Best comprehensive SmartHome program

Do we even need so many buttons?

No, in a smart home you hardly need any buttons at all.

Do presence detectors even make sense when you have a big dog?

Yes, presence detectors always make sense. Because it’s about comfort and not about the even with today’s electricity prices ridiculous savings on lighting. Let the dog trigger the presence detectors.

What are we still missing or what can be improved?

The smart home is missing. It’s just like drawn, only a normal house wired conventionally.

Modern TVs should not be unplugged.

I don’t care, I don’t have OLED TVs so I can unplug whatever I want.

I still haven’t found a useful purpose for the sockets

I have switchable/measurable ones in the following places (sometimes no socket but directly connected):

- Controlled residential ventilation (monitoring)
- various kitchen appliances (not about standby but control)
- TV
- A/V receiver and others in the media corner
- projector
- various lights (e.g. at Christmas but many are also used the rest of the year, just something else is plugged in)
- TV in the bedroom
- terrace
- garden (irrigation etc.)
- white goods
- towel radiator

May I ask which buttons you would remove?

Where would you install presence detectors? Covering the stairwell, hallway, and entrance area with presence detectors would make sense.

How can we make this a smart home?

I would leave the switches in:

- the bedrooms
- the kitchen but at the countertop where people spend the most time
- the living room at the couch and patio door
- the studio
- in the basement one would have to see what and how
- probably at the front door for turning everything off.

Presence detectors:

- in all hallways
- kitchen
- utility room
- bathrooms and toilets
- dining room
- living room
- bedrooms
- garage
- possibly basement, one just has to see where it is needed.

How can we make this a smart home?

By thinking more about what should actually happen. So far you are only considering lights and sockets, which just scratches the surface.

By thinking more about what is actually supposed to happen. So far you are only considering lights and sockets, which just scratches the surface.

We want to integrate the following things. - Lights - Switches (probably MDT glass switches) - Roller shutters (with automatic shading) - Weather station - FHB (controllable via the switches) - Window contacts (the windows have already been ordered from the window manufacturer, the electrician appointment has been severely delayed) with the window contacts, probably nothing can be done anymore and EnOcean handles or similar have to be used) - I’m not sure if I need sockets

What else would still be missing?

How can you ensure with presence detectors that the right lights come on? For example, if I just pass by the staircase, the staircase light is actually not supposed to come on, but only if I really want to go up the stairs. (could be difficult with the open design)

Yes, what does "integrate" even mean? Most people mistakenly think it just means on/off or maximum dimming, and then 90% of the time by pressing a button, in which case you might as well stick with conventional systems.

- Glass switches? Yes, if you like them. I know they are popular but of course mainly because of the price.
- Weather station, yes it exists, but usually you don't need it, so there's no point in talking about automation (eyes and ears).
- Underfloor heating manual again? Ideally, it controls itself naturally without external intervention, certainly not via switches.
- Yes, here and there you will need window contacts in whatever form (eyes and ears).
- You have to consider sockets, quite useful for scenes and information. Automation as a whole anyway. If you can't even control sockets (even just a handful), then why bother at all?

How can you ensure that the right lights turn on with presence detectors?

You have to detach yourself from the idea that presence detectors work like the well-known motion sensors from the bargain bin. Presence detectors have switchable sectors and more or less (depending on the manufacturer) precise settings of the detection zones. It is also important to consider where and how the detector is installed. Just through that alone, you can influence a lot.