Since I can no longer get replacement parts for my end-of-lifed X-10 Lightolier Compose I have decided to switch to Z-Wave. UPB could’ve worked, but the X-10 firewall system which filtered and repeated PLC signals across my panel is failing, so I don’t want to take a chance.
It appears I can buy a Vera, replace all my load switches & Scene controllers, and replicate the functionality of my Compose system. However I am concerned where I have multiple scene control switches in a room. With Compose Scenes every room has an address, each scene controller for the room and all the loads have the same address. Each load switch has a setting for a scene and the scene controller merely signals a sceneID and an address and then the loads with that address execute the scene. So most every room has multiple scene controllers (by the bed, door(s), in the bathroom, etc.) to turn the lights on/off in the room. I have three questions:
Looking at documentation for scene controllers it appears that a Z-Wave load switch cannot be controlled by multiple scene controllers, e.g. there can’t be more than one scene controller for a room. Is this true?
Compose Scene switches had an 4-scenes, All On, & All Off. I can live with 5 scenes and All Off which I can get with an Aspire Scene Controller, but it looks like the Leviton Scene Controller only toggle scenes. Can I have a scene with the Leviton that turns all loads in the room Off?
I have a lot of components (23 switches, 24 dimmers, 28 scene controllers) so I want to save where I can. I’m thinking of using GE or Intermatic switches & dimmers for my loads and the Coopers Aspire or Leviton scene controllers. Can I mix switch brands with scene controllers?
No. Any number(max Z-Wave network size 232) of Z-Wave scene controllers can control a particular Z-Wave device/relay/load. In the Z-Wave system the controller is configured(associated) with the address(node ID) of the device to be controlled. The controlled device has no knowledge of what Z-Wave controllers are out there. You can easily have four Z-Wave controllers switching shared loads in a room. Just be sure to determine that the controller you choose can support the desired number of loads(Associations), most are limited.
2. Compose Scene switches had an 4-scenes, All On, & All Off. I can live with 5 scenes and All Off which I can get with an Aspire Scene Controller, but it looks like the Leviton Scene Controller only toggle scenes. Can I have a scene with the Leviton that turns all loads in the room Off?
The scenes in the switches/controllers are simple lists associating the controller's button to a group of controlled devices(loads). So, you can configure a single button to toggle On and Off all loads in the room, provided the device supports that many associations. You can also use the button press as a trigger to run a Vera scene that does one or more actions.
It is important to also realize that switch controller scenes(direct associations) are not the same as Vera scenes, which are “scripts” of actions triggered by events such as schedules, motion sensors, or a button press. Vera has limited knowledge of a switch controllers scenes(associations). Its only knowledge is so that Vera can program(configure) the switch. The switch controller has zero knowledge of Vera scenes.
3. I have a lot of components (23 switches, 24 dimmers, 28 scene controllers) so I want to save where I can. I'm thinking of using GE or Intermatic switches & dimmers for my loads and the Coopers Aspire or Leviton scene controllers. Can I mix switch brands with scene controllers?
Yes, one of the premises of Z-Wave is interoperability. Theoretically all Z-Wave devices should work together. There are a couple of exceptions, but for the most part it is true. However, you cannot mix brands of switch pairs such as 3-way switches. In most cases n-way sets require a primary switch and a very specific secondary(auxiliary/remote) switch. You cannot for instance, use a GE primary with a Leviton remote in a 3-way circuit. But, you can definitely use a Leviton scene controller to active a GE relay switch via Z-Wave.
You should also be aware of a feature called Instant Status that is supported by a limited few switches. This feature causes device state changes to be immediately reported to Vera. Without it, there may be cases where a light is turned on and Vera is unaware of it for several seconds or even minutes, before Vera polls the device and realizes its new state.
Finally, with an additional Insteon PLM Vera offers X-10 device support so you could transition slowly rather than a complete remove and replace.
Sounds like good news. I’ve ordered a Vera3, some switches, scene controller, and zone controller to test things out.
Another problem is that we lose power 5-6 times a year around here, which is a real pain with the X-10 switches because a random number of them will reset to their default address and require reprogramming those switches by hand (total pain in the a$$). With Z-Wave I am assuming that the network is saved to the main controller, so worst case all I need to do is add devices back to the network. Not sure what needs to be done for the Scene Controller switches though…
Does anybody have experience with power loss situations and Z-Wave? Maybe I need to start a new thread for this…