Alternatives to dual switch/scene controller Leviton VRCS2

Other Devices & Integrations Lighting & Load Control
1

I have been struggling with the Leviton VRCS2 the entire time I’ve had it in my house.

I have three of them in total and, while the process is complex, I have no troubles adding these devices to my Z-wave network including the local loads and the scene controller.

However, these are by far the least reliable nodes in my Z-wave network - they always eventually become inaccessible, and I have to hard reset the devices, remove them from my z-wave network, and re-add them. They usually stay accessible on my network for a period of weeks to months, but they always eventually have to be removed and re-added.

The rest of my 70+ node network is stable, and all of my other wired switches and scene controllers are Leviton (RZI06 and RZCS4). Are there any alternatives to the VRCS2? I don’t need the scene controller functionality - I just need two switches in one unit. Alternatively, is there a known problem with the VRCS2?

Searching the forum I see a lot of questions on how to add the VRCS2 units to a Z-wave network, but no clear statement that the VRCS2 units are fundamentally unreliable as I have observed.

2

I’m not aware of anything that makes the VRCS2 stand out specifically, in terms of operational issues. As you said, folks typically post about getting the device included and/or scenes to work, etc.

Mine have been running fine. They have not gone comatose.

Although I have gotten a rare flake out of some of the VRI06’s. Meaning, it doesn’t seem to work properly, so I disconnect it from mains (i.e. push the paddle in on the top), reconnect it, and things are good.

Haven’t investigated; haven’t noticed a pattern; hardly ever happens; not necessarily the same device; not sure if it could happen to any other device.

Not aware of an alternative to the VRCS2. Perhaps there is a non-Z-Wave alternative with 2 regular buttons, and you (somehow) put some Aeotec micro switches behind them. Or perhaps Fibaro’s once they get to North America?