I’m interested in getting started with ZWave, but confused on what controls I need for a basic project. I have a lamp plugged in to an always-on receptacle (not wired to any on/off switch). I want to be able to control and dim the light from a wall switch. I prefer not to use a plugin “lamp module” but would like to wire it directly (I’m very comfortable doing that). Is that possible? What do I buy?
Thanks.
Dimming a lamp without a lamp module is tricky. I believe you could put a module behind the socket, but that’s not advisable, since someone might plug an appliance into that outlet. If you can find a dimming screw in module, that could work too (but some are big and don’t fit some lamps).
If you went the Insteon (Alsteon) route, they do make a special dimming outlet. That’s a bigger investment (you need the PLM, etc).
been searching around all afternoon and it just started to dawn on me that there weren’t any dimmable receptacles available 
Ok, then I just need a plugin lamp module and a dimmer switch right?
However when I look for dimmer switches I see products from $16 to over $200 without clear explanations of why I would need one over another… (e.g. [url=http://www.zwaveproducts.com/Zwave-Lighting/Zwave-Dimmer-Switches.html]http://www.zwaveproducts.com/Zwave-Lighting/Zwave-Dimmer-Switches.html[/url]) I don’t know what “Companion Switch”, “Remote Switch”, etc… all mean. What’s the least expensive route to get started?
Are there any good online resources that explain in some detail the various z-wave controls available and how they work together?
Thanks for your help!
Might have to do with the versatility of dimming allowed. Mae sure it will match the type of bulb (LED, CFL, etc.) that you intend to work with.
I have found wildly different prices online. You might also catch good deals on eBay…
A “companion” or “remote” switch would be used for 3-way (or more) setup.
Then to control it from another location, you would add a “remote” or “companion” switch. Some, like Leviton and GE, require a special/proprietary switch. Others, like some from Intermatic, can use regular 3-way and 4-way switches, instead of special switches.
In Z-Wave, you only have one actual dimmer (or on/off - sometimes called “relay”) that controls the device/lamp in question. Unless you are buying a special multipack on Ebay, sale somewhere, etc. expect an actual Z-Wave switch to run you $30-$100+. If it looks like you are snagging a switch for a great price, buyer beware! I have bought 6-packs of switches for $100 ($17 each), but that’s not always the norm!
In your case, if you have a lamp that is plugged into an outlet that is always on, you are correct, you would need a dimmer module (assuming this is a regular incandescent bulb!!) at a minimum. If it is a dimmable LED or CFL, you might need to experiment.
You could command that lamp on and off via Vera (via a web browser, smartphone app, etc). If you want something else to control it, you have a number of options:
- In-wall controller (like Leviton VRCZ4 or VRCS1/2/4 or Cooper) - you can assign buttons on the controller to change the state of the switch
- Z-Wave remote (GE 45601), Aeon Labs Minimote, etc - you could leave this on your coffee table to control the lamp
Thanks, its starting to make a little more sense to me now…
Similarly, I want to dim 2 ceiling fixture lights simultaneously from the same wall switch (one is wired to the wall switch and the other is not). Besides a dimmer switch, what do I need to buy and install at the ceiling fixture that is not switched?
@gcristol
Just a thought, but have you considered putting a z-wave dimmer module into the lamp itself ?
Is there an area within the base or head that you could use (or even create) to house a module ?
I have a Fibaro Dimmer Module installed at home, and looking at the wiring instruction this could have been installed either behind the switch itself (which you do not have) or in/behind the light fitting itself. It can also work in a 2 wire set up as well as a 3 wire.
As I said, its just a thought, especially as the Fibaros are quite small.
Hey thanks, the Fibaro looks very interesting… they seem to be available mostly in the UK though. Are there any US based retailers?
Anyone else here have experience/comments on the Fibaro devices?
Modified 8-18: just realized there are already a lot of posts for Fibaro… they don’t seem to be available in the US though.
Can anyone recommend any links or resources where I can get a better understanding of the various ZWave devices available with explanations of their application? Digging through tons of posts to try and gather this knowledge doesn’t seem to be the most effective way to get a general understanding on what I might need to buy. I’ve tried looking at some manufacturers sites but even they don’t give a clear indication of functionality or when you may need one product vs another (at least to a newbie :-[ ).
Any good introductory sites? Z-Wave 101? I’m having trouble trying to get a general understanding of what products/options are available for various situations and how they function together.
Some examples:
[ul][li]what do i need to install behind a ceiling fixture to control it from a remote switch?[/li]
[li]I see many options for wall switches, some with 5 buttons or more to control many scenes - yet some only have 1 button and still state they can control many scenes ???[/li]
[li]are there modules to control a ceiling fan & lights separately even when they share the same line - sorta like a z-wave enabled Hunter Fan Remote?[/li]
[li]are there modules to control a garage door opener?, etc…[/li][/ul]
Thanks!
I always liked the Leviton site for their Vizia RF+ line. It explains their different types of things available. Other manufacturers are similar, but not identical.
