ᐅ Smart Home System Recommendations for Beginners

Hello community,

I will start the shell construction of my semi-detached house in about two months. I want to make my house a bit smarter in terms of control and monitoring. Whether the system is wired or wireless is not very important to me at this point.

Since there are so many systems available, I’m not sure which one would be the right fit for me. For example, I’ve heard about Wibutler, which seems good in theory. Here in the forum, KNX is often recommended.

I hope you can help me and point me in the right direction.

What I want:
Light control, dimming, and motion detectors for hallways, storage rooms, and stairs.
Time- and brightness-controlled operation of selected lights.
For example:
Light control based on the brightness sensor—if it’s too dark in the room and motion is detected, the light turns on; manual activation should also be possible. This also applies outdoors on the property.
Dimmed lighting in selected rooms from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Light control via smartphone
Heating control (underfloor heating with heat pump) if possible
Shutter/blind control via smartphone
Garage door control via smartphone
Camera surveillance via smartphone or web server
Opening the entrance door to the property via smartphone
Smart plugs controllable via smartphone

That’s roughly it.
There are a maximum of 20 lights inside and about 5 outside.
20 switchable power outlets
Up to 10 brightness sensors and up to 10 motion detectors inside (hallways, stairs, storage room)
3 brightness sensors and about 5 motion detectors outside
About 10 windows with electric shutters/blinds
3–5 cameras

Is such a control system sensible?
What system would you recommend?
For a wired system, I’m not sure if the conduit pipes are thick enough.
What approximate costs would I have to expect?

I’m very thankful for your help.

Wibutler is a gateway that connects Z-Wave, Zigbee, and EnOcean, opening up a world of various wireless devices with all their advantages and disadvantages. However, the feedback from users of the system would discourage me. For example, when you read something like this:

• c4ptn85 writes:

- At the moment, I can only advise against it!
What is described so positively and portrayed well in the media is unfortunately just empty promises.

- The concept, as everyone says, is good. The implementation is catastrophic.

- Besides time schedules and If/Then links, Wibutler unfortunately cannot do anything more. As someone once said... it’s an expensive timer switch.

• schulzlars writes:

- It’s a shame when such a good idea as the Wibutler is going to waste

• tektura writes:

[I]@wibutlerideas

I have made an effort to read the answer carefully. But even between the lines, I see no substance.

RIP Wibutler

Your strategy will fail, actually it already has,

IMHO it’s just another stillborn project.

I would invest my money elsewhere, but it’s up to you which system you choose.

However, since you are also planning video surveillance, you cannot avoid using CAT.

From what you’ve written, it’s clear you are still very early in your planning, but your house will be built soon. So honestly, it’s almost too late... but first, take some time to read up on the topics that already exist.

Thank you for the quick response.
I am aware that it is already late.
Now, I don’t know where to start reading up.
Are there no common brands for these systems, like Samsung or Huawei for smartphones?
A wired solution is probably not an option since the empty conduits are not sized for that.
Is there anything comparable to wibutler that you would recommend?

When choosing brands for a system you plan to use for several decades, this is generally the wrong approach. Any brand can disappear from the market tomorrow. It’s similar to companies like Samsung, Apple, or Huawei—only what the developers decide to implement will be available. But that might not suit your needs at all. Therefore, it’s better to look for open systems to avoid ending up in a few years with a pile of useless electronics without support.

Since you are excluding wired systems, I would recommend looking into Z-Wave. It is an open wireless protocol, and any device with the Z-Wave logo can be connected and effectively communicate with each other without having to commit to one manufacturer.

However, the system requires a central server that handles more complex tasks beyond simple switching. There are plenty of options available for this.

By the way, where does your name come from?

In short, from an IT specialist’s perspective: Don’t commit to a proprietary system. Especially avoid any that only work as long as the manufacturer’s server remains online.

With KNX, you’re relatively safe, but I find it too expensive if everything is installed by an electrician. My recommendation: In the 230V (230V) range, run everything in a star topology where sensors, switches, and actuators might ever be needed. Otherwise, use plenty of Cat cabling, since any protocol can run over it if necessary.

This means 1–2 extra electrical cabinets, but you can install any system you want. And in the future, replace them if needed. Or combine different smart systems for various purposes and connect them via a bridge.

There is another system that connects different "worlds," called Homee from Codeatelier in Bavaria. Several municipal utilities rely on it and market it under their own branding. The idea is good and might be worth taking a look at.