Z-Wave Home Automation

[arun1uk]

Does anyone have an installation? I'm looking to install it in our new house and just after some advice and real life experience. I could go on other forums but...I like it here!

Looking to integrate with dimmable LED lighting, burglar alarm, door sensors, heating and boiler controllers, with a few controllable plugs.

Thinking about the Fibaro HC Lite as I don't expect to do any programming or complex schedules. Hoping it will also integrate with my NAS and IP Cameras so I can control from anywhere.

Would be interested in your thoughts, alternatives and potential pitfalls.

Cheers

[arun1uk]

chockymonster said:

Yes, I do.

DSC Alarm
Fibaro light dimmers
Fibaro RGBW led controllers
Fibaro Relays
Wall plugs etc etc!

I control it using a mac mini and indigo, I looked at the fibaro hc setup but decided on indigo because it's more tweakable, I can interface my Sonos system, AV Amps and other things with it that the Fibaro setup doesn't let me do, plus I run Plex on the Mac for video etc.
I went for a separate alarm that can interface to an HA system instead of using the HA system to do the alarm. Wired PIRs are much more reliable for triggering HA scenes, the wireless ones will fire after a 5 second or so delay as they have to do other checks, then they sleep for period of time.

For the security stuff I used CFSS, Dennis was brilliant at talking through the options.

Sounds great, thanks for the reply.

For a newbie trying to get a new setup, what do you wish you'd have known before you started?
Thanks for the heads up about indigo - off to do some digging. I also thought about using a Raspberry Pi as the controller too.

The house has a separate alarm system, so would like to integrate somehow.

Cheers for the advice

[arun1uk]

Thanks gents, appreciate the replies. I'll be looking into the alarm integrations, with the aim that I'm notified of an alter when I'm away from home and not having to pay the £25 monthly management fee from the likes of ADT etc.

Think I agree about the battery powered motion detectors so will be giving them a miss.

I also like the look of Ninja Sphere https://ninjablocks.com/#home/ but realise it's not a proven solution yet. Anyone heard much about it?

Cheers

[arun1uk]

VEX said:

Fibaro will integrate with Nest so you can go at heating that way if you want (another training course I am booked on)

The Danfoss are brand new, I have pinged Fibaro UK an email to ask more about them and will feed back info here.

Also looking at the HDL range of solutions and Loxone, but a think the wireless retro-fit possibilities are less.

V.

Danfoss you say.....? Tell me more.

We'll be moving into our new place in a few months so already buying parts to get fitting. Torn between the Fibaro Lite or a mini pc/mac running Indigo