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.....KNX is too expensive, i need additional wiring, i cannot see any advantages......

One thing that occurs to me is that because KNX is a low voltage dedicated bus (rather than a powerline bus - although KNX does also support powerline and wireless bus signalling) you can put switches in wet areas - bathrooms etc.  I supply the KNX power supply via a ups, which will keep the bus system and switches working even if mains power drops (KNX recovers eklegantly from power loss anyway).

Although the switches I use are expensive (relative to other systems) they are very functional.  Touch panels with 6 programmable functions per screen and multiple screens (including scenes).  It also has a built in thermometer and timers, along with inputs.  All this functionality means that one switch can replace many, and integrate heating, lighting, dimming, switching, and shuttering control through one interface.

Of course it's always best to go what works best for you and cost will be a factor in that decision.

Yes, the touch pannels are very functional, but for me they are useless. I plan to manage the whole house with orbiters. With KNX i need an expensive multifunctional touch screen pannel (yes, there are cheaper switches but this is the main advantage of the knx) and a switch/dimmer on every light, and a thermostat unit on radiator. with plcbus i need only a single switchfor every device, whitch is also a receiver and transmitter.

//now i see that PLCbus don't have a feedback from local control. If i understood it correct, if i turn the light on with a local switch, the whole automated system will be not informed about that. Therefore the Z-wave is still in the game. Price is comparable to PLCbus, and if there is a real two-way communication, with feedback to the system if I turn the lights on locally, it is a better choice for an automated home. Also for Z-wave i found thermostats and motion detectors. For PLCbus nothing. I prefer the wired solution, but it looks that i can build a complete home system based on Z-wave, while PLCbus i need additionalsystems for heating and security.

KNX looks good, but it is very expensive.

i am actually thinking about X-10 or plcbus.

On euroX10 they have really nice prices, USB controller for 75 Eur's, and light switches, single or dual for 45euros. For 700 Eur's i can have a complete system for light control.

PLCbuc is little more expensive, but it has two-way communication, so i can also control the status of the devices. For about 800 Eur's i can have good looking crystal switches for the whole house, witch USB controller maybe about 1000 Euros. I think this is better choice than the X-10.

with Z-wave there is a potential risk of bad signal through the thick walls. The price is comparable to PLCbus and X-10, but i have no idea why choose Z-wave.


KNX is too expensive, i need additional wiring, i cannot see any advantages.


//edit: How can be the heating controlled with PLcbus? i can find only light switches

thank you.

Yes, if there is a possibility of wiring, then wireless should be avoided, i think. Wireless sounds progressive and modern, but i have an existing power wiring, so all what i need is to replace the current manual switches to something that can be controlled with LinuxMCE. The actual wiring goes through the actual switches, so the fact hat they need to be connected to a wires does not matter. I think a wired solution is more stable and reliable. With wireless technology there is a potential risk of bad transmission, which can be avoided with wired technology. And wired will be cheaper, cause the switches are simply. They don't have additional wireless transmitters.

For the lights looks the best the PLCbus

But still have no idea with the home security and climate. Can this be controlled with PLCbus or i need something additional?

I think this KNX is actually what i need. But i found only lights switches. I need also a heating automation - with thermostat units, and devices controlling the flow through the pipes and home security system - motion detectors, maybe a smoke detector, door/window detectors. Can this be done with KNX or i need another system for this?

And for the lightning: If i understood it correct, all what i need is a controller which is connected to the core, and some switches for the lights. Then the whole system can be controlled with the orbiters. Is that correct? Thank you

Any idea or help is useful, i plan also a short documentary movie which can help other users settle their automatic house

I am planning a major reconstruction of an older house - this house has a really thick walls, about 70 cm, therefore i think wireless technology isn't usable there. A wired solution is better for me because the devices can be also powered from the wires. Thank you for the answers, this PLCBus looks good, is it fully compatible with LMCE?

So i plan to make my home "inteligent". But i am a beginner with linux, and i haven't any experiences with home automation. I am sure that home entertainment or telecom system is quite easy with linuxMCE, but i need help with hardware to control the lightning, climate and home security. Can anyone post a link to a shop with hardware, which will work with European 230V/50 Hz, and will be compatible with linuxMCE? I think the communication with the core server will be done through the power wires. Thank you very much!