FAQ
TL;DR: For a new 160–170 m² house with about 100 devices, the thread’s practical consensus is: “install a normal alarm system,” use wired infrastructure first, and treat Zigbee plus Home Assistant or Domoticz as automation layers, not the security core. This FAQ helps DIY builders choose coordinator, power, alarm, and software architecture without defaulting to Wi‑Fi. [#21440328]
Why it matters: A new build is the cheapest moment to decide cabling, backup power, coordinator placement, and whether alarm logic should live outside your DIY automation stack.
| Option |
Main strength in the thread |
Main drawback in the thread |
Best fit |
| Zigbee + coordinator |
Mature ecosystem, non-Wi‑Fi automation, cheap modules |
Needs good coordinator placement and mains-powered routing devices |
Most DIY room automation |
| Matter on ESP32-C6 |
Flexible direction for new DIY builds |
Less proven in the thread, more code work |
Experimental DIY endpoints |
| Satel + automation platform |
Stable alarm layer, detector states can be reused |
Separate design effort, extra modules like ETHM |
Security-critical functions |
| PoE star topology |
One UPS, centralized backup, CAT 6a reuse |
Higher switch/injector cost |
New builds prioritizing resilience |
Key insight: The thread does not reject DIY. It separates roles: use DIY automation for convenience, but keep alarm and life-safety functions on dedicated hardware whenever failure costs are high.
Quick Facts
- The planned house is 160–170 m², single-storey with an attic, and the initial DIY target was about 100 ESP32-based endpoints for sensors, dimming, flood detection, current measurement, and security signals. [#21440268]
- The first server idea was a Proxmox VM with 16 GB RAM and 4 CPU cores for Home Assistant, Zigbee2MQTT, and Node-RED; later discussion framed that as generous rather than minimal. [#21440268]
- The power plan shifted from 2–3 separate 12 V DC lines per switch or socket toward CAT 6a with PoE, plus injectors, splitters, and one larger UPS for centralized backup. [#21441772]
- One experienced installer described a working stack using Satel Integra 128, later 256, Domoticz on Raspberry Pi 3B+, and a Raspberry Pi 4 with a 14-inch touchscreen as a wall panel. [#21441416]
- For stable low-voltage supply, the thread recommends 12 V buffer power supplies plus 5 V converters for some devices, because snapshot power loss from small supplies can disrupt automation hardware. [#21441416]
Zigbee vs Matter for a DIY smart home in a new house — which is the better choice when I want to avoid Wi‑Fi and build around ESP32 modules?
Zigbee is the safer choice for this build. The thread starts from a clear non-Wi‑Fi requirement and repeatedly treats Zigbee as the mature path, while Matter on ESP32-C6 appears as an interesting but less proven DIY direction. The plan also moved from a Sonoff USB coordinator idea to a dedicated SMLIGHT SLZB-06M, which reinforces a Zigbee-first architecture. If you want fast deployment in a 160–170 m² new house, Zigbee reduces experimentation risk and keeps Matter as a later option for selected endpoints.
[#21441772]
How do I build DIY sensors on ESP32-C6 for Zigbee or Matter and integrate them with Home Assistant or Domoticz?
Build them as small, isolated test nodes first, then scale. 1. Buy 2 ESP32-C6 boards and prototype one sensor class, such as temperature or flood detection. 2. Pair them with your chosen coordinator and expose entities in Home Assistant or Domoticz. 3. Only after stable tests, repeat the design across rooms. The thread explicitly starts with 2 prototype boards before committing to roughly 100 endpoints. That sequence limits costly rework if code, radio range, or power design fails.
[#21440268]
What is a Zigbee coordinator, and how does a device like the Sonoff ZBDongle-P or SMLIGHT SLZB-06M fit into a smart home setup?
“Zigbee coordinator” is a network controller that creates and manages the Zigbee mesh, stores device joins, and connects the radio network to automation software such as Home Assistant or Domoticz. In this thread, the first idea was one Sonoff ZBDongle-P in the rack, then the design shifted to the SMLIGHT SLZB-06M as the chosen coordinator. That puts one dedicated device in charge of pairing, routing visibility, and integration with the wider automation stack.
[#21441772]
What is PoE and how does it compare with running separate 12 V or 24 V DC lines for home automation devices and sensors?
PoE became the preferred direction because it centralizes power and backup. The initial idea used 2–3 separate 12 V DC lines to each switch or socket, but later the plan changed to CAT 6a with PoE almost everywhere, using injectors and splitters at first. The stated reason was better network stability and one stronger UPS instead of many separate supplies. Separate 12 V or 24 V lines can still work, but the thread treats them as less clean operationally in a new build.
[#21441772]
How many Zigbee devices can one coordinator realistically handle in a two-floor house, and what affects stability with around 100 endpoints?
In this thread, one coordinator is treated as plausible for about 100 endpoints, but only with good infrastructure choices. The house is 160–170 m² with an attic, and the original question asks whether one coordinator can cover both levels. The practical stability factors discussed are coordinator placement in the rack, avoiding Wi‑Fi dependency, and using mains-powered modules for fixed automation. A failure case is implicit: if too many endpoints are battery-only or poorly placed, the mesh has fewer strong routing points and becomes harder to trust.
[#21440268]
What hardware do I actually need to run Home Assistant, Zigbee2MQTT, and Node-RED for about 100 devices — is a Proxmox VM with 16 GB RAM and 4 CPU cores overkill?
