ᐅ New Semi-Detached House – Is Investing an Extra $10,000 Worthwhile for a Smart Home?
Created on: 17 Jan 2021 17:11
G
Giggz123
Hello everyone,
we are currently planning the construction of our half of a semi-detached house. Initially, I was considering a KNX solution for home automation, but the reality as homebuilders is catching up with us, and the budget is getting tighter. Due to the plot, we are tied to a construction company that handles all trades (including electrical) with their own staff. The contract is expected to be signed soon.
The construction company seems to have limited expertise regarding smart home systems, so I’m now considering how to best proceed.
At the moment, the plan is for conventional electrical work (about 8,000 EUR), plus additional services for almost 4,000 EUR net to install a LAN connection in every room and reach a total of 100 power outlets and 20 lighting points (there may still be some missing).
We still have about 10,000 EUR left, so the entire (smart) electrical installation can cost around 22,000 EUR. We have also planned 13 roller shutters / blinds, which — for now — will have conventional electrical control.
Requirements - Must Have:
Nice to Have:
Options:
1. Conventional wiring plus standalone radio solutions (this is what we currently have in the rental apartment: Somfy roller shutters, HUE lights, etc.), integrated into a common visualization platform (such as ioBroker and others)
2. Proprietary system, currently the favorite is probably Free@Home with central actuators, allowing a possible later switch to KNX if needed. Alternatively, Homematic Wired might be an option.
3a. KNX with the must-haves and preparation (cabling) for nice-to-haves / as much as possible
3b. KNX with must-haves, nice-to-haves via radio solutions / gateways, integrated into a common visualization (ioBroker and others)
I’ve read a lot about this but somehow keep going in circles...
Do you have any advice on how to best approach this now? Should I create a room schedule and request various offers for options 2 and 3? Should I look for a qualified system integrator / smart home expert who can offer both options 2 and 3? Or is this basically unrealistic with the given budget, and I should focus on option 1?
Although construction doesn’t start until summer, if I want to try to contract the electrical trade elsewhere, I only have about 4 weeks left.
I am not completely ruling out KNX and could also imagine doing some work myself. Has anyone used a solution where they hired a planner, had the control cabinet assembled and shipped, then had the construction company’s electrician install all the wiring, and finally configured everything themselves?
Many thanks in advance!
we are currently planning the construction of our half of a semi-detached house. Initially, I was considering a KNX solution for home automation, but the reality as homebuilders is catching up with us, and the budget is getting tighter. Due to the plot, we are tied to a construction company that handles all trades (including electrical) with their own staff. The contract is expected to be signed soon.
The construction company seems to have limited expertise regarding smart home systems, so I’m now considering how to best proceed.
At the moment, the plan is for conventional electrical work (about 8,000 EUR), plus additional services for almost 4,000 EUR net to install a LAN connection in every room and reach a total of 100 power outlets and 20 lighting points (there may still be some missing).
We still have about 10,000 EUR left, so the entire (smart) electrical installation can cost around 22,000 EUR. We have also planned 13 roller shutters / blinds, which — for now — will have conventional electrical control.
Requirements - Must Have:
- Lighting:
- Central control of lights (preferably all, if necessary by floor, room, or selected areas); partial dimming
- Shading:
- Central control of roller shutters / blinds with automated shading
- Power:
- Make approximately 10+ power outlets switchable
Nice to Have:
- Avoid residual current devices (RCDs) if justifiable via smart home (I do not intend to actively control heating)
- Connection to controlled residential ventilation system
- Integration of voice control
- Window contacts
- Visualization
- Presence detectors
- Sonos integration
- Intercom system integration (Doorbird, Busch Jäger Welcome)
- Alarm system functionality (via presence detectors / sensors, possibly also a proprietary system, e.g. Busch Secure@Home)
Options:
1. Conventional wiring plus standalone radio solutions (this is what we currently have in the rental apartment: Somfy roller shutters, HUE lights, etc.), integrated into a common visualization platform (such as ioBroker and others)
2. Proprietary system, currently the favorite is probably Free@Home with central actuators, allowing a possible later switch to KNX if needed. Alternatively, Homematic Wired might be an option.
3a. KNX with the must-haves and preparation (cabling) for nice-to-haves / as much as possible
3b. KNX with must-haves, nice-to-haves via radio solutions / gateways, integrated into a common visualization (ioBroker and others)
I’ve read a lot about this but somehow keep going in circles...
Do you have any advice on how to best approach this now? Should I create a room schedule and request various offers for options 2 and 3? Should I look for a qualified system integrator / smart home expert who can offer both options 2 and 3? Or is this basically unrealistic with the given budget, and I should focus on option 1?
Although construction doesn’t start until summer, if I want to try to contract the electrical trade elsewhere, I only have about 4 weeks left.
I am not completely ruling out KNX and could also imagine doing some work myself. Has anyone used a solution where they hired a planner, had the control cabinet assembled and shipped, then had the construction company’s electrician install all the wiring, and finally configured everything themselves?
Many thanks in advance!
untergasse439 Apr 2021 09:20RotorMotor schrieb:
How about creating a separate topic for alarm systems? I don’t really see the connection with this thread.Some ask questions on one topic, others respond on another. A classic in forums 🙂untergasse43 schrieb:
With a "real" alarm system, or if we really want to go professional, i.e. an intrusion detection system, dedicated sensors are used, which are at most read via a gateway on the bus or externally. For example, with a gateway this works very well with systems from Telenot, ABB, or Indexa, allowing the alarm sensors to also be used for convenience functions. If you build something yourself with KNX presence detectors, usually only the battery is certified in some way. VdS certification is generally not very relevant here, because in that case you are not allowed to influence the system from outside (e.g., from the bus) at all. Alarm systems usually have their own bus. A "real" VdS-certified system for a private home is rare for me; rather, you encounter VdS Home or systems based on VdS standards.
