First time poster, been lurking for a while!! I purchased a home recently, and decided I wanted a security system. Ended up getting an Alarm.com-enabled one, with ZWave. However, the Z-Wave integration wasn’t as precise or as fast as I’d like, so I picked up a Vera 2. Right now, it seems the alarm panel wants (needs?) to be primary, and won’t allow secondary controllers to download from it. It works with the panel as primary, GE remote as secondary, and using the remote for inclusion let’s both the pri & sec controllers “know” about the network. I read that the Vera2 with current firmware won’t do this?
I have GE switches, dimmer, & remote, Kwikset locks, and a Leviton VRF01-1LZ for controlling the fan. However, right now, the Leviton is responding to “All on” and “All off” when I use the GE remote. (Or I should say, it was, since I haven’t re-included that on the network just yet).
I have a couple questions:
Vera can’t be a secondary controller to a Simon XT, and provide much functionality, since it can’t download the network info from the primary, correct?
In mios, is there an “all on” or “all off” somewhere by default, aside from creating my own scene?
Right now, Vera recognizes the Leviton switch as a dimmable light. I have to slide the slider and kind of “guess” what is high/medium/low. I just use something like 99, 50, and 1%. The switch shows in mios with parameters:
device_type: urn:schemas-upnp-org:device:DimmableLight:1
manufacturer: Leviton
model: RZF01
Did I miss something?
While I’m asking about the fan controller, it says on the package it is designed to keep fan noise to a minimum, and it accomplishes that by slowing the fan down? My fan is already quiet, any way to raise the fan speeds via parameters?
Thanks, and sorry for lumping everything into one post!
-Jacob
[...]using the remote for inclusion [...] Vera2 with current firmware won't do this?
Correct. Meaning it's not a restriction Vera imposes, but the current 3.20 (aka 4.52) Z-Wave firmware, which is also available for Vera. The SIS feature (i.e. letting secondary controllers do inclusions, if supported) is apparently discontinued.
1) Vera can't be a secondary controller
I haven't tried with the current firmware, but previously Vera could be a secondary controller; and the 'controller shift' option is still there, so my guess is she can still be secondary.
2) In mios, is there an "all on" or "all off" somewhere by default, aside from creating my own scene?
AFAIK, nope.
3) Right now, Vera recognizes the Leviton switch as a dimmable light. [...] Did I miss something?
Nope. Same here. I think that's just the way the fan controllers present themselves. Presumably for maximum compatibility with 'simple' controllers. Also, there's no Ceiling Fan command class, I believe.
[...]says on the package it is designed to keep fan noise to a minimum[...]
I figured that was referring to the electronics controlling the fan and a 'justification' for the sticker shock on these controllers. The fan and/or controller do not appear to make any 'funny noises', as opposed to when used with other types of non-fan 'dimmers'. Not sure if they slow the actual speed down. I haven't compared the max speed to a the same fan without a controller.
I haven't tried with the current firmware, but previously Vera could be a secondary controller; and the 'controller shift' option is still there, so my guess is she can still be secondary.
[/quote]
Thanks for the welcome. As far as #1, I saw that Vera can be a secondary controller in general, but it appears that it can’t be a secondary controller when the Simon XT panel is primary*. The Simon XT panel is pretty basic, and doesn’t expose much in the way of functionality!
I should say it actually can be secondary, but has zero functionality as far as I can see!
BTW, I checked the box for the fan switch, and it says:
“Ideal for any area where ceiling fan noise is distracting”
That leads me to believe is slows the fan down. I’ll have to experiment.
If that’s the case, I might have to go back to a plain remote for the living room, and leave the Leviton fan switch for another area.
[quote=“PurdueGuy, post:4, topic:168584”]BTW, I checked the box for the fan switch, and it says:
“Ideal for any area where ceiling fan noise is distracting”
That leads me to believe is slows the fan down. I’ll have to experiment.
If that’s the case, I might have to go back to a plain remote for the living room, and leave the Leviton fan switch for another area.[/quote]
Welcome to the journey - the Simon XT does not allow for secondary controllers and/or will not act as a secondary controller.
