Budget Challenge: My 200€ Home Automation Systems

Have you ever wondered how much you really need to start with home automation without breaking the bank? I explored the minimum budget required to kickstart a home automation system that is both easy to expand and provides some useful functionality in the meantime.

In this article, I challenged myself to design a system within a 200€ budget. This might seem tight, but with the right strategy, you can create a foundation for a smarter home. I’ll walk you through the limitations of a 200€ budget and then dive into three distinct home automation systems, each designed to offer unique benefits and be expandable in the future. I’ll also provide a list of devices and suggested automations for each.

While I offer some device suggestions, I’m not affiliated with any of the brands mentioned in this article. Feel free to pick devices from manufacturers you trust and are available near you. Make sure to read reviews online, as quality can vary even within devices of the same brand.

Home Automation on a Budget

Home automation doesn’t have to be expensive. Many beginners are intimidated by the thought of investing a large sum of money into smart home devices, thinking it’s out of reach. However, with a bit of creativity and a focus on essential features, you can create a valuable home automation system even with a limited budget.

I didn’t start with a large budget either. I started with a handful of devices, and I upgraded slowly as my needs and the technology evolved. Even today, my home automation setup remains relatively low-cost, and I’m perfectly happy with it considering the size of my apartment.

The 200€ mentioned in the title are unfortunately not enough for a complete system. But it’s enough to tip your toe into this exciting technology without breaking the bank. You can create something that provides initial value to your daily life and sets the foundation for future upgrades.

Criteria and Limitations

First, it’s important to note that the example systems in this article are designed to be expandable in the future. If your goal is to achieve just the functionality of one of the systems with no intention of expanding, there are probably cheaper solutions available. The biggest cost in all these systems is the hub, which serves as the foundation for future expansions.

Also, at the 200€ budget, we are looking at devices on the middle to lower side of the price spectrum. This doesn’t necessarily mean lower quality, but it does limit our options a little. Voice control and comprehensive security solutions are out of reach at this budget. The prices mentioned are averages from at least three online stores in Europe and similar devices from different brands when possible.

My general requirements for this project include local control, easy expandability, and avoiding brand lock-in. For these reasons, and more discussed in a previous article, my hub of choice would be Home Assistant Green. An alternative could be the Hubitat C-8.

For battery-powered wireless sensors, I opted for the Zigbee protocol due to its competitive pricing and good battery life. For lights and sockets, I chose a combination of Wi-Fi and Zigbee, depending on the specific goal of each system.

As for the design process, I usually start with identifying requirements and initial automations. This time, since the budget was the biggest constraint, I began with a general objective in mind and then determined how many automations I could implement after selecting the devices. You can decide the value of each solution based on how important the automations bundled with it are to you.

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System 1

Goal: Automate lights and air conditioning based on time and temperature.

Devices:

Home Assistant Green: 100€
IR controller: 30€
Wi-Fi Temperature Sensor: 25€
Wi-Fi RGB Light Bulbs: 3x15€ = 45€
Total Devices: 6 for 200€

Description:

This system doesn’t require a Zigbee USB stick but is limited to Wi-Fi devices. With it, you can teach commands from infrared remotes to the connected IR controller to control devices from a single place. This includes AC, fans, TVs, and anything else with an IR remote. When placing the IR controller, ensure it has a line of sight with the devices you want to control.

The system also includes a Wi-Fi temperature sensor to help automate the AC or fans. If you use a Broadlink IR controller, they sell an additional power cable that includes a temperature sensor. Alternatively, you can use the Shelly H&T sensor.

The light bulbs also use Wi-Fi. Ensure they support a local API. You can check this on the Home Assistant integrations page (home-assistant.io/integrations). Well-reviewed, affordable options include products from Wiz and Shelly.

Since our only sensor is a temperature one, light automations will be time-based. If you have an old tablet, you can set up a permanent dashboard for easy control. Otherwise, your phone will serve as the primary method of control until you expand. If you have a compatible smart TV, you can integrate it into the system and use it in automations.

Automation Ideas:

Depending on the room you place the devices in, here are some automations you could implement: Bedroom:

The light in the bedroom turns on gradually 30 minutes before the alarm goes off to simulate the sunrise and gently wake you up.
The bedroom lights turn off at sunrise.
When bedtime approaches, the air conditioner turns on based on the temperature.
When you go to bed, the nightstand lamps turn on. Living room:
A light bulb turns green when time is getting close to leaving for work.
Before the time you get back from work, the air conditioner turns on based on the temperature.
At sunset, the lamps gradually turn on in the living room.
Receive a notification if the outside temperature is more comfortable than inside, suggesting to open a window.
If you turn on the TV, the lights dim and turn back on when you turn the TV off.
When bedtime approaches, the lights dim in the living room.
Turn off the living room lights, the TV, and the fan with a single action before bed.