Leviton Vizia RF+
Unfortunately, since each manufacturer has different model names, it can easily get confusing. But here is a quick rundown of device types:
dimmer - for dimming some type of lights (incandescent, CFL, etc). Most mfrs work with incandescent, CFL/LED can be troublesome - can be a plug-in module, switch, module behind a switch/outlet, or screw-in
relay - also called On/Off - simply turns the connected load On or Off - can be used for lights, fans, TV, appliances, etc. There is no dimming function - can be a plug-in module, switch, module behind a switch/outlet, or screw-in
outlets - these replace traditional 2-plug 3-prong outlets. One outlet is always on, the other is z-wave controller
controller - these can be used to activate scenes in Vera, or control some devices directly. - can be in-wall (like a switch) or remote control type
(NOTE: Some controllers have 1 or more On/Off switch integrated into them, making them combo devices, which show up as more than one device in Vera…1 controller and 1 (or more) switches)
sensors - different manufacturers make sensors for door/window opening, temperature, motion, humidity, freezing, water, light level, etc. They will report to Vera on a status change, and Vera can take action based on scenes. Some (maybe all?) can also directly control some number of devices/lights without Vera being in the middle (like turning on a light when a door is opened, and turning it off when the door is closed)
locks - several types of deadbolts and door levers exists. Some are motorized deadbolts (Yale and Kwikset) others are not (Schlage) What you want depends on your personal taste, budget, etc.
Yes, I had been on the Leviton - Vizia site, but still didn’t see everything I need (or at least think I need). Are there any relay modules (similar to an LFM-20) that also support dimming, so that you could dim a ceiling light from more than one wall switch?
[quote=“gcristof, post:11, topic:172378”]Yes, I had been on the Leviton - Vizia site, but still didn’t see everything I need (or at least think I need). Are there any relay modules (similar to an LFM-20) that also support dimming, so that you could dim a ceiling light from more than one wall switch?[/quote]Is your ceiling light controlled by a switch now? And not a 3-way, correct?
It isn’t supported 100% correctly in Vera right now, but you could use a Leviton switch (be it VRI06, VRI10), along with one (or more) VRCZ1 controllers.
The VRCZ1 can be associated to one (and only one) device. Normally, that would be a single switch (VRI06 or VRI10 for dimming).
Since Vera associates itself to all controllers automatically, there is no extra slot for assigning the switch you want to control. There is a bug report on this.
Yes the ceiling light is connected to a standard switch, not a 3-way. There is a 2nd ceiling light controlled by another switch on the opposite wall (who the hell wired this house? ). It would be nice if I could set it up so that both lights would always on/off/dim together from either switch.
[quote=“gcristof, post:13, topic:172378”]Yes the ceiling light is connected to a standard switch, not a 3-way. There is a 2nd ceiling light controlled by another switch on the opposite wall (who the hell wired this house? ). It would be nice if I could set it up so that both lights would always on/off/dim together from either switch.[/quote]If you get something with instant status to Vera, when you turn one light on or off, Vera could immediately turn the other light on or off to match. It won’t be instant, however, but it should be within a couple seconds. However, I think you would need something more complicated dimming, since that would involve LUUP code to check the status of one switch, and set the other.
If you want something more instant, you would need a controller that you can associate to the two switches, and always use the controller to handle on/off. If you want dimming of both, you cannot use a controller with an embedded switch, since those are just on/off.
You could put dimmers on both lights (say VRI06), and then install a scene or zone controller (zone controllers are usually preferred, since they have both on and off directly). You could create a scene in Vera for “On” and assign it to one button. Then that button can be used for on/off/dim. (Note: for dimming, the controller will dim the last button pressed, so you’d have to press the button for those lights first, if you pressed another button in between).
If you get something with instant status to VeraHow do I know if something does/doesn't have instant status? I haven't seen anything about that while reading product descriptions.
If you want something more instant, you would need a controller that you can associate to the two switchesBy controller do you mean another wall switch (e.g. VRCZ1) located somewhere else besides where the two switches are?
Are there major differences between dimmer switches (functional and/or application) like the VRI06 and other less expensive ones I see like GE 45612 or Evolve LRM-AS or LRM-15?
sorry for the dumb questions!
Warranty is different for the devices. Leviton’s are 5 years I think, GE is less (maybe 1 or 2??). Not sure about other manufacturers.
They descriptions won’t tell you themselves, usually.
Homeseer has some tables for you to check out:
Dimmer Matrix
On/Off Matrix
And yes, I meant another controller (like a VRCZ1, VRCZ4, VRCS4, etc). You could expand a wall switch box to accommodate an additional switch location to put the controller there.
I have a very large room in my basement. There is a section of it which is used less. It has its own light. When you turn the main light on or off the other light follows as part of a scene. It works OK for turning on but dimming and turning off are not good. It doesn’t respect dimming and it takes about 20 seconds for the other light to respond to an off command when issued through the switch. IMO the technology isn’t prepared to handle such complicated requests.