Hello,
We have purchased a semi-detached house from a developer, so we cannot make many changes.
We are now at the electrical planning stage. What should be considered during electrical planning to ensure future-proofing and avoid mistakes?
Here are a few points that come to mind.
SAT cable: A satellite dish will be installed on the roof, with four cables running to the technical room, and from there everything will be distributed to all rooms via a multiswitch.
Ethernet will be distributed from the technical room to all rooms (Cat7).
How should we prepare for a video doorbell? Regular doorbell wiring plus Ethernet?
Wallbox in the garage: should it be pre-installed or installed immediately? Our first electric car will arrive within 2-4 years.
Photovoltaic preparation (not offered by the developer): is a conduit from the roof to the technical room sufficient? If so, what diameter is recommended?
We want to retrofit “smart home” features ourselves later: we plan to automate electric shutters, underfloor heating, and window sensors once the new Matter system is available and after we have saved some money. We cannot afford a Busch free@home system offered by the electrician; we want to upgrade gradually.
What else should we keep in mind?
We have purchased a semi-detached house from a developer, so we cannot make many changes.
We are now at the electrical planning stage. What should be considered during electrical planning to ensure future-proofing and avoid mistakes?
Here are a few points that come to mind.
SAT cable: A satellite dish will be installed on the roof, with four cables running to the technical room, and from there everything will be distributed to all rooms via a multiswitch.
Ethernet will be distributed from the technical room to all rooms (Cat7).
How should we prepare for a video doorbell? Regular doorbell wiring plus Ethernet?
Wallbox in the garage: should it be pre-installed or installed immediately? Our first electric car will arrive within 2-4 years.
Photovoltaic preparation (not offered by the developer): is a conduit from the roof to the technical room sufficient? If so, what diameter is recommended?
We want to retrofit “smart home” features ourselves later: we plan to automate electric shutters, underfloor heating, and window sensors once the new Matter system is available and after we have saved some money. We cannot afford a Busch free@home system offered by the electrician; we want to upgrade gradually.
What else should we keep in mind?
I recommend browsing through the threads listed below. Many topics have already been discussed in detail, and your questions have been answered multiple times.
Otherwise, using SAT is the right approach. Make sure to pay attention to lightning protection and equipotential bonding!
Ethernet in every room, double outlets, and access points. It’s much harder to pull cables later, so think carefully in advance. There is a lot of information on this in this thread:
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/elektroplanung-zukunftssicher-planen.41727/
Video door intercoms: SIP and CAT cables are the key terms. Start with everything centralized and have cables run to the desired locations. If you want to use Wi-Fi for this, consider an outdoor access point as well.
Whether you need a wallbox or not is hard to answer. But since you will need electricity in the garage anyway, just have a 5x10 or even a 5x16 NYY cable installed and that should be sufficient.
For photovoltaic systems, simply run two 40mm (1.6 inches) installation conduits from top to bottom into the distribution cabinet. I find rigid conduits best suited for this, but corrugated conduits can also be used.
Smart home and Matter. Well, do you really want to wait that long? I wouldn’t expect widespread availability before 2025 at a scale comparable to what’s already possible with other systems. Plus, there’s the issue of outdated conventional wiring, on which Matter and many others rely. So, smart home setups often end up being remote controls with many limitations rather than a full solution.
Other things to consider: the number and placement of outlets, central functions, and avoiding a multitude of switches. Mentally walk through the house and think about what you want to do in the future. Also consider HDMI and HiFi—music, home cinema, or TV. Plan and install cables for these as well. Multi-room audio? Ambient lighting? Wall lights?
Then there are cameras and power supply in the garden and along fences, etc.
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/wie-viel-steckdosen-hinter-dem-tv.16921/
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/steckdosenplatzierung.33208/
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/anschluesse-strom-etc-fuer-vorgarten-und-garten.34091/
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/termin-elektriker-tipps.33148/
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/auslegung-strombedarf-in-garage-und-Wallboxen.30606/
Otherwise, using SAT is the right approach. Make sure to pay attention to lightning protection and equipotential bonding!
