Hi,
I starting on the path to HA and have a couple of questions i’d like to throw out to the community to make sure i’m on the right track.
Fit of all, i’m looking to use the Vera plus system, i based in the UK and i’m looking to automate several features including lights, sockets, heating, alarm, voice activation, GEOFencing & iBeacon to name but a few. Fortunately i work in IT and have experience of GEOFencing and iBeacon as i have written apps and was part of a dev team for a while hence my interest.
One of the issues i have is several of my rooms have flush ceiling mounted G10 light fittings, originally i was thinking of going down the route of Phillips HUE system but at ?50 a pop for a G10 and 3 of my rooms having 10 fittings in each it works out VERY expensive.
So first question… I’m looking at using a mixture of LightWaveRF light switches, room sensors and Phillips HUE bulbs where only one or two are required such as the porch etc. I presume everything is mixable and the main question being my current G10 are all fitted with LED bulbs, will a LightWaveRf light switch manage the whole room and if i already have LED’s fitted can then be dimmed or do i need dimmable bulbs for that ?
I also thinking of using LightWaveRf sockets as they seem to be the only ones for UK plugs. I have been reading that some people don’t like them as there only one way and prefer the Fibaro modules to retro fit but 1. i’m not sure my back boxes will allow the space and 2. how can 1 module control 2 plugs on a double socket ?
With regards to heating, i’m not really sure what to do. I currently have two room stats, one downstairs and 1 upstairs and each floor is controlled independant. So my thoughts are rather than going sown to the route of something like NEST to just get ZWave radiator valves like the LightWave ones and then replace teh room stats with Zwave versions. Any one got ant pointers on this.
Alarm, i have an old wired in alarm system that has PIR’s in most rooms and a keypad near the front door. Again woudl be great if i could combine a system into the HA, i’m also thinking of using the Schlage touchscreen deadbolt. If anyone has any experience i alternative idea’s it woudl be great to read them.
I also have a SONUS wireless speaker system, could that be incorporated into HA, its a great system and i have several speakers and not something i woudl want to replace. I do appreciate that the new Amazon Echo system is due to come out in Beta soon, maybe i could incorporate that for voice control just using the DOT’s?
So, there we go. That’s my plans, any pointers, advice, stories… woudl be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.