Nixwill
2021-11-24 10:45:05
- #1
Morning everyone,
Over the past few years, I have gradually made our rental apartment a bit smarter. Tado for heating and air conditioning, Hue for the lights, Nuki for the front door, Eve for the garden, a few sockets and window contacts, and Netatmo to stay informed. Everything is bundled with Apple’s HomeKit and nearly everything is also controlled with a few Alexas.
Overall, we are really very satisfied with our solution. So far, we have no problems running automations that, for example (where desired), switch on the lights via motion sensors, and much is controlled via geofence (cameras, heating, lights, etc.), so that actually (FOR US) hardly any wishes remain open.
Since we already have a lot of hardware, we of course want to keep all that and implement it in the new house. But of course, there are also a few things to improve here.
Just this weekend, I discovered that Philips has a cooperation with Gira and now offers switches that do not require wiring, need no batteries, and also look great. Although we enjoy almost everything automated, there are always some situations or rooms where a simple switch is still faster and better. That’s why we are currently considering placing these switches where wired light switches would normally be, simply additionally. Weberhaus also offers this solution for their houses, so it can’t be that bad. Still, it would be quite a drastic step to completely do without the “old” switches and thus also the wiring.
Here now question 1:
Who has already implemented this solution with the Hue switches and can report?
Of course, I have already imagined some worst-case scenarios and tested them at home. The light MUST always be switchable somehow — that is my basic prerequisite.
Case 1: Internet connection drops (WLAN still active).
Apple HomeKit is out of order, as well as Alexa (both absolutely bearable, since only luxury and no basic requirement). Hue still communicates and can be controlled, both via the buttons and the app.
Case 2: FritzBox total failure.
Exactly the same as in case 1.
Case 3: Hue Bridge breaks.
The light can no longer be switched, neither via buttons nor the app. BUT the emergency solution still works, switch the lamp power off and back on. Hue lamps are always ON by default when powered.
Downside with my consideration and the new Gira switches: they also no longer work then, which means you actually have to remove the lamp and put it back in. For me, that’s okay in such an exceptional situation; it never happened to me all these years and you can endure a night like that.
Therefore, the Hue solution with their switches is actually fine for me even in an emergency. Test passed!
Please name cases I have not thought of (and don’t come to me now with power outage :D).
But now, as a novelty for me, I will have roller shutters everywhere in the new house that will be controlled wirelessly with Somfy, so I need you again due to the lack of testing possibilities.
The question here is: are there wireless solutions that can also lower the roller shutter in exceptional cases?
Theoretically, the radio motors don’t need a switch anymore; are there similar wireless switches where no wiring is necessary?
What would simply be important to me is: if all standard components fail (the corresponding bridge, the Wi-Fi router…), is there still a way to somehow get the roller shutter down if I do not install a wired backup solution?
That’s it for now :D.
Maybe a quick note for clarification: I am just a user, so if I have described things incorrectly (like for example switch although it might be a button or vice versa (I could never remember that)), please overlook it :).
Best regards
from a smart home lover who actually doesn’t have a proper smart home ;)
Over the past few years, I have gradually made our rental apartment a bit smarter. Tado for heating and air conditioning, Hue for the lights, Nuki for the front door, Eve for the garden, a few sockets and window contacts, and Netatmo to stay informed. Everything is bundled with Apple’s HomeKit and nearly everything is also controlled with a few Alexas.
Overall, we are really very satisfied with our solution. So far, we have no problems running automations that, for example (where desired), switch on the lights via motion sensors, and much is controlled via geofence (cameras, heating, lights, etc.), so that actually (FOR US) hardly any wishes remain open.
Since we already have a lot of hardware, we of course want to keep all that and implement it in the new house. But of course, there are also a few things to improve here.
Just this weekend, I discovered that Philips has a cooperation with Gira and now offers switches that do not require wiring, need no batteries, and also look great. Although we enjoy almost everything automated, there are always some situations or rooms where a simple switch is still faster and better. That’s why we are currently considering placing these switches where wired light switches would normally be, simply additionally. Weberhaus also offers this solution for their houses, so it can’t be that bad. Still, it would be quite a drastic step to completely do without the “old” switches and thus also the wiring.
Here now question 1:
Who has already implemented this solution with the Hue switches and can report?
Of course, I have already imagined some worst-case scenarios and tested them at home. The light MUST always be switchable somehow — that is my basic prerequisite.
Case 1: Internet connection drops (WLAN still active).
Apple HomeKit is out of order, as well as Alexa (both absolutely bearable, since only luxury and no basic requirement). Hue still communicates and can be controlled, both via the buttons and the app.
Case 2: FritzBox total failure.
Exactly the same as in case 1.
Case 3: Hue Bridge breaks.
The light can no longer be switched, neither via buttons nor the app. BUT the emergency solution still works, switch the lamp power off and back on. Hue lamps are always ON by default when powered.
Downside with my consideration and the new Gira switches: they also no longer work then, which means you actually have to remove the lamp and put it back in. For me, that’s okay in such an exceptional situation; it never happened to me all these years and you can endure a night like that.
Therefore, the Hue solution with their switches is actually fine for me even in an emergency. Test passed!
Please name cases I have not thought of (and don’t come to me now with power outage :D).
But now, as a novelty for me, I will have roller shutters everywhere in the new house that will be controlled wirelessly with Somfy, so I need you again due to the lack of testing possibilities.
The question here is: are there wireless solutions that can also lower the roller shutter in exceptional cases?
Theoretically, the radio motors don’t need a switch anymore; are there similar wireless switches where no wiring is necessary?
What would simply be important to me is: if all standard components fail (the corresponding bridge, the Wi-Fi router…), is there still a way to somehow get the roller shutter down if I do not install a wired backup solution?
That’s it for now :D.
Maybe a quick note for clarification: I am just a user, so if I have described things incorrectly (like for example switch although it might be a button or vice versa (I could never remember that)), please overlook it :).
Best regards
from a smart home lover who actually doesn’t have a proper smart home ;)