ᐅ Consultation for Smart Home New Construction Wireless Systems

Now to be specific instead of using general statements.
How do you manage to prevent the roller shutters from closing and locking you out when you are outside?

Personally, it really bothers me nowadays when I hear that a new build is being equipped with a “smart home” using wireless technology, and at the same time Alexa or Google Home is mentioned. To me, that at most just means easier operation (although I will never understand why people tell Alexa what to do instead of just quickly pressing a button).

I am not completely against wireless technology, but all the limitations (“Actuator x is only available with Z-Wave,” “Actuator y can’t be integrated into my smart home controller,” “Switch z has to be EnOcean, otherwise batteries need to be replaced”)...

All of that seems too prone to failure and feels more like a DIY project than a solid overall concept. Especially when aiming for a truly “smart” home, wireless becomes absolutely chaotic. Systems like KNX or other bus-based solutions are much more systematic and organized—but of course also somewhat more expensive (although this really depends on the installer or system integrator).

Wireless technology definitely has its merits, especially when it comes to flexibility...

I have a stand-alone solution for:
Shading
Lighting
Irrigation

I don’t need heating control because it’s too slow to respond, and linking everything together doesn’t make sense for me in a single-family home.
Having the blinds adjust their slats based on sunlight is just annoying!
Continuous dimming control isn’t necessary in a single-family home.

I would still like to know which smart home applications actually make life easier and are energy-efficient.
Or put differently: Why should I spend 10% of the construction costs on a smart home?

Alessandro schrieb:

but commissioning by a professional is getting more expensive all the time...

Experience doesn’t come for free, and it’s not just commissioning. The architect usually does more than just hand over a drawing and say “build according to this.” Same here: the system integrator (SI) often handles not only commissioning, but also parameterization and startup. If they are also a qualified electrical installer, they might handle the installation itself as well.

Alessandro schrieb:

The fact is, KNX licensing is also getting more expensive!

On the other hand, the end devices are getting cheaper. Nowadays, we’re at about 12 euros per switching channel, with a powerful function and logic package on the software side—something that even Shelly can hardly keep up with.

Strahleman schrieb:

Personally, I’m starting to cringe when I hear that a new build’s “smart home” is done with wireless and at the same time Alexa or Google Home are mentioned.

The term “smart home” is just overused and applied to anything remotely related to remote controls. In reality, more or less genuine smart homes make up only a single-digit percentage of those. That’s why I prefer to talk about intelligent buildings once it goes beyond the basic gadgets you’re talking about here.

Strahleman schrieb:

To me, that’s at most about easier operation—I’ll never understand why people tell Alexa what to do instead of just quickly pressing a button.

Haha, yeah, that’s “smart home,” right… that’s what TV says, so it must be true.

Strahleman schrieb:

I’m not entirely against wireless, but all those restrictions (e.g., actuator x is only available with Z-Wave, actuator y can’t be integrated into my smart home controller, button z must be EnOcean because otherwise you have to replace batteries…)

Wireless works well as a supplement. That pretty much sums it up.

Strahleman schrieb:

For me, it would be too error-prone and feels more like a DIY project than a good overall concept. Especially when it really comes to a “smart” home, wireless gets totally chaotic. With KNX or other bus systems, it’s much more systematic and organized—but of course a bit more expensive (though this really depends on the installer or integrator).

You always need to consider the complete installation. Then it quickly becomes obvious that wireless is not ideal and often ends up being more expensive. Not to mention all the problems and incompatibilities. Like I said, it’s fine as a supplement. But as long as the devices in the house need 230V (230V) power to operate, running a dedicated data cable alongside is not really a big effort. You just have to plan ahead or hire someone knowledgeable who can oversee the options instead of following a one-size-fits-all approach.

Alessandro schrieb:

Wireless definitely has its justification, at least regarding flexibility...

Sure, for the two or three things that might change, it’s practical. But as you yourself mentioned, the light switch (in my opinion, though not in every room) usually stays where it normally is. The same applies for power outlets, and yes, even the stove, dishwasher, heating, and other building services equipment. So I don’t see an advantage in wireless here. The power cables have to reach the consumers anyway, so why not also run data cables? The benefit is eliminating sometimes necessary batteries and other sources of failure.

Alessandro schrieb:

Well, of course I can equip everything with motion or presence detectors, but I often have situations where I don’t want the lights to come on automatically when entering the room—typically in a children's room.

Exactly. Typically, a presence detector (if there is one) in a children’s or other bedrooms doesn’t necessarily turn the lights on and off automatically. But lights on stairs, in bathrooms, or hallways can work very well fully automatically and often do much more than just simple on/off without much effort.

Alessandro schrieb:

Different requirements apply here that only partially apply to a single-family house.

Of course, different rules apply in a single-family home. But even here, there are plenty of recurring tasks that can be automated.

T_im_Norden schrieb:

Now something specific instead of generalizations.
How do you prevent your roller shutters from closing and locking you out when you’re outside?

One motion sensor, two door contacts, and some software logic. The variable processing happens inside the motor itself.

Alessandro schrieb:

Or put differently: Why should I spend 10% of the construction costs on smart home?

Not for some vague “smart home” (whatever that means to you). For the entire electrical trade including building automation.

Alessandro schrieb:

I would still like to know which smart home applications actually make life easier and are energy-efficient.

That is always very subjective and not clearly answerable. That’s partly why it can be expensive—because you need to have many discussions upfront to figure out the user’s needs and expectations. Every single-family home is a custom project.

For example, you find lamella blind adjustment annoying, but others specifically want that in their home, along with possibly other shading options and features.

It’s not an office where certain lighting is required at certain times and occupational safety regulations apply, and where basically the same routines happen 99% of the time every day.

Regarding wireless technology: When I think about EnOcean with self-powered window contacts/window handles, switches, sensors, and even valve actuators, I save myself a lot of wiring and batteries.
Sorry @Mycraft, but you can’t make smart home systems appealing to me 😉
In my opinion, for what they offer, they are simply too expensive and more of a gimmick.

I already suspected that there would be nothing concrete again.