Hello,
we have installed switched outlets in every living area of the house, controlled by switches (some combined with ceiling lights). I would now like to replace some of these switches with dimmers. This would mean that the connected outlets could also be dimmed. I plan to mark these outlets visibly.
However, there is a risk that high-power devices might be plugged into these outlets accidentally (for example, the mother-in-law visiting and wanting to use an iron).
Has anyone done something similar and specially protected these outlets?
Best regards, Andreas
we have installed switched outlets in every living area of the house, controlled by switches (some combined with ceiling lights). I would now like to replace some of these switches with dimmers. This would mean that the connected outlets could also be dimmed. I plan to mark these outlets visibly.
However, there is a risk that high-power devices might be plugged into these outlets accidentally (for example, the mother-in-law visiting and wanting to use an iron).
Has anyone done something similar and specially protected these outlets?
Best regards, Andreas
I expected that already; electrical questions always tend to go in that direction. ;-)
Thanks to my family, I can handle some electrical work myself, but not with KNX and similar systems. Time is the issue here. We have already considered what we want and implemented it as follows:
In the northern part of the house (stairwell, bathrooms, hallways, entrance area) as well as in the storage basement and laundry room, lighting is controlled by motion detectors. In the bathrooms and upstairs hallway, in addition to presence detectors, there is a separate relay circuit (Homematic) for dimmed lighting in the evenings. In the southern living areas, we don’t see any benefit in automating the lights. We tried that in our apartment, and it takes at least three years of living in it until it works the way you want. Here, we planned two separate light sources in each room, with multi-way switches in the larger rooms. The dining and living rooms also have dimmers. The roller shutters are controlled via Homematic (easy to use and well integrated with sunshine, balcony door opening, etc., and can also be operated directly on site). Additionally, there are some small extra features.
The wiring was done by an electrician, while the motion detectors, dimmers, and roller shutter actuators were installed by us.
Gross costs:
Automatic switch Busch-Jaeger 57 euros each
Roller shutter actuator Homematic approx. 60 euros each
Rotary dimmer Busch-Jaeger 50 euros each
That means an extra 1,700 euros for automation. That’s already what the KNX pushbuttons would cost me. Plus the additional wiring, separate distribution board, and KNX motion detectors are much more expensive. Of course, KNX can do more, but do I need that?
Heating and ventilation operate automatically without any need for adjustment.
We are very happy with this setup. If I want to automate the living areas later, I can replace the switches with Homematic actuators. If Homematic no longer exists in 10 years, I’ll just use whatever the successor is.
Thanks to my family, I can handle some electrical work myself, but not with KNX and similar systems. Time is the issue here. We have already considered what we want and implemented it as follows:
In the northern part of the house (stairwell, bathrooms, hallways, entrance area) as well as in the storage basement and laundry room, lighting is controlled by motion detectors. In the bathrooms and upstairs hallway, in addition to presence detectors, there is a separate relay circuit (Homematic) for dimmed lighting in the evenings. In the southern living areas, we don’t see any benefit in automating the lights. We tried that in our apartment, and it takes at least three years of living in it until it works the way you want. Here, we planned two separate light sources in each room, with multi-way switches in the larger rooms. The dining and living rooms also have dimmers. The roller shutters are controlled via Homematic (easy to use and well integrated with sunshine, balcony door opening, etc., and can also be operated directly on site). Additionally, there are some small extra features.
The wiring was done by an electrician, while the motion detectors, dimmers, and roller shutter actuators were installed by us.
Gross costs:
Automatic switch Busch-Jaeger 57 euros each
Roller shutter actuator Homematic approx. 60 euros each
Rotary dimmer Busch-Jaeger 50 euros each
That means an extra 1,700 euros for automation. That’s already what the KNX pushbuttons would cost me. Plus the additional wiring, separate distribution board, and KNX motion detectors are much more expensive. Of course, KNX can do more, but do I need that?
Heating and ventilation operate automatically without any need for adjustment.
We are very happy with this setup. If I want to automate the living areas later, I can replace the switches with Homematic actuators. If Homematic no longer exists in 10 years, I’ll just use whatever the successor is.