Plan smart electrical installations – How to find your perfect Smart Home system
Imagine this: In the morning, your blinds gently open with the sunrise, the coffee machine starts automatically while the bathroom is preheated to a comfortable temperature. In the afternoon, the lights dim for the perfect movie night, and when you're on vacation, your home convincingly simulates your presence.
Smart home technology turns this vision into reality – but choosing the right system can be overwhelming. This guide helps you navigate the jungle of possibilities and find the perfect system for your individual needs.
What is this guide for?
- Get an overview of smart home technologies
- Find the ideal system for your needs and living situation
- Plan meaningful automations for more comfort and security
- Avoid bad investments and plan for the future
What a smart home can do for you
Increase comfort
- Automatic temperature control based on your daily routine
- Activate lighting scenes at the push of a button or by voice command
- Automate morning and evening routines
- Control and monitor devices on the go
Increase security
- Motion detectors for automatic alerts
- Presence simulation when you are away
- Video doorbells with remote access
- Automatic notifications for unusual activity
Save energy
- Smart heating control based on usage
- Automatically switch off unused devices
- Control blinds based on sunlight
- Optimize energy consumption with solar systems
The Smart Home System Finder
How to find your ideal system
The choice of the right smart home system depends on several factors. Answer these four questions to narrow down your options:
- New build or existing property? New builds give you more freedom for wired systems, while wireless solutions are often more practical in existing properties.
- Budget? Professional systems like KNX cost more but offer greater possibilities and stability.
- How extensive should the automation be? Do you only want to control a few lights or a completely networked home?
- Install yourself or hire a professional? Wi-Fi solutions are usually DIY-friendly, while KNX or Loxone require expertise.
Smart home systems compared
KNX – The professional standard
Ideal for you if:
- You are planning a new build or a major renovation
- Maximum reliability is required
- You plan for the long term and have a budget for a premium system
- Many complex automations are desired
Loxone – The all-in-one solution
Ideal for you if:
- You are looking for a simpler alternative to KNX
- You want a central system with well-coordinated software
- New build or major renovation is planned
- You want a mix of wired and wireless components
ZigBee & Z-Wave – Flexible wireless solutions
Ideal for you if:
- You want to retrofit an existing property
- You want minimal structural intervention
- You want to introduce smart home step by step
- You have a medium budget
Wi-Fi – Easy entry into the smart home
Ideal for you if:
- You want to get started with a minimal budget
- You want to make individual devices and rooms smart
- You prefer DIY installation without expertise
- You are a tenant or structural measures are not possible
From planning to implementation
In new builds or renovation
- Prepare basic infrastructure: Plan empty conduits for future wiring, even if not all smart home functions are installed immediately.
- Network planning: Ensure sufficient LAN sockets and good Wi-Fi coverage through strategically placed access points.
- Central equipment cabinet: Plan a sufficiently large and well-ventilated equipment cabinet for smart home components.
- Power supply: Separate circuits for technical devices can reduce interference and increase stability.
Step-by-step implementation
A smart home doesn't have to be everything at once. A proven approach is to expand step by step:
- Create a base: Start with a central control unit and basic functions.
- Lighting: Often the easiest starting point with quickly visible added value.
- Heating: Smart thermostats save energy and increase comfort.
- Security: Add motion detectors, cameras and access control as needed.
- Comfort enhancements: Roller shutters/blinds, multimedia control and other convenience functions.
Retrofit in existing buildings
- Prefer radio-based systems: ZigBee, Z-Wave or Wi-Fi solutions require no or minimal structural interventions.
- Place gateways strategically: Pay attention to central positioning for optimal radio coverage.
- Use existing infrastructure: Existing switches can often be supplemented with smart actuators behind the switches.
- Smart plugs: Easy entry for controlling existing lamps and devices.
Practical tip: Choosing a system for retrofitting
If you want to retrofit an existing property, Zigbee systems like Philips Hue for lighting or systems with Zigbee support such as Amazon Echo Plus/Show or SmartThings are often the best choice. They offer a good balance of installation effort and functionality.
Install yourself or hire a pro?
| System | DIY installation | Professional recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi devices | ✓ Easy | - |
| ZigBee/Z-Wave | ✓ With basic knowledge | For complex setups |
| Loxone | Only basic functions | ✓ Recommended |
| KNX | - | ✓ Required |
Your smart electrical planning with myElectricPlan
Our web app myElectricPlan supports you in planning and visualizing your KNX electrical installation. With just a few clicks, you can place KNX symbols directly on your uploaded floor plan.
Coming soon: A KNX group address generator is under development that will allow you to import information created in myElectricPlan and export group addresses in XML format.
Frequently asked questions
Can I combine different smart home systems?
Yes, with integration platforms like Home Assistant, ioBroker or commercial solutions like Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa or Google Home, different smart home systems can be connected. However, combining systems can lead to complexity and often requires more technical understanding.
How secure are smart home systems?
Smart home systems offer different levels of security. Professional systems like KNX generally offer higher encryption and better protection. For Wi-Fi-based solutions, you should pay attention to regular updates and use strong, unique passwords. Especially important: ideally use a separate Wi-Fi network for your smart home.
Is a smart home financially worthwhile?
The investment can pay off through energy savings in heating and lighting. Studies show savings of 10–30% on heating costs with smart thermostats. However, the added value often lies in the increased comfort, improved security and the ability to adapt the home to changing needs.
What happens if the internet goes down?
With local systems such as KNX or Loxone, basic functionality continues to work even without internet. With cloud-based solutions, there may be restrictions. However, many modern systems offer local control options. Pay attention to this feature when choosing a system if high reliability is important to you.
Conclusion: The path to your ideal smart home
The choice of the right smart home system depends on your individual needs, your living situation and your budget. While Wi-Fi-based solutions offer an easy entry point, professional systems like KNX or Loxone score with higher reliability and future-proofing.
Take your time planning and consider which functions are really valuable to you. A well-thought-out smart home not only increases comfort and security, but can also contribute to increasing the value of your property.
Final tip: Start with a system that allows for expansion and build your smart home step by step according to your needs. This way you gain experience and can invest specifically where it brings the greatest benefit.