Since I am planning to build a house, I am naturally also considering smart home solutions. As this topic is completely new to me, I first need to do some research. I would therefore like to clarify some basic questions and facts before proceeding. I will simply write down my thoughts as if they were facts and would ask you to correct me where I am wrong 🙂
I want to leave KNX or BUS systems aside for now and focus only on wireless solutions, so please do not discuss which makes more sense or is "better." One step at a time; this is purely about understanding :p
There are many different wireless protocols. Open ones like Z-Wave, ZigBee; "semi-open" like eNet; and proprietary ones like Somfy io.
Somfy has the advantage that everything comes from one source and it should be plug and play. The ideal solution for beginners—you simply put together what you need, install it, and it works right away. The big disadvantage, of course, is that you can only integrate Somfy or Somfy-approved sensors and actuators and are dependent on Somfy continuing to develop new products and supporting the current protocol.
eNet is a protocol from a few premium manufacturers, and as such, the devices are quite expensive. Although it is an open protocol, it is supported by only a few providers and products. So it has the same disadvantage as Somfy: limited selection and dependency on a small number of providers.
The open protocols, which are basically standards, have the advantage of many providers. However, this is also the biggest disadvantage because it’s easy to lose oversight, you end up assembling the whole system yourself without it all coming from one source, and there are likely to be significant differences in quality.
Is this roughly correct?
I want to leave KNX or BUS systems aside for now and focus only on wireless solutions, so please do not discuss which makes more sense or is "better." One step at a time; this is purely about understanding :p
There are many different wireless protocols. Open ones like Z-Wave, ZigBee; "semi-open" like eNet; and proprietary ones like Somfy io.
Somfy has the advantage that everything comes from one source and it should be plug and play. The ideal solution for beginners—you simply put together what you need, install it, and it works right away. The big disadvantage, of course, is that you can only integrate Somfy or Somfy-approved sensors and actuators and are dependent on Somfy continuing to develop new products and supporting the current protocol.
eNet is a protocol from a few premium manufacturers, and as such, the devices are quite expensive. Although it is an open protocol, it is supported by only a few providers and products. So it has the same disadvantage as Somfy: limited selection and dependency on a small number of providers.
The open protocols, which are basically standards, have the advantage of many providers. However, this is also the biggest disadvantage because it’s easy to lose oversight, you end up assembling the whole system yourself without it all coming from one source, and there are likely to be significant differences in quality.
Is this roughly correct?
bauenmk20201 Mar 2021 14:03One fundamental question remains: Are you building with a developer, a general contractor, an architect, or managing it yourself? This also affects how the electrical work is carried out and the costs involved.
H
HansDampf13111 Mar 2021 14:3911ant schrieb:
I could certainly offer you some informed input on this question, but considering your previous thread history, I think it would be irresponsible. So here, I just want to give you a warning: resist the temptation to use any downtime to dive into details, at least until you’ve (figuratively) “reached the basement ceiling” in building your knowledge about house construction! Sometimes, future homeowners are like expectant fathers long before the due date who are already mentally preparing for postpartum exercises and bottle warming.
For your choice of building partner, this particular aspect is not relevant, since it’s typically a specialist planner’s topic, and all systems should be regarded as “construction method neutral.” Just don’t even think about choosing a builder based on whether they offer some smart home system in their catalog!Thank you for the warning and advice. I basically agree with you, although in this particular case I want to use the downtime while I’m waiting for feedback from initial consultation meetings and regarding the plot to at least get some basic understanding of things that will inevitably become relevant sooner or later. I understand your point, but this is not about gaining deeper understanding or making a decision yet. And choosing a building partner based on marketing material or even the offered smart home solution would never have crossed my mind 😉bauenmk2020 schrieb:
One fundamental question remains:
Are you building with a developer, general contractor, architect, or managing it yourself? This also affects how the electrical work will be carried out and what costs will be involved.At the moment, it looks like a general contractor/prefabricated house builder. Managing the build myself or contracting individually is out of the question, as I neither have the time nor the experience.bauenmk20201 Mar 2021 16:06Make sure to get informed early about the options your construction partner offers. From my own experience, I strongly recommend addressing this topic early on and not relying on handling it properly "during the material selection" or "together with the electrician on site" later on!
HansDampf1311 schrieb:
And choosing the building partner based on marketing materials or even the offered smart home solution would never have occurred to me. That’s already good to hear and makes me glad, but I still see the risk:
HansDampf1311 schrieb:
where, in this specific case, I want to use the downtime while waiting for feedback from initial consultation meetings and information about the plot to at least get a basic understanding of things that will sooner or later become relevant anyway. That sounds tempting, like “then it’s already done, you have to deal with it eventually anyway.” But as long as you still need to have the basics clear in your mind, it tends to be a counterproductive distraction, which is why I’m warning you.
bauenmk2020 schrieb:
From my own experience, I can only advise addressing this topic early and definitely not relying on handling it properly “during the selection of fixtures and fittings” or “together with the electrician on-site”! Correct — of course, this other extreme must also be avoided.
HansDampf1311 schrieb:
At the moment, it looks like a general contractor/prefabricated house builder. Managing the build yourself or sub-contracting yourself is out of the question, as I have neither the time nor the experience. If that’s the case, it’s all the more reason to build with an architect and have them also handle the tendering and construction supervision.
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I would approach this differently and initially set aside the various systems.
For me, the first step would be to decide what you actually want to implement "smartly." First, determine whether you just want remote control capabilities or a fully smart system. Write up a requirements specification and then look into how to implement it.
For me, the first step would be to decide what you actually want to implement "smartly." First, determine whether you just want remote control capabilities or a fully smart system. Write up a requirements specification and then look into how to implement it.
H
HansDampf13111 Mar 2021 20:57hanse987 schrieb:
I would approach this differently and initially set aside the various systems.
For me, the first step would be: What do you want to implement as "smart"? First, decide whether you just want remote control or a truly smart system. Write a requirements specification and then look at how to implement it. Funny, the term "requirements specification" and the idea that this would be the more sensible first step also occurred to me today 🙂