So, this is my first post but I have been doing a LOT of research and forum reading. I am a very tech savvy guy and really enjoy projects like these and I am really looking forward to taking the plunge into home automation.
Basically the number one thing that I want out of my system is smartphone (Android) control of my scenes and devices, it is for this reason that I am planning on purchasing the VeraLite since there are some very good third party android apps available. My first device will be a dimmer for my main living room lights which consist of 4 9.5W Cree LED light bulbs. Unfortunately all of the reading I have done here in the forum has added more confusion than direction. I have read a lot about instant status and which dimmers support LED lights and it seems to me that the best option would be the INSTEON SWITHLINCs as they support both. The only downside that I know of is that you first have to purchase an $80 PLM which adds to initial cost, but after that each dimmer is only $50.
Has anyone found a better solution that is still cost effective? I am not very interested in spending $100+ on each dimmer (LEVITON, COOPER), in order to get ones that support LEDs.
Thank you all for putting together such a great forum!
If you need instant status then get a Leviton Dimmer. It has instant status and is the best all round.
As you said the SwitchLinc will require that you purchase the PLM AND the switches. Not much or any savings unless you’re going to buy a bunch of dimmers. You’re also going to have “fun” interfacing the Insteon with Vera.
Your final choice is something like the Evolve Dimmer. This one works great with the Cree bulbs, but it does lack instant status. What that means is that while your scenes will work fine, if someone manually changes the dimmer level of the switch it may be up to a minute(default polling rate) before the new dim level is displayed by Vera. This can have an impact, especially with things like PLEG programming.
No matter which way you go, it going to cost you something, either more money or features. Z-Wave DIY is less expensive, but it isn’t free or cheap.
Does the Leviton dimmer you linked to work with LED bulbs? I would be fine going that route if it works. It just seemed from my research that the LED capable Levitons were MUCH more expensive.
The linked dimmer is labeled for incandescents, but since it has a neutral, it should work fine with the Cree LEDs. Other bulbs(under 40 watts) may or may not require the dummy load or “bypass” as Fibaro calls it.
I’m unaware of any other Leviton dimmers save for the similar but 1000 watt version. The Low voltage/magnetic dimmer is for dimming transformer powered low voltage LEDs and is not suitable for use with the (high voltage)Cree LEDs.
I think I’ve explained that correctly. Hopefully someone will correct me if not.
The Leviton VRI06-1LZ does not have a neutral, I have a bunch of these in my house but have never tried them with LED bulbs.
according to this the only one that has instant status and does LED is the cooper RF9534-N, but I think the leviton magnetic low voltage one would work but for $134 I wouldn’t want to be wrong.
According to that same chart the Leviton VR106-1LZ does not support LEDs and requires a minimum load of 40w which I do not have. Has anyone tried using the VR106 with LED bulbs with or without the resistor bypass?
Any other options for LED that support instant status that anybody else has found? At ~$90 a dimmer the 2 coopers would be the same as purchasing 2 switchlincs and a PLM.
I have led bulbs in my vzi06 switches. They work fine, but it depends on the led bulb. I use the philips bulbs. I bought a few cree bulbs but have not tried them yet. Dimming at below 10 is not great and above 95 will cause the switch to go in an on / off loop. I would try and go with a dimmer that offers a neutral. But I love my leviton switches.
I have the Evolve dimmer. It works fine for my purposes: scenes, controlling it remotely, etc. While it does not support instant status, I have yet to use a case scenario for that particular feature. (I know others have their own practical uses for that, though.) Status updates happen in less than 1 minute anyway. It dims my Home Depot cheapo LEDs (6w) without any issues.
[quote=“garrettwp, post:7, topic:177154”]I have led bulbs in my vzi06 switches. They work fine, but it depends on the led bulb. I use the philips bulbs. I bought a few cree bulbs but have not tried them yet. Dimming at below 10 is not great and above 95 will cause the switch to go in an on / off loop. I would try and go with a dimmer that offers a neutral. But I love my leviton switches.
Garrett[/quote]
Could this be corrected using the resistor bypass technique, or is that for solving a different problem?
Can the Leviton’s min/max dimmer settings be programmed so that it will never enter the point where there is a problem?
Also, if I understand correctly the problem with a non-neutral wire dimmer and LEDs is that it can’t keep a constant current going at low dim levels that it needs to keep the internals of the dimmer powered. Does this pose a problem when the lights are off? Does the z-wave radio shut down?
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