Planning electrical systems to be future-proof

I have great respect for people who already know exactly in the planning phase what they want to build where later on. With us, things grow over time; a KNX system would totally blow up in our faces, even if we had the money. In the end, exactly the socket that needs to be individually switchable wouldn’t be. :D

which does not have to be switched individually :D

Thanks to KNX, such a faux pas is fixed in 5 minutes and without heavy equipment.

who already know exactly during the planning phase what they want to build where later.

Very few know that. But they don’t necessarily have to. There are experience values on how and where to switch and place things.

Something like that grows with us,

With KNX too. Flexibility is one of the system’s great advantages, that it can grow along and also be adapted at any time to the needs and new circumstances.

Thanks to KNX, such a faux pas can be fixed in 5 minutes and without heavy equipment.

But you have to be very practiced to unscrew a socket in 5 minutes, take out the insert, fumble out the 1.5², fiddle it out of the Wagos, fiddle it back in, everything nicely pushed back (so it closes), check, put the insert on, put the socket on.

Very few people know that. But they don’t necessarily have to. There are experience values on how and where to switch and place things.

I have noticed in discussions that classic KNX advocates have completely different priorities than I do. I like to switch the light by hand, ideally I want a motion detector in the staircase, I have no shutters on the house, and I want to switch as many sockets as possible individually. No groups, individually.

With KNX, yes too. Flexibility is one of the great advantages of the system, that it can grow with you and is always adaptable to needs and new circumstances.

I can well imagine that. The question then is, from what budget can one achieve this flexibility? If I want to be flexible, basically I have to run bus or empty conduit everywhere first.
I have seen some KNX installations at neighbors’ for 1x.000 EUR, which control lights and shutters. No window contacts, no weather station, no switched sockets.
I have to admit that for me, already almost 3,500 EUR surcharge for electrics for a bit of empty conduit for photovoltaics, LAN sockets, a few more sockets and a 5x10 for a 22kW wallbox is quite a sum of money.

You have to be very skilled,

Learned is learned. Often this is unnecessary (with modern and well-thought-out installations) and you just reconnect a cable in the distributor.

I’ve noticed in discussions that classic KNX proponents have completely different priorities than I do.

Yes, that’s probably true. It’s like with push-button phones and smartphones. One likes it, the other doesn’t. Bicycle vs. car, etc.

I like to switch the light manually,

I have never understood the appeal here, but again, to each their own. However, my experience is that as soon as people experience a functioning system themselves and live with it a little, that changes, and the need to press any switches quickly decreases and one soon perceives it as a burden and rather disadvantageous if the old light can’t even turn on and off automatically and intervention by the resident is required.

But with KNX you can do both if that is really desired. It’s just one button.

I want to switch as many sockets as possible individually. No groups, individually.

Nothing easier than that with KNX, and at costs nowadays under €20/channel, that really is feasible.

The question then is, from which budget can you achieve this flexibility?

That is very hard to determine because everyone has their own ideas about what exactly should operate how and what additional functions the house should have.
What often gets overlooked in such considerations is that you should never calculate with surcharges, but always start with a blank slate.

If I want to be flexible, I basically have to have bus or empty conduits everywhere first.

Yes, bus has to be everywhere, but you do that anyway if it’s going to be done properly and, as per the title, future-proof and planned, and not just free-style “we’ve always done it this way.”

I’ve seen some KNX at neighbors, for 1x,000 EUR, that switch lights and roller shutters. No window contacts, no weather station, no switched sockets.

Yes, that’s no “real” KNX either. What do you want to do with it if basic equipment like a weather station is missing? And the rest on top of that.
I can imagine what kind of installations those are. Conventional 1:1 transferred. Honestly, that’s child’s play.

I have to admit that for me nearly €3,500 extra on the electrical installation for a bit of empty conduit, PV, LAN sockets, a few more outlets, and a 5x10 for a 22kW wallbox is already quite a sum of money.

Same here. For that reason, planning is the be-all and end-all. This way you can avoid major mistakes and surcharges.

I would now actually be interested. Assuming I had wanted a real KNX...

150m²
20 ceiling outlets
16 windows without shutters but for 6 awnings are planned, let's see if they will be needed
45 sockets (some double, some triple, 2x quadruple)
4 outdoor lights
Lunos e² ventilation automation and exhaust fan

What would it have cost me to make all of this smart so that I no longer need light switches?
Roughly.

What do you imagine under "Smart"? It is a very flexible term.

How many of the 45 sockets should be switchable in the initial setup? It is clear that the wiring will be done so that they can all be controlled individually, but how many immediately and now?

Lights the same, how many just on/off, how many dimmable, halogen or LED (not retrofit, real LED lights)?

How many touch sensors? And something simple or more functionality with displays and indicators, etc.?

Central control units (several)? Access from outside? Monitoring? Statistics? Consumption recording? HVAC? The Lunos can be integrated but does not have to be.

KNX is hard to estimate without long preliminary discussions and explorations about what the customer really wants and it is much more than light, shutters, sockets.