I am super new to z-wave and the vera2. I have so far been able to pair and use a dimmable outlet and schlage lock, but took my first crack at a Leviton Light Switch loday (Vizia RF + VRCS1-1LX). I have been able to pair it, it shows up on my Vera2 dashboard, but I am complete unable to do anything with it. I can’t turn the light on / off. The reason for this light switch was to set it on a timer (it is for the front porch) and I can’t even turn it on / off.
I would love any insight/help regarding this problem.
CMRancho - Thanks so much for the response. Do you have a wall switch you would recommend.
The switch just controls one light (the porch light) and I want to use it on my Zwave network just to set up on on a timer and turn it one and off remotely.
Even if you go with the brand I prefer (Leviton) it’s still a complicated question. what is the load you want to control? Is there a neutral present in the box? Do you want to control 5 amps or maybe 10 amps? There are several different choices for low voltage like magnetic or electronic transformers, etc.
I now only use switches to control things like pond pumps, under-sink water heaters, and amplifiers. I use dimmers on virtually all my lights. I haven’t found a CFL or LED with decent lumen output and color temperature, and even the bulbs that claim to be dimmable have problems with strobing, buzzing, and only partial range control. I have a few high-end LEDs that work well, but they are way too expensive for me to use them everywhere, and they aren’t bright enough for some of my locations.
I find incandescents to be the most economical, aesthetically pleasing, and environmentally responsible choice. I use dimmers because virtually every location benefits from having multiple light levels available. Even my driveway lights function on dimmers. I run them at 15% which makes the front of the house look great, doesn’t annoy the neighbors with bright lights shining all night, and uses less wattage than CFLs. Then when my motion sensors are tripped, the lights come up to 100% to provide more light when someone approaches the house. It’s a deterrent to thieves because the change in light levels makes it obvious to the neighbors (and to us) that there’s someone moving around.
I like a consistent look and feel to the switches in the house so I suggest picking a brand/style that has a wide enough variety of switches and dimmers to meet your needs. Leviton is very popular and is one of a couple brands that might suit all of your situations. My house had all Cooper switches on the first floor and conventional paddle switches on the second. Because of Radio Shack’s GE/Jasco z-wave clearance, I went the GE/Jasco on the second floor. Some do require a neutral which is okay for me since all of my boxes so far have had neutrals. So far, both the Cooper and GE/Jasco products have worked well on my network.