ᐅ Preparing Electrical Wiring for a Smart Home in New Construction
Created on: 26 Dec 2015 12:00
J
jeti79
Hello everyone,
We are currently planning our new build, and we will be installing the electrical system ourselves (an electrician in the family).
I want to consider the topic of smart home technology early on, even though it won’t be installed right from the start. I would appreciate tips from those who have already done something similar.
So far, the plan is to use push-button switches (for example, for lights, blinds, etc.) and run separate wiring through relays in the distribution board to control the 230V (230V) lines.
Additionally, I want to install window contacts and sensors (temperature, humidity, and motion) in all rooms and be able to monitor these later via the 24V (24V) lines.
I’m interested in what else I should include early on to be well prepared for smart home integration later. I’d like to avoid radio/wireless connections and pure bus systems if possible.
As an IT specialist, I am considering using a Raspberry Pi, but it seems to me that even with expansion boards, it has too few ports.
I look forward to your tips and suggestions. Links for further reading on the topic are also welcome.
Best regards from Westerkappeln,
Jens
We are currently planning our new build, and we will be installing the electrical system ourselves (an electrician in the family).
I want to consider the topic of smart home technology early on, even though it won’t be installed right from the start. I would appreciate tips from those who have already done something similar.
So far, the plan is to use push-button switches (for example, for lights, blinds, etc.) and run separate wiring through relays in the distribution board to control the 230V (230V) lines.
Additionally, I want to install window contacts and sensors (temperature, humidity, and motion) in all rooms and be able to monitor these later via the 24V (24V) lines.
I’m interested in what else I should include early on to be well prepared for smart home integration later. I’d like to avoid radio/wireless connections and pure bus systems if possible.
As an IT specialist, I am considering using a Raspberry Pi, but it seems to me that even with expansion boards, it has too few ports.
I look forward to your tips and suggestions. Links for further reading on the topic are also welcome.
Best regards from Westerkappeln,
Jens
jeti79 schrieb:
Do the cables for KNX need to meet a specific specification?I believe the best approach is to:
- Define your requirements
- Find an experienced electrician and work out a solution together
Mycraft schrieb:
Please write down everything you want to control and how each function should be switched. Which additional features you want and what kind of logic you have in mind... then maybe we could rule out some systems from the start. Okay, for now my requirements are:
- Control roller shutters (time-controlled, manual switch, or event-triggered)
- Control lights/power outlets (indoors/outdoors) (time-controlled, manual switch, or event-triggered)
- Possibly also query/control heating thermostats (time-controlled, manual switch, or sensor-based)
In general: Query sensors (windows/doors open/closed, possibly also vibration and motion, as well as room temperature and humidity) and trigger events if needed (send notifications and/or execute one or more actions)
As a fun feature, controlling everything via tablet would be nice. (I could put together an HTML/Python programming using FHEM.)
Mycraft schrieb:
but usually you have to decide in advance where the expansion modules/sensors/actuators will be installed and pre-install the wiring accordingly. My idea is that the complete "component control" is housed in the distribution panel, and only the, admittedly complex, wiring to the motor/sensor is installed externally. (For example, roller shutters and window contact switches would need to be wired in advance.) Sensor cables for temperature/humidity/motion could be installed where the light switch for the room will be and later used there (with a suitable cover from the switch program).
The wiring for the window (whether a contact switch or intrusion alarm) would be run up to the window already. Windows with contact switches could possibly be ordered in advance to avoid later tinkering on site. That way, the cables to the distribution panel are already laid.
That’s where my thoughts currently stand so far.
Mycraft schrieb:
At first glance yes... but you should take a closer look at least twice... I’m currently working on that and am still quite early in the process. The idea of a (at least partially) smart home is still quite new and originated from a Raspberry Pi project.
Hmm, so relatively simple basic functions...
So many options are possible, ranging from Homematic to Loxone, free@Home, various standalone solutions, and of course KNX.
The question is how advanced you want to get and whether a closed or proprietary system will be sufficient... the visualization you mentioned could then be run on the Raspberry.
So many options are possible, ranging from Homematic to Loxone, free@Home, various standalone solutions, and of course KNX.
The question is how advanced you want to get and whether a closed or proprietary system will be sufficient... the visualization you mentioned could then be run on the Raspberry.
Yes, I also think that, for now, I don’t plan anything extraordinary with it.
However, considering the costs, it is quite certain that I will not have the installation done during the new build. From what I see, for example, a basic Homematic installation for about 10 roller shutters and window contacts alone would cost over €2000 (without labor costs). I also found the free@home concept interesting, where the bus consists of only 2 wires, which I would already provide with a star-shaped electrical installation through switches.
At the moment, I’m most comfortable with the plan as it currently stands: star-shaped wiring to the distribution board and additional wires to the “measurement points” to implement one of these solutions later on. Whether certified KNX cables will be used is still an option (but I haven’t done much research on KNX yet).
I will get in touch with the sales partners in the coming year (which isn’t far away) to see if and how something like this can be implemented. It doesn’t seem out of reach.
In any case, I’d like to thank you all for your suggestions and tips, and I’m, of course, open to more!
However, considering the costs, it is quite certain that I will not have the installation done during the new build. From what I see, for example, a basic Homematic installation for about 10 roller shutters and window contacts alone would cost over €2000 (without labor costs). I also found the free@home concept interesting, where the bus consists of only 2 wires, which I would already provide with a star-shaped electrical installation through switches.
At the moment, I’m most comfortable with the plan as it currently stands: star-shaped wiring to the distribution board and additional wires to the “measurement points” to implement one of these solutions later on. Whether certified KNX cables will be used is still an option (but I haven’t done much research on KNX yet).
I will get in touch with the sales partners in the coming year (which isn’t far away) to see if and how something like this can be implemented. It doesn’t seem out of reach.
In any case, I’d like to thank you all for your suggestions and tips, and I’m, of course, open to more!
free@Home is just a simplified version of the KNX bus, which is significantly limited in the number and capabilities of devices...
KNX is also just a TP (twisted pair) bus... the second pair is only used as a reserve or for powering power-hungry components... but usually, the second pair is not used at all in single-family homes due to lack of necessity.
KNX is also just a TP (twisted pair) bus... the second pair is only used as a reserve or for powering power-hungry components... but usually, the second pair is not used at all in single-family homes due to lack of necessity.
Okay, I’m now considering installing the certified cables right away to be prepared for the near future. The star wiring layout will definitely be set up, and everything will initially be connected conventionally using impulse relays.
When I see that I need to budget around €80 per roller shutter actuator for Homematic—on top of the other equipment—this will definitely be an investment for a building savings plan or other unexpected financial boosts.
Thank you very much in advance!
... and Happy New Year!
When I see that I need to budget around €80 per roller shutter actuator for Homematic—on top of the other equipment—this will definitely be an investment for a building savings plan or other unexpected financial boosts.
Thank you very much in advance!
... and Happy New Year!
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