ᐅ How to smartly wire door/window sensors, push buttons, and LEDs? Home automation systems compared: HA vs. DALI-2 vs. KNX, etc.
Created on: 21 Jun 2025 17:10
M
mm56789
I need to finalize my electrical planning for a new build within the next 2 days. Here are the conditions:
(I don’t need a lecture on why I’m only starting this so close to the deadline—it has its reasons—I just need focused advice.)
- The developer does not allow any fundamental changes to the electrical wiring / lighting wiring / switches, so, for example, making every outlet switchable via KNX is not an option.
- However, I can request additional cables (any type, including KNX bus cables or extra 5x1.5 cables or pull wires) and empty conduits installed anywhere as empty boxes or wall outlets.
- Essentially, I want to use Home Assistant with a NUC/MiniPC in the basement as the “brain” (I’m really excited about programming and integrating different components, and already have many), and control various functions throughout the house via retrofitted push buttons as well as voice control.
- Which push buttons to use (Zigbee, Aqara, etc.) or something from DALI is still undecided.
- For lighting, I mainly want to use LED strips along ceiling edges, in suspended ceilings, and along baseboards, especially in the living room and kitchen.
- I want to exclude Loxone as it is too proprietary.
- For LAN/WiFi, access points, and possibly cameras (PoE), I will use UniFi equipment.
- Most outlets don’t need to be smart, only a few on demand via Shelly/Sonoff or directly with smart LEDs/Zigbee.
After days of research, I’m still stuck in the endless possibilities. My goal is to stay flexible:
All these questions are connected, so it’s better to read everything first!
I want to avoid installing both DALI and KNX bus cables simultaneously as a backup (double the cost).
a) Main question: How/with what do I integrate door and window contacts, glass break sensors? I prefer a wired solution here.
1) Via Home Assistant/ESPhome -> Konnected Alarm Panel -> many binary inputs, with reed contacts/sensor cables running directly to the basement?
2) Via DALI-2 bus? DALI-2 is supposed to support binary devices, Part 306 supports universal sensors—I’m not finding detailed info. Are these still classic reed contacts that I feed as binary inputs in the main panel (e.g., Helvar Imagine 910 DALI server or Lutron Vive DALI system)? Or are these special sensors that connect directly to the DALI bus (2 bus wires 1.5mm²), star-shaped or anywhere except a ring? Can you also connect reed contacts directly to the DALI bus? I’ve read there are DALI presence detectors with free binary inputs (although one input is too few), or are there special binary input devices where I can collect reed signals per room and translate them to the bus?
I could have an additional DALI bus line / outlet (5x1.5mm², two wires for the bus) in every room near the main light switch and then branch off to all needed sensors/actuators (DALI lamps/LED controllers, roller shutter actuators, window contacts), so I wouldn’t have to run every sensor back to the basement/main panel. – WHAT is the best, smartest solution here?
For every light switch (which will become a push button with DC LED powered separately, switched via DALI bus) I will have 5x1.5 instead of 3x1.5 cables going to the corresponding lamp.
3) All of the above, but via KNX bus? Only if DALI-2 doesn’t work at all? It would be nice to have the option to use DALI, and also easier not to run additional KNX bus cables directly to the lamps. Besides Home Assistant NUC and DALI server, I would prefer not to run a third KNX server.
b) Would DALI/KNX be the best choice for my project with these limitations, or should I just run all cables for sensors back to the basement and decide later how to read them? Or should I prefer KNX bus cables instead of DALI bus cables?
c) If DALI bus is installed, could I use DALI/Gira push buttons instead of Zigbee push buttons, and control/program them just as well in Home Assistant?
d) Does DALI make sense for lighting if I want to use lamps from different manufacturers anyway? I really like the Paulmann MaxLED for good price/performance. Barthelme LEDs are also said to be very good (but again only with DALI/KNX/BT).
Thank you all, any tips are very much appreciated!
(I don’t need a lecture on why I’m only starting this so close to the deadline—it has its reasons—I just need focused advice.)
- The developer does not allow any fundamental changes to the electrical wiring / lighting wiring / switches, so, for example, making every outlet switchable via KNX is not an option.
- However, I can request additional cables (any type, including KNX bus cables or extra 5x1.5 cables or pull wires) and empty conduits installed anywhere as empty boxes or wall outlets.
- Essentially, I want to use Home Assistant with a NUC/MiniPC in the basement as the “brain” (I’m really excited about programming and integrating different components, and already have many), and control various functions throughout the house via retrofitted push buttons as well as voice control.
- Which push buttons to use (Zigbee, Aqara, etc.) or something from DALI is still undecided.
- For lighting, I mainly want to use LED strips along ceiling edges, in suspended ceilings, and along baseboards, especially in the living room and kitchen.
