The last few years I notice a sharp increase in installation of home automation. People that can't even use/charge a smart phone correctly buy cartloads full of expensive stuff only to be dependent on that brands technology, Internet connection and people that do know this stuff. People that do know are not found in abundance.
When helping out the elderly I notice that these are a sales target and buy such "necessary" devices to improve their situation which it does not as they can not master the devices. Reality is that they bought extra stuff that they can not configure when it refuses one day. If the brain starts to become foggy home automation and apps are not understood while switches even are understood by people with dementia/Alzheimer. Internet dependency is IMHO not a blessing but a curse certainly when one does not want to know how stuff works and is interconnected. I mean we can all say: "I have no knowledge of that" but that does not solve issues. Even TVs and audio devices are connected to each other wirelessly....while cables work without configuring, maintenance, security issues and software updates as long as you live and longer. Also age does not really help when starting to buy a can of worms as you won't get younger. Reliability of electronics is laughable compared to old stuff as found in houses. Only when 100% LED light is implemented switches start to wear out faster. I recently replaced light switches installed in 1971 and the lady said that it was bad that stuff breaks down so fast 🙂
Just to learn how working in technical retail is I worked a day for free in one of the largest stores that sell such stuff and was astonished how much was sold on a day. To people of which the majority had absolutely no clue 😀
So why would one buy such stuff and think things will improve? What is exactly negative when needing to use a simple switch to switch on the light? My hard opinion is that it almost all is superfluous garbage one can do without (we did till now) and I deliberately look for classic and sturdy non internet connected stuff that just needs mains voltage.
Please tell your view.
When helping out the elderly I notice that these are a sales target and buy such "necessary" devices to improve their situation which it does not as they can not master the devices. Reality is that they bought extra stuff that they can not configure when it refuses one day. If the brain starts to become foggy home automation and apps are not understood while switches even are understood by people with dementia/Alzheimer. Internet dependency is IMHO not a blessing but a curse certainly when one does not want to know how stuff works and is interconnected. I mean we can all say: "I have no knowledge of that" but that does not solve issues. Even TVs and audio devices are connected to each other wirelessly....while cables work without configuring, maintenance, security issues and software updates as long as you live and longer. Also age does not really help when starting to buy a can of worms as you won't get younger. Reliability of electronics is laughable compared to old stuff as found in houses. Only when 100% LED light is implemented switches start to wear out faster. I recently replaced light switches installed in 1971 and the lady said that it was bad that stuff breaks down so fast 🙂
Just to learn how working in technical retail is I worked a day for free in one of the largest stores that sell such stuff and was astonished how much was sold on a day. To people of which the majority had absolutely no clue 😀
So why would one buy such stuff and think things will improve? What is exactly negative when needing to use a simple switch to switch on the light? My hard opinion is that it almost all is superfluous garbage one can do without (we did till now) and I deliberately look for classic and sturdy non internet connected stuff that just needs mains voltage.
Please tell your view.
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Simple. Everybody has a light switch.
So to make more money you need either to sell them a better lightswitch, or tell them you have a wireless light switch so they won't even have to get up!
It's called 'capitalism' 😎
Jan
So to make more money you need either to sell them a better lightswitch, or tell them you have a wireless light switch so they won't even have to get up!
It's called 'capitalism' 😎
Jan
One would assume the buyers (not the sellers) brain would be able to discern what is needed and what not. Why give oneself a present that is not understood, can not be installed by oneself and can not independently be troubleshooted when it doesn't work? Since I see a challenge in solving technical knots I see such situations once in a while with often eyes with question marks in them. Certainly with higher age one better keeps stuff simple and overseable certainly when one wishes to be independent as long as possible.
My guess is that hypes do really work.
Everything wireless is also an item. When one day the modem/router says bye bye then nothing works anymore 😀
My guess is that hypes do really work.
Everything wireless is also an item. When one day the modem/router says bye bye then nothing works anymore 😀
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When I built my house about 10 years ago I decided to add KNX home automation mainly from my own interest. I've found KNX to be useful overall but for light switching I'm not using anything fancy apart from few lightning scenes where multiple lights can be setup with single switch. However lots of dimmers and presence detectors. One of the main advantages of KNX is that switches are totally decoupled from mains so switches need only KNX bus wiring (or are wireless).
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The same but went back to simple switches as there was no added value. Main light points at the ceilings brighter, smaller fixtures on tables, desks etc. lighter in power and as usual with LED often with built in dimmer. "Technical" rooms light color 4000K, otherwise 2700K. Old fashioned upbringing with discipline to always switch off stuff.
Solved 🙂
Solved 🙂
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Thanks for letting me know that you finally agree with me on something 😀
Haven't you noticed that many people in technical stuff are very difficult characters bordering on autism? That is one of the reasons they are often independent souls and not "anyones friends". This translates to extremely focussed and detailed high level stuff and strict beliefs/convictions.
This is one of the most interesting and challenging items in being technical. I had an extremely highly educated genius in a team but we had to tell him to go home and shower as he simply forgot and did not pay attention to everyday chores.
