ᐅ How to Achieve Lighting Atmosphere and Lighting Scenes in a New Build?
Created on: 8 Jan 2023 18:28
M
Marc240
Hello, we are planning a new build and would like to have a smart lighting control system. Our idea is to have spotlights and additional light sources distributed throughout the house. I will describe an example based on the kitchen/dining area to explain what we have in mind:
Spotlights distributed in the kitchen and dining area, plus a pendant light over the dining table. Indirect lighting (e.g., kitchen plinth lighting), along with other light sources such as table or floor lamps.
All lights should be individually switchable (on/off) and dimmable (bright/dim), with adjustable color temperature (cool/warm white). It should be possible to set and save multiple lighting scenes, for example:
Cooking scene: all kitchen lights bright with cool white
Cozy dining scene: dimmed kitchen lights, pendant light warm white and dimmable up to bright, indirect lighting warm white and bright
+ additional lighting scenes
The whole system should be controllable via a switch (including scene selection) and through voice control or an app. Even in the event of a system failure (wireless), it should still be possible to turn the lights on using the switch.
Which system do you recommend for implementing this?
What costs can we expect?
Spotlights distributed in the kitchen and dining area, plus a pendant light over the dining table. Indirect lighting (e.g., kitchen plinth lighting), along with other light sources such as table or floor lamps.
All lights should be individually switchable (on/off) and dimmable (bright/dim), with adjustable color temperature (cool/warm white). It should be possible to set and save multiple lighting scenes, for example:
Cooking scene: all kitchen lights bright with cool white
Cozy dining scene: dimmed kitchen lights, pendant light warm white and dimmable up to bright, indirect lighting warm white and bright
+ additional lighting scenes
The whole system should be controllable via a switch (including scene selection) and through voice control or an app. Even in the event of a system failure (wireless), it should still be possible to turn the lights on using the switch.
Which system do you recommend for implementing this?
What costs can we expect?
A
Allthewayup10 Jan 2023 11:24We actually have additional costs of about 25,000 for all KNX scopes in our new build. It strongly depends on the needs (wishes) of the users and what the budget allows. With conventional electrical installation and KNX, we are looking at around 55,000 total costs for the new build. There is hardly any limit upwards.
I worked with a Raspberry Pi for a while, but it eventually became too time-consuming, so we decided to order a "ready-made" solution including initial programming, and we are paying accordingly for that.
I worked with a Raspberry Pi for a while, but it eventually became too time-consuming, so we decided to order a "ready-made" solution including initial programming, and we are paying accordingly for that.
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allstar8310 Jan 2023 20:49Marc240 schrieb:
Hello, we are planning a new build and would like to have a smart lighting control system. What we imagine is having spotlights and other light sources distributed throughout the house. I will describe an example based on the kitchen/dining area to explain what we have in mind:
Spotlights distributed in the kitchen and dining area, plus a pendant lamp above the dining table. Indirect lighting (e.g., under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen), and additional light sources like table or floor lamps.
All lights should be individually switchable (on/off) and dimmable (bright/dim), with adjustable color temperature (cool/warm white).
Multiple lighting scenes should be set up and saved.
For example:
Cooking scene: all lights in the kitchen area bright cool white
Cozy dining scene: kitchen lights dimmed, pendant lamp warm white and dimmed to bright, indirect lighting warm white and bright.
+ other lighting scenes
Switching should be possible via a physical switch (including scene changes) and via voice control/app.
Even in case of system failure (wireless), it should still be possible to operate the lights via the switch.
Which system would you recommend to realize this?
What costs should we expect? If you want a fully conventional electrical setup, this could potentially be done with Shelly devices. With these, switching should still be possible even in case of a wireless failure.
For the scenes, you could use something like a Shelly I4 WiFi switch. It can control multiple scenes.
For the lights, you would need Shelly 1 or 2.5 relays, or a Shelly Dimmer 2 as actuators for lights and outlets. You will need deep wall boxes or probably a sub-distribution board somewhere in the living area.
