Possible to leave Loxone once installed?

[The baker-whites]

Hi guys,

We've had Loxone installed throughout our once in a lifetime self build home and its been a complete nightmare. Nothing works properly and we're now at the stage where we have taken legal action against the installer (we're in the UK). It's not just programming either - we have lights that flash on and off randomly (even when switched off) as well as major problems with the underfloor heating due to the installer placing all the room thermostats inside shaver points in the bathrooms that then get warm and never turn the underfloor heating on! Overall its been the biggest waste of money every - we've got receipts for £38k and a system that can control.......just some lighting and literally nothing else. It doesn't work with our Somfy external blinds (IO control), our MVHR, UFH, Cinema room, alarm - the list of failures goes on and on. 

Loxone support has been terrible also - they just dont seem to care. 

So my big question is: if we just throw the lot in the skip is there another system that can utilise the wiring of loxone that might actually work?

Sorry for the moan but we've really had a bad time of it at the hands of our "home automation system" (I've got electric can openers that can automate more).

Thanks, Steve

[Andrew B]

Wow, that's a pretty horrible story, sorry to hear it. It illustrates clearly how the average builder / buyer is at the mercy of installers, and if you get a poor one, you've got big troubles. This isn't isolated to loxone, either, as I've heard nightmare stories about other systems.

The answer to your core question of whether you can replace the system depends on how it was done exactly. Usually cat6 to similar home run from wall switches, and 14 or 18 gauge from the light fixtures. Unfortunately there is almost an infinite number of variations on a theme though, so it's hard to give a precise answer without knowing more. If the usual approach was taken then yes, an alternative could be dropped in and programmed. Given how much you've spent on the gear, however, it might be cheaper and faster just to fix what is there. Finding s competent loxone installer is likely to be cheaper than finding one for another system AND replacing all the gear.

[Harry Phelps]

For example, depending on the kit you already have installed, it should be pretty cheap to find another method of measuring temperature in order to control your UFH properly & you may even be able to run the value through a formula to take account of the heat inside the shaver socket.

[Clegger]

Hi, and welcome to the forum. Sorry it's in such unpleasant circumstances.

Without knowing details, it's hard to comment on what contribution the Loxone hardware is making to the wide range of problems you're having. From what you say though, it sounds more likely that your installer is responsible for at least most of the issues.

If you don't consciously figure out exactly what the problems are first, then you're risking tearing everything out, paying for new stuff, and then still having problems. Since you're going to legal route with your installer, I'd consider getting another installer onboard to analyse what's actually gone wrong and to determine what needs to be done to rectify the situation. The costs of this should be claimable as part of your court case, since you're generally entitled to get independent advice in such circumstances. 

If you're happy with their work, you could then engage the new installers to rectify the problems. If they determine that the Loxone hardware is at fault, then they'll presumably be in a good position to demand replacements from Loxone. While it isn't perfect, Loxone is generally reasonably robust, so I'd be surprised if most of your issues are due to fundamental problems with the hardware and underlying software. Certainly most of the issues I've had with my own installation have been related to third-party hardware.

Good luck. 

[Simon Still]

>I'd consider getting another installer onboard to analyse what's actually gone wrong and to determine what needs to be done to rectify the situation. The costs of this should be >claimable as part of your court case, since you're generally entitled to get independent advice in such circumstances.

I'd second this suggestion.  One way or another you need a 'second opinion' on your install and for a way forward.  It's likely that the cheapest solution will be to fix Loxone (it does work and few have reliability issues).  

Your UFH in bathrooms for example - if the temperature sensors in the shaver points cannot be relocated Loxone make a 'wireless' temp sensor that would be very quick to install and give an alternative. 

Where in the UK is the house?