Release notes version 2.19.1 Windows
Software version and release date
Niko Home Control programming software version 2.19.1 for Windows. This software is used for programming a new Niko Home Control II installation or for adapting an existing 2.x installation.
Release date
This upgrade is provided as an automatic upgrade of the programming software at start-up and can also be downloaded from the Niko website.
System requirements
- A minimum of 4 GB RAM is recommended.
- Compatible with Windows 10 or a more recent version. We recommend installing all official Windows updates.
- Minimum screen resolution: 1366 x 768. The programming software will give a warning message when it is opened on a lower-resolution screen.
The app for iPads and iPhones requires iOS version 14.0 or higher. The Android app requires version 9.0 or higher.
When should you use it?
Niko strongly recommends upgrading all Niko Home Control II installations to this version to guarantee the correct functioning of the installation. An upgrade is specifically recommended if the installation requires one of the following features or bug fixes:
New features
Compared to version 2.18.1:
Programming software:
The configuration of DALI devices can be performed offline via the programming software without having to be on-site, similar to other Niko Home Control devices. The ‘scan for DALI devices’ function will be moved to the 'Addressing' tab. Addressing physical DALI devices and program upload, on the other hand, still need to be done on-site
For clamp based measurements, the clamp measurement direction can be inverted as a parameter. In the ‘Energy’ tab of the diagnostic page, the measured values are shown so clamp direction can be checked
For sub-meterings (using plug, socket or clamps) an ‘Appliance group’ can be set as a parameter. This has no effect on the installation today, but it is a preparation for future releases
The push-button interface can be used as access control trigger
- Connected services:
- Compatibility with Alfen, Blitz Power, Mennekes and Veton EV chargers
- Energy:
- Possibility to use measuring clamps to visualise your solar production and the battery (dis)charging status for hybrid and non-hybrid inverters. This is a new parameter for the energy reading in the Niko Home Control programming software. Note that for hybrid inverters, the consolidated values for the home battery and solar panels will be shown
- No need to add your car charger to the peak mode routine, as it will receive the highest priority to avoid peak consumption
- No need to add your car charger to the solar mode routine, as it will receive the highest priority. If you select the ‘solar’ setting in the Niko Home app, your car charger is charged with excess solar production. Only if additional solar production is available, the ‘solar mode’ routine will activate other devices added to the list
- Users whose electricity tariff is capacity-based can set an energy alert to be notified when a higher peak target value is detected. Energy alerts are set in the Niko Home app’s ‘Energy’ tab
- New product support:
- Support for the wireless measuring module (552-20803) via the programming software. The hardware will be available as of Q2 2024
- Support for the push buttons with LEDs and comfort sensors (xxx-5220X and xxx-52921) in the programming software. These push buttons can be added to a Niko Home Control installation on bus wiring to measure and visualise the temperature and humidity* of the room where they are located (*available in a later version). Both the temperature and humidity* values can be used as input for conditions, while the temperature values can be used as input for multi-zone heating/cooling routines. The hardware will be available as of March 2024
- Support for the push-button interface with feedback LEDs (550-20025) in the programming software. The hardware will be available as of March 2024
- Niko Home app:
- In ‘demo mode’, EV chargers are displayed
- The system logs of the Niko Home app can be sent to Niko customer services from ‘demo mode’
- Digital black:
- EV charging controls are added
- Improved control of the dimming behaviour of non-DALI lights
Bug fixing
Compared to version 2.18.1:
General:
Fix for screens that do not ring when ring and come in is active and touchscreen has not been used in a while
Fix for VDS not upgraded from older version to latest version when performing a NHC1x to NHC2x conversion
Fix for connected sockets that sometimes blink red
Correction for time schedules
Fix for the LED of the mini presence detector that also lights up red when in overrule mode
- Niko Home app:
- Issue where the state of the Bulex installation was sometimes incorrect in the Niko Home app has been solved
- Programming software:
- Missing translation for the Niko login when trying to activate Daikin service has been added
- Fix for the setting ‘delay’ in routines that is not saved when a change is done rapidly
- No more crash in the programming software when your computer settings have a time format with dots
- Opening hours for customer service in Denmark have been corrected
How do you install it?
If you are installing the software for the first time:
Download the software from the Niko website.
When you unzip the file, you will receive 4 files:
- README.txt: this file contains the installation instructions
- Exe file:
- The installation of the programme will start as soon as you open this file (follow the steps on the screen)
- If your PC is connected to the internet, the software will suggest a download of a more recent version, if available. We recommend always using the latest version since it will contain the latest functionalities and bug fixes.
- NikoTouch2OS.zip en NikoTouch3OS.zip:
- These files are required for the activation of each second-generation (550-20101) or third-generation (550-20102) touchscreen. You can recognize these touchscreens by the presence of a USB port at the bottom of the screen. Other touchscreens cannot be used in a Niko Home Control II installation.
- Do not unzip this file under any circumstances.
- Copy the zip file to an empty FAT32 formatted USB stick. Make sure to use the "safely remove hardware" option when removing the USB stick from a Windows PC.
- Plug the USB stick in the USB port at the bottom of the touchscreen and follow the instructions on the screen. The touchscreen will automatically recognize the correct zip file and start the upgrade.
- Later upgrades will be installed automatically. An active internet connection is required.
If you have installed a previous 2.x software:
- Make sure your computer has an active connection to the internet.
- Open the installed programming software on your computer. The software indicates that a new version is available. Confirm that you want to upgrade.
- If the programming software indicates an upgrade is available for the connected controller, please perform this upgrade.
