And I think in the end you've found the right spot in terms of asking others here about their setup, what to buy, how to setup your hub, etc. So post away with any questions or requirements you might have and someone should be able to help you out.
And welcome to the community as well 
thank you sburke781 and dJos.
Ok- first decision- light switches must be ordered (heaps- stupid Mcmansion) including a 10 gang (or 5 plus 5). Im looking at
thoughts? suggestions? I have neutral wire to wall
Please don’t buy electrical devices from Ali Express, they are rarely certified for use in Australia and frequently use the crappiest parts imaginable. The last thing you need is your house burning down and your insurance company declining to cover you.
Buy your devices from reputable Australian smart home specialists like capital smart homes, smarthome.com.au etc.
It’s just not worth buying 240v wired devices direct from China.
Yes, definitely, have your sparky run Neutral wires to each switch point.
That’ll keep options open as your HA adventure unfolds.
Personally I‘d stay away from WiFi devices.
Zigbee wall switches exist or you can utilise whatever traditional switch mechanism you like with in wall Zwave dimmers / switches. IMHO Momentary switch mechanisms seem to work best with guests and family who are used to “normal” switch plates.
With the loss of Smarthings hardware, finding affordable motion sensors and leak sensors is going to be harder.
There used to be an Ecolink Door / Window contact sensor 10 pack on Fleabay and they’re cracking sensors.
Just keep planning, determine if your goal is AUTOMATION or App/Dashboard control and remember you DON’T want to be having to baby sit your HA every day. Enjoy
Hi- I had considered just zigbee/z-wave inwall switch but cant find anything that will support 5 gangs (or more)...hence the cheap import option...can anyone suggest a solution to 10 gangs (with my sincere thanks)?
If zwave is in your budget, put the Aeotec nano dual switches behind Clipsal iconic momentary switches. And use the nano dimmers for those lights you want to dim.
Go back through this thread for links and pics.
Hi dJOS and all - stupid questions
Correct, the momentary switches are dumb, they only drive the Aeotec nano dimmers or switches that sit in the wall behind them.
Eg
You need to buy Australian approved automation gear for anything hard wired to 240v mains. Most of the Chinese gear is rubbish.
Look at Shelly if you want wifi gear designed to meet EU and AU standards. Id recommend battery powered Zigbee Sonoff gear but personally I would not touch their mains powered gear with a 1000ft pole!
I'm certainly not arguing on quality- i don't understand how to fit 5-10 of those aeon's behind the switch? It looks like they are only 2 gang maximum- so to make the whole house smart i need 5 behind. No way it will fit.
You need to talk to your electrician, it’s completely illegal to do any mains electrical work yourself in Australia.
I’ve become good mates with mine and he does all my work in his personal time on a cash basis. I reckon I’ve spent a few thousand so far.
Just be aware, to do HA properly isn’t cheap and putting your family at risk by trying to do things yourself or buying cheap uncertified Chinese junk is just not worth it.
Hi- i think my goal is app/dashboard control. Is there a zigbee switch that you would recommend - noting i need to get to 10 gang?
Is there any reason you need 10 switches in the one spot? Could some not be grouped together on the same smart switch, or even look at smart bulbs at least in this case, if not the rest of the house?
Why on earth do you need 10 gang switches?
99% of switches are 4 or less.
why 10? this point is going to need - lights- hallway and living and dining, front car opening gate, front entry gate, chandelier, outside porch light, outside lighting on house...
it doesnt have to be on ONE switch- im trying to not do 3 panels - can do 2 x 5
Not sure how to group all those- need to be seperate somewhere in the house
and smart bulbs wont work- lots are outside
and im clearly not doing this myself- its a new build
I guess what I was meaning was could, say, the lights for the gates be on one switch, the front porch and other outside lights another switch, the hallway another, etc?
You would be best to put these in the normal locations and put a tablet on your wall to control the various switches via a dashboard.
yes sburke- but that might only cut out 2 really
Tablet on wall and dashboard would be perfect! but how do i do that? How do i make them "smart" so the tablet will control them?
That is the ultimate goal...
The in wall modules, either Shelly wifi or zwave, are the smart components that talk to your Hubitat, the dumb momentary switches simply tell the module to turn on or off, or dim etc. they are there so your wife doesn’t kill you when she can’t turn on / off a light is using the normal methods.
then i need one of them for every 1-2 lines correct? but could put them in roof?
and seeing i need like 50- cheap ones out there??
and yes- the wife will kill me...
They are tiny and fit in the wall cavity behind each switch, yes you’ll most likely need one per string of lights.
If you build your house normally, you can get these retro fitted after. This isn’t cbus.
My house is 30 years old and I’ve got about 90% of the house automated now. I went zwave because I like them but the Shelly wifi gear is excellent and much cheaper. You’ll need a good quality wifi router tho, preferably a high quality mesh system to ensure you have good coverage rtc.
Download the Hubitat app
