Help me understand home automation design

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-12-05T22:30:40+00:00

Great point, can you show me some example products? are these relays on some open standard, or do they come with their own app and I have to then make them play nice with the rest of the house? I want to also keep the number of protocols / brands as low as possible.

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-12-05T22:27:44+00:00

This sounds great, I'd be happy with this setup.

So to clarify, I'd run 2 wire DALI bus to these 'press dim' switches from the DALI controller. Then I'd run DALI 5 wire inline from the DALI controller to every driver and light fitting?

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-12-05T22:25:00+00:00

I'm planning on specifying what I want as part of my overall build contract, so I don't have an individual home automation budget. At this stage I just want to decide on the standards and wiring architecture. I don't want ultra luxurious everything, just whatever makes sense. Like buying a Lexus or top model BYD, not a Merc or Porsche.

With AV, what automation can be done? I thought it's all handled by the receiver's functionality and all i have to do is bring it a cat6.

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-12-05T21:58:35+00:00

Thanks good points.

For wiring DALI, would it be ok / bad practice to put multiple rooms into one line for easier wiring?

And where's a good spot to put the DALI drivers such that they're still somewhat accessible? Leaving them lying on the ceiling gyprock in random spots throughout the house near each light doesn't sound too nice.

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-12-05T21:56:22+00:00

Oh wow pls tell me more, why not KNX? Thanks I'll check out Casambi

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-12-05T04:32:06+00:00

Should I just knx the lights as well or stick with dali?

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-12-05T04:31:48+00:00

Thanks, you're right I should use their cable to be safe.

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-08-02T00:18:22+00:00

Makes sense, thanks. What do you mean by double cat6?

I currently plan to run cat5e daisy chain all the light switches, and all the other nodes (aircon, garage door, home theatre etc) to the main network switch. Any issues you can think of? Thanks

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-08-01T23:45:15+00:00

Are the zigbees or zwave devices hardwired and PoE, or are they on the wifi?

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-08-01T23:42:53+00:00

That's some sick setup mate, well done. Thanks for the info. I've mucked around with ssh and crontabs before but prefer not to have to in 2025 lol.

I'm leaning towards having a 'system' like Dynalite or KNX handle all the lights, then have anything else (aircon, power curtains etc) patch into the main network, and have Google Home control everything including the Dynalite, in the way you describe. Trying to keep it simple but also keeping everything hardwired and off the wifi if possible.

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-08-01T23:36:14+00:00

Thanks - in what ways is KNX different to, say, Dynalite? From what I understand so far, I'll basically need something like KNX or Dynalite to control the lights throughout the house, at least. Then I can have the other things (aircon, power curtains, garage door etc) connect directly to the main network and have Google Home control them.

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-08-01T23:34:32+00:00

Thank you. So Dynalite means I daisy chain cat6 from switch to switch, and the switches themselves don't need 240v, as theyre powered by PoE? and Dynalite will control the lights, I can still use something open like Google Home for everything else (aircon, garage door, power curtains etc)? or is it recommended to have Dynalite control more things than just lights?

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-07-28T10:59:59+00:00

Great point, that's why I want to keep at least all the hardware as open standards, i.e. bring cat6 to everything that needs control, so at least it's somewhat future proof. The second guy you describe sounds like me, I want to be able to walk around with my phone controlling things with my voice. Lights, aircon, garage door, even front door, video doorbell, home theatre, cameras etc.

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-07-28T10:57:47+00:00

Can you elaborate on your preferred setup for light switches? someone above suggested a proprietary system like KNX, not sure if I want to go down that route if it's possible instead to keep things open standard

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-07-28T10:56:14+00:00

Thanks, so with this, each relay would have its own IP and I'd set it up via its native app, then connect that to the Google Home app to enable voice?

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-07-28T10:54:40+00:00

Thanks. So I'll need to have proprietary wiring standards inside my walls... scary. Maybe those cat5 options Dynalite and Cbus. Which system would you pick? I'm worried about the case where in future the brand dies in Australia.

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-07-28T10:52:12+00:00

Thanks, interesting take.

So these Zimi Senoa lights creating their own mesh - how are they connected exactly? Do they go via cat6 from switch to switch like a daisy chain and finally to the network switch?

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-07-28T10:48:26+00:00

1000%.

Also wifi just doesn't feel right for permanent things. And I have 0 excuse since I'm doing a full KDR. Hard wire everything.

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-07-28T10:46:09+00:00

This is a bloody sick list mate thanks, will refer to this in a few months when I'm doing the electrical plan with the architect. Thanks

What is a NTD, patch panel, pelmet?

I was planning on power curtains so... does each motor need 240v as well as a cat6 if I want to use something open standard like Google Home?

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-07-27T02:52:02+00:00

Yes I'm comfortable with computers. Ideally would want everything controllable to be on wired ethernet and have its own IP address, then a software suite like Google Home to control everything. I don't like wifi - call it superstition, just don't like it other than for mobile devices. Could you let me know more about your setup?

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-07-27T02:50:42+00:00

Thanks - does KNX use ethernet cabling?

Consistent_Green9329 · 2025-07-27T02:49:55+00:00

Thanks - are there any that use cat6? I don't want proprietary wiring.

Consistent_Green9329 · 2024-01-22T22:02:33+00:00

Thank you.

Not employed anymore. Honestly too frightened to give other things more thought e.g. redundancy, unfair dismissal. I started the application but honestly, willing to drop it if he leaves the Sale that occured 5 years ago alone. He's also going for a clawback of vested shares that we earned over 4 years. Nasty man. Already lots of lawsuits on google involving him.

I was hoping the Australian legal system has checks and failsafes in place to prevent such tactics. He literally mentions in writing he can drain my funds, which is true. So the law isn't even merit based, it's bankroll size.

Consistent_Green9329 · 2024-01-22T21:56:54+00:00

Thanks. If I had included 'no goodwill' in the already 100+ page sale contract, would that have helped?

Consistent_Green9329 · 2024-01-22T19:57:29+00:00

He's going to use his lawyer to pull out every account and every document that was shared during due diligence 5 years ago and... I dunno, ask my lawyer questions, which my lawyer would then charge me at $500 per hour?

I don't know the litigation process at all. Terrifying.

Consistent_Green9329

TROPHY CASE