- (If you haven't received this notification, it means your computer hasn't connected to your connected controller yet. Close the software and connect your computer to your connected controller. Open the programming software again. You will now see the upgrade for the connected controller and you can perform it).
- The software confirms your installation is up to date.
- If you have a touchscreen 550-20102, this touchscreen will also indicate that an upgrade is available. Follow the steps on the screen to download and install the upgrade. You only need an active internet connection (the upgrade no longer requires a USB-stick as with the first upgrade to Niko Home Control II). The touchscreen 550-20101 must be upgraded with the USB stick according to the procedure described above.
Warnings and known issues
- Energy features for bus wiring installations with a measuring module (550-00801, 550-00803):
- Make sure your current clamps are connected in the right way to get the right data in the Niko Home app. Consumption and production should have positive values. If this is not the case, please invert the production current clamp.
- Historical energy data is not yet available in the Niko Home app. This data will be added in a following release. However, the historical data is not lost and will still be visible in the Niko Home Control II app.
- Digital black:
- Digital black 230V cannot be used as a thermostat. Only Digital black 24V in combination with a heating-cooling module or switching module (ref. 550-00103 or 550-00106) programmed for electrical heating supports this function.
- Temperature calibration offset must be set in the app to align the measured temperature to the actual room temperature.
- Linking the Digital black to your Wi-Fi network can fail on Netgear Orbi RBR50 routers.
Recent updates of Ubiquiti Unifi Wi-Fi Access Points may block the Wi-Fi onboarding of your Digital black. Disable the DPI settings on Unifi to onboard your Digital black. - The Digital black may occasionally enter a black screen state. Perform a power cycle or reset via the bottom reset pin to unblock your Digital black.
- Minor UI issues in routines with intermediate states and text misalignments.
- Energy features for bus wiring installations with a measuring module (550-00801, 550-00803):
- If you use wireless components in a Niko Home Control installation for bus wiring you can use exactly one Easywave interface per installation. Choose the USB RF interface (410-000999) or the Niko Home Control RF interface Easywave (550-00610).
- Incomplete overview of possible feedback LED outcome on the smart hub's Wi-Fi configuration page.
- In some exceptional cases, the connected dimmer for Niko Home Control (for traditional wiring) may go in error mode. Press the "MIN DIM LEVEL" button to solve the issue.
- Create a new programming file for every new installation. We do not recommend reusing a programming file which has previously been addressed and uploaded to another similar installation. This can result in a new installation that does not work.
- After each programming upload to the installation, you must log in again into the Niko Home Control app.
- Log out of all mobile devices and touchscreens before changing your password on the registration website https://mynikohomecontrol.niko.eu.
- Activate both mobile data and Wi-Fi on your mobile iOS devices and ensure that your battery has enough power. This is to ensure that you do not miss any calls from the external video unit. This problem could occur if the power save mode is activated.
- It can take up to 15 minutes before all touchscreens or mobile devices have reconnected with the installation after an upload, reboot of the installation or power failure (even if the device gives another status). The correct functioning of these devices can only be guaranteed after the waiting time has elapsed.
- Uploading and upgrading can be done both with a wired and wireless connection between the pc and the installation. However, we strongly recommend using the wired connection as it is more stable and safer.
- Back up your programming regularly to avoid losing data.
- It can take up to a minute in the address tab before an external video unit is detected.
- Lighting circuits used in actions which are controlled by a motion detector, may not be used in other actions. This can result in undesired behaviour.
- The energy data history will be lost when replacing the controller or an energy module.
- Contact Niko customer services if you want to replace an HVAC interface in an existing installation.
- Remove all assigned Velux or Reynaers players from a module if you want to change their position. Then reassign them to their new position on the module.
- After (un)grouping audio speakers or implementing a speaker firmware update you will automatically log out of the app.
- The diagnostics page does not show analogue sensor data.
- The diagnostics page only shows the state of the first channel of a multi-channel module.
- Wireless motion detector, Zigbee® does not allow sensitivity setting.
- Wireless motion detector, Zigbee® does not allow switch-off delay value in absence detection (10s only).
- In a very specific case, the touchscreen can get blocked in keyboard mode. Resetting the power solves the issue.
The wireless bridge currently does not support the Danfoss Icon hydraulic floor heating/cooling system.
- Vaillant: when setting the heating program mode to ‘manual’, you need to wait at least one minute before the temperature can be set.
- If the Niko Home app is upgraded after your Niko Home Control installation, your motor controls won't work.
Useful information
- This software is used for programming a Niko Home Control II installation. The software is compatible with the connected controller and wireless smart hub and all products belonging to the Niko Home Control product range at the time of this release unless otherwise stated.
- In order to program the connected controller with this software, it must be upgraded first. As soon as the computer is connected with a Niko Home Control installation, the programming software will prompt to upgrade the connected controller. Only upgrade Niko Home Control II installations. The conversion of existing Niko Home Control installations is final and is not yet supported by this release. The remaining Niko Home Control modules will only be upgraded after the programming has been completely finalised and uploaded to the installation.
- Niko Home Control installations which were programmed with Niko Home Control programming software version 1.x do not need to be adjusted or upgraded. The 1.x software and apps will continue to be supported and will remain available for the programming and maintenance of existing installations. The conversion of these installations is not yet supported.
- Each installation must be registered on the Niko registration website https://mynikohomecontrol.niko.eu with the MAC address and the serial number of the connected controller or wireless smart hub. You will need the e-mail address and password used when registering to control the installation with mobile devices and to retrieve energy data on touchscreens. In addition, you will need an active internet connection for both applications.