Control one light with two dimming modules (association ??)

Community Playground General Discussions
1

Hi:

I am trying to control one light with two modules (i.e like a three way switch configuration). My idea is to have my room’s light connected to a z-wave dimmer and have a second dimmer close to my bed.
The idea is being able to control the light with either of those dimmers. I guess that only one of them should be phisically connected to the light and the other should act as a controller.
Three way dimmer like the one from GE is not an option, I want to do it using associations.

Thanks!!!

2

I have this setup:
If you have 1 Dimmer Module + 1 Controller:
I have Scenes if Switch on, turn on Controller
If Controller on, Turn on Switch
And then same for off…
Might not be the best, but was the easiest at the time when I set it up.

If you have 2 Dimmer Modules, they both need to be connected to something…

3
Insert Quote I have this setup: If you have 1 Dimmer Module + 1 Controller: I have Scenes if Switch on, turn on Controller If Controller on, Turn on Switch And then same for off... Might not be the best, but was the easiest at the time when I set it up.
That should work for binary switches, but I guess it will be a bit more complicated for dimmers
If you have 2 Dimmer Modules, they both need to be connected to something...
I was thinking of having the second dimmer connected just for power, but not to the light itself.... the idea is that the second dimmer should act as a controller of the main one (the one wich manages the load).... not sure if that can be done
4

Depending on which dimmer you use you need to have a light connected to it

The Model I have only works if light plugged into it.

5

Which switch model do you have? The single pole GE dimmer (from Radioshack)?
I have a number of those, big surprise there right? And am trying to figure out their limitations for wiring into my zwave network

Its looking like they need to be in line and always connected to a load. Certainly the (extremely) limited directions appear to imply that.

Too bad if that’s the case. I was hoping they could simply be powered and all lighting associations be set up through the network!

Meh.

6

What if you replace the dimmer near your bed for a lamp plugin (like HA02WD). You can control dim with the button, is not a pretty solution but it works . AFAIK it doesn’t need load to work.

Then you will need some Luup code in order to “sync” the level of main dimmer and lamp plugin.

7

@jsed I’m using dimmers from Aeon Labs and Wintop and they work without load attached

@mcardenas: that’s the point I’m not sure about the lua code required to “sync” both dimmers

8

Could try the leviton virtual dimmer …VRCZ1 … I use this across my large family room … no need for load or traveler wire.

9

If you have a traveller wire the Leviton dimmers have a link line that make the two switches act as one…even the LEDs work together!
Look at the online documentation and see if you can wire the two switches together as shown in their diagram
Tim Alls
AllSeas Yachts

10

I would like to stick to my hardware and find a “software” way out to this issue. I guess that this can be achieved with some Lua code, but I’m not sure about the syntaxis and commands required