I finally got around to installing my Leviton VRCZ4-MRX four-zone controller with switch. The entire process was easy, worked first time, and now it’s functioning almost perfectly. I’m very happy.
I had been worried about installing this because of all the trouble reported in this forum about difficulties with the zone controllers. In earlier firmware versions my scene controllers hadn’t worked very well, but with the latest versions they have been functioning much better.
The zone controllers function exactly like the scene controllers. In fact, button 3 of my kitchen scene controller operates the same “Living room lights on” scene as button 1 of the Living Room zone controller, making it a highly functional three-way switch.
After using both, I prefer the rocker switches and larger LEDs on the zone controllers as compared to the momentary contact switches and smaller LEDs of the scene controllers. It’s a subtle difference, and they both work fine.
The only problem I have now is that the dimming function is a bit finicky. I think that has to do with the timing between turning on a scene and hitting the dimming controls. If I wait a little too long, the switch seems to forget which scene I want to dim, so it does nothing. But if I get the timing right, it works great.
So there are only two things I could possibly ask for in a future version of this device:
I would prefer to have a dimmer rather than the switch that is integrated into this controller.
I’d like to have a way to select a scene that is already operating and have the dimmer button control it. Currently, I have to turn off the scene, turn it back on and then immediately dim it. Probably the logic should be similar to the Intermatic dimmers where you touch and hold the switch to operate the dimming function.
Even though these are expensive devices, I definitely give them an enthusiastic “thumbs up!”
so let me try to get this straight, so I understand here. You have the exact Leviton Scene/Zone controllers that I have been wanting. I’m just extremely hestitant because I have mostly GE Dimmers and GE Switches with a few Intermatic CA600 3 Way Dimmers (see sig.), and like you hearing all of the bad things about the Leviton Controllers being able to work with Vera… I just don’t know what to do. I’m kinda on the fence at this point.
I need a Zone or Scene controller that can also function like a switch, like you I would much rather have it be a dimmer (I most certaintly agree with you on this), I need the scenes or devices to be triggered through Vera. The last bit not much of a need, more like a preference as I want Vera to handle as much as possible because thats the reason why I bought it. lol. Otherwise, I probably could have just bought a bunch of these Leviton Controllers and never bothered with Vera.
Also, please correct me if I am wrong here. The Leviton Zone Controllers work with normal switches and they dont work with Dimmers? Is this correct? I thought the Leviton Scene Controllers will work with Dimmers and that it has to be the Scene Controller, meaning that I cant use the Leviton Zone controller for dimmers or Scenes in Vera.
What dimmers were you able to use with the Leviton Zone and Scene Controllers? Manufacturer? the switches in your sig.? any GE by any chance? And did you have to use the Leviton Remote (a seperate purchase 150+) to program the Controllers from Leviton? Excuse me for my ignorance. (i’ve probably beaten this subject to death by my numerous questions regarding these controllers from Leviton on this forum)
CMRancho,
Does the latest firmware allow the zone controllers to be linked to dimmers…no scenes required?
The zone controllers work fine when linked to GE dimmers but I had to link them with the remote.
The zone controllers have toggle switches but they will operate remote dimmers or remote switches.
The only thing to watch out for are the Leviton Scene Controllers…nothing to do with Vera…they don’t work correctly with GE dimmers, you can’t set the scene buttons with the GE dimmers.
Regards
Tim
The Leviton scene and zone controllers have had two problems with Vera:
1- The device did not store and sync the scene state so you had to hit a button twice to turn off a scene. The LEDs on the buttons did not sync correctly. This was solved back in the 1100s of the beta firmware.
2- The scene activation from the controller buttons could be slow (even erratic) at times. This has been solved in the low 1200s of the firmware. MCV have found a way to improve the routing of Z-wave messages that has taken the lag out of the activation of scenes. My lights turn on instantly now when I push a button (activate a scene) on my wall controllers. This version is still in testing, but expected to be released this week.
