Fibaro HCL vs HC2: What did you use LUA scripting for?

[Guest andrewbadge]

Hi,

I'm looking for feedback about the Fibaro HC2. The only reason I'd look at it is the LUA Scripting that isn't available with the HCLite.

If you have the HC2; what have you needed LUA scripting for?

If you have the HCLite; what things can't you do that LUA scripting would fix for you?

What sold you either way?

Thanks in advance.

Andrew

[marecki_0luk1 23]

you need LUA for many things. I use it for virtual devices (search this forum for great examples such as samsung TV, autolights, antistorm and many many others). Secondly I use LUA in scenes ... for example you can't via blocks create scene which works between 10:00am and 1:00pm. LUA gives you more flexibility in creating your intelligent solution.

But if I want to use your system only for lights, shutters, common sensors I would consider HCL.

[hvb83 1]

I use LUA for many things.

- For multi-zone heating, since that is impossible to do with the heating panel and 1 relay (you'd have to buy a relay for every heating zone...);

- To adjust the setpoint of your thermostats and Danfoss units; not possible through the climate panel;

- To make use of my keyfob;

- To enable full use of the sunset/sunrise possibilities that cannot be made available through block-scenes.

And still to do but not done yet; an intelligent burglary alarm. Though some of that would probably also be possible through the block-editor, LUA gives more flexibility.

Although I'm not a code-wizard, I prefer LUA over blocks even for things that are possible. I simply understand it better than those blocks.

So for me, I would buy HC2 over HCL any day.

[Dalle1985 16]

I use it for multiple things.

- My heating scheduler is dependent on Lua. The built in heating panel is a complete joke.

- my dimmers have a soft off function, so instead of just turning off, it will slowly turn off. This is a very nice function if you are sitting in a room and the lights start going off. You will reqlise that light is going off and can react before it just turns off

- i have integrated hue bulbs into my setup. This level of integration is impossible with the HCL

- lighting modes with different modes for different things (i.e. Turn off all when i go to bed or turn down light when we watch a movie).

- power saving options. If no activity in a room for i.e. 2 hours, the consumers will be switched off.

- many many other things.

The HCL is really only for very basic automation, not for any nice features at all. You need an external scripting for almost any kind of smart automation. And then there is the fact that the HCL is really quite buggy still!

For me, it doesn't make sense to save a few hundred $ on the controller if you embark on a major home automation project! I have spent somewhere between 5 and 10.000 $ on my project already, so really, saving $300 on the controller doesn't change anything.

[Guest andrewbadge]

Thanks guys. Exactly the answers I needed.