New house - help to choose home automation protocol to work with MCE

[max666]

OK, so I definitely need binary inputs or switches.
I was hoping that some actuators have binary inputs incorporated.

Swtiches or binary inputs alone are hefty expense, mostly because of shutter switches - they take 2inputs each and there are quite a few of them.
I am just doing calculations of everything I need on online shops and the sum for KNX is heavily over budget

Have to rethink my approach now.

Thank you all for your time and knowledge!!

[hari]

when you are a bit smart you should be able to get a much cheaper per channel price than with z-wave. Forget X10/PLCBUS.. it is too slow and not reliable. With z-wave you're quite limited in choices regarding the style and reliable units tend to not be in the cheap segment (e.g. look at the price of high quality Merten Connect products).
some KNX I/O modules allow for single input blind operation, they toggle direction on every press

How many channels do you need?

[davegravy]

Hi Hari, I understand KNX is EU-only. Are you at all familiar with the NA market? If so, what would you recommend over Z-wave for a new build in NA?

[hari]

KNX is available worldwide.

[max666]

How many channels do you need?

I have pretty much decided to start with 12 lights and 8 blinds to keep the cost down.
And will prepare all electrical installations for future KNX by routing all the switches and wires to central location.

Can you recommend blind controllers which work with one binary input?

[hari]

that is no function of the blind controller, the input module needs to support toggle operation by toggling two group addresses on each press

[hari]

you should also check ebay quite often.. you can get good deals there with a bit of patience

[max666]

I am already all over ebay.de for KNX/EIB modules

So I have to watch which binary inputs I buy?  Any recommendations?
Is this function to toggle addresses normal or only some binary inputs have it?

[bwhitson]

Unless I'm incorrect - happens from time to time - Europe is on 220v where as in NA we are on 110.  Are the KNX/EIB devices I find on ebay.de compatible with our 110v system?

If not where might I find 110v compatible products as from what you guys are saying it is the best to go with?

[davegravy]

See the bottom of http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/EIB/KNX_Devices

Looks like http://www.elementcontrols.com/ has some products.

No one selling this stuff in Canada as far as I can tell

[Marie.O]

Siemens sells KNX stuff worldwide.

[bugui]

Hello Hari,
I'm using your PLCBUS Driver with 4 dual micromodules.
I have some issues, when I reload the dcerouter but, at the time I got good results, that was the only thing that I can see on it.
I know that KNX it is more reliable, but the difference with the price between PLC ans KNX so high that I thinking that maybe, PLC can be good solution on a hybrid installation (KNX inside the house, PLCBUS for outside lamps).
I would like to ask to you if we can combine this two technologies in order to offer a good price-reliability solution.

Thanks in advance
Bugui

[hari]

Hello Hari,
I'm using your PLCBUS Driver with 4 dual micromodules.
I have some issues, when I reload the dcerouter but, at the time I got good results, that was the only thing that I can see on it.
I know that KNX it is more reliable, but the difference with the price between PLC ans KNX so high that I thinking that maybe, PLC can be good solution on a hybrid installation (KNX inside the house, PLCBUS for outside lamps).
I would like to ask to you if we can combine this two technologies in order to offer a good price-reliability solution.

Thanks in advance
Bugui

I'm not aware of a specific bridge device between KNX and PLCBUS but of course you can run both interfaces on your lmce system and include both KNX and PLCBUS lamps in your scenarios

br Hari

[Marie.O]

KNX exists for various transport media. Most people install KNX with a dedicated wire. But KNX can be run over powerline and RF as well.

[hari]

KNX exists for various transport media. Most people install KNX with a dedicated wire. But KNX can be run over powerline and RF as well.

you might also want to add that the layer 1 fore PLC and RF is not specified in the standard, so only KNX TP products interoperate between vendors. For RF and PLC you need to stick with one vendor..