In a move that has sent ripples through the building automation industry, iLight—a once-popular lighting control solution—has been officially made obsolete by its manufacturer Schneider Electric. For installers, integrators, and building owners who have relied on iLight for years, this raises serious concerns around system longevity, support, spare parts availability, and future upgrades.
This development highlights a major risk with proprietary control systems like iLight. When a manufacturer decides to discontinue a product line, customers are often left stranded with limited support options, compatibility issues, and costly replacement paths. With proprietary protocols and closed architectures, migrating to another system often means ripping out and replacing large parts of your infrastructure—a time-consuming and expensive exercise.
These risks are particularly acute in commercial buildings, hotels, retail environments, and high-end residential projects, where the lighting control system is central to the occupant experience and daily operations.
KNX is an open, internationally standardised (EN 50090, ISO/IEC 14543) communication protocol for intelligent buildings. Unlike proprietary systems, KNX is manufacturer-independent—with over 500 certified manufacturers worldwide, all building devices that communicate on a unified platform.
For those now facing an uncertain future with legacy iLight systems, KNX offers a secure, scalable and future-proof alternative. Here’s why:
No Vendor Lock-In: Choose from a wide range of certified KNX products—from lighting to HVAC and beyond—without being tied to a single brand.
Long-Term Availability: KNX is not dependent on a single manufacturer’s roadmap or business decisions. The protocol has been around for over 30 years and continues to grow.
Flexible Retrofits: Whether you want to upgrade in stages or do a complete system overhaul, KNX makes retrofitting straightforward and cost-efficient.
Professional Integration: At KNX Ireland, we offer expert advice, system design, and certified installation to ensure a seamless transition from obsolete platforms like iLight to state-of-the-art KNX solutions.
If you’re currently running an iLight system—or considering a lighting control solution for your next project—don’t wait for obsolescence to create risk. Future-proof your building automation with KNX. It’s the open, secure and reliable choice trusted by professionals and developers around the world.
At KNX Ireland, we specialise in migrating legacy lighting systems to KNX. Whether you’re a building manager, M&E consultant, or system integrator, we can guide you through the upgrade process—cost-effectively and with minimal disruption.
Contact us today at www.knxireland.com to discuss your project needs.
