Leviton 2 button scene controller (VRCS2-MRZ)

Other Devices & Integrations Lighting & Load Control
1

Question…

I have several of the two button scene controllers (VRCS2-MRZ). When new (i.e. not configured by Vera) they work wonderfully as 2 button switches. WHen I configure them via Vera the local control behavior is gone and I now have to write a scene for the switch to control its local load. I have the leviton remote control (never opened). How can I configure these so that I get the remote control of vera, but the local switch feeling that they had new out of the box. WAF is low right now because there is a slight delay and if you click it on then off then on (because of the delay) the switches don’t seem to respond sometimes.

2

I have this same problem. Without digging in to it to much I was thinking maybe Vera isn’t handling or getting the HAIL messages.

Another reason I think something might be up with HAIL handling is I have a fan controller and dimmer from Leviton that are always showing as on in the Vera UI even though they are off. Other devices I have that aren’t from Leviton get polled eventually and show the correct state. My Leviton stuff just shows the wrong state until I click the poll now button.

When I have time was going to ssh in to my unit and see if my logs might provide a clue.

Hopefully someone else has a faster answer, but if not I’ll post what I learn.

3

I don’t have this particular controller, but that’s a bit surprising as it seems to suggest the loads are now controlled through Vera and not directly associated with the controller (like is done for the 4-button scene controller for example). If you unplug Vera from power and then hit a button on the controller, is the load still being switched?

4

@oTi@

No. In fact if Vera is down the switch does nothing. In fact got a call on my way to work this morning and my wife couldn’t turn on a light. I think it was because I ran a heal last night and may still be slow to respond. Once I got to work I could turn on the light via the UI (great remote support). Even with the 4 button Zone controller I lose local control (i.e. only works with Vera) once it has be ‘configured’ by Vera. Should I use the leviton controller and set it up as a secondary to Vera??

5

Ah; that’s what it sounded like; thanks for that test.

Even with the 4 button Zone controller I lose local control (i.e. only works with Vera) once it has be 'configured' by Vera.
I think you have your 4-button controllers run mostly GE gear, right? Or are you specifically talking about an -MR and the local load in them?

When using the controllers with Leviton (or scene/association capable, presumably) stuff, Vera essentially serves as a ‘programmer’ to program the scenes into the devices. They are then directly operated by the controller.

So, for the local loads in the VRCS2’s I had expected the same. And therefore response time should be instant.

Just tested this again on a 4-button -MR. It operates the local load instantly; also with Vera down.

Should I use the leviton controller and set it up as a secondary to Vera??
The remote and Vera wipe out each other's configuration on a controller, so I think it will be tough to get that to work.

But, I’m assuming the 2-button controller shows up as 2 on/off switches and a scene controller, each with their own nodeID (so three total)? Presumably one button is controlled through Group 1, the other through Group 2. If so, you could try to manually associate either local load with either Group (i.e. load #1 in group #1, load #2 in group #2). ([tt]Device Options > Associations[/tt] of the controller).

When you test it, don’t go too fast with on/off cycles, and check that the LED behavior is as it should be.

Again, this is theoretical, but perhaps @JOD has some empirical facts.

6

Out of the box the VRCS2 scene controller is associated with the two switches (loads) but when included into Vera’s network the factory association is broken and Vera makes her own associations.

When you notice the switch not working (as your wife did) do you notice the LED is out of sync too?
Double tapping the switches usually works as an emergency measure for on and off control.

There is a recent thread stating that Leviton was giving MCV rights to their proprietary stuff, hopefully it’s the associations. I’ll check into it.

JOD.

*Edit. Ok, it’s not so recent. http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php?topic=2037.msg12105#msg12105
I’ve asked MCV to comment on it though…

7

[quote=“oTi@, post:5, topic:168858”]I think you have your 4-button controllers run mostly GE gear, right? Or are you specifically talking about an -MR and the local load in them?

When using the controllers with Leviton (or scene/association capable, presumably) stuff, Vera essentially serves as a ‘programmer’ to program the scenes into the devices. They are then directly operated by the controller.

So, for the local loads in the VRCS2’s I had expected the same. And therefore response time should be instant.

Just tested this again on a 4-button -MR. It operates the local load instantly; also with Vera down.[/quote]

Yes mostly all GE stuff (Darn that cheap Radio Shack sell off :-)…

SO what you are saying is the reason the 4 zone controllers don’t work is that the GE switches won’t communicate directly to the leviton controllers.
But even those that have a local load don’t seem to work without Vera? i.e. once Vera has configured the local load switching behavior is gone.

The remote and Vera wipe out each other's configuration on a controller, so I think it will be tough to get that to work.

But, I’m assuming the 2-button controller shows up as 2 on/off switches and a scene controller, each with their own nodeID (so three total)? Presumably one button is controlled through Group 1, the other through Group 2. If so, you could try to manually associate either local load with either Group (i.e. load #1 in group #1, load #2 in group #2). ([tt]Device Options > Associations[/tt] of the controller).

yes I have a Scene and two switches identified in Vera.