Ethernet in every room, double outlets, and access points. It’s much harder to pull cables later, so think carefully in advance. There is a lot of information on this in this thread:
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/elektroplanung-zukunftssicher-planen.41727/
Video door intercoms: SIP and CAT cables are the key terms. Start with everything centralized and have cables run to the desired locations. If you want to use Wi-Fi for this, consider an outdoor access point as well.
Whether you need a wallbox or not is hard to answer. But since you will need electricity in the garage anyway, just have a 5x10 or even a 5x16 NYY cable installed and that should be sufficient.
For photovoltaic systems, simply run two 40mm (1.6 inches) installation conduits from top to bottom into the distribution cabinet. I find rigid conduits best suited for this, but corrugated conduits can also be used.
Smart home and Matter. Well, do you really want to wait that long? I wouldn’t expect widespread availability before 2025 at a scale comparable to what’s already possible with other systems. Plus, there’s the issue of outdated conventional wiring, on which Matter and many others rely. So, smart home setups often end up being remote controls with many limitations rather than a full solution.
Other things to consider: the number and placement of outlets, central functions, and avoiding a multitude of switches. Mentally walk through the house and think about what you want to do in the future. Also consider HDMI and HiFi—music, home cinema, or TV. Plan and install cables for these as well. Multi-room audio? Ambient lighting? Wall lights?
Then there are cameras and power supply in the garden and along fences, etc.
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/wie-viel-steckdosen-hinter-dem-tv.16921/
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/steckdosenplatzierung.33208/
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/anschluesse-strom-etc-fuer-vorgarten-und-garten.34091/
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/termin-elektriker-tipps.33148/
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/auslegung-strombedarf-in-garage-und-Wallboxen.30606/
Taitv789 schrieb:
Ethernet will be distributed from the technical room to all rooms (Cat7) Plan central network outlets for access points. Position them as high as possible on the wall, since the developer will probably not agree to placing them on the ceiling, which would be the better location. It never hurts to at least prepare cables for an access point on the terrace.
Taitv789 schrieb:
Wallbox in the garage: just prepare or install immediately? First electric car will arrive in 2–4 years. Don’t forget to install the network cable alongside the electrical cable for the wallbox.
Thank you for your messages.
I read through everything yesterday.
Unfortunately, I have no knowledge of electrical work, so I have a few questions:
Ethernet: Why always double outlets? They don’t really cost that much more, do they?
Satellite: Is a Quattro LNB enough, or should it be 8?
Video doorbell: What do SIP and CAT mean? (CAT probably refers to Ethernet?)
Wallbox (EV charger): My question was whether it’s worth installing it now so that in 2-4 years we don’t have to hire an electrician again,
or will there be much better wallboxes with new standards or similar in 2-4 years, making it preferable to have the latest version?
Alternatively, should we have a red three-phase outlet installed so we can just plug in a mobile wallbox and use it directly?
Wallbox preparation: Should we lay empty conduit with power cables right away?
We already have a standard outlet in the garage.
Smart home: Unfortunately, we can’t afford a proper smart home system during the construction phase (like KNX). Busch free@home is also very expensive and not ideal.
We think a basic home remote with small automations would be enough, such as:
Shutters at sunrise and sunset
Automatic shutter lock if the door is open
Therefore, we want to replace a few components like shutters or light switches.
For example, can we simply replace the shutter toggle switch with a Matter shutter controller like Eve?
The semi-detached house is expected to be finished in early 2023, so we can still wait 1-2 years and save some money 😀
I read through everything yesterday.
Unfortunately, I have no knowledge of electrical work, so I have a few questions:
Ethernet: Why always double outlets? They don’t really cost that much more, do they?
Satellite: Is a Quattro LNB enough, or should it be 8?
Video doorbell: What do SIP and CAT mean? (CAT probably refers to Ethernet?)
