ᐅ Simple Smart Home System – HomeKit: Bosch, Opus, or Others?
Created on: 7 Feb 2021 14:25
I
IcEcRuShEr
Hello everyone,
after reading quite a bit about different smart home systems and trying to get an overview of the very extensive market, I am now extremely undecided and confused about which direction to take.
We are planning to build a single-family house with 182 sqm (1956 sq ft) and a double garage in the middle of the year. We would like to include some automation to make life easier.
To better assess this, I have tried to list the most important factors and requirements:
Additional requirements:
Use cases/examples:
Budget:
About the planned house:
Systems I have already looked into:
Current preference would be:
I would gradually acquire and integrate the rest, such as HomePod, Denon receiver, Hörmann garage door control, etc.
Questions:
Final note:
Please, no fundamental discussions about the term smart home. I know KNX is top of the line. The independence, security, and bus system are very appealing. However, based on my online research, prices starting at 25,000€ are simply too high for the automations I am planning.
after reading quite a bit about different smart home systems and trying to get an overview of the very extensive market, I am now extremely undecided and confused about which direction to take.
We are planning to build a single-family house with 182 sqm (1956 sq ft) and a double garage in the middle of the year. We would like to include some automation to make life easier.
To better assess this, I have tried to list the most important factors and requirements:
- Must
- Control roller shutters
- Control lighting
- Should
- Control front door
- Partially control power outlets
- Could
- Control music
- Control garage door
- Integrate smoke detectors
- Won’t (not needed)
- Integrate robotic lawnmower
- Integrate alarm system
- Control heating
- Control photovoltaic system
Additional requirements:
- Voice control via Apple Watch and HomePod/Smart Speaker
- Touch control via iPhone and iPad
- Ability to easily create custom automations without programming
- As few battery-powered devices/switches as possible
- Lights should still be controllable via physical switches
Use cases/examples:
- I come home in the evening, the outdoor lighting turns on, and I open the door without a key. As soon as I enter the hallway, the hallway light turns on automatically and is slightly dimmed according to the time of day.
- I get up in the morning, and if it’s a weekday between 6 and 8 a.m., and I walk through the downstairs hallway, the roller shutters should go up. Additionally, the light in our dining area including the kitchen turns on.
Budget:
- Max. 8,000€
About the planned house:
- Living area: 182 sqm (1956 sq ft)
- Rooms:
- Open living/dining room with kitchen
- Office/guest room
- Bedroom with dressing room
- Guest bathroom
- Bathroom
- Children’s room 1
- Children’s room 2
- Fitness room
- Utility room
- Approximately 15 controllable lighting units
- 3 external venetian blinds (also called “brise soleil” or sun protection screens)
- 11 roller shutters
Systems I have already looked into:
- KNX
- Loxone
- free@home
- HomeMatic
- Bosch
- Opus
Current preference would be:
- 2x iPads including wall mounts
- 1x Opus greenNet central unit
- 14x Opus roller shutter controllers (flush-mounted)
- 18x Opus light switches (flush-mounted)
- 3x Opus presence/motion detectors
I would gradually acquire and integrate the rest, such as HomePod, Denon receiver, Hörmann garage door control, etc.
Questions:
- Do you know of other systems I should look into more closely?
- Is a simple KNX/Loxone solution feasible within a budget of 8,000€? If yes, are there options to simplify the automation interface or even integrate it with Apple HomeKit?
- Does anyone have experience with Opus or Bosch?
- Has anyone made their house/new build smart with HomeKit?
Final note:
Please, no fundamental discussions about the term smart home. I know KNX is top of the line. The independence, security, and bus system are very appealing. However, based on my online research, prices starting at 25,000€ are simply too high for the automations I am planning.
Similar topics