Hi,
I’m still undecided about installing home automation in our planned new build.
My requirements are as follows:
- Control of roller shutters or blinds (possibly window contacts to detect open windows)
- Control of heating / air source heat pump or solar system
- Control of a video intercom system via a tablet
Of course, I have looked into KNX and the material costs alone would be around 6000€ (approximately 6,350 USD). As an alternative, Loxone is mentioned increasingly often, although the proprietary format is a bit off-putting.
My requirements could also be met with a manufacturer-specific system.
Do you have any recommendations for or against home automation (in my case)?
Best regards
Acd85
I’m still undecided about installing home automation in our planned new build.
My requirements are as follows:
- Control of roller shutters or blinds (possibly window contacts to detect open windows)
- Control of heating / air source heat pump or solar system
- Control of a video intercom system via a tablet
Of course, I have looked into KNX and the material costs alone would be around 6000€ (approximately 6,350 USD). As an alternative, Loxone is mentioned increasingly often, although the proprietary format is a bit off-putting.
My requirements could also be met with a manufacturer-specific system.
Do you have any recommendations for or against home automation (in my case)?
Best regards
Acd85
@Sebastian79 I have to agree with you there, but very few actually need this level of up-to-dateness.
@ONeill
No, if I didn’t have to watch the price, I definitely would have gone with KNX—not so much because of the features, but more because of the size of the community.
@ONeill
No, if I didn’t have to watch the price, I definitely would have gone with KNX—not so much because of the features, but more because of the size of the community.
B
bennithebrain8 Apr 2016 10:47I can only agree with FreakErn. We are also planning to use Loxone, while my brother has installed KNX in his home.
The most important question remains: "What do I personally want to achieve with it, what is important to me, and what isn’t?"
Loxone offers an affordable solution. In my opinion, smart home technology is still more of a luxury than a necessity. The cost calculation is always very individual, no matter which system you choose. The software cost of around 500 euros (about 550 USD) for KNX versus free with Loxone is relatively insignificant. You also have to consider the alternatives: if you want an alarm system, presence simulation, or centralized control of electric blinds, etc., then you are very likely to end up with some kind of smart home system.
If these luxury helpers are not important to me, then I don’t need a smart home. Whether it’s KNX or Loxone, both systems offer me flexibility for future expansion.
The most important question remains: "What do I personally want to achieve with it, what is important to me, and what isn’t?"
Loxone offers an affordable solution. In my opinion, smart home technology is still more of a luxury than a necessity. The cost calculation is always very individual, no matter which system you choose. The software cost of around 500 euros (about 550 USD) for KNX versus free with Loxone is relatively insignificant. You also have to consider the alternatives: if you want an alarm system, presence simulation, or centralized control of electric blinds, etc., then you are very likely to end up with some kind of smart home system.
If these luxury helpers are not important to me, then I don’t need a smart home. Whether it’s KNX or Loxone, both systems offer me flexibility for future expansion.
We use Loxone combined with KNX. Almost all sensors and actuators are KNX, while the logic runs on Loxone. The additional wiring effort for Loxone and the slightly higher costs (around 1000€) for the KNX components convinced me. Just the number of extensions Loxone would have required for all connections, each needing an entire DIN rail in one panel, was significant...
Loxone has the advantage of an integrated server solution with extensive logic functionality, which you would have to purchase separately at a high cost for KNX (such as the Gira HomeServer) or build yourself. This is a clear weakness of KNX, which is why I chose the combination.
Using home automation, as you can see here, is more of an idealistic matter: either you enjoy the technology and experimenting yourself or you don’t. In the latter case, you can do without it, because I see hardly any reason for home automation in single-family homes if you don’t want or cannot get involved yourself (a KNX license or programming and/or logic skills and some creativity are necessary prerequisites).
Loxone has the advantage of an integrated server solution with extensive logic functionality, which you would have to purchase separately at a high cost for KNX (such as the Gira HomeServer) or build yourself. This is a clear weakness of KNX, which is why I chose the combination.
Using home automation, as you can see here, is more of an idealistic matter: either you enjoy the technology and experimenting yourself or you don’t. In the latter case, you can do without it, because I see hardly any reason for home automation in single-family homes if you don’t want or cannot get involved yourself (a KNX license or programming and/or logic skills and some creativity are necessary prerequisites).
S
Sebastian798 Apr 2016 11:10FreakErn schrieb:
@Sebastian79 I have to agree with you there, but very few actually need that level of real-time data.That’s precisely where real-time data is necessary – it needs to respond to wind, direct sunlight, or rain. An online forecast can’t provide that kind of precise local information, not even close.
Sebastian79 schrieb:
This is exactly where up-to-date information is needed – the system has to respond to wind, direct sunlight, or rain. An online forecast can’t provide this level of local accuracy even close. Definitely, it makes a huge difference whether the wind blows at the predicted 50 km/h (30 mph) or 100 km/h (60 mph). When I compare the rain forecast from the last few days to what actually fell, there is a significant difference.
You also need this information to properly adjust the blinds. I don’t want them down if it’s cloudy enough, but half an hour later conditions can change completely. A forecast can’t provide you with that level of precision.
FreakErn schrieb:
Clearly the cost.As several people have confirmed here by now, Loxone and KNX are pretty similar in terms of initial cost and so on. So, which costs are you referring to?
FreakErn schrieb:
but since Loxone also works with EIBWell, you see, you are actually relying on the KNX protocol, so why take the detour through Loxone only to end up with EIB/KNX anyway?
FreakErn schrieb:
And please don’t be impressed by a weather station; there are countless free online services that provide data for the next 16 days with just a few clicks!Ah yes, exactly... because building automation systems nowadays all come with built-in web servers and every roller shutter motor instantly understands what the free service wants from it and what to do with the data.
bennithebrain schrieb:
Loxone offers an affordable solution.Only at first glance...
Uwe82 schrieb:
that a server solution with extensive logic functionality is integrated, which with KNX you really have to buy separately at a high cost (for example, Gira HomeServer)Hmm, exactly, because the powerful home server from Radevormwald is supposedly the gold standard and you absolutely need it and nothing else... there are no alternatives!
In my KNX system, I don’t have any server (apart from the Raspberry Pi that handles the visualization); all logic is provided directly by the devices themselves since actuators can do a lot more than just switching on/off. Nowadays, a server is really only necessary for remote access or visualization; all other logic can be perfectly handled with the built-in capabilities.
Uwe82 schrieb:
which with KNX you really have to buy separately at a high costSo, someone here is either very badly informed or was given very poor advice... there are plenty of affordable (or even cost-neutral compared to Loxone) ready-made servers for KNX, such as Wiregate or EibPC to name just two, but there are many more—and new ones keep appearing every day.