Tim worked around these problems by using Leviton portable controllers to program associations to the buttons of the wall controllers. I was never willing to mess around with the master/secondary controller stuff like Tim does - it just adds too much complication for a guy like me. I have used associations in many of my devices in the past to make them respond faster than scenes would do, but that’s no longer an issue for me - Vera’s scenes respond really fast.
Tim: I don’t see a way to set an association for a single button to certain devices. AFAIK these controllers can only run scenes through Vera.
Vera sees both the zone and scene controllers as the same. There are eight scenes assigned to each device - one set of four for the “on” functionality of the buttons and the other set of four for the “off” functionality. This is how I use mine. I have scenes set up to turn on anywhere from 1 to 6 devices. For the scenes that control my fountain pumps, I use appliance modules and receptacles. For the lighting scenes I use lamp modules and dimmers in many combinations including Intermatic, GE, Leviton, and Cooper. They all work well, including the dimming function via the fifth switch on the bottom of the controllers. I haven’t bought any GE dimmers recently, so if there’s a problem with the newer ones running in scenes, I wouldn’t know.
When I talked about these controllers and my preference for dimmers I was talking about the integral switch that is part of the device. It would be nice if Leviton also offered one that had an integral dimmer in place of the switch.
I now love my Leviton in-wall scene/zone controllers.
Thanks for the overview of your set up @CMRancho. So, if you unplug Vera, you can push the scene/zone buttons and nothing happens, right? In that case, with everything through Vera, I guess it really comes down to what Vera is compatible with in terms of devices.
I haven't bought any GE dimmers recently, so if there's a problem with the newer ones running
in scenes, I wouldn't know.
In @TimAlls setup it is GE dimmers controlled directly by the Leviton scene controller, not through Vera. Apparently that doesn't work with the GE's. But should work fine in your setup, I'd guess.
When I talked about these controllers and my preference for dimmers I was talking about the integral switch that is part of the device. It would be nice if Leviton also offered one that had an integral dimmer in place of the switch.
Right. It would be really nice if it was a 4-button scene/zone controller and a VRI06 (or similar) in one.
Good to hear! I too love my Leviton Zone controllers as well as the scene controllers. I have been waiting for the issues to get resolved so that Vera can become the Master once again. Does the dimmer switch at the bottom work as well now? One of the nicest features of the scene and zone controllers is the ability to dim the scenes or zones.
My wish list on the zone controllers is that you could dim them without the lower paddle switch…you can’t remember the last active zone when you have been away for a while so you end up activating the zone buttons again and then dimming the zones.
I do prefer to setup the scenes on the Scene Controllers by pressing and holding the scene buttons but I can see that if done in Vera that the GE dimmer issue will be gone, so that is good.
Regard
Tim Alls
AllSeas Yachts
Yes, I think the press-and-hold to dim would be better. It is a small pain to have to turn the lights off and back on again to get the dimmer functionality assigned to that button.
For those on the sidelines: the Leviton’s dimmer control will dim or brighten the devices controlled by the most recently activated button. Like Tim said, when you have four buttons, it can be challenging to remember which one was pressed most recently.
On the zone controllers, couldn’t you just hit the On side of the button again?
With the Vera FW you are using now, is there a difference in LED behavior between zone and scene controllers? If not, does the LED go out when one light is changed, or when all lights are off?
oTi@: You are right about this. I think this one difference between the zone and scene controllers makes the zone controllers the clear winners for Vera systems.
I agree, the zone controllers are very flexible in their ability to mix zone control with scenes. I am still working with Leviton on the custom engraving…so far I don’t recommend it…you can’t read the engraving because the letters are too small and they don’t back fill the letters with the opposite color.
They are trying to redo them…we will see!
Regards
Tim
Thanks for the info @CMRancho. I’ve been looking at scene controllers lately and you answered some questions I had.