When you test it, don't go too fast with on/off cycles, and check that the LED behavior is as it should be.

Again, this is theoretical, but perhaps @JOD has some empirical facts.

Will test it out. Thanks!

[quote=“JOD, post:6, topic:168858”]Out of the box the VRCS2 scene controller is associated with the two switches (loads) but when included into Vera’s network the factory association is broken and Vera makes her own associations.

When you notice the switch not working (as your wife did) do you notice the LED is out of sync too?
Double tapping the switches usually works as an emergency measure for on and off control.

There is a recent thread stating that Leviton was giving MCV rights to their proprietary stuff, hopefully it’s the associations. I’ll check into it.

JOD.[/quote]

Yes LED is out os sync when this happens. Even double tapping quit working. I thought that was the case and told her that but that doesn’t seem to work either.

8

Yes mostly all GE stuff (Darn that cheap Radio Shack sell off :-)…[/quote]
:slight_smile:

SO what you are saying is the reason the 4 zone controllers don't work is that the GE switches won't communicate directly to the leviton controllers.
Right; meaning the GE's are handled by Vera.
But even those that have a local load don't seem to work without Vera? i.e. once Vera has configured the local load switching behavior is gone.
Those that have a local load, will work without Vera, as they are directly operated by the controller. At least that's how I believe it works for the 4-button controllers. The test I mentioned was with a scene set up on Vera for button 1 to switch the local load. Works instantly. Also with Vera off. In other words: I don't get the delay (with the 4-button) that you are seeing (with the 2-button).

Based on your test / observation, it sounds like the 2-button controllers are different, or are handled differently by Vera (for whatever reason). To get around that you could try the direct association yourself (which is what Vera would have done automatically for the 4-button controller).

Yes LED is out os sync when this happens. Even double tapping quit working. I thought that was the case and told her that but that doesn't seem to work either.
You'd need to double tap such that the second tap occurs when the LED is showing the opposite status of the first tap. That should cause the controller to send out an activate and de-activate event, or the other way around. As stuff appears to be handled by Vera, only do the double-tap once and wait a while before trying again, so things can stabilize.
9

@oTi@

[quote=“oTi@, post:8, topic:168858”]Those that have a local load, will work without Vera, as they are directly operated by the controller. At least that’s how I believe it works for the 4-button controllers. The test I mentioned was with a scene set up on Vera for button 1 to switch the local load. Works instantly. Also with Vera off. In other words: I don’t get the delay (with the 4-button) that you are seeing (with the 2-button).

Based on your test / observation, it sounds like the 2-button controllers are different, or are handled differently by Vera (for whatever reason). To get around that you could try the direct association yourself (which is what Vera would have done automatically for the 4-button controller).[/quote]

What is interesting is that if I look at the VRCZ4-MRX in the advance section it does not show any direct associations nor does it behave like there is. I would have expected that the local switch portion would show up in there… I have a scene assigned to turn on all the exterior lights (lights outside each major room). Each room has a VRCZ4-MRX and the local load is the outside light. So when you go to any room and hit button 3 you get all outside lights on. They are all leviton VRCZ4-MRX units so wouldn’t Vera create the direct associations with them since they are all levitons (one in local) in each instance.?

10

Yup; what Vera does herself is not shown.

[...] nor does it behave like there is.
That's the odd part...
I have a scene assigned to turn on all the exterior lights (lights outside each major room). [...]They are all leviton VRCZ4-MRX units so wouldn't Vera create the direct associations with them[...]?
...but you are talking about a number of lights. Maybe Vera handles that differently. (There typically is a limit of 5 controllers per dimmer/switch for association, for things to work reliably.)

Anyway I just added 2 local loads, controlled by a button on 2 controllers (a zone and a scene controller) and the local load in the controller where you press the button switches instantly, the other local load with a slight delay of say a second. Same with Vera down.

Can you try with just a single load, and see if there’s a difference?

11

@oTi

I started from scratch with my two button controllers. I removed them from vera, reset them etc… Switches immediately worked like switches again.
Then I re-included them back in to Vera. 3 devices show up (2button scene controller and 2 switches). Now the local switches do not work, they do nothing. I then go into the advanced devices tab and and under associations I put the device that the local switch used to work before Vera in group 1 and the device that the second button used to control into group two. Nothing… does nothing just sits and looks at me and laughs… ???

12

The associations are in addition to the scenes. As you started from scratch, it sounds like you still need to set up the scenes. This programs the devices with that information. The associations are needed to let the controller know which devices to talk to when you press the button.

So you programmed the ‘who’, but not the ‘what’.

