Smart home / Home automation - Consulting

: Maybe you shouldn’t just look for quotes that fit your argument, but read the entire text. I said either buy it expensive or build it yourself, and that’s exactly the alternative you brought up...

And sorry, but the logic functions of most KNX components are not really sufficient if you want to link several conditions together, for example time periods depending on weather and group address status. And the software of each component is a little different; not every actuator can, for example, distinguish between pressing and releasing. (Please don’t reduce it now just to this argument, that was only a small example).

KNX is not the savior and solution to all problems. KNX is a platform I can work with. Which devices you use on it depends on your own requirements and especially the software the manufacturer offers. And there simply is no real uniformity, this is different with alternative solutions like Loxone. One interface for all components with integrated help and many examples. With KNX, getting information still means: downloading product databases and descriptions of the respective component from the manufacturer and studying the dozens of pages to see if it can do what you want to do. That’s not for everyone.

I have to completely agree with Uwe82 here. Everyone must and should decide for themselves whether they want to work with KNX, Loxone, or whatever else. Everything has its pros and cons and there should be no trench wars. It's fantastic that Loxone can utilize the advantages of KNX. For example, I don't plan to do that, but maybe one or the other thing comes up, or many use the advantages of both worlds and combine them excellently.

But some only see it as a philosophical question like "Apple vs. Microsoft" or "Windows vs. Linux" or "BMW vs. VW" or ...

Personally, KNX was also too expensive for me and really too complex as a beginner. Once you get into it, it's really a great system! But personally, I get along much better with Loxone. By the way, also with Microsoft

Oh boy, quite a lot has happened here in the last couple of days, I can hardly keep up with reading... But I’ll speak up now anyway.

Just a quick note beforehand. We are building with KNX in a high level of expansion, meaning with a home server, Gira Control 19 touch panels, and so on. Despite the opposing comments, I am of the opinion that home automation can be done more cheaply with Loxone. Anyone who has ever bought a home server and a touch panel knows what I mean. Especially the visualization simply comes as standard with Loxone. Unfortunately, that is not the case with KNX. Nevertheless, we decided on KNX specifically because of the decentralization.

I believe the benefit of a bus system cannot be demonstrated mathematically. The only real cost advantage, in my opinion, is the alarm system, which can be implemented relatively easily using presence detectors and door/window contacts. Another advantage I see is the single-room control of the heating. This saves quite a bit of money in the boiler room.

Everything else, in my opinion, cannot be represented financially. The installation of a presence detector so that the light also goes off or the indication that a light is still on somewhere when you leave the house. With today’s LED light sources, that’s hardly worth mentioning. The blinds that close in winter to save 2 cents in heating costs! I find it sad that such things are always mentioned in presentations! KNX as a MONEY-SAVING OPTION... You realistically pay a high price for this in acquisition.

I personally see it more as a gain in comfort. Anyone who has ever lived in a house/apartment with light scenes doesn’t want to miss it anymore. In pictures it often looks like a brothel, but in reality it’s simply great!! Controlling blinds automatically and not having to worry about it anymore. Playing music via a multiroom audio system, no matter where you are. When I go to the toilet at night, a dimmed indirect light turns on automatically, not the LED floodlight that completely wakes me up. We will no longer have switches in many rooms (hallway, toilets, pantry...), which I find very nice, and so on.

Let’s compare it to windows. What’s the point of floor-to-ceiling glazing or large windows? They cost a lot and you lose a lot of heating energy. What’s the point of a big TV?? There are many examples.

Everyone has their budget when building a house. For example, we are building on 200 sqm and will certainly spend more money than some people for 300 sqm of living space. For me personally, home automation is preferable to a 30 sqm larger living room. Everyone thinks differently and sets different priorities.

KNX as a COST-SAVING POSSIBILITY... Realistically calculated, it is already expensive to purchase.

Correct, it does not save money, and it does not effectively save time in a single-family home either. Let's be honest, how much time do you actually save by having the blinds controlled automatically? It never compensates for the time spent on the logic and training, so it is just as unprofitable as the money. But: It satisfies the homebuilder's playful urge and might even bring comfort and perhaps a bit more security ("alarm system"), but mathematically you never get that back. Conclusion: Either you want it because you want to have it and "play" with it, or you don’t, then you leave it and let the electrician do their conventional work.

Maybe you shouldn't just look for quotes that fit your argument, but read the whole text. I said either buy expensive additions or build it yourself, and that's exactly the alternative you brought up ...

So unlike you, I have read what you wrote and did not quote the entire text but simply answered the core questions for the sake of simplicity... and I wrote exactly the opposite, namely not that you have to buy ready-made logic expensively, but at the same price as, for example, with Loxone...

I also cannot agree that the supplied logic of the KNX components is insufficient; apparently you only know devices from the past that only allow simple links.

So unlike you, I have read what you wrote and did not quote the entire text but simply answered the core questions for simplicity... and I wrote exactly the opposite, namely not that you have to buy finished logic expensively, but rather at the same price as, for example, with Loxone...

First of all, you only addressed my first partial sentence ("have to buy expensively") and ignored the other part ("or have to tinker"). Secondly, the HomeServer was only meant as an example, which is why "e.g." was added. Thirdly: The EibPC with visualization costs over €600 without the IP gateway, which is also needed, so it is significantly more expensive and ultimately also a tinkering solution with a much higher learning curve for beginners, and Wiregate is also not exactly a bargain and as far as I know mostly just a visualization without major logic functions (otherwise please enlighten me, I am an ignorant with devices from yesterday, which he only bought a few months ago). Have you even taken a closer look at Loxone or other PLCs?