Hi folks,
I have what is probably a noob question. With the different options of switches, dimmers, etc I am not quite sure where to go with this.
Scenario:
Kitchen with 2 circuits for overhead can lights.
Circuit 1 has a single switch by door 1
Circuit 2 has a 3-way switch (source) by door 1 and a slave 3-way switch by door 2
I would like to be able to control both circuits for BOTH locations with dimming (LED just to complicate things). I would be OK with the concept of individual dimming control at door 1 and ganged/scene dimming control at door 2.
The Evolve LRM-AS + LTM-5 might work since it supports the scene class. The more expensive Aspire RF9540-N also has the instant status, scene etc.
I’m not sure what combo of switches would allow me to dim both circuits from both locations.
Thoughts?
I am still trying to figure out if what I want to do is possible. Any comments from the more experienced folks?
Go with the instant status dimmers and you can synch the two sets of lights very easily with PLEG.
Plus, do other cool things.
Bulldog,
thanks for the reply. I have not used devices that associate with scenes yet. The Aspire 9542-Z would be the companion switch in the no-load location. Can Vera (and PLEG) see this companion switch differently from the 9540-Z?
In other words, if I hit the 9542 at location Door 2 then it will be a different signal such that PLEG can then dim both circuits but if I click the 9540 at Door 1 then only circuit 1 will dim?
The Evolves should work if you associate all the switches. Go with the Linear Dimmer WD500Z though as they are cheaper and Linear makes the evolves anyways.
If you wire in the WD500Z to load 1 circuit 1 and a second WD500Z at load 2 circuit 2, then add a WT00Z accessory switch as your slave for circuit 2 you should be able to associate them all into the same group and they will respond in same. I haven’t done this with the 2 masters but I have done it with 3-ways and GE switches/receptacles using an Aeon Labs Minimote so I should think it could be done with Vera. You can use the Evolves, I was only suggesting Linear because they are cheaper. I don’t know Cooper devices so cannot comment.
Thanks haworld.
If they are all in the same group and “they will respond in same” will it possible to dim the two circuits individually or have I just made the 2 circuits into 1 big circuit?
Thanks
Once they are associated into the group I don’t think they will be able to be controlled separately, so I think you would have essentially made it into one big circuit. If you want individual control, just don’t don’t associate the 1st circuit, leave it as a standalone. There may be other ways to control with Vera but I haven’t done it so maybe one of the Vera experts on here can chime in.
I was reading this info from the Linear web site:
http://www.linearcorp.com/pdf/manuals/WD500Z1_manual.pdf
If I understand that correctly I can use the group association and control different groups by different clicks/holds. I am not sure how to do this yet on Vera and/or switches but I have them on order so I will work on understanding this.
Any hints from existing WD500Z users is appreciated.
My most recent WD500Z-1 switches discuss the different association groups in the manual, but the switches don’t seem to actually have the association group capability.
I contacted Linear about this via email, but I have received no response.
OK. Is that different from the “scene” capability? I was under the impression that they were essentially one-in-the-same…
Hmmm…looking at the homeseer site I find this:
A couple of ways that a node can report its status immediately is with the Association Command Class (Association for short), or with the Scene Class if HomeSeer is made to be a part of the scene.
So, hopefully Linear will respond. Please post if they do since I now have these guys on a truck and plan on using them. I can also contact Linear just to raise the noise level.
[quote=“MrRocco, post:10, topic:180120”]OK. Is that different from the “scene” capability? I was under the impression that they were essentially one-in-the-same…
Hmmm…looking at the homeseer site I find this:
A couple of ways that a node can report its status immediately is with the Association Command Class (Association for short), or with the Scene Class if HomeSeer is made to be a part of the scene.
So, hopefully Linear will respond. Please post if they do since I now have these guys on a truck and plan on using them. I can also contact Linear just to raise the noise level.[/quote]
In strict Z-Wave terms, associations and scene controllers are different. But, in practical use their behavior is very similar, if not the same.
I would say to try your new switches and see if they take associations. If not, I would recommend contacting Linear “to raise the noise level”. It has been a month and they have not responded to my email at all.
If you need the associations and your Linears don’t support it, I’d recommend returning them and exchanging for Leviton or Cooper.