Would you instal a smart lighting system in a new build?

[recom273]

Im just putting it out there .. we are in the planning / discussion stage for our place - a modest 2 bed bungalow. 

 

I am renting at the moment and have over time changed every bulb to smart lighting, all the bulbs run from a local home server and are triggered by zigbee PIR sensors and timed automations, to the point where the wife is happy that the lights don't go out on her when she is in the shower and we never need to touch a switch at all.

 

I'm thinking about doing away with all room wall switches, in favour of a central bank of switches in a server / service cupboard, I am not at the stage yet where I install some kind of smart relay system but if the wiring was central, it could be a possibility.

 

I think we are in a different situation here, I don't see the house as an investment, more of somewhere set up to live for the next 20+ years, rather than worry about doing something that may cause depreciation in the future. 

 

I'm just after opinions? Could It be possible to save upto 50% in cabling? I would install some traditional circuits, in areas where I needed a reliable bright light or strip light and use some kind of smart switch.

[Crossy]

The problem with all things "smart" is when they fail. What happens if a lightning surge takes out your server? All lights off? Or all lights on?

 

Despite what I do I still prefer a nice solid switch and lamp, we don't even have any dimmers.

 

[BritManToo]

12 minutes ago, Crossy said:

The problem with all things "smart" is when they fail. What happens if a lightning surge takes out your server? All lights off? Or all lights on?

 

Despite what I do I still prefer a nice solid switch and lamp, we don't even have any dimmers.

 

Tried dimmers, they always burnt out after a year or two.

You can't beat an on/off switch on the wall.

[sometimewoodworker]

40 minutes ago, Crossy said:

The problem with all things "smart" is when they fail. What happens if a lightning surge takes out your server? All lights off? Or all lights on?

 

Despite what I do I still prefer a nice solid switch and lamp, we don't even have any dimmers.

 

We have faux dimming (5 different switched circuits) an actual dimmer (14 luminaries) and Philips Hue bulbs which are dimmable. The Hue bulbs  are expensive but good, the dimmer is going on for 4+ years but I’m going to get a spare, the 5 circuits are on RF&touch switches

 

the Philips Hue are set to Use the last state after a power cut so can be on or off.

 

i absolutely would not have central controlled lights.

Edited May 27, 2020 by sometimewoodworker

[Metropolitian]

I prefer real switch in series with the smart switches.

Preferably to use 'SPDT style' switches and I am replacing the 'NO-only' relays inside some of the smart switches here with one with both NC and NO connections so I can connect both in a style they works independently of the other switch in a boolean 'OR' manner.

 

* For the readers not into the jargons: 

It's a style of switching in which you can use both to turn on or off the lights.

Pretty much the same as used on stairwells.

 

There are smart switches out there that have this option, but not all of them (and just those is that what I am modifying so they can be used like that.) .

[sirineou]

2 hours ago, recom273 said:

I'm just after opinions? Could It be possible to save upto 50% in cabling? I would install some traditional circuits, in areas where I needed a reliable bright light or strip light and use some kind of smart switch.

The time to wire the house is while it is being build , Don't do it then and it would be very expensive and difficult to do later if your system does not work as you thought it would. The savings from not wiring would be negligible in the scheme of things.

also consider obsolescence!!! the sever system you install today will be obsolete in a few years.  All new system development will be developed  for conventionally wired house since that's the largest market. 

So, wire your house conventionally,  install smart switches  outlets, bulbs  were ever desired as I have done,

If your WiFi fails or if you wish too,  you can use them conventionally.  And when new, better, more efficient products are available, you can change the ones you want without having to replace your whole system. 

[recom273]

11 minutes ago, Crossy said:

The problem with all things "smart" is when they fail. What happens if a lightning surge takes out your server? All lights off? Or all lights on?

 

Despite what I do I still prefer a nice solid switch and lamp, we don't even have any dimmers.

 

The lights are programmed to stay off in the event of a power cut, unless I want them to come on.

 

The server is on a UPS and is pretty stable, I haven't had any issues with the actual system, the issue is usually when a switch drops off the zigbee mesh, but with a few tweaks I have got a pretty stable system.

 

The future is pretty clear, for some there will always be an option or need for a switch on the wall,  but home automation is here to stay. The question is, to wire for switches, and after everything is completed, remove them and cover with blanking plates. It just seems like a bit of a waste of time and effort if I know I will hide them and will never need them in the future.

[tjo o tjim]

Personally, I would go with low voltage smart lighting for a new build.  There are a few interesting power-over-ethernet options out there, but the price point is high, so I would stick with either 12V or 24V.  The power supplies are generally the least robust part of the system, so de-coupling them from the actual lights is a big benefit.

 

I have a mix of “dimmable” LEDs, Hue bulbs, and smart relays right now, and find them all a little less than satisfying.  Hue is the only one that provides good dimming and color control, but it gets expensive and I worry about life.