The Leviton Fan speed controller(VRF01-1L) is the only device currently on the market designed to operate ceiling fan motors - it’s design is completely different than a z-wave dimmer. Dimmers are to be used the Incandescent lighting only if you try to use a regular z-wave dimmer on a ceiling fan you will destroy dimmer and fan motor eventually
[quote=“kaldoon, post:5, topic:168584”][quote=“PurdueGuy, post:4, topic:168584”]BTW, I checked the box for the fan switch, and it says:
“Ideal for any area where ceiling fan noise is distracting”
That leads me to believe is slows the fan down. I’ll have to experiment.
If that’s the case, I might have to go back to a plain remote for the living room, and leave the Leviton fan switch for another area.[/quote]
Welcome to the journey - the Simon XT does not allow for secondary controllers and/or will not act as a secondary controller.
The Leviton Fan speed controller(VRF01-1L) is the only device currently on the market designed to operate ceiling fan motors - it’s design is completely different than a z-wave dimmer. Dimmers are to be used the Incandescent lighting only if you try to use a regular z-wave dimmer on a ceiling fan you will destroy dimmer and fan motor eventually :([/quote]
Hi Kaldoon,
Actually, the Simon XT will allow a secondary controller (GE Remote), so long as the secondary can be an inclusion server. Which Vera can’t now, sadly!
As far as the fan control, I’m totally aware of that, that’s why I bought it! I was asking if anyone knows of a way to set the max speed on the Leviton switch to be higher, and I’ll experiment if the switch slows down the fan or not by wiring the fan directly.
How big is the Fan motor or do you have multiple fans on one VRF01-1LZ. I have 6 of these in my network and all but one work as expected. The only one that doesn’t has 2 - 52" fans on 1 switch and Full speed is about 3/4 of the mechanical 3-speed switch it replaced
Just one fan, but it is a large room fan…56" I think. Didn’t get a chance this weekend to experiment. I’m debating a larger one for the great room, so I might just have to go with a regular switch, and use the remote. :-\
That’s surprising (to me). Was this mentioned in the Simon XT manual, and/or did you actually attempt to include Vera as secondary and it didn’t work?
Which Vera can't now, sadly!
As said, the newer Z-Wave firmware (not Vera's firmware) doesn't support this anymore. You could try .1245 with Z-Wave firmware 2.78 instead of 3.20 and see how that goes.
That’s surprising (to me). Was this mentioned in the Simon XT manual, and/or did you actually attempt to include Vera as secondary and it didn’t work?[/quote]
I can’t find a Simon XT manual for Z-Wave stuff. Including the GE Remote it “just worked” the first time. I deleted all my devices, and somehow got the Vera added, and the Simon XT recognized it as “Z-Wave controller.” However, I tried all sorts of things, and no luck.
As said, the newer Z-Wave firmware (not Vera’s firmware) doesn’t support this anymore. You could try .1245 with Z-Wave firmware 2.78 instead of 3.20 and see how that goes.[/quote]I know it’s the new Z-Wave firmware, not Vera directly, but that update prevents Vera from doing what it could do before. I was on 2.78 (I think) when I tried the above, but I’m going to try it again. All I remember happening was the Z-Wave light was solid, and pressing the Z-Wave button had no effect, b/c Vera was secondary.
And using Simon XT as primary, Vera as secondary, and doing all inclusions/exclusions with Simon XT is not an option?[/quote]The first time I tried that, I could get the primary to recognize additional items, but I couldn’t get Vera to download anything from the primary, or recognize in any way that there were other items on the network.
What happens if you re-include Vera as secondary after you added new devices?[/quote]
Finally had some success with Vera as secondary, including it before I included other devices, and re-including it after. I was able to get it to work by using Z-Wave 2.78, not 3.20.
This way, Vera is a SIS, via Z-Wave Device → Options:
Version 2.78 L:1
House/Node
Role Master SIS:YES PRI:NO
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