Wired Electrical Options in US

Hardware
1

I’m investigating options for a new home and will be using centralized electrical wiring (low voltage switches with decoupled 120V fixtures). I see a lot of support for KNX and HA but I’m having trouble finding good sources for KNX equipment supporting 120V specifically from distributors in the USA. I’m also looking at other options like DMX, DALI and BACnet. All the electricians I’m working with want to push Lutron which I’m concerned with given their “closed” mindset and focus on deprecating their more open control protocols like their telnet based api.

Has anyone installed a wired lighting/electrical system in the US and connected to Home Assistant without relying on a closed ecosystem like Lutron? Any advice?

2

US-based and not familiar with anything you mentioned other than Lutron.

Zwave has been solid for all of the switches and outlets in my home. Have you considered that?

3

Is there a wired Zwave solution? I’ve stayed away from any wireless solutions to eliminate any issues with potential dead spots. The home has a heavy use of concrete and steel and I want to lighting controls to be rock solid.

4

Nope. Zwave runs on a 900MHz frequency. Lutron is also RF-based, as far as I know, so going that route you’d have similar issues.

That being said, both create mesh networks and would likely be highly available without dead spots, even with lots of concrete

5

Thanks Paul. Lutron has several lines like their RadioRA2, which is all wireless, or their HomeWorks system which can be fully wired. Relying on a mesh network may be the easiest route. Good to hear it’s worked well for you.

7

I get all the same benefits using UPB dimmers.

  • Powerline bus protocol (not RF-based; uses existing AC wiring).
  • Independent of HA (and no hub required).
  • Published API and existing, excellent UPB integration.
  • ETL/UL certification.
  • Each dimmer can also be configured to serve as a switch.
  • Some models can have multiple buttons; just change the faceplate.
  • Centrally managed.
  • Change color of the LED indicator.
  • etc

… and while I was writing this you deleted your post …

8

Ha, thanks, I’ll take a look. I thought I’d be better off posting my final solution after installation to ensure everything I learned is captured.

I’m currently going down the route of using DMX dimmers driven by microcontroller with contact closure inputs to control scenes, etc. It requires microcontroller programing but gives me ultimate control and integration into HA via whatever method I build into the microcontroller (currently using MQTT).

DMX Dimmers considering: Doug Fleenor Design - 8 Channel DMX Dimmer

One of my requirements is to use antique wall switches (essentially simple SPDT low voltage contact switches). I wonder if anyone makes a UPB contact closure device that fits into a single gang back box and interfaces with a contact closure switch while connecting to AC wiring… (thinking like a Shelly Dimmer 2 communicating via UPB)