- I want to exclude Loxone as it is too proprietary.
- For LAN/WiFi, access points, and possibly cameras (PoE), I will use UniFi equipment.
- Most outlets don’t need to be smart, only a few on demand via Shelly/Sonoff or directly with smart LEDs/Zigbee.
After days of research, I’m still stuck in the endless possibilities. My goal is to stay flexible:
All these questions are connected, so it’s better to read everything first!
I want to avoid installing both DALI and KNX bus cables simultaneously as a backup (double the cost).
a) Main question: How/with what do I integrate door and window contacts, glass break sensors? I prefer a wired solution here.
1) Via Home Assistant/ESPhome -> Konnected Alarm Panel -> many binary inputs, with reed contacts/sensor cables running directly to the basement?
2) Via DALI-2 bus? DALI-2 is supposed to support binary devices, Part 306 supports universal sensors—I’m not finding detailed info. Are these still classic reed contacts that I feed as binary inputs in the main panel (e.g., Helvar Imagine 910 DALI server or Lutron Vive DALI system)? Or are these special sensors that connect directly to the DALI bus (2 bus wires 1.5mm²), star-shaped or anywhere except a ring? Can you also connect reed contacts directly to the DALI bus? I’ve read there are DALI presence detectors with free binary inputs (although one input is too few), or are there special binary input devices where I can collect reed signals per room and translate them to the bus?
I could have an additional DALI bus line / outlet (5x1.5mm², two wires for the bus) in every room near the main light switch and then branch off to all needed sensors/actuators (DALI lamps/LED controllers, roller shutter actuators, window contacts), so I wouldn’t have to run every sensor back to the basement/main panel. – WHAT is the best, smartest solution here?
For every light switch (which will become a push button with DC LED powered separately, switched via DALI bus) I will have 5x1.5 instead of 3x1.5 cables going to the corresponding lamp.
3) All of the above, but via KNX bus? Only if DALI-2 doesn’t work at all? It would be nice to have the option to use DALI, and also easier not to run additional KNX bus cables directly to the lamps. Besides Home Assistant NUC and DALI server, I would prefer not to run a third KNX server.
b) Would DALI/KNX be the best choice for my project with these limitations, or should I just run all cables for sensors back to the basement and decide later how to read them? Or should I prefer KNX bus cables instead of DALI bus cables?
c) If DALI bus is installed, could I use DALI/Gira push buttons instead of Zigbee push buttons, and control/program them just as well in Home Assistant?
d) Does DALI make sense for lighting if I want to use lamps from different manufacturers anyway? I really like the Paulmann MaxLED for good price/performance. Barthelme LEDs are also said to be very good (but again only with DALI/KNX/BT).
Thank you all, any tips are very much appreciated!
B
Bierwächter7 Jul 2025 16:05Think about access points.
I will also be working with Shelly devices and 60mm (2.4 inches) junction boxes, so don’t worry about that.
What you imagine and what you actually implement are often two different things. You can plan a lot, but if the circumstances don’t cooperate, it often just doesn’t work out.
I will also be working with Shelly devices and 60mm (2.4 inches) junction boxes, so don’t worry about that.
What you imagine and what you actually implement are often two different things. You can plan a lot, but if the circumstances don’t cooperate, it often just doesn’t work out.
Thank you all for your responses! They really helped me with my decision-making.
Yes, I decided against KNX/DALI because there are still too many uncertainties about where everything should go. Right now, I don’t really know which LEDs I want in which rooms, nor how I’ll be using the rooms or where furniture will be placed.
I have now planned cable runs for door/window contacts to all doors and windows, either directly or partly through empty conduits (which will also contain CAT7 cables). I will integrate these via Konnect through HomeAssistant (which is already planned). In most rooms, including the living room and kitchen, I will install a second ceiling anyway, so I can easily reposition all LED strips and spots as I like later, calmly in about six months when everything is in place. I will control them all via Zigbee. Roller shutter actuators will also be controlled either through Shelly or alternative solutions. With that, everything should be fine for me.
Yes, I decided against KNX/DALI because there are still too many uncertainties about where everything should go. Right now, I don’t really know which LEDs I want in which rooms, nor how I’ll be using the rooms or where furniture will be placed.
I have now planned cable runs for door/window contacts to all doors and windows, either directly or partly through empty conduits (which will also contain CAT7 cables). I will integrate these via Konnect through HomeAssistant (which is already planned). In most rooms, including the living room and kitchen, I will install a second ceiling anyway, so I can easily reposition all LED strips and spots as I like later, calmly in about six months when everything is in place. I will control them all via Zigbee. Roller shutter actuators will also be controlled either through Shelly or alternative solutions. With that, everything should be fine for me.