zoe_willssmart
2021-03-24 18:58:06
- #1
Hello,
unfortunately, I’m only now, towards the end of renovating my old building, realizing that smart home is a bit more than just radiator thermostats and window contacts....
The more I dealt with the topic, the more I noticed what I have or want, and now I have absolutely no idea what makes sense and how everything can be combined. So, which wireless standard, since the chance for cables is now gone.
What do I want to control remotely and make smart?
- of course the radiator thermostats, they should automatically turn down when I open a window. Or when my boyfriend tilts one (and he likes to do that. grr). And I want to report via app whether I’m coming home or not so that it’s not heated unnecessarily.
- window contacts / handles: I want to see in the app whether the windows are closed, tilted, or really open. Maybe even a warning light next to the door when I want to leave and something is still really open.
- in the hallway, I want lights that automatically turn on when I walk through. Of course not when there is enough daylight. And at night not floodlight strength but comfortable.
- a few switches are in a stupid place and pulling cables from there with this wall... well, just forget it. A few smart thingies in the old boxes and stick a switch somewhere else – every system should be able to do that, right?
- smoke detectors: since my new drywall walls have become quite soundproof, they need to network and beep in other rooms too. It would be nice to be able to turn them off via app and check who beeped first. (Have you ever jumped groggy out of bed because of an obvious false alarm, had to get the ladder and take that stupid thing down from 3 meters high to turn it off? I hate it...)
- roof windows from Velux – so IO Homecontrol: apart from Somfy, it’s apparently not standardly controllable anywhere. Velux apparently has such a device (a hub? bridge? whatever), can I integrate that somewhere? At least automatically draw the shading when it gets blistering hot inside in summer? I would find a network great that simply opens my roof windows briefly with extremely bad air instead of just blinking like Bosch’s Twinguard does. And of course the shading, possibly opening and closing windows depending on temperature – so it doesn’t get as hot as in a greenhouse during the day and a bit too chilly in my attic room in the evening.
- outdoor irrigation: I would like to connect irrigation so my flower pots manage on their own on weekends/holidays. Water connection is there, power can be laid if necessary. Whether to use an irrigation computer, something from Gardena, a Pi... no idea yet. Currently, I’m thinking about setting up a hydroponic system, where a Raspberry Pi to remotely check water values would probably make the most sense. Or what do you think?
- music: Since a few of my stereo systems have now broken down, I’m wondering what else will come here besides the one tower with CD player and the annoying clock radio with music. A few years, well decades ago, I might have played my CD collection on a NAS to play it in different rooms. Probably no longer really state of the art.... maybe, just maybe, it would make sense to just put a Bluetooth speaker in the bathroom and hobby room that can be controlled from somewhere. I really don’t like Alexa/Siri/whatever listening boxes in the house, but maybe I’d make an exception in the bathroom. How else do you control something like this if not via phone? Put an extra tablet down to choose music?
Questions upon questions....
and to make it not too easy (otherwise you’d just say Zigbee):
I’m actually leaning towards Bosch – not only because I prefer eco-friendly rechargeable batteries over disposable minis, but also because I want to store my stuff locally on a device and not somewhere in the cloud.
That’s going to be difficult to integrate with a Pi, I suppose, right?
So whoever can shed a little light for me – I’m grateful for any info :)
unfortunately, I’m only now, towards the end of renovating my old building, realizing that smart home is a bit more than just radiator thermostats and window contacts....
The more I dealt with the topic, the more I noticed what I have or want, and now I have absolutely no idea what makes sense and how everything can be combined. So, which wireless standard, since the chance for cables is now gone.
What do I want to control remotely and make smart?
- of course the radiator thermostats, they should automatically turn down when I open a window. Or when my boyfriend tilts one (and he likes to do that. grr). And I want to report via app whether I’m coming home or not so that it’s not heated unnecessarily.
- window contacts / handles: I want to see in the app whether the windows are closed, tilted, or really open. Maybe even a warning light next to the door when I want to leave and something is still really open.
- in the hallway, I want lights that automatically turn on when I walk through. Of course not when there is enough daylight. And at night not floodlight strength but comfortable.
- a few switches are in a stupid place and pulling cables from there with this wall... well, just forget it. A few smart thingies in the old boxes and stick a switch somewhere else – every system should be able to do that, right?
- smoke detectors: since my new drywall walls have become quite soundproof, they need to network and beep in other rooms too. It would be nice to be able to turn them off via app and check who beeped first. (Have you ever jumped groggy out of bed because of an obvious false alarm, had to get the ladder and take that stupid thing down from 3 meters high to turn it off? I hate it...)
- roof windows from Velux – so IO Homecontrol: apart from Somfy, it’s apparently not standardly controllable anywhere. Velux apparently has such a device (a hub? bridge? whatever), can I integrate that somewhere? At least automatically draw the shading when it gets blistering hot inside in summer? I would find a network great that simply opens my roof windows briefly with extremely bad air instead of just blinking like Bosch’s Twinguard does. And of course the shading, possibly opening and closing windows depending on temperature – so it doesn’t get as hot as in a greenhouse during the day and a bit too chilly in my attic room in the evening.
- outdoor irrigation: I would like to connect irrigation so my flower pots manage on their own on weekends/holidays. Water connection is there, power can be laid if necessary. Whether to use an irrigation computer, something from Gardena, a Pi... no idea yet. Currently, I’m thinking about setting up a hydroponic system, where a Raspberry Pi to remotely check water values would probably make the most sense. Or what do you think?
- music: Since a few of my stereo systems have now broken down, I’m wondering what else will come here besides the one tower with CD player and the annoying clock radio with music. A few years, well decades ago, I might have played my CD collection on a NAS to play it in different rooms. Probably no longer really state of the art.... maybe, just maybe, it would make sense to just put a Bluetooth speaker in the bathroom and hobby room that can be controlled from somewhere. I really don’t like Alexa/Siri/whatever listening boxes in the house, but maybe I’d make an exception in the bathroom. How else do you control something like this if not via phone? Put an extra tablet down to choose music?
Questions upon questions....
and to make it not too easy (otherwise you’d just say Zigbee):
I’m actually leaning towards Bosch – not only because I prefer eco-friendly rechargeable batteries over disposable minis, but also because I want to store my stuff locally on a device and not somewhere in the cloud.
That’s going to be difficult to integrate with a Pi, I suppose, right?
So whoever can shed a little light for me – I’m grateful for any info :)