Wallbox (EV charger): My question was whether it’s worth installing it now so that in 2-4 years we don’t have to hire an electrician again,
or will there be much better wallboxes with new standards or similar in 2-4 years, making it preferable to have the latest version?
Alternatively, should we have a red three-phase outlet installed so we can just plug in a mobile wallbox and use it directly?
Wallbox preparation: Should we lay empty conduit with power cables right away?
We already have a standard outlet in the garage.
Smart home: Unfortunately, we can’t afford a proper smart home system during the construction phase (like KNX). Busch free@home is also very expensive and not ideal.
We think a basic home remote with small automations would be enough, such as:
Shutters at sunrise and sunset
Automatic shutter lock if the door is open
Therefore, we want to replace a few components like shutters or light switches.
For example, can we simply replace the shutter toggle switch with a Matter shutter controller like Eve?
The semi-detached house is expected to be finished in early 2023, so we can still wait 1-2 years and save some money 😀
Taitv789 schrieb:
Ethernet: Why do double outlets always cost more? Don’t they really cost that much more? Because the outlets only add a small surcharge but provide twice the benefit, and pulling cables later in this area is more difficult than you might think.
Taitv789 schrieb:
Sat: Is a Quattro LNB enough or should there be 8? Not Quadro but Quattro — there is a subtle but important difference.
A Quad LNB has four outputs, each capable of providing any of the four frequency bands and polarizations. The LNB outputs are switched by the satellite receiver, as explained above, using a 22Hz tone and switching voltage. This is like a universal LNB with four outputs.
A Quad LNB is ideal if you need up to four devices (TVs/receivers) and do not require extensive expansion options.
Quattro LNB
The Quattro LNB offers four outputs, each assigned to a specific band/polarization fixed at the time of manufacturing. It is not possible to switch the band or polarization using a tone or switching voltage.
A Quattro LNB is typically used to feed a large distribution system. A single dish with a Quattro LNB and a multiswitch can supply between 4 and 100 devices. The multiswitch can provide any of the input signals to each output depending on a tone/voltage sent by the receiver at each location over the cable. It is as if each receiver at each location has its own dedicated LNB.
So with a Quattro LNB, you are not limited to just four users.
Taitv789 schrieb:
Video doorbell: what do SIP and CAT mean (CAT likely Ethernet?) The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a network protocol used to establish, manage, and terminate communication sessions between two or more participants. The protocol is specified in RFC 3261, among others. SIP is commonly used in IP telephony and often in door communication systems.
CAT refers to the Ethernet cable.
Taitv789 schrieb:
Wallbox: my question was whether it’s worth installing it now so that in 2-4 years a new electrician doesn’t have to come again Yes and no. If you don’t have an electric vehicle yet and it’s only planned, I would postpone installing the box itself for later. It’s sufficient, as I mentioned before, to already lay the cables for it now. Most likely the electrician will have to come later anyway—especially if there are subsidies or similar programs again.
Taitv789 schrieb:
Or will there be much better wallboxes, new standards or similar in 2-4 years that will make you want to have the latest version? That is unclear, and even policymakers don’t know what might come. The technology develops too quickly to install something now that could be unsuitable or already outdated when the time comes.
Taitv789 schrieb:
Alternatively, should we have a red high-current socket installed so we can simply plug in and use a mobile wallbox ourselves? That’s what I suggested. Have one (or two) sufficiently thick cables installed, since you will need power in the garage anyway.
Taitv789 schrieb:
Unfortunately, I have no knowledge of electrical work, so I have a few questions: Yes, that comes through clearly, for example in your planned approach to smart home integration. You would really need professional advice here because it looks like you have only superficial knowledge and ideas. Don’t get me wrong—no one can be an expert in all areas, especially in house construction.
Taitv789 schrieb:
Smart home: Unfortunately we can’t afford a proper smart home setup during construction (like KNX); Busch free@home is also very expensive and not ideal.
