Is Smarthome KNX automation possible based on the floor plan?

The crux of the matter with the mindset: No one intends to change anything in 10 years – you live with it. I already know what counterargument will come now, but the fact is that a house is normally not lived in flexibly either – it usually changes very little, which would require a change of the installation.

By the way, I don’t have a single isolating relay in my group circuits for the roller shutters.

You can program KNX yourself and have logics on it that most electricians only dream of – so you can realize a lot for yourself cheaply. Hardly any homeowner can do that – so I would always be cautious with the cost issue. Also, the idea that one could easily program it oneself – but not everyone can or wants to do that...

I did all the electrical work myself, so the cost issue of drilling holes and pulling cables does not apply to me either – it’s the same circumstance just from a different perspective. Therefore, the effort to lay extensive circuits is very limited.

I still think that you see KNX too simply from your perspective and with your skills.

Now, as far as the parameterization of KNX is concerned (I hate the word programming because KNX is far from that), ANYONE who is able to make a table with Excel can do the parameterization of the sensors (switches) and actuators (relays in the distribution) using the ETS.

The logics that can be made on the individual devices are also not rocket science (easier than formulas in Excel).

As for flexibility, and this is where the other type of wiring comes into play, everyone who built 10 years ago now faces the problem that new possibilities come into play with LED technology. However, these usually require 24V, and here one is clearly at an advantage because, in the case of KNX, the electrical wiring runs in a star pattern to the distribution. But that only has an indirect connection to KNX.

In principle, the difference between classic and KNX can be reduced to 2 main differences.

1. In KNX, consumption points are usually wired in a star pattern to the distribution.
2. In KNX, 'switches,' regardless of how many 'actions' they control, are simply operated via the bus cable.

This also makes the KNX wiring significantly simpler than the classic one. The idea that MORE cables are needed for this is a myth. I rather think fewer are needed. Especially when there are multiple two or more switching points. Because note, even in classic installation, a cable must go to every point where a light switch or device connection is located.

The link between action and reaction happens through parameterization. That means what a sensor (switch, motion detector, temperature sensor, VOC sensor, or whatever) triggers depends on the parameterization. And that (besides many other things) is exactly what makes KNX so flexible. When I drive into the garage in the evening with a full trunk, I don’t want to first turn on any lights. I get out and go into the house carrying everything.

If I have a motion detector in the room, it does not necessarily have to turn on the light.

All of this is simply a question of how much comfort I want. And one thing I can say is you only miss it once you have had it.

False assumption that is simply claimed: Not everyone can handle Excel and you just need an introduction. You are simply assuming from your own point of view. In this regard, I can hardly imagine that so few people can take their engine apart here - that's easy too .

If all that were so easy, so many Elis wouldn’t fail at it - you are freaks, people who are very interested in it. That may give the impression online that there are many of them.... but in reality only a few.

Building a house is pure stress for many, then also dealing with that?

And I need either 230V or 12V for my LEDs - both no problem at all for my wiring (maximum cable lengths aside).

The link between action and reaction happens through parameterization. This means that what a sensor (switch, motion detector, temperature sensor, VOC sensor, or whatever) triggers depends on the parameterization. And that (among many other things) is exactly what makes KNX so flexible. When I drive into the garage in the evening with a full trunk from shopping, I don’t want to have to turn on any lights first. I get out and carry my full load into the house.

Motion detectors were just available for 10 euros at Aldi SCNR

I remain skeptical about the use of KNX. Many things that are understandable (like the last example from Tom1607) are nothing new and can be realized easily in other ways without the need for the corresponding infrastructure.
I am tech-savvy myself and would like to understand the benefits, but I really share grym’s opinion ... no one has convinced me yet, but I would like to be convinced.

But traditionally, it is not wired in a star topology, is it? That would require significantly fewer cables to be laid.

Cost question aside... a drywall installer who builds a house can also save 20 thousand or a landscaping gardener has the outdoor facilities at cost price.

Among my friends / family / acquaintances and recently neighbors, I have quite a few homeowners and there isn’t a single one who hasn’t changed anything in the last 10 years. Even in the electrical system.

New furniture or appliances come... rooms are redesigned because of offspring (arrival or moving out), or you build a garage / carport etc.

With conventional electricity, everything usually remains rigid... you can’t just add sockets because the wiring doesn’t allow it.

Many electricians fail at parameterization because they had a course on building technology a long time ago during their training... and those who haven’t kept up simply can’t do it...

Real specialists are rare, I agree with you... but just as rare are the houses/installations where a real specialist is needed.

Here in Grym we have a person who is annoyed by automation at work and partly for that reason resists the technology... whether someone here who only knows 0815 parameterization was involved, I don’t know... but that could be the case...



Here the comparison Classic to BUS:



Left classic - right BUS

Where do you think more cables are needed?