System 2

Goal: Motion-controlled lights.

Devices:

Home Assistant Green: 100€
Zigbee Stick: 35€
Motion Sensors: 2x22€ = 44€
White Light Bulbs: 2x10€ = 20€
Total Devices: 6 for 199€

Description:

This system focuses on motion-activated lighting, especially for areas that don’t get enough natural light during the day. It includes two motion sensors and two light bulbs, all using the Zigbee protocol. Sticking with Zigbee light bulbs instead of Wi-Fi will help create a stronger and more reliable mesh network.

The motion sensors can also serve a dual purpose by enhancing your home’s security. You can get notifications if they detect motion when you’re away from home. If you have pets, consider the placement of the sensors so they won’t trigger them needlessly.

However, if you don’t plan on expanding and just need motion-triggered lights for a couple of areas, there are cheaper, non-connected alternatives available. While this system won’t offer significant power savings compared to traditional lighting (leaving two normal light bulbs on for 15 hours a day would cost you less than 20€ a year), the convenience and potential security benefits make it worthwhile as a starting point.

As for brands for this system, most Zigbee motion sensors and light bulbs will do. But if you need a recommendation, Aqara makes good quality sensors, and Ikea has affordable light bulbs.

Automation Ideas:

The lights turn off if there is no movement in the room for a few minutes.
The entrance lights turn on when motion is detected nearby.
Motion-activated lights in the hallway operate at half brightness after bedtime.
At sunset, the lamps gradually turn on in the living room.
An alert is sent to your phone if motion is detected when everyone is away from home.

System 3

Goal: Automate and control only lights

Devices:

Home Assistant Green: 100€
Zigbee Stick: 35€
White Light Bulbs: 2x10€ = 20€
RGB Light Bulbs: 2x15€ = 30€
Wireless Button: 20€
Total Devices: 7 for 205€

Description:

This system, while slightly over the 200€ budget, includes four Zigbee light bulbs and a more user-friendly control method than a smartphone. It might be preferable to System 2 if you want to focus on just lights and creating the perfect ambiance based on your schedule.

Using white temperature light bulbs in areas where you won’t utilize the colors can help save some money. The RGB lights can create a nice atmosphere in the living room when relaxing or watching TV. I recommend using them on floor or table lamps instead of ceiling ones, to avoid turning them off accidentally from the switches.

Light bulbs, especially RGB ones, can also be used for visual notifications. They can act as reminders based on your schedule or notify you of open doors or windows if you later expand your system to include contact sensors.

Automation Ideas:

If you split the bulbs between the bedroom and the living room, you can create the following automations for both rooms:

Bedroom:

The light in the bedroom turns on gradually 30 minutes before the alarm goes off to simulate the sunrise and gently wake you up.
The bedroom lights turn off at sunrise.

Living room:

A light bulb turns green when time is getting close to leaving for work.
At sunset, the lamps gradually turn on in the living room.
If you turn on the TV, the lights dim and turn back on when you turn the TV off.
Use the wireless button to cycle through colored light scenes.
When bedtime approaches, the lights dim in the living room. Combined:
Use the wireless button to activate a bedtime routine that turns off the living room lights and the TV, and turns on the nightstands when it’s time for bed.

Bonus System

Goal: A combination of all three previous systems.

Devices:

Home Assistant Green: 100€
Zigbee Stick: 35€
IR controller: 30€
Motion Sensors: 2x22€ = 44€
Temperature Sensor: 20€
White Light Bulbs: 2x10€ = 20€
RGB Light Bulbs: 2x15€ = 30€
Wireless Button: 20€
Total Devices: 11 for 299€

Description:

The 200€ budget is very restrictive, but what if you could combine all three of the previous systems? The total cost would increase only by 100€, making it a total of 300€. With that amount, you can enjoy the features and automations of all three systems. We can also skip Wi-Fi devices since Zigbee sensors have longer battery life, and with more devices, we can create a more reliable network.

In summary, it would allow you to automate lights by time and motion, air conditioning, or fans based on temperature. and create the perfect ambiance for any situation. You can also combine some of the above automations and add more actions that can take advantage of all the devices.

Conclusion

In this article, I explored how to design a home automation system within a 200€ budget, offering immediate value and the potential for future expansion. By breaking down the limitations and presenting three distinct systems, I demonstrated how home automation can be accessible and achievable for everyone.

If you want to try to create your own budget system, I created a simple online calculator and a spreadsheet available in the link below. This calculator, based on a Home Assistant hub and Zigbee devices, effortlessly helps estimate total costs by inputting your required devices. In the spreadsheet, you can also adjust the costs to your local prices for a more accurate calculation.

As you venture into home automation, remember to start small, stay flexible, and pay close attention to your requirements. By carefully selecting devices and automations that align with your needs, you can transform your home into a more comfortable and efficient space without breaking the bank.

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