HomeAssistant - perfect one.

It's been a while of hard work for me with reading about the electrical wires installation etc.

I've landed with a small plan, which I would like to discuss

1. for sure KNX is too expensive for me to consider at this moment, although method I chose will be KNX-proof for future.
2. the only way to meet the requirements of: easy external (not by me) service, work even without computer/domoticz hang etc./future-proof is to run wires from every switch and socket I want to control to central cabinet and switch it from there.
3. run LAN/cat5e cable to each socket for future KNX proof installation or running any arduino there instead of typical wall switch.

So if I enter room and want to switch light, I just press a doorbell-type switch on wall, which will put an impulse to central cabinet (using 230V) and switch there will turn the proper light on. It is both: easy to service for external serviceguy if I would be away and some module is dead and also it will be able to work without ANY automation software/hardware further.

Also, doorbell-type cabinet switches are possible to control externally.
Every doorbell-type switch connected to them will release 'turn on/off' action same as a button pressed on a wall, so I can use one of these:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/DIN-Rail-Mount-16-SPDT-Power-Relay-Interface-Module-OMRON-10A-Relay-5V-Coil/1986473508.html
to securely control bistable switches I want, with optoisolation using ie. MQTT and HomeAssistant.

The only question left is: how to know what is the status of each light/socket managed by bistable relays?
If I turn on something via homeautomation and turn it off by hand on wall-switch, how to monitor them?

The only way I manage to consider is using stairway-like switch (so managed from both sides of power line) instead of doorbell bistable one. But then switch on wall would be once on, once off in different positions.

Any other thoughts? What do you guys think about the idea described above?

Loxone and KNX/EIB are considered 'expensive' by me.
I'm looking more for a way to use system like this but without complicated expensive installations.

For now on I've found on OpenHardware project for in-wall WiFi ESP relays, with MQTT it could be it. But WiFi can be interrupted so not for security use tho...
I'm looking also for some other ways to control everything without using loxone/knx.

Hi!

I'd be looking for a new home and could have possibility to change some in cabling hopefully.

Currently I'm thinking what to go for in broad field of home automation.
I'd like to choose a way that can act on lights and switches, but also be independent from 'smart' insallation, so when I remove it everything works fine (or if something with domoticz or antyhing else is broken, lights and manual switches would still work).

Also I'd totally love not to use WiFi/other radios in places I can have cables in, so it can't be intercepted and disabled with stronger signal.

Do you have any ideas on what to choose?

@kimot so the only thing that's left is TCP/IP and MQTT...

@TimO this small W5100 module: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/TOP-Mini-W5100-LAN-Ethernet-Shield-Network-Module-board-Best/32457200047.html with step-down dc converter. :-)
Cheaper than the PoE standard version.

@kimot what has to be done to prepare MySensors to use CAN?
I'm thinking about ordering some modules for tests. :-)

@pjr I'm aware of that :-)
Still struggling with decision either to use the CAT5e just as a loooong cable to (doorbell) switch or use it to PoE small nanos all over the place and run i.e. MQTT on each wall-switch separate.
In second option the RS485 protocol would be the best, because of small form factor (smaller than ethernet port inside switch) and possibility to use MySensors too ;-)

@LeoDesigner I will put cat5e for 'LAN' purposes to proper socket, but I also want to control my lights not via connecting/disconnecting 230V in-wall, but in central control panel.
I was planning to use doorbell push buttons on walls just to give signal to automation and then MCU will set proper relays/dimmers on/off etc.

That's why I was thinking about putting cat5e also to on-wall switches, then on 1 pair make the +/-12V signal, another pair for data bus etc. And now I'm looking for most efficient way to connect it everything together.
Each room will have temperature sensor for sure (in the switch), some may have dimmers etc. Last idea was to put mini arduinos inside the hole in wall, but I'm afraid of resetting them every once in a while, just because arduino likes to hang itself...

@kimot Thank you for the information - your english is good enough to understand. :-)

I'm just looking for more simple protocol than ethernet to send data from various places - wired.
And it seems that, for longer distance and cat5e cable in-wall, ethernet is the only choice :-(

Ok so if it's line-wire, then maybe I could wire all cat5e's to one patch-panel, terminate them there and from the patchpanel I could daisy-chain them on one magistral connection and also feed the 12/24V on one pair (i.e. orange/white orange) and data (i.e. blue/white blue).

