I was also so opted for the HomeMatic system, because the Center contains all the things that are necessary for the configuration and operation of the HomeMatic system, the other home automation systems (eg KNX) partly individually and procured at much higher costs would. The center mainly includes the following features:
- Web server to completely operate and configure the HomeMatic system; additional programming adapter or programs are indeed available but not required.
- Send / receive module for operation of radio-based sensors (eg buttons, switches, temperature meter) and actuators (eg dimmers, switches, actuators).
- Interface to the operation of wireline sensors and actuators (via RS485 bus.).
- Programmable control for linking sensors, actuators, time, system variables for the realization of automatic control functions and processes.
- Battery backup for bridging power failures.
- LAN interface
- USB ports
- Highly visible LEDs for service and alarm messages
The control panel has a simple LCD display and a few buttons to configure the network (IP address). All other settings are done from a PC using a Web browser. The web interface is factually and clearly, with no frills. I personally like those interfaces very well. It's all included what you would expect: password protection, logging function, easily functioning firmware update, backup / restore function for configuration data, automatic time adjustment via a time server on the Internet. The online help is, however, not directly integrated into the headquarters, but it is accessed for the HomeMatic site on the Internet.
The configuration of a HomeMatic system is not self-explanatory, but reasonably logical and once you get read a few pages in the (online) Manual, you get the rest out intuitively. Well I like a search function, the newly added (RS485) "discovered" components.
What I like:
- Low power consumption the control panel: 4.5W acc.Manufacturer, even I have only about 1.5W measured..
- Pleasant Design headquarters
- According to my standards good range when communicating with radio-based modules. Ie in a family home is a good chance that all devices be achieved reasonably safe. In unfavorable placed sensors and actuators (headquarters in the attic, in the basement sensor), it may, however, already come to occasional disturbances.
- Communication with bus-based components works perfectly.
- So far, high reliabilty; the center runs absolutely smoothly without a reboot was necessary for months.
What I did not like so much:
- CPU could be a bit more powerful: normal operation at the web interface is still liquid. The configuration of a HomeMatic system goes but with increasing size and more slowly, and in particular the loading of configuration data takes a long time (in my case about 1 minute at about 35 installed actuator and sensor modules).
- Connecting the RS485 bus by Netzwerkstecker I find not so good. I would prefer a simple screw. The use of the recommended CAT6 cable as bus wiring I find suboptimal. Meanwhile, I laid only the green EIB cable (EIB = European Installation Bus) because that must be laid in conduits along with 220V lines and is also deployable due to greater flexibility and a smaller diameter.
- There are no clear indications, up to what size a HomeMatic system can be expanded. This affects the number of connectable actuators and sensors, as well as the maximum bus length. Although one can assume that a detached house can easily be equipped with Homemmatic well. But 100% secure is not. In the interests of investment protection guaranteed information would be very desirable.
All in all I'm very happy with the HomeMatic system and headquarters. However, there is room for improvement, thus "only" 4.
Another tip in conclusion: the firmware of a newly purchased Central necessarily update, otherwise it may be that the Znetrale does not work with all types of actuators and sensors.
