensor and control the fan speed accordingly
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- This allows for more fine-grained speed control than the other options – rather than just the pre-set Normal and Boost speeds
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- The equivalent input on the PAUL Novus is used to enable Home Assistant to control the fan speed on the House MVHR – although that is the only available integration mechanism for the Novus
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- Using a microcontroller to emulate the Vent-Axia remote keypad, which can select from the Low / Normal / Boost settings or trigger a timed Boost cycle
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- See the code for [vent-axia-bridge](https://github.com/ryancdotorg/vent-axia-bridge) on GitHub, which provides access over WiFi; the accompanying documentation is very limited
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## Conclusion
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All of these options (apart from the last one) could be robustly integrated via KNX module(s):
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- Using a KNX ‘switch actuator’ (i.e. a relay bank) module for the relay inputs – ideally with 4 channels (to cover all the ‘Control Mode 2’ SW1-3 and SW5 inputs)
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- Either a standalone 4-channel module – with separate terminals for each channel: something like the MDT AKS-0410.03 (Switch Actuator AKS Standard 10 A) or the MDT AKK-0416.03 (Switch Actuator AKK compact)
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- Or 4 channels of a larger relay bank, which might also provide relay inputs to e.g. the alarm system
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- Using a KNX ‘analogue input / output’ module for the 0-10V input
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- Either one of the [MDT KNX AIO](https://www.mdt.uk/products/product-detail/actuators/analog-in-/outputs/analog-in-/-output.html) modules should be suitable; about £75 for the 2-channel module
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The main question is whether there is any real requirement to force the unit out of ‘Automatic’ operation – given that its built-in scheduling options seem reasonably comprehensive. Some owners report that they had multiple (manual) ‘Boost’ switches installed but never use them.
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As the MVHR unit is being installed in the Plant Room, that’s the easiest location to retro-fit any of the integration options. Probably best to see how it performs with just its built-in controller before planning to integrate it.
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[](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) [Vent-Axia Sentinel Kinetic MVHR Integration with Home Assistant](https://www.marshflattsfarm.org.uk/wordpress/?page_id=5936 "Permalink to Vent-Axia Sentinel Kinetic MVHR Integration with Home Assistant") by [Marsh Flatts Farm Self Build Diary](https://www.marshflattsfarm.org.uk/wordpress/?author=2) is licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). |