Hello,
we have our first appointment soon with our electrician for our developer-built semi-detached house.
We would like to include a smart home system if the budget allows during the construction phase.
The following points should be covered:
Shutter control including shading
Lighting control
Heating control
Video doorbell
Window contacts
Possibly sockets (preferably sockets that can be retrofitted)
Unfortunately, the budget for the smart home is very limited, around 5000€ (about 5400 USD) extra compared to conventional electrical installation.
KNX: This will definitely be much more expensive than our budget.
Free@home: This is out for us (because remote access requires a monthly subscription).
Loxone: What do you think about this? Connect the most important parts via Tree and retrofit the rest wirelessly later when more funds become available.
Homematic IP Wired: Similar to Loxone.
Wireless retrofit solution: Is a wireless retrofit solution a viable alternative, for example OPUS or Enocean, or in the future Matter, which everyone is currently talking about?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the smart home solutions?
Wired solutions need to be done directly during construction.
Wireless solutions can be retrofitted easily 1–2 years later by yourself (less or no labor costs but higher material costs).
we have our first appointment soon with our electrician for our developer-built semi-detached house.
We would like to include a smart home system if the budget allows during the construction phase.
The following points should be covered:
Shutter control including shading
Lighting control
Heating control
Video doorbell
Window contacts
Possibly sockets (preferably sockets that can be retrofitted)
Unfortunately, the budget for the smart home is very limited, around 5000€ (about 5400 USD) extra compared to conventional electrical installation.
KNX: This will definitely be much more expensive than our budget.
Free@home: This is out for us (because remote access requires a monthly subscription).
Loxone: What do you think about this? Connect the most important parts via Tree and retrofit the rest wirelessly later when more funds become available.
Homematic IP Wired: Similar to Loxone.
Wireless retrofit solution: Is a wireless retrofit solution a viable alternative, for example OPUS or Enocean, or in the future Matter, which everyone is currently talking about?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the smart home solutions?
Wired solutions need to be done directly during construction.
Wireless solutions can be retrofitted easily 1–2 years later by yourself (less or no labor costs but higher material costs).
Pacc666 schrieb:
possibly sockets (sockets preferably retrofittable) Not an insignificant part in just a "smart home"
Pacc666 schrieb:
KNX: That will definitely be much more expensive than our budget Not necessarily, if you only implement the small part you are planning.
Pacc666 schrieb:
Loxone: What do you think about it? Connect the most important via Tree and retrofit the rest via Air when more money becomes available That will be more expensive than KNX and you get vendor lock-in.
Pacc666 schrieb:
Homematic IP Wired: same as with Loxone Cheaper than KNX but again vendor lock-in.
Pacc666 schrieb:
What are the pros and cons of smart home solutions? Very broad topic and too much to write or discuss in detail. In brief:
Advantages: Comfort and more functions in the house than just on/off
Disadvantages: Price (with wireless solutions sometimes battery replacements, connection issues, etc.)
Pacc666 schrieb:
Wired solutions can only be done directly Big misconception. You just have to plan carefully, prepare as much as possible, and have the cables installed. The system can be upgraded later even with wired solutions without problems.
Pacc666 schrieb:
Wireless solutions can simply be retrofitted 1-2 years later by yourself (less or no labor costs but higher material costs) However, this will cause issues with too few cables in the walls, wire sizes, missing neutral etc., and of course the usual problems that come with any wireless installation. Oh, and of course regarding durability—wireless systems tend to be more consumer grade.
Okay, thanks.
So, to sum up, for wired systems, only KNX is worthwhile; the rest either aren’t worth it or you become tied to a single manufacturer.
Alternatively, there’s the wireless solution with significant compromises, such as battery life and the need for battery replacements.
If we have to choose the wireless option because the electrician does not want to do KNX or quotes a price that is too high (unfortunately, we are bound to the electrician who will definitely do free@home), we could pre-install cables in the walls to prepare for a wireless system.
My questions are:
What needs to be prepared or changed compared to a conventional solution to enable setting up a wireless smart home (or wireless home remote control) with basic automations later on?
How can we set up a KNX smart home as cost-effectively as possible without DIY work (since it’s a developer project and we can only start working after handover)?
I’ve heard that MDT offers the best price-performance ratio—is that correct? If so, can we just tell the electrician to use all MDT devices?
How can we further reduce costs with KNX?
So, to sum up, for wired systems, only KNX is worthwhile; the rest either aren’t worth it or you become tied to a single manufacturer.
Alternatively, there’s the wireless solution with significant compromises, such as battery life and the need for battery replacements.
If we have to choose the wireless option because the electrician does not want to do KNX or quotes a price that is too high (unfortunately, we are bound to the electrician who will definitely do free@home), we could pre-install cables in the walls to prepare for a wireless system.
My questions are:
What needs to be prepared or changed compared to a conventional solution to enable setting up a wireless smart home (or wireless home remote control) with basic automations later on?
How can we set up a KNX smart home as cost-effectively as possible without DIY work (since it’s a developer project and we can only start working after handover)?
I’ve heard that MDT offers the best price-performance ratio—is that correct? If so, can we just tell the electrician to use all MDT devices?
How can we further reduce costs with KNX?
Pacc666 schrieb:
What needs to be prepared or changed compared to a conventional solution in order to later set up a wireless smart home (or wireless house remote control) with basic automations? You need to develop a concept in advance and then determine what each system requires.
Pacc666 schrieb:
How can you set up a KNX smart home as cheaply as possible without doing any work yourself (since it’s a property developer, we are only allowed to start working after handover)? By installing the minimal setup with the most affordable devices (yes, MDT is the keyword here), and avoiding many switches, you can still have an automated house. The more manual control you want in KNX, the more expensive it becomes. Secondary rooms can also be built without any switches (bathroom, technical room, hallway, storage, etc.).
Pacc666 schrieb:
How can we further reduce costs with KNX? Skip unnecessary actuator modules and have a heating system that works without requiring emergency stop switches in every room. Install window contacts only where truly needed. Use a separate video doorbell system. Start with lighting just switchable for now. However, still run bus cables and power wiring to every possible and even unlikely location for future use.
A major cost factor in KNX systems is the configuration. Depending on your skills, you can do this yourself, but it does take a significant amount of time and, depending on the project size, can also cost money or more money for the software. If you tell the electrician to "install KNX actuators," and they are not interested in KNX, and you only get to work on it yourself after the handover, you need to be aware that for the first days or even weeks, nothing in the house will work (no lights, no blinds, etc.) because nothing is configured.
At the end of the day, the electrician will get paid either through their free@home system or through expensive installation of cheaply sourced actuators.
At the end of the day, the electrician will get paid either through their free@home system or through expensive installation of cheaply sourced actuators.
Only for large and complex installations. KNX is not rocket science, and the basic functions in a private home, as described in the initial post, should be completed within one working day. Otherwise, one has probably chosen the wrong profession. For fine-tuning afterward, you can allocate another 1–2 hours and then work from the home office.
Well, the homeowner should then make any further changes and adjustments as they wish. There are plenty of methods and tools available nowadays.
Well, the homeowner should then make any further changes and adjustments as they wish. There are plenty of methods and tools available nowadays.