We think a simple home remote with small automations would be enough, like the following:
Rollershutter at sunrise and sunset
Lock automatic roller shutter when door is open As they say, appetite grows while eating. Rollershutter automation at sunrise/sunset is child’s play, and you’ll quickly realize after installation that it’s not what you imagined. Countless situations will come up where you want the shutters open or closed at different times.
When door contacts come into play, it turns into a “real” control system. You’ll probably want shading in some areas or weekends where you want to sleep longer without the shutters continuously moving, etc.
Taitv789 schrieb:
Can we simply replace the toggle switch for the rollershutter with a Matter rollershutter control, like Eve? A clear “yes and no.” It depends on how the wiring was done, what motors were installed, and other factors.
Since Matter devices generally also require structured wiring to fully benefit, the step to a complete home automation system is not far. Also, no one really knows yet what Matter devices will cost or what features they will cover.
Matter and other wireless systems are mainly designed for existing buildings to satisfy the broad market and make profits there. For a new build, it’s better to consider a “full smart home” with cross-system integration since this opens possibilities you may not even imagine yet.
Many things can still be retrofitted later if you prepare the right foundation—meaning structured wiring and a suitable network of devices.
In my opinion, smart home includes design, functionality, and flexibility. With conventional wiring alone, you have limited options, and switch proliferation is hard to avoid—each system wants its own switches, each device needs one, and Matter won’t really change that.
Taitv789 schrieb:
The semi-detached house should be completed only by early 2023, and then we can wait and save for 1-2 more years In that case, I would rather save a bit more and perhaps skip some things in the house in favor of modern wiring/electrics instead of installing a system now that is already almost outdated and then try to patch something together with lots of extra boxes...
It’s better to install an expandable base system with an eye to the future than to hope the big players will eventually come up with something.
Thank you for your detailed answers.
Sat: Thanks for the explanation. I didn’t even know there were Quadro and Quattro versions.
Wallbox: We will have a cable thick enough installed all the way to the garage so that we can charge up to 22 kW (even though probably only 11 kW will be used, but maybe in a few years 22 kW wallboxes will be allowed).
Matter: Matter is supposed to be based on Thread technology. Eve already offers devices with Thread that create a self-healing mesh network and then become Matter-compatible through updates. For example, Philips Hue is also making its bridge Matter-compatible. (Thread is supposed to be based on Zigbee.)
Smart Home: How would an expandable basic system look like for you? What would be the approximate cost? (Feel free to give a range, e.g., 3000–5000 €)
(Semi-detached house, 3 floors, 150 m² (1600 ft²) plus basement)
Yes, you’re right, additional shading would also be nice.
I thought with Matter you could basically achieve everything that Homematic IP or Bosch’s current smart home systems can do, but with cross-brand compatibility?
They have switches for everything to swap out: lights, blinds, heating, and so on.
Sorry for my limited knowledge 😀
Sat: Thanks for the explanation. I didn’t even know there were Quadro and Quattro versions.
Wallbox: We will have a cable thick enough installed all the way to the garage so that we can charge up to 22 kW (even though probably only 11 kW will be used, but maybe in a few years 22 kW wallboxes will be allowed).
Matter: Matter is supposed to be based on Thread technology. Eve already offers devices with Thread that create a self-healing mesh network and then become Matter-compatible through updates. For example, Philips Hue is also making its bridge Matter-compatible. (Thread is supposed to be based on Zigbee.)
Smart Home: How would an expandable basic system look like for you? What would be the approximate cost? (Feel free to give a range, e.g., 3000–5000 €)
(Semi-detached house, 3 floors, 150 m² (1600 ft²) plus basement)
Yes, you’re right, additional shading would also be nice.
I thought with Matter you could basically achieve everything that Homematic IP or Bosch’s current smart home systems can do, but with cross-brand compatibility?
They have switches for everything to swap out: lights, blinds, heating, and so on.
Sorry for my limited knowledge 😀
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