Preparing for Smart Home Electrical Installations During a Renovation: What Should You Plan Ahead of Time?

Many people equate a smart home system with a few wireless switches or a smartphone app, even though the foundation for reliable operation is often laid during the electrical renovation. Lighting, shading, heating, sensors, intercoms, alarm systems, and network devices will only work well together if the wiring, junction box sizes, power supply, central locations, and manual controls are planned out in advance.

Not every property requires a full-scale building automation system. The goal is for the system to meet actual usage needs, remain maintainable, and allow its basic functions to be controlled even when an app, network connection, or central controller is unavailable.

First, define the features, not the brand

At the start of the renovation, it’s a good idea to determine, room by room, which features are actually needed. The selection of a specific manufacturer or protocol should come only after that.

Common requests:

• turning lights on and off and adjusting their brightness;
• control of blinds, shades, or curtains;
• control of heating and cooling zones;
• presence, opening, temperature, or water detection;
• intercom, access control, and camera;
• connection of the alarm and smoke detection system;
• measuring energy consumption;
• data connection for an electric vehicle charger or solar power system;
• remote monitoring and notifications;
• pre-set scenes, such as „Leaving Home” or „Night Mode.”.

The list of features helps prevent the design from becoming a showcase of technology while remaining inconvenient for everyday use.

Wired, wireless, or hybrid system?

Wired solution

During renovations or new construction, a wired system can provide a reliable data connection and a centralized infrastructure. Its advantages include stability and the fact that fewer devices need to be powered locally. The downside is that it requires careful planning, more cabling, and a suitable central location.

Wireless solution

It may offer greater flexibility in an existing, undivided property, but its operation may be affected by the building’s structure, the radio environment, the maintenance of battery-powered devices, and the location of the central access point.

Hybrid system

In many cases, it makes sense to implement critical or high-load functions via wired connections, while using wireless technology for supplementary sensors and retrofit expansions. The exact balance depends on the property and the specific usage requirements.

Preparing Switches and Junction Boxes

Smart relays, dimmers, and control modules often take up more space than a traditional switch. A box that is too shallow or too crowded can cause installation and heat dissipation problems.

The following must be clarified during the planning phase:

• whether a local module or a central control system is being developed;
• Is a neutral wire required in the junction box?;
• what size and depth of box is needed;
• Will there be enough space for the connections and the module?;
• What kind of load does the device connect to?;
• Will there be an option for traditional manual switching?;
• how to access and replace the electronics later.

You should not wait until after the wiring is complete to select the smart module, because the required wires and junction boxes may vary depending on the system.

Central Distribution and Automation Cabinet

In a centralized system, space must be provided in the distribution panel or in a separate automation cabinet for power supplies, controllers, relays, network devices, and cable management.

Important considerations:

• appropriate size and extra space;
• ventilation and heat dissipation;
• clear labeling;
• Proper separation of power and data cables;
• serviceability and accessibility;
• proper placement of the router, switch, or central controller;
• the need for an uninterruptible power supply for critical equipment;
• the possibility of future expansion.

Lighting Circuits and Switching Logic

Automation works best when lighting groups are already logically separated in the wiring. It is not necessarily practical to treat the general lighting, reading lamp, mood lighting, and hallway lighting in the living room as a single circuit.

Record the following for each room:

• which groups of lights can be turned on separately;
• which can be controlled;
• what type of light source and driver will be installed;
• Where should the lighting be controlled manually?;
• what kinds of scenes there is a real demand for;
• what should happen in the event of an internet or control system failure;
• where the LED power supply remains accessible.

A separate guide on flashing LEDs and dimmer compatibility can be found here: Is the light flashing?

Sunshades and Motorized Operation

For motorized roller shutters, louvered blinds, or curtains, the power supply, control method, and location of the push buttons must be determined in consultation with the manufacturer of the window or door.

To be confirmed:

• the engine type and rated specifications;
• wired or wireless control;
• individual and group operation;
• central „all up/all down” function;
• wind, light, or weather sensor;
• manual operation and emergency response;
• the exact location of the cable outlet.

Heating, Cooling, and Zone Control

The location of thermostats and sensors significantly affects temperature control. It is not advisable to expose them to direct sunlight, drafts, heat sources, or locations that do not reflect the room’s average temperature.

The following must be agreed upon with the mechanical engineer:

• the number of zones;
• the locations of the thermostats and sensors;
• the control of valves, distributors, and mechanical units;
• the connection of the heat pump, boiler, air conditioner, or ventilation system;
• the necessary power and communication cables;
• the system's basic operation without a central control system.

For heat pumps, detailed guidelines on electrical preparation can be found here: Electrical Preparation for a Heat Pump.

Data Network: The Backend Infrastructure of the Smart Home

A stable wireless network requires more than just a powerful router. For larger properties or multi-story buildings, multiple access points, a wired backbone network, and central cabling may be necessary.

It's a good idea to plan ahead:

• the service provider's access point;
• the central network cabinet;
• the location and power supply of the access points;
• wired connections for televisions, workstations, and cameras;
• the data connection between the intercom and the alarm system;
• cabling for outdoor equipment;
• the spare tubes and retraction options.

Manual Control and Fault Tolerance

The basic functions of a home should not depend solely on a mobile app or cloud service. It is advisable to provide local, intuitive control options for lighting, shading, and basic building systems.

Plan:

• what works without an internet connection;
• what happens in the event of a central control unit failure;
• how to turn on the lights manually;
• how to reset the system to its default state;
• who has access to the administration;
• how the system can be transferred to a new owner;
• Where can I find the documentation and the password management procedure?.

Data Protection and System Security

Cameras, microphones, presence detectors, and remote access capabilities may handle personal data and sensitive information. When selecting a system, it is worth considering:

• whether the data is stored locally or in the cloud;
• whether multi-factor authentication is available;
• How long is the product supported with updates;
• who has access to the installer's and owner's accounts;
• how to delete or export the data;
• What types of network isolation are possible;
• What happens when the service is discontinued.

The specific IT and data protection settings must be determined based on the documentation for the system in use.

Documentation and Subtitling

An automated system is difficult to maintain without documentation. At the time of handover, the following should be available:

• circuit and wiring diagrams;
• list of devices and model numbers;
• distribution and module labeling;
• a brief description of the switching logic;
• the procedures for granting local and remote access;
• backup and restore information;
• a list of update and maintenance tasks.

Common Design Errors

• The system is selected without a list of functions.
• There is no neutral wire or enough space in the junction box.
• The automation cabinet is too small and cannot be expanded.
• The lighting can only be controlled via the app.
• The locations of the network access points are not specified.
• The LED drivers and power supplies are not accessible.
• The mechanical and electrical control systems are not synchronized.
• There is no documentation or clear labeling.
• The system depends on a single cloud service that is being discontinued.

Summary

The goal of smart home electrical pre-wiring is not to include as many automated features as possible, but rather to create a stable, easy-to-understand, and expandable system. The functions, wiring, junction boxes, central locations, data network, and manual controls must be coordinated before the walls are closed up.

For more information on the entire tram renovation process, see the in a guide detailing the renovation of the tram network can read. The Request for Proposal Form shows a sample of the initial data required for planning.