Home automation planning and costs

, finally someone who has really understood KNX. , interaction with the bus system is welcome, but rather consumption data and possibly appointment reminders, etc., not that I then have to get my phone to raise and lower a roller shutter.

That is complete nonsense too - always this desire for smartphone control with [Rollläden].

Now even rapidly changing preferences are easy to implement with KNX. Easier than with the classic installation. If I no longer want to plug the reading lamp in on the right but on the left, I just program the other socket to turn on when it is too dark to read without it and I sit in my reading chair.

And if the blinds are already down and I want to go out onto the terrace, I simply open the door. The blind goes up, I go out, and when I come back in and close the door, it goes down again. All without me having to press a switch.

When I turn on the stove in the kitchen, the extractor hood switches on.

And there are many, many more things that just work WITHOUT me having to press any buttons.

Yes, that's all nice - but I don't see any real added value in the constructed examples.

I also sometimes cook certain things without the range hood; when the roller shutter is down, it takes quite a while until it's up - I don't open the door first and wait, I just press a switch and wait.

And to move a reading lamp one seat further? Nah, sure...

It’s probably just meant to show the possibilities, but I often found MyCrafts' example more sensible – although even there, not all were really convincing for KNX.

It is difficult to explain the added value of such a system; you simply have to experience it over a longer period of time. I have tried to explain it to many people and the arguments were always things like "I don't need it," "Unnecessary," or "I can do that anyway." I can understand that. A few colleagues had a bus system installed and such statements came from all of their wives. However, these women no longer want to miss these advantages.

Nonetheless, it doesn't have to please everyone, but I believe you also have to live it in everyday life. A simple explanation usually doesn't help.

The added value is several seconds saved per day. Instead of lowering the blinds and turning on the light, I click on scene 3. Instead of raising the blinds and opening the door, just the door opens. Instead of turning on the stove and later, when I need it, turning on the extractor hood, simply the stove is turned on (and a few minutes earlier unnecessary humming).

But these are only seconds each time, and only a few times per day. Apart from the time advantage, no other benefit is apparent to me so far.