New Construction: Smart Home Combined with Alarm System Recommendation

Hello everyone,

we are currently building a single-family house and are currently considering how the electronics should look. Due to the specification of our house builder, we have electrically operated roller shutters which are controlled by radio from Somfy. Our roller shutters for the skylights are from the company Decker and are also controlled by radio with a system from Becker. Unfortunately, it was not possible to rely on one manufacturer, which is a bit annoying, but it is what it is. We definitely want a secure alarm system (no smart home like Telekom and co.). This means, among other things, that motion detectors, cameras (inside and outside), indoor siren, etc. should be installed. I am also considering whether a video doorbell would be an alternative to a conventional doorbell. However, this should not be a solution like Ring, but something wired. Here I am also wondering whether a separate outdoor camera makes the video doorbell obsolete. Via smart home, I can also imagine a light control system, which I do not want to have everywhere, though. The light should also be able to be turned on and off with a normal remote control or a light switch. Activation or deactivation via [sic] is completely out of the question for me. Future guests should be able to turn the light on and off without an app and without my help.

The consideration now is whether we should rely on a KNX system to be prepared for the future or whether this is too high for our requirements. Another background is that we want to reduce the radiation at our home a bit.

You are building and thinking about how the electronics should look? Is it still possible to make changes to the wiring?

If not, you are also forced to use wireless devices for detectors, etc. But that and your wireless shutters do not fit at all with your "radiation reduction" at home (do you turn off your cell phones and have no Wi-Fi?). With KNX, all of this is possible, but I think you are better off with a conventional alarm system (Telenot, ABB, Indexa, etc.). You don't necessarily need KNX just for sensors and a bit of lighting. Lighting with "remote control" again goes against "low radiation," although ZigBee, for example, is extremely economical in terms of "radiation." If you do not have any other building control, the door intercom system can also be a standalone solution that does not need to be integrated anywhere else.

I also think that it is already too late for any complex solutions and also for low-radiation or radiation-free ones. I also see it that rather several island systems will be used here; whether that is good or bad will only be seen later.

But I dare to predict that, as so often, it will be a zoo of devices that either want to or can work together somehow or not at all. But that can also work, or as the saying goes, you don't miss what you don't know.

Depending on which Becker drives you get there, it may be possible that they can also be controlled via cable.

Currently, the shell construction is being built and the conversation with the electrician is still pending. Therefore, we still have some leeway here. The issue with radiation is always misunderstood. I don’t want to put on an aluminum hat or completely eliminate the radiation; I want to contain it. There is also a difference when it comes to radio waves. Unfortunately, with the shutters, it is as it is, that is correct. @ if I don’t use a remote control or app to turn on my light, what else do I have left? Perhaps some background. With a remote control, I would, for example, only want to turn on the light of our entertainment center or a floor lamp. Everything else should be turned on in the classic way with a light switch. In which scenarios would a KNX system be recommended?

The things you mentioned have nothing to do with smart home, but only with remote controllability. KNX makes sense if you want to link things, automate, add logic... KNX can already pay off with many blinds. In a new building, it is better to rely on cables than on radio. If you want no or little radiation, you should live somewhere in the wilderness or have a bunker. Overall, I get the impression that you have not dealt with it much yet. Find yourself a good system integrator. Why does your construction company dictate what is installed? You are the client and you decide.

What I don’t quite understand is the thing with the roller shutters. On one hand, you write that you are already fixed, on the other hand the shell construction is only just being done. If the shell construction is only just being built, then one is still somewhat flexible with the wiring and not 100% fixed on radio. Otherwise, I fully agree with Rick.

To avoid radiation, all stationary devices should be set to LAN and for WLAN use several access points per floor. One is often enough for the supply, but at full transmission power, while with several you can reduce the transmission power, which overall means less radiation. The access points should preferably be placed on the ceiling. With a suspended ceiling this is easy to implement; with a concrete ceiling, the implementation should be clarified beforehand.