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That is of course the most expensive option and also the one that is more or less restricted because you still have to rely on the outdated conventional wiring. Flush-mounted actuators are simply more expensive by nature (calculated per channel) than, for example, an 8-channel actuator in the control cabinet.

He presented this as the cheapest and low-budget variant of Free@Home.

Yes, you could say that, since free@home is basically KNX, just the stripped-down version. But the wiring is the same. If you want to do it like that, then just skip the f@h actuators directly; why pay double or triple for everything?

I thought with KNX all actuators are in the control cabinet and you only have sensors and switches in the rooms. The sensors and switches then send commands to the actuators which switch lights and blinds, or did I misunderstand that?

Do you think we can do it with the variant from Free@Home like that? So all sensors/switches and actuators combined in one device or in one switch?

He presented it as the cheapest and low budget variant of Free@Home.

That may be the case for him. The fact is, however, that Free@Home is often even more expensive or at least price-neutral compared to KNX overall.

I thought with KNX all actuators are in the control cabinet and you only have sensors and switches in the rooms. The sensors and switches then send commands to the actuators which then control lights and blinds, or did I misunderstand that?

So, back again to the ancient Greeks...

At first, there was KNX as a decentralized system. There you can also build everything centrally if you want, or distribute everything throughout the house, or mix it. Whatever you or your electrician prefer and what is most comfortable/sensible/cost-effective for you or the electrician.

In addition, there was a stripped-down version of the system, roughly speaking for lab and testing purposes. ABB/B+J then thought, hey, we could also market this. That’s how Free@Home was born.

Basically, it’s like KNX in terms of wiring and structure. But with limited possibilities and vendor lock-in, but with an app for configuration :) (for those who need it). Prices, well, that’s debatable. I find it too expensive and would always prefer KNX.

You can do it according to what your budget allows. Free@Home also has its fans.

I just checked out of curiosity how the price comparison looks (so just network prices):
for example, switch-dimmer actuator combo single channel (6212/2.1.): €123.45 for one channel
REG dimmer actuator 6-channel (DA/M.6.210.2.11): €443 = €74 for one channel
(KNX dimmer actuator REG MDT AKD 4-channel: €257 = €64 for one channel - just for comparison)

It looks better with the switching actuators:
Switch actuator combo 2-channel: €85
Switch actuator 8-channel per channel: €39
(MDT switch actuator 24-channel: €273 = €16 per channel)
Depending on how much you need of what, it does add up.

What in my opinion still makes the most sense price-wise is the combo motion detector + switch actuator

Admittedly, there is always a switch included there. But those are just single or double switches then, so you hardly need less than with a normal electrical installation. Then you have one switch/actuator for two lamps and three switches for blinds in the room. You can do that. I wouldn’t want to.

Just ask him what it costs to have a supply line directly from the distribution board to the outlet box...

But probably the case is: if the electrician doesn’t want to do something, it will definitely get more expensive :-(

Unfortunately, we are tied to this electrician

and I quickly realized that he absolutely does not want to do the central installation.

His Free@Home version was

Everything wired conventionally and then laying the bus cable alongside the normal power cables.

The Free@Home switches are then connected via the bus and control the light or the blinds with the actuator installed behind them, for example.

Would you do the Free@Home version like this or should we just use wireless? (Wireless will probably be much cheaper for us)

If you do not intend to switch to KNX immediately or later, then use wireless. But even there, there is a lot that can be done wrong.

Sorry if I ask such a stupid question.

So you wouldn’t recommend Free@Home to me at all?
Especially not in the version the electrician wants to do.

All pushbutton sensors and actuators together in one in the rooms.

The electrician does the electrical installation conventionally and runs the bus cable to each pushbutton.
So that we can then gradually switch to Free@Home (that was the electrician’s statement).

What I don’t understand is how can you switch to KNX with the above wiring?

KNX actually relies on mounting pushbuttons and sensors separately.
For example, how am I supposed to retrofit the mdt glass pushbutton with 6 buttons?
I can only use pushbuttons and actuators in one device there as well, or am I mistaken?