Inviting opinions and experiences…
I read quite a few posts on tablets, HabPanel, cables, power supply, PoE, etc.
Also post stating to use openHAB as augmentation to existing ‘proprietary’ technologies (Building a new House - Decisionmaking …).
Some may remember that I started building a house in 2014, which happened more in 2015, then life threw a spanner in the works… the point: I said back then: no (traditional) light switches, which created all sorts of reactions.
I see the different view points, and keep wondering, when we switch to colour TV, whether we kept the black and white TV, just in case the colour TV dies. We use WiFi everything, yet advocate the use of cables. I do not like WiFi and will avoid it, unless there is no other choice. But this is a different topic. Yes, shelly-type things (Smart lighting in a newly built house) in parallel, but where is the cost/benefit by doubling up on wiring; is it not time (yet) to move on?
While appreciated, this is a mute point… when the power fails, all fails; not so in my case, as the house is UPS-ed with a 20kWh battery
Back to the panels… my thinking is to use one! type of panel, as I figured that different panel resolutions lead to different presentations of screen designs.
ATM I am trialling a Raspberry 7" touchpanel… (any thoughts on it? better options?)
I was thinking of installing a sub-switchbox (Unterverteiler) in each room, to cater for the LED drivers in that room, 230V mains, some circuit breakers, and electronics, plus Ethernet.
Then I read another argument: “cables are cheap”… which suits my initial idea to let all cables converge in a tech space (which I have actually built, to house HVAC, hot water tank, mains, network wiring, etc.).
Cables might indeed be cheaper than some six electrical sub-panels?!
But then, cable length matter, when running DC for the LED lights WRT voltage drop. I was thinking of running DC carrying wires for the LED lights back the ‘actuators’; all LEDs are tune-able white. The wire will be suitable for mains (should anyone change things in the future). Controllers maybe bought (too many lights too expensive) or build (designed a 16 channel LED driver, individual addressable and controllable). As for the latter, why I thought of a n electrical sub-panel; e.g. four LED lights = 8 driver channels, one board per room.
As for the fall back… would we not create a fail-tolerant solution for key technology (or not pay with a PROD system)? Isn’t an Ethernet as reliable as 230V mains wiring. If a switch dies, would there not be a spare. I usually have spares sitting in standby (e.g. switch, power supply, router, computer).
With your input and concern, I might end up with a more thought-out solution. Thanks.