Estimated costs for a living room: about 15 actuators. The cost per Shelly actuator is around €30. Wiring around €15. Deep boxes and sub-distribution board estimated at €300? Total about €975 per living room additionally. Plus your own time to configure scenes and Shelly devices.
Shelly devices can also be integrated via Alexa skills and other voice assistants. There is an app available, or it can be connected relatively easily via Home Assistant.
I would recommend getting several opinions on this as well.
As far as I know, Shellys reach their limits when switching color temperatures.
I planned the same, but any Shelly-based system would have eventually required some kind of bridge or a Raspberry Pi. That’s why, the day before yesterday, I switched to Hue. I’m not entirely comfortable with this solution, but I definitely appreciate the much simpler setup.
I planned the same, but any Shelly-based system would have eventually required some kind of bridge or a Raspberry Pi. That’s why, the day before yesterday, I switched to Hue. I’m not entirely comfortable with this solution, but I definitely appreciate the much simpler setup.
Shelly is, in my opinion, a temporary solution for a few circuits, but not suitable for complete home automation.
Since they operate over Wi-Fi like most devices today, this leads to a fairly high load on the wireless network. Additionally, when the router is replaced—which internet providers often get involved with when problems arise—all devices need to be reconfigured.
Reliable signal reception must also be ensured.
Furthermore, if the router manufacturer releases new firmware, suddenly nothing works anymore. This seems to be the case with AVM’s OS7.50. I had to find a solution to get my Pixel WLED controller working again.
Since they operate over Wi-Fi like most devices today, this leads to a fairly high load on the wireless network. Additionally, when the router is replaced—which internet providers often get involved with when problems arise—all devices need to be reconfigured.
Reliable signal reception must also be ensured.
Furthermore, if the router manufacturer releases new firmware, suddenly nothing works anymore. This seems to be the case with AVM’s OS7.50. I had to find a solution to get my Pixel WLED controller working again.
A
Allthewayup12 Jan 2023 12:56allstar83 schrieb:
If the entire system is going to be conventional electrical wiring, it might possibly be handled with Shelly devices. In this case, switching should still be possible even if the wireless connection fails. With conventional electrical wiring, in sufficiently large rooms with multiple functions (for example, living/dining/kitchen combined), there is always the "visual problem" that numerous switches accumulate and you tend to press the wrong one. This annoyed me in many houses in the past. If several lighting circuits are present, along with roller shutters, heating control, ventilation, etc., all installed side by side or one above the other, you end up with around 4 to 8 push buttons in close proximity—and it looks cluttered accordingly.
If you want to make it "smart," it’s best to consolidate these switches into a 6- or 8-button programmable panel. That was actually our intention, which is why we ultimately chose KNX.
Our initial offer was based on Homematic IP, but at that time only the roller shutters were planned to be controlled wirelessly; the rest was added little by little.
So think carefully about whether the "smart" features should be limited to just one area of your house, or if it might be worth taking a bigger step. In the future, even electricity meters will become digital and smart.
I would really be annoyed if, in the end, the government turns out to be the initiator for the "smartest" component in my house :-D
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allstar8312 Jan 2023 13:07Patricck schrieb:
For me, Shelly is a makeshift solution for a few circuits, but not for complete home automation.
Since they operate over Wi-Fi like most devices today, you have quite a high load on the Wi-Fi network.
Also, when you replace the router—which internet providers often do when problems arise—all devices need to be reconnected.
Reliable signal reception must also be ensured.
Furthermore, if the router manufacturer releases new firmware, suddenly nothing works. This seems to be the case with AVM’s OS7.50.
I had to find a solution to get my Pixel WLED controller working again. Initially, it’s just about lighting, not full home automation with everything included.
Network load? In my opinion, a decent switch combined with one Wi-Fi network is sufficient.
Reception? Anyone building a new house who doesn’t consider this and implement access points is making a poor decision.
If the internet is down or, for example, some gateway in Homematic or Loxone Miniserver is offline, problems are always to be expected. I think this is something people should always be aware of.
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