I’m brand new, researching about home automation, z-wave and the Vera, so I apologize if what I’m asking may be covered elsewhere.
There are many different brands of switches and dimmers with a varying price range. Being Z-Wave, I assume they’re all compatible with the Vera but what makes them different other than load capacities? Reliablity?
Levitron Vizia+: $93.62, 3-way, 600watts Wayne Dalton HA14WD: $44.95, 3-way, 600watts GE 45613 :$62.98, 3-way*
I also see units from Cooper Aspire RF, ACT HomePro, Intermatic
*I’m also confused over two possible meanings for “3-way”
[ul][li]On/Off/Dim[/li]
[li]3-way wiring, a light controlled from two switches [size=8pt](The GE actually includes 2 switches, one with the actual dimmer and the other just a controller)[/size][/li][/ul]
Lastly, can you explain “instant update” to me?
I appreciate everyone’s help, this is going to be a fun community to get to know as I plan, install and endlessly tweak my home automation.
I use Wayne Dalton HA14WDs for most dimmer lighting control, GE appliance modules for compact florescent floor/table lamps and a GE outdoor appliance module for more robust on/off stuff (The black one,… that + a power strip is great for a handful of appliances you want to be able to turn off/on together).
3-way is essentially when you have 3 lines that come into the switch’s electrical box. The Wayne Daltons have 3 leads (plus a separate ground). In a normal 2-wire situation, you don’t use one of the 3 leads (just cap it). WATCH CAREFULLY situations where you have 3-wires coming in, but hooked up kind of “crazy” from what you might expect. You could have a “shared load” situation (2 circuits sharing a common return, with two breakers in the box, between them), where incorrectly hooking up the wires could cross the 2 phases… something that could potentially take out your transformer (the one on the electrical pole outside, that serves your house and your neighbours…). You’ll see the two-phase circuits more commonly in outlets than with in-wall electrical switches.
I have no idea what they mean by instant update (other than maybe it’s quick to turn around its z-wave status to the controller).
Oh,… I recommend the Wayne Dalton HA14WDs, as dimmers, inexpensive, nice and fairly reliable… I’d never pay $90+ for a dimmer switch…
Just to clear that up, 3-way is the mode used where two switches operate one light. You often see those around stairs, so you can control the light from either the top or bottom floor.
On my end, I’ve purchased several Intermatic In-Touch CA600 dimmers and I’ve been satisfied with them. They can be used either in “normal” or “3-way” mode, so I’ll be able to keep using them if I change my electric configuration in the future.
All the GE/Jasco Z-wave stuff I have tested and reviewed on MyHomeServer.com have worked perfectly with my original Vera, and it’ll sure work fine on Vera 2.
I really like the GE stuff, much better than the intermatic, and best of all, avail at your local radio shack!
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