Haven't you noticed that many people in technical stuff are very difficult characters bordering on autism? That is one of the reasons they are often independent souls and not "anyones friends". This translates to extremely focussed and detailed high level stuff and strict beliefs/convictions.
This is one of the most interesting and challenging items in being technical. I had an extremely highly educated genius in a team but we had to tell him to go home and shower as he simply forgot and did not pay attention to everyday chores.
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Nothing, but sooner or later it will become inexorably obsolete.
And it won't happen to make you unnecessarily spend more money, but to save money for those who build the houses and those who then buy them.
Generally speaking, and in my humble opinion, things are often seen in a different way in relation to the number of springs reached by the observer.
Home automation, although obviously not yet fully realized in detail by the masses since there is a lack of support in homes that have not planned for its future installation, is making its way.
The point is not to abandon the classic light switch, the point is that one day we will be able to do everything we do today by reducing the under-floor wiring inside a home to a minimum state.
And everything will be remote-controlled, by voice, from a smartphone (which has long since become the operations center for everything), or by snapping your fingers.
Obviously, then no one will be able to "live" without it, since - as everyone knows - there is no going back.
In my view, it is simply the actual realization of one of the possible scenarios due to technological evolution, and certainly not the last one.
I agree there is lots of hype in home automation and no doubt buying a turnkey solution would result in superfluous garbage. As I had a DIY approach to this I chose only stuff I needed. I won't be going back to simple switches. Probably will add more presence detectors as those are very handy.
Mmm, maybe not obsolete but worse in quality for sure. A development already happening. Try to find a wall socket that has screw connectors for wiring. Defective stuff is always examined why it broke down and quite recent stuff fails earlier than one should expect. Chinese devices with electrolytic caps in it seem to have a builtin predefined EOL timer.
The underfloor (here upper floor) wiring system will likely stay as all those wireless fads still need local 230V. Also in D/NL home installations are strictly regulated and in groups for safety. Omitting the black wire from switches to lighting won't make much of a difference I guess.
The marketing that such stuff is green is not truthful as all that stuff consumes power 24/7 itself and it needs wireless transmission too. Last week I removed a few home automation devices that had tiny 0.35VA transformers overheating to the point of discoloring. All built in in the standard plastic installation boxes.
The underfloor (here upper floor) wiring system will likely stay as all those wireless fads still need local 230V. Also in D/NL home installations are strictly regulated and in groups for safety. Omitting the black wire from switches to lighting won't make much of a difference I guess.
The marketing that such stuff is green is not truthful as all that stuff consumes power 24/7 itself and it needs wireless transmission too. Last week I removed a few home automation devices that had tiny 0.35VA transformers overheating to the point of discoloring. All built in in the standard plastic installation boxes.
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Strict regulations apply in Finland as well. Omitting mains from switches is not about safety. It makes the home installation much simpler and flexible.
Cheaper. Always wins.
All too often "green" and "safety" are key words in hyping up stuff. You're technically orientated, you don't buy that and probably overread such nonsense.
All too often "green" and "safety" are key words in hyping up stuff. You're technically orientated, you don't buy that and probably overread such nonsense.
I never understood why home wiring is always under floorboards.
Always seemed to me the ideal for a ring main would be to make it as a ring around the house behind the skirting board.
If this were adopted as a standard then some enterprising soul could develops a pre wired socket with short spur and junction box to tee into the main.
Lift a section of skirting board, connect new socket, refit skirting.
No more lifting carpets or butchering of floorboards (for the electrics at least).
Always seemed to me the ideal for a ring main would be to make it as a ring around the house behind the skirting board.
If this were adopted as a standard then some enterprising soul could develops a pre wired socket with short spur and junction box to tee into the main.
Lift a section of skirting board, connect new socket, refit skirting.
No more lifting carpets or butchering of floorboards (for the electrics at least).
That is more or less the way it is done here since the sixties but then in the ceiling. Stone bricks/concrete houses.
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Someone, who was surely texting an driving, knocked over the street light across from my place a few weeks ago. The driver claimed she was trying to avoid a dog in the street. I've never once seen a dog roaming the neighborhood. I was talking to my elderly neighbor about it and she said that she has a Ring doorbell, but it doesn't work because the free trial that came with the installation ran out over a year ago. 🙄
I like automation for the small daily things—lights turning on when I enter a room, coffee ready in the morning, or the heating adjusting itself. It just makes life a bit easier.
A few years ago my father developed dementia (he's passed on now thankfully) he regressed that far that he'd go around the house turning on light switches and taps because "I'm from the past you know, we didn't have these things back then".
I'd wake up at anytime of the night / early morning to find him asleep and all the lights and taps turned on.
So no, I do not like the normal 'automation' systems at all.
I also willing admit I utterly detest, and will never have anything to do with, cars that have those stupid 'central control screens'.
Very dangerous and a menace to safety.
I'd wake up at anytime of the night / early morning to find him asleep and all the lights and taps turned on.
So no, I do not like the normal 'automation' systems at all.
I also willing admit I utterly detest, and will never have anything to do with, cars that have those stupid 'central control screens'.
Very dangerous and a menace to safety.