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!
RE-1407 schrieb:
We found Jung to be much more pleasant compared to Busch-Jaeger.
My favorite was MDT, but our electrician advised against it (I can’t quite recall the reasons)... Gira was also an option, but several house builders and general contractors discouraged it due to frequent complaints, which I find hard to believe.
The great thing about KNX is that I can replace all the switches if I don’t like them anymore at some point.
As always, it’s purely a matter of personal taste. Interesting. So far, our electrician has only worked with Jung, Steinel, and similar brands. When I asked him if he would use MDT, he was skeptical and basically said, “I need to look into it, I’m not familiar with it. We have good experience with the others.”
The result is that he is now totally enthusiastic. His conclusion: installation is a pain, but the price-performance ratio is unbeatable, the applications are unbeatable, and the design is great.
Our project was his first with MDT, the second followed shortly after because, based on the experience with our house, he simply suggested it to the next client. Our electrician’s quote: “It was settled as soon as the wife saw the glass touch switch.”
He was initially really negative. My impression towards the end was that he was clearly glad to have broadened his horizons.
RE-1407 schrieb:
Every lockable room (children’s rooms, bathrooms, etc.) gets one, while in open areas (living room, dining room, kitchen, hallways) there are slightly more in total.
That’s how you quickly reach this number. Oh, come on, you’re kidding us. That’s one touch sensor/room controller every 4.5m² (48 sq ft). You don’t even do that in hotel construction (from my own experience).
Mycraft schrieb:
Oh, come on, you’re kidding us. That’s one touch sensor/room controller for every 4.5m² (48.4 sq ft). You don’t even do that in hotel construction (from my own experience). No, I’m completely serious 🙂
Of course, you have to consider the switches in the garage, attic, and two “panic switches” by the bed in the bedroom!
Other than that, each room has one switch, and the open-plan rooms have two to three. In my opinion, it doesn’t look overloaded. If it ends up being too many, some can be disabled later—this won’t be the reason for changes.
This is our first build, so you can’t expect to know everything right away.
Well, there are things that just don’t exist. Those kinds of clients are a dream. I haven’t come across anyone like that in the last 20 years. Even the mentioned hotels usually want as little technology and as few control switches as possible. Not to mention typical private residential construction of smart/automated homes.
RE-1407 schrieb:In that case, most people bring in someone who knows what they’re doing. Unfortunately, that is often a bit of a gamble, especially in the smart home field.
This is our first build, so you can’t expect to know everything yet
Mycraft schrieb:
Well, there are some things you just can’t believe. Clients like that are a rare find. I haven’t encountered any in the last 20 years. Even the hotels mentioned usually want as little technology and as few switches as possible. Not to mention typical private residential construction of smart/automated houses.
In most cases, people bring in someone knowledgeable. Unfortunately, this is more of a gamble, especially in the smart home sector. Actually, the electrician originally wanted to install fewer switches, but I finally pushed him to add more. As I said before, I’m not the typical KNX user who tries to get the maximum out of the minimum!
I prefer having one switch too many rather than one too few. Cost plays a minor role when you relate it to the overall house price.
What would be a typical number of switches for a house of this size?
Similar topics