It appears from Leviton’s web site that the Scene controller is being discontinued in favor of the Zone controller. Does anyone know anything more about that? Perhaps there is a new version of the scene controller coming? It doesn’t seem like there is very much differentiating the scene controller from the zone controller (except about $50 :P).
Can anyone explain the different models of these? It seems like there are a lot of variants but I can’t seem to figure out the difference. For example I have seen the VRCZ4-1LX, VRCZ4-1LZ, VRCZ4-M0Z, VRCZ4-MRZ. Are these the different z-wave frequencies?
Ok, I ordered a VRCZ4-MRX 4 zone controller with local load. Initially, out of the box, the local load control worked fine- every single switch would toggle the load. After I paired the controller to the Vera2 (.1227 firmware), all 4 buttons work with the Vera, but none of them can be set up to work with the local load.
I did the button 1+3 then hit the Vera zwave button to pair the controller and all the lights started blinking on the contoller and the Vera paired correctly. The lights went off, I hit 2+4 to try to pair the local load to the Vera, but only the light on button 1 came on, and I’m not confident the Vera ever paired correctly.
With the current gen of Leviton devices, does the local load pair with the Vera? Am I doing this correctly? Is there a way to program the Leviton from the Vera to handle local load?
It doesn't seem like there is very much differentiating the scene controller from the zone controller (except about $50 :P).
With a zone controller you only control on/off. With a scene controller you can also control dim levels. The buttons are different. And the LED functionality is different. There are prior threads on the forum. When used in conjunction with Vera the way @CMRancho is, the differences are smaller.
Can anyone explain the different models of these? It seems like there are a lot of variants but I can't seem to figure out the difference. For example I have seen the VRCZ4-1LX, VRCZ4-1LZ, VRCZ4-M0Z, VRCZ4-MRZ. Are these the different z-wave frequencies?
The last letter is typically the color of the included faces. X for white, ivory, almond. Z for white, ivory, light almond.
For the scene and zone controllers, the -1L's do not control a local load. The MR's do.
When used in conjunction with Vera the way @CMRancho is, the differences are smaller.
This is what I was referring to. This is how I had envisioned using them all along, it seems that this hasn't been the typical/recommended way to use them until recently, due to the z-wave performance problems (among other things I guess).
Thanks for the model number info as well, that helped.
You’re doing it correctly. If you don’t see the two separate devices (scene controller and switch) in Vera, you can do an exclude for the switch and pair it again.
You’re doing it correctly. If you don’t see the two separate devices (scene controller and switch) in Vera, you can do an exclude for the switch and pair it again.[/quote]
Do I need to use the same timing as I did to pair the controller? Ie, do I need to make sure the vera is not in include mode, activate the the 2+4 buttons on the leviton, then put the Vera into include?
I ask because with the 1+3 activation, the lights on the Leviton keep blinking until the Vera is paired. With 2+4 I don’t have that happening.
I reset the Leviton controller. Added it again. Replugged in the Vera to confirm it was there. Seems ok. Just missing the load on the controller. Brought the Vera to the controller, pushed the 2+4 buttons, then the Vera include button. Vera did its blinking/fluttering thing to suggest it had added something.
Plugged the Vera back into the network. The load on the Leviton is still missing and the Vera has also decided to remove the Leviton as a controller also.
It sure sounds like the newer software is getting closer but maybe still has some bugs to fix!
If you get too frustrated as I did remember that the Leviton Remote can set these devices up perfectly and adds to your ability to control lights with a handheld. You can still have Vera as the Master just go to the device settings and turn off the auto configure. I don’t mean to step on toes but this will work until reports come in that all is well in Vera Firmware World!
Regards
Tim
A word of warning to anyone thinking about picking up one of these Zone Controllers: The “-1L” models (no local load control) do not work well with Vera. In particular the LEDs and Dimming will never work unless you use the Leviton remote to program them and you are using Leviton dimmers/switches.