Hello everyone,
I am finally planning to build our own house with my family. I don’t want to do without a smart system and have already done some research.
Loxone is basically off the table for me because it mainly relies on its proprietary system and products.
Of course, I have repeatedly come back to KNX (as here in the forum as well). However, I am not entirely happy with it because I don’t want to have to call a programmer every time I want to make a change; I also don’t really want to buy the ETS license. Additionally, I want to integrate and network fingerprint scanners, Sonos, and a heat pump, but I haven’t fully figured out how to do this with KNX.
The house basically has two floors with an open-plan kitchen/living area, entrance hall, utility room, bathrooms, children’s rooms, bedroom, garden, and so on.
The following systems should be connected:
- Lighting (some dimmable)
- External blinds / weather station
- Underfloor heating
- Heat pump
- Music system (Sonos)
- Fingerprint access
- Video intercom
- Some switched power outlets
- Photovoltaic system
Since I am technically fairly knowledgeable, I want to be able to manage, adjust, and optimize my system myself in the end.
Does anyone have good input here? Or already experience with Loxone, KNX, or others?
Thanks and best regards,
Stefan
I am finally planning to build our own house with my family. I don’t want to do without a smart system and have already done some research.
Loxone is basically off the table for me because it mainly relies on its proprietary system and products.
Of course, I have repeatedly come back to KNX (as here in the forum as well). However, I am not entirely happy with it because I don’t want to have to call a programmer every time I want to make a change; I also don’t really want to buy the ETS license. Additionally, I want to integrate and network fingerprint scanners, Sonos, and a heat pump, but I haven’t fully figured out how to do this with KNX.
The house basically has two floors with an open-plan kitchen/living area, entrance hall, utility room, bathrooms, children’s rooms, bedroom, garden, and so on.
The following systems should be connected:
- Lighting (some dimmable)
- External blinds / weather station
- Underfloor heating
- Heat pump
- Music system (Sonos)
- Fingerprint access
- Video intercom
- Some switched power outlets
- Photovoltaic system
Since I am technically fairly knowledgeable, I want to be able to manage, adjust, and optimize my system myself in the end.
Does anyone have good input here? Or already experience with Loxone, KNX, or others?
Thanks and best regards,
Stefan
We have now also started with KNX (thanks to the persuasion of @Mycraft) and I am currently studying the system intensively. I hope I have now found a competent electrician to support me with this.
The room specification is almost finished.
The following will be implemented:
- ERR using MDT glass fiber 2 and MDT heating actuators
- Blinds control including weather station (Gira or MDT)
- Lighting controlled via switches and power modules in various rooms and stairway as well as outside (only 6 lights dimmable)
- Reed contacts on windows facing the terrace for blinds control
- Doorbell using 2 tablets (Gira X1)
- Several switchable sockets
- Garage door
- Heat pump only for consumption data transmission
- Water consumption sensor at the house connection
The room specification is almost finished.
The following will be implemented:
- ERR using MDT glass fiber 2 and MDT heating actuators
- Blinds control including weather station (Gira or MDT)
- Lighting controlled via switches and power modules in various rooms and stairway as well as outside (only 6 lights dimmable)
- Reed contacts on windows facing the terrace for blinds control
- Doorbell using 2 tablets (Gira X1)
- Several switchable sockets
- Garage door
- Heat pump only for consumption data transmission
- Water consumption sensor at the house connection
Mycraft schrieb:
Are you referring to free@Home? There is no such thing as "BJ KNX," just as there is no "GIRA KNX."
What do you mean by "frame"? Usually, the number of panels installed is up to the user. It can also be done completely without, if desired. BJ has a KNX system; I am not referring to free@Home.
By "frame," we mean the visualization system that provides us, as end users, a framework with limited options rather than “too many possibilities” (for comparison: Eisbär, which was the first system mentioned to us...).
Combined with BJ Welcome, we see a well-matching solution and are therefore asking for experiences.
fskscorp schrieb:
We have now also started using KNX (thanks to the convincing work of @Mycraft) and I am actively studying it. I hope I have now found a competent electrician to support me with this.
The room schedule is almost finished.
The following will be implemented:
- ERR using MDT Glastaster 2 and MDT heating actuators
- Shutter control including weather station (Gira or MDT)
- Lighting via switches and presence detectors in various rooms and stairwell as well as outside (only 6 lights dimmable)
- Reed contacts on the terrace-facing windows for shutter control
- Doorbell using 2 tablets (Gira X1)
- A few switchable sockets
- Garage door
- Heat pump only for consumption data transmission
- Water consumption sensor at the main house connection Doorbell with Gira? With video? How does that work?
Notstrom schrieb:
BJ has a KNX system, BJ does not have a KNX system but is a member of the KNX Association and manufactures devices that comply with the KNX standard, among other things. It’s similar to how there is no such thing as an Apple 3G or Fritz DSL. Just to clarify, so you don’t get confused by the terminology. Some people take advantage of this and then try to sell you everything from one particular manufacturer only.
Notstrom schrieb:
Doorbell with Gira? With video? How does that work? Gira has always offered devices for video telephony.
Mycraft schrieb:
BJ does not have a KNX system but is a member of KNX and, among other things, produces devices that comply with the KNX standard. Just like there is no Apple 3G or Fritz DSL. I’m mentioning this to avoid confusion with the terminology. There are people who take advantage of this and then try to sell you everything from one specific manufacturer.
Gira has always offered devices for video telephony.Is Gira the better provider? It seems like I mostly hear about the Gira X1 solution.There is no "better." There is only different. Everyone has their own products and solutions that basically fulfill the same functions. All of them can be controlled, monitored, and regulated through the same medium.
It’s similar to white goods, for example, dishwashers. There is no absolute "better" model. They all clean the dishes, but one model may offer more additional features and another fewer, so there is something suitable for every customer.
The same applies to devices from GIRA, BJ, ABB, MERTEN, MDT, JUNG, HDL, GVS, and many more (the list includes over 450 manufacturers). All of them offer some kind of door communication system, and each can be implemented in one way or another and combined with devices from completely different manufacturers.
It’s similar to white goods, for example, dishwashers. There is no absolute "better" model. They all clean the dishes, but one model may offer more additional features and another fewer, so there is something suitable for every customer.
The same applies to devices from GIRA, BJ, ABB, MERTEN, MDT, JUNG, HDL, GVS, and many more (the list includes over 450 manufacturers). All of them offer some kind of door communication system, and each can be implemented in one way or another and combined with devices from completely different manufacturers.