For home use, I am a big fan of the ABB GM/A or the Indexa 9000. The ABB connects directly to the bus; for Indexa there is a very good KNX gateway. What system are you having installed, @RE-1407?
However, I think it’s nonsense to want to make an intrusion detection system based only on presence detectors. By the time they trigger, the intruder is already inside and no longer needs much time; otherwise, you’ll just blow a fuse, so the place will quiet down quickly.To clarify again: I am certainly no expert in this field and have to rely on the electrician.
Here are the detailed components of the intrusion detection system, which should cost 2,500 instead of 3,500 (currency omitted). I made a mistake here.
As mentioned earlier, the discussions were held one year ago, but I seem to recall that the intrusion detection system, together with the presence detectors and the outdoor cameras (which are listed under a different item in the offer), should work together.
Intrusion Detection System
1 x INDEXA SYS 9000 wireless control panel with LAN interface 9000ZF
1 x INDEXA backup battery 12V / 2.3Ah HP
1 x INDEXA SYS 9000 wired bus control panel 9000TD
4 x INDEXA SYS 9000 RFID chip key fobs 9000TAG
1 x INDEXA SYS 9000 wireless wall button panic / control button 9001N
8 x INDEXA wireless motion detectors pet immune 9000PT
1 x INDEXA SYS 9000 wireless outdoor siren base module 9000AS-B
1 x INDEXA SYS 9000 wireless outdoor siren cover white 9000AS-AW
2 x Indexa 9000AS-BAT2 SYSTEM9000 lithium battery for 9000AS-B, lithium battery, 3.6V / 14.5Ah, for wireless transmission intrusion detection system
2 x INDEXA SYS 9000 wired indoor siren 90 dB 9000ISD
50 m (164 ft) FACAB EIB bus cable 2 x 2 x 0.8 mm² green shielded, pair stranded
A
AllThumbs9 Apr 2021 09:33From all the threads I’ve read in this forum, the most recent posts have had the smallest deviation from the main topic.
Moreover, I don’t see any deviation here at all. The user has shared a cost breakdown including a security system. It is entirely reasonable to ask for details on exactly what was installed, preferably with some additional information.
Moreover, I don’t see any deviation here at all. The user has shared a cost breakdown including a security system. It is entirely reasonable to ask for details on exactly what was installed, preferably with some additional information.
AllThumbs schrieb:
From all the threads I have read in this forum, the latest posts have shown the least deviation from the main topic.
Moreover, I don’t see any deviation here at all. The user posted a cost overview including the alarm system. It seems completely reasonable to ask what exactly was installed and to add a few extra details. One thing is to ask questions like you did, another is to start your sentences with "Oh my God..." and throw around dismissive terms (like basic/off-the-shelf, etc.) and accusations (such as being poorly advised), while calling yourself a professional, as if the electrician, who might be a family member, is not a professional and is trying to rip me off to suggest there is only one true expert and no one else. If this happened face to face, it might be acceptable, but on the internet, people seem to say everything they wouldn’t be allowed to say at home...
Anyway, provoking such reactions on your first day of registration in a supposedly adult community is surprising, especially since my intention was simply to give the original poster brief feedback.
untergasse439 Apr 2021 09:46RE-1407 schrieb:
Intrusion alarm system
1 x INDEXA SYS 9000 wireless control panel. LAN interface 9000ZF
1 x INDEXA backup battery 12V/2.3Ah HP
1 x INDEXA SYS 9000 wired BUS control panel 9000TD
4 x INDEXA SYS 9000 RFID chip key fobs 9000TAG
1 x INDEXA SYS 9000 wireless wall switch panic/control button 9001N
8 x INDEXA wireless motion detectors small pet immune 9000PT
1 x INDEXA SYS 9000 wireless outdoor siren base module 9000AS-B
1 x INDEXA SYS 9000 outdoor siren cover white 9000AS-AW
2 x Indexa 9000AS-BAT2 SYSTEM9000 lithium battery for 9000AS-B, lithium battery, 3.6V / 14.5Ah, for wireless transmission intrusion alarm system
2 x INDEXA SYS 9000 BUS indoor siren 90dB 9000ISD
50 x FACAB EIB bus cable 2 x 2 x 0.8 mm² green, shielded, twisted pair Very good choice! Indexa offers excellent value for money. Alongside the ABB GM/A 8.1, it is also my favorite. KNX interfaces are available from Indexa itself or from Elausys.
A
AllThumbs9 Apr 2021 10:19RE-1407 schrieb:
One thing is to ask how you did it, another is to start your sentences with "Oh my God..." and throw around disparaging terms (basic, etc.) and accusations (being wrongly advised) while presenting yourself as a professional, as if the electrician, who might be a family member, isn’t a professional and just wants to rip me off to suggest that there is only this one professional and no one else. Meeting like this in person might be fine, but on the internet, people can let out everything they aren’t allowed to at home...
Anyway, to provoke such reactions on the very first day of registration from supposedly grown-up people is quite surprising, even though my intention was just to give the thread starter brief feedback. My comment was related to the accusation from @RotorMotor that we write too much about alarm systems. But yes, I agree with you. The statements you mentioned were absolutely unnecessary.
Similar topics