How do you guys think it would work for cables in-home in-wall?
I guess the power feed would work ok (even including the voltage drop) but what about the RS485/CAN length?
I plan to run cat5 to every switch.

Still can't decide if I should connect on-wall switches straight to Arduino (to control relays further) or to use small arduinos inside every wall switch to better control sensors there (temperature on wall) and possibility to program every switch differently. The idea is to get every wire to basement anyway.

@kimot what would be the CAN topology needed?
Does it support star topology? Im looking for a in-home bus over cat5e in walls...

Regards

@Wijbe.Fryslan so I guess you have already installation done?

HI!

I'm trying to plan my home automation setup to be installed in newly built house.
i want to base it on Arduino MEGA (so no PLC, KNX etc.) with support of MySensors also. Controller, so far, will be the Domoticz.

The number of relays needed are still to be planned, but I'd like to plan the main controller first and relays for it.
I'm planning to use:

• Arduino MEGA as controller, with simple digital input-to-output software
• Arduino MEGA screw shield for better connectivity and service ( )
• Omron relays (still can't decide between http://www.aliexpress.com/item/DIN-Rail-Mount-16-SPDT-Power-Relay-Interface-Module-OMRON-10A-Relay-12V-Coil/1986494070.html and http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Slim-DIN-Rail-Mount-DC24V-Source-PNP-32-SPST-NO-5A-Power-Relay-Module-PA1a-24V/32387046628.html )

Now I'm also looking for a way to opto-isolate the switches on the wall from controller, so no interruptions/electric risk are straight on the MEGA input pins.
Basically my idea was to duplicate the relays, so:

12/24V ethernet --- [doorbell switch in room] --- closes the circuit on 1st relay board, which (without controller) runs the 2nd relay board and turn on 230V mains light.
After initiation of home I'd switch the MEGA between 1st and 2nd relay board to measure the button press and time of the press (if long -> do some scene). It would also give me an isolation (in form of relay) of the input pin.

If you have better ideas to share how to built everything - don't hesitate to post it here.
Basically, as far as I can get, I want to run everything without any RF except for WiFi for mobile hardware. I want everything to be wired, including door/window sensors etc.

@LeoDesigner but how would I connect all sensors in house and relays too?
SOme resistors needed? Star topology? Few gateways?

Hi!

Glad to see 'wired' version of MySensor protocol coming.
One question - how long wires and how many sensors on one pair/multiple pairs will be supported?

I'm thinking about cabling for new home, which means many meters of cable to every sensor/door/actuator/ligth/meter etc.

In best scenario - one cat5e - one termination (sensor/node/etc.)
Currently I'm looking for a cabled version of protocol to support it and be 101% stable (no hiccups and freezes over the protocol), so I can rely on my home.

MySensors seems to be great to implement, but I'm worried about the signal... I was thinking about letting something around 12-24-30V thru one pair of Cat5 to power all nodes from one power-source (with backup batteries).

Or - are there any better alternatives for RS485, that doesn't need resistors, have no limitations of 32 devices etc?

@Yveaux what controller do you use?
I currently have domoticz and I'm wondering about getting it somehow to system.

Hi!

I'm about to start thinking about building house.
And I would like to prepare myself for it. Basically, the idea is to get as much prepared as it's possible before I decide to lay cables.

The question is: what to go for, to have:

• future proof house, with possibility to change automation technology in 10-20 years
• known and cheap, open standard
• ability to change controllers (like domoticz) to something else

Currently my idea is to lay almost every possible power (AC) cable to one box in garage and there have an switch-relay board controlled by...?
I know the EIB/KNX standard, which costs a lot and is not really easy to maintain by own.

RS485 - sounds good in theory, but have a limit of devices on bus

I also had idea to have relays behind sockets and switches, but then I will hear the clicks every time.
Also, I'd like to use doorbell-like switches, so I can simply press it to turn on one light and hold to turn on/off all lights etc.

Any ideas and knowledge share, guys?

I was about to ask the same question - why there's no possibility of using NodeMCU ESP8266 with MySensors in official way, as it's the simple way to deploy sensor network in home :-) for most users.

I'd like to cover my 2nd location with sensor network, can't decide either to order nodemcu's or go with Arduino.
The worst part for me is that there's no clear instruction how to flash nano's with custom firmware, so they can be updated via OTA.

Learning in Domoticz is for RFXCom transceiver, which is expensive.
Do your own coding with arduino libraries (i.e. new remote switch) and code it with i.e. script.