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
Acd85 schrieb:
Hi,
so far, I haven’t made much progress with my decision-making.
My main focus is on shutter or blind control.
There are 20 windows to be controlled electrically.
Option 1: KNX
Option 2: Loxone
Option 3: Manufacturer’s system (e.g., Rademacher, Somfy, ...)
All shutters or blinds should be controlled locally with a switch in each room and individually on both floors.
Has anyone had any experience with this?Hello Acd85,
We have now been in our house for two weeks, and I am really impressed with Loxone. It’s very simple to use and offers a lot of possibilities. In our house, we have underfloor heating, shutters, lighting, and 2–3 switchable sockets per room, and I can program all of these to work together if I want.
I am someone who learns better when something is explained verbally, so I watched the Loxone videos. I’m not sure if I’m allowed to post YouTube videos here, so just search YouTube for “Loxone Online Seminar – Baustein Intelligente Raumregelung” (it’s 43 minutes long, don’t be intimidated).
In that video, they show how room temperature can be linked to the sun position together with the blinds (the component is called “automatic shutter”).
Since we just moved in and have been away on vacation a lot lately, we don’t have automatic blind control set up yet, but that will happen in the next 2–3 weeks.
The video also explains how, based on the sun position and the target temperature in a room, the blinds are lowered automatically to prevent the room from heating up unnecessarily. The clear downside here is that this requires a weather service subscription costing €60 per year (about $65), which I am still looking for a free alternative API to use. But if you don’t mind the cost, it provides a lot of detailed information: storm warnings, light intensity, wind speed, temperature, rain data, and more.
For other weather data, I currently use OpenWeatherMap in the programming and also have current weather info available in the app. The Loxone server can do this on its own (as long as it’s not via HTTPS) without external help.
My Loxone server also shows information about my photovoltaic system in the app.
In my house, I have 13 windows, nine underfloor heating zones, about 20 lights, around 15 sockets, OpenWeatherMap integration, and photovoltaic stuff that will increasingly interact with each other in the coming weeks. There is also a Loxone forum where knowledgeable people give very helpful answers if you have problems or are looking for solutions.
I’m sure all of this could be done with KNX as well. However, I can’t judge because paying $1000 for software is an absolute dealbreaker for me, no matter what DIY workarounds there are to avoid paying that. I am building only once and don’t want DIY hacks! I hope this statement doesn’t offend anyone.
I hope I don’t sound too much like a salesman. I am a software developer and have no other connection to Loxone.
Best regards
/EDIT
I programmed the shutter and lighting controls room-by-room using multiple clicks or long presses on various switches. By the front door, I plan to program one switch so that it sets all the shutters to automatic mode (which I will adjust based on weather, etc.), turns off all lights, and possibly also switches off sockets. If I double-tap a switch in the hallway, it will turn off all the lights in the hallway.
At the moment, I also like using the app a lot because it’s a lot of fun.
I have a Hager with 288te; unfortunately, I no longer have the exact model number of the cabinet.
I installed the following:
1 x Loxone power supply 24V/4.2A
1 x Loxone Mini Server
3 x Loxone Extensions
3 x Loxone Relay Extensions
1 x Loxone 1-Wire Extension
10 x Loxone 1-Wire temperature sensors
Altogether, this cost just over €3000 (about $3200) only for the Loxone components. However, this price already includes installation and wiring.
On the Electrical Planning page, you can also find all the conduit I had installed and the additional charges our electrician requested beyond the standard installation.
I installed the following:
1 x Loxone power supply 24V/4.2A
1 x Loxone Mini Server
3 x Loxone Extensions
3 x Loxone Relay Extensions
1 x Loxone 1-Wire Extension
10 x Loxone 1-Wire temperature sensors
Altogether, this cost just over €3000 (about $3200) only for the Loxone components. However, this price already includes installation and wiring.
On the Electrical Planning page, you can also find all the conduit I had installed and the additional charges our electrician requested beyond the standard installation.
Well, people are different. For example, I consider a proprietary system a no-go; I would rather pay the 500 euros for the ETS. There’s no fussing around with it, and there are regular group orders....
And if you’re already so enthusiastic about Loxone like you are, then you would simply be overwhelmed by KNX.
And if you’re already so enthusiastic about Loxone like you are, then you would simply be overwhelmed by KNX.