13

@aschwalb,

Did you watch the config process after including the switch into Vera?
There’s a message that say’s “Adding Local Loads” or something similar…
That should be the auto association part. It doesnt work with Vera. It’s something we need to bring up to MCV again.

The only way the switches work after including into Vera is to create scenes.
Create two scenes, one for On and one Off, (Button 1 On & Button 1 Off) in the event tab of the first scene use “A scene is activated” and use scene number “1” and then under the Commands tab set the devices you want controlled, being the Leviton switch “1” (local load, for starters)

Do the same for the second scene using “A scene is de-activated and scene number “1” and then Save

Now go back to the scene controller, Add the On scene you created to the top box, add the Off scene you created to the 3rd box and then Save
Now you have to wait for the configuration and scenes to get pushed to the scene controller.

That should work for switching the load of switch “1”
Then repeat the same scene creation for the 2nd switch, only this time use scene number “2”

JOD.

14

[quote=“JOD, post:13, topic:168858”]@aschwalb,

Did you watch the config process after including the switch into Vera?
There’s a message that say’s “Adding Local Loads” or something similar…
That should be the auto association part. It doesnt work with Vera. It’s something we need to bring up to MCV again.

The only way the switches work after including into Vera is to create scenes.
Create two scenes, one for On and one Off, (Button 1 On & Button 1 Off) in the event tab of the first scene use “A scene is activated” and use scene number “1” and then under the Commands tab set the devices you want controlled, being the Leviton switch “1” (local load, for starters)

Do the same for the second scene using “A scene is de-activated and scene number “1” and then Save

Now go back to the scene controller, Add the On scene you created to the top box, add the Off scene you created to the 3rd box and then Save
Now you have to wait for the configuration and scenes to get pushed to the scene controller.

That should work for switching the load of switch “1”
Then repeat the same scene creation for the 2nd switch, only this time use scene number “2”

JOD.[/quote]

@JOD

Yes I did watch the process it did NOT say Adding local loads. I have installed this before and did the scene thing (have two more of these already configured as you described by adding scenes). The problem is that they work sluggishly and sometimes un-reliably that way. I was hoping/expecting that since the scene controller was also the same box that had the switches it wouldn’t have to go back to Vera to activate the local loads. That somehow I could add a direct association so that regardless of Vera’s health and well being the darn switch would work…

EDIT
I did NOT do what you said… I did create the scenes then I added them in the scene tab for off and on. Is that different than what you describe?

15
it did NOT say Adding local loads.
You must have blinked. ;D Go to "Add / remove devices", include one of the switches again using "Existing node" and press one of the switches. Node found, found existing node, "configuring local load" (or something similar) but regardless, that association does not work with Vera.
*EDIT* I did NOT do what you said... I did create the scenes then I added them in the scene tab for off and on. Is that different than what you describe?
Yep, same thing.

JOD.

16

@JOD or @oTi@
So can I manually add the direct association to its own local load? If I didnt have Vera and all I had was the Leviton VRCPG-0SG Vizia RF + Handheld Remote Controller Programmer/Timer, Gray (which I do). How would this work?

17

So have you tried creating the scenes and adding the associations (Group 1, Group 2) through Vera?

18

The way I see it, and I hope I’m wrong, because I have these devices and have the same issues as you and would like to see them work as designed.

Not to be a kill joy, the way I see it is, if Vera can’t perform the “Special association” when she adds the device, manually adding an association wont work either.
But I’ve not tried it and @oTi@ is the Leviton Lord, so It’s now on my list to try.

JOD.

19

Based on the expectation (which could be wrong) that the 2-button should work the same way as the 4-button, I think, based on @aschwalb’s observations, we’ve already established that this is not the case, and it’s not clear why Vera handles them differently.

@JOD, to verify, can you check with TE that no Leviton devices (such as the local load) get associated with the controller?

Not to be a kill joy, the way I see it is, if Vera can't perform the [i]"Special association"[/i] when she adds the device, manually adding an association wont work either.
I see. But it sounded like @aschwalb was successful in getting the associations configured; they just don't do anything. Which is to be expected if there are no scenes configured.

So, as a workaround, I’m interested to find out the behavior when you manually do the associations. (And I don’t want to be a killjoy either, but I’m afraid it might only work when switching the devices off.)

20
can you check with TE that no Leviton devices (such as the local load) get associated with the controller?
This is difficult to confirm. When nothing is set in Vera, there is nothing showing in TE and is displayed. When an association is made in Vera, it shows in TE as And third, [i]sometimes[/i] TE shows the switch option to "set local load", so it's possible when this is showing that Vera has lost the [i]"Special association" [/i] Maybe then it's possible to associate using a secondary controller?

On the flip side, when an association is created in TE, you have no way of knowing about it in Vera. That I could see…

I see. But it sounded like @aschwalb was successful in getting the associations configured;
Ok. I can't try this part from where I am right now, I'll have to wait until later tonight.

JOD.