Yes, 16 GB RAM and 4 CPU cores looks generous for the stack described here. The thread proposes that VM size for Home Assistant, Zigbee2MQTT, and Node-RED, then later shows a real installation running Domoticz on a Raspberry Pi 3B+ and a separate Raspberry Pi 4 for a 14-inch control screen. That contrast suggests your Proxmox VM is not a bottleneck risk for around 100 devices. It gives headroom for dashboards, integrations, and testing without being the first part to fail.
[#21441416]
Why do some people recommend a dedicated Satel alarm system instead of building security sensors entirely on ESP32 and cheap Zigbee modules?
They recommend Satel because alarm stability matters more than DIY flexibility. The clearest advice in the thread is to install a “normal alarm system,” specifically brands like Satel, Genovo, or DSC, and then integrate it with the smart-home layer. Later posts praise Satel integration as extremely stable and suitable for reusing detector signals in automation. Cheap DIY modules may be fine for convenience tasks, but the thread treats intrusion and safety logic as a separate class of problem with lower tolerance for failure.
[#21440366]
How do I integrate Satel Integra with Domoticz or Home Assistant so I can read detector states and control outputs from one dashboard?
You can expose detector states and outputs from Satel to both platforms. In Domoticz, the thread states you can see detector states, all other inputs and outputs, and also switch Satel outputs from the dashboard. In Home Assistant, the thread later points to an official Satel Integra integration, which makes a unified dashboard approach realistic. The practical model is simple: let Satel own security logic, then let Domoticz or Home Assistant read states and trigger non-critical automations such as lighting or pumps.
[#21442111]
What exactly do I need to connect Satel Integra to Domoticz — which panels support it and what role does the ETHM module play?
You need a Satel Integra panel with the ETHM module, and the thread states that only Integra supports this Domoticz path. One post says directly that only Satel Integra has integration with Domoticz and that you need to use the ETHM module. In practical terms, ETHM is the network interface that lets the automation layer communicate with the alarm panel. Without it, the thread gives no supported route for the Domoticz integration being discussed.
[#21441844]
Is it better to place lighting and shutter automation modules in wall boxes or centrally in a switchboard, and what are the maintenance trade-offs?
A central switchboard is easier to service, but deep wall boxes may be the only realistic compromise. One experienced installer strongly preferred pulling everything to the switchboard because it leaves room to maneuver, replace modules, and test alternatives later. The original poster then abandoned that idea due to lack of space and chose deep boxes plus extra CAT 6a for future flexibility. The trade-off is clear: switchboard placement improves maintenance, while wall boxes reduce installation footprint but make replacement and troubleshooting harder.
[#21441881]
Which modules are worth considering for lighting and roller shutters in a DIY system: Zigbee modules from AliExpress, Shelly 2.5, Dingtian LAN relays, ASTRA, or SmartBOB?
The thread treats them as different risk levels, not equals. Cheap Zigbee switch modules from AliExpress are attractive for price, and the plan was to buy spares in case reliability proved weak. Shelly 2.5 was called “a little unreliable.” Dingtian LAN relays, ASTRA modules, and SmartBOB drivers were suggested as alternatives worth checking, especially when serviceability matters. For shutters and lighting in a new build, the safer reading is: test cheap modules first, but keep replacement paths open and avoid burying unproven hardware where access is difficult.
[#21441844]
How should I design backup power for smart home and alarm devices — one UPS with PoE injectors and splitters, or 12 V buffer power supplies with 5 V converters?
Use one UPS with PoE where you want centralized resilience, and use 12 V buffer supplies where local low-voltage stability matters most. The thread’s architecture moved toward CAT 6a, PoE injectors, splitters, and one stronger UPS because it simplifies backup across the house. A second practitioner also reported moving to 12 V buffer supplies plus 5 V converters because some devices misbehaved during brief power disturbances. That gives you a practical split: centralized backup for infrastructure, buffered low-voltage rails for sensitive endpoints.
[#21441416]
What is Dashticz, and how is it used with Domoticz and a Raspberry Pi touchscreen as a wall control panel?
“Dashticz” is a dashboard interface that displays Domoticz controls and status on a dedicated screen, usually as a simple wall panel for whole-home control. In the thread, it runs on a Raspberry Pi 4 with a 14-inch screen in the living room and serves as the main visual control point. That setup separates automation logic from display hardware: Domoticz handles devices, while the touchscreen gives a permanent household interface.
[#21441416]
Why do some users still choose Domoticz in 2025 instead of Home Assistant, OpenHAB, Fibaro, KNX, Grenton, or Tuya?
They choose it because they already run stable systems on it and find the automation tools easier. One user had used Domoticz for three years and argued that its Blockly, dzVents, and LUA options remain powerful. Another user challenged that choice in 2025, but the defense was practical, not ideological: existing integrations, Raspberry Pi deployment, and no need for a full-time programmer to get useful results. In this thread, Domoticz survives because it solves real installed-home problems, especially with Satel integration and simple dashboard workflows.
[#21442914]
How should a beginner approach the design of a home alarm system for a new build — learn it independently, buy training, or pay someone for the project and equipment list?
Pay for the design, then decide whether to install it yourself. The strongest beginner advice in the thread is: if you have no alarm experience, have someone prepare the project and equipment list, then use the forum, documentation, and selective training to build competence. One comparison even cites a house ventilation design done for about 200 PLN as a model for outsourcing the plan but keeping control of implementation. That approach cuts design errors without forcing you to outsource every future change.
[#21442057]
Generated by the language model.
and the inverter data theme lies. Something I can't figure out about the flow. So node red for beginners with SmartHome is black magic rather.
