Problems with Leviton VRCS4-MRZ 4-scene controller with switch

Other Devices & Integrations Lighting & Load Control
#1

I’m having a hard time adding a brand new Leviton VRCS4-MRZ 4-scene controller with switch to my network according to the instructions in [url=http://wiki.micasaverde.com/index.php/Leviton_Scene_Controller]http://wiki.micasaverde.com/index.php/Leviton_Scene_Controller[/url].

I am able to add the first device (the 4-scene controller) without any problem and use it to control scenes. However, I cannot add the switch. When I hold down the 2 and 4 buttons, LED 1 flashes amber once or twice briefly but does not stay on like when I hold down buttons 1 and 3 for the initial inclusion. I’ve tried lots of combinations of entering inclusion mode before or after I add a device to Vera but nothing works.

When the device is not on the network, pressing any of the upper four buttons toggles thw switch and I hear a distinctive click. However, as soon as the 4 scene controller is included, I lose control over the switch.

The Leviton manual only mentions holding the 2 and 4 buttons for exclusion (not for inclusion).

This devices has been around for quite some time. Has anyone else seen this problem? Is there some type of firmware issue? Am I doing something wrong?

#2

I did some Internet sleuthing and found that there are at least 2 (if not 3) distinct versions of the Leviton instruction sheet for the VRCS4-MRZ.

DI-000-VRCS4-00A-X0 [url=http://www.homecontrols.com/Leviton-Vizia-RF-Plus-4-Button-Scene-Controller-with-Switch-LVVRCS4MRx]http://www.homecontrols.com/Leviton-Vizia-RF-Plus-4-Button-Scene-Controller-with-Switch-LVVRCS4MRx[/url]
DI-010-VRCS4-02A [url=http://www.hometech.com/pdf/le-vrcs4mr_3.pdf]http://www.hometech.com/pdf/le-vrcs4mr_3.pdf[/url] (Also on the Leviton web site)
DI-010-VRCS4-02A-X1 The paper version which came with the switch that I bought from Hometech

You will note the important difference in step G at the top-left corner of the back page. The new version does not call for pressing the 2 and 4 buttons simultaneously for inclusion (only for exclusion). Instead there is a special procedure, which is probably specific to the Leviton hand-held controller to include the switch.

I suspect that when Mi Casa Verde first tested with this device, it was using older firmware that corresponded to the `00A documentation (or possibly the older VRCS4-MRX which is no longer available).

The Vera firmware probably needs to be updated (in a devices-specific way) to include newer firmware versions of this device.

#3

Did you first put the VRCS4 in inclusion mode, then Vera?

The switch part is auto-included with the VRCPG, or Vera, but it doesn’t always seem to work. It used to be that you could include/exclude the scene controller part separately with buttons 1+3, and the switch with buttons 2+4.

Not sure that has changed; we would have to compare firmware versions.

#4

After getting nowhere with either Mi Casa Verde nor Leviton, I ended up talking to the president of the Z-Wave alliance. He recently had this to say:

In regards to the Leviton device, they are using proprietary commands for some of their functionality. This is allowed in the Z-Wave world as long as the required commands for that particular device type are supported. I have put MiCasaVerde in touch with the Director of Engineering at Leviton and they will work together to get the desired functionality restored to the MiCasaVerde product.
#5

Interesting. Yes, MCV have said they are friendly with Leviton and have/will implement proprietary Leviton commands. To what extent, or when, was never cleared up. (The fact that you got nowhere with MCV and Leviton, may be a disconnect between their respective support and technical departments/people.)

Now I’m curious though how we can identify the apparent newer version, from the older version. It was my understanding that Leviton do not change firmware within the same model designation. Could you post the following strings from the [tt]Settings[/tt] tab of the device?

[tt]Capabilities[/tt]
[tt]Version[/tt]
[tt]Manufacturer[/tt]
[tt]Model[/tt]

#6

oTi@,

Please see the following links:

[url=http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,9117.msg71783.html#msg71783]http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,9117.msg71783.html#msg71783[/url]

and

[url=http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,9821.msg111733.html#msg111733]http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,9821.msg111733.html#msg111733[/url]

There are differences between older and newer versions of the VRCS4-MRZ. The new ones that have the
“Support Routing”(R) flag in the Z-Wave capabilities are no longer compatible with Vera inclusion.

It hasn’t been for lack of trying on my part since I found this problem the hard way several months ago. Numerous letters and emails to both Leviton and Mi Casa Verde, and now most recently - the Z-Wave alliance - have not met with satisfactory response.

#7

So I take that to mean that the same difference (in the zone controllers) exists in the scene controllers.

Seems lousy that this is not visible in the firmware version, but only through the capabilities; and I’m not even sure I understand the relationship. I checked my (working) VRCS4-MR, and it is in fact the other flavor. Same for my VRCZ4-MR’s.

Newer[sup]*[/sup]:[font=courier]
Capabilities 210,134,0,2,1,0,L,R,|114,115,119,130,133,134,145,
Version 7,2,67,0,2
Manufacturer Leviton
Model VRCZC
[/font]

Older[sup]*[/sup]:[font=courier]
Capabilities 146,134,0,2,1,0,L,|45,114,115,119,124,130,133,134,145,
Version 7,2,67,0,2
Manufacturer Leviton
Model VRCZC
[/font]

[size=8pt]* presumably[/size]

#8

I have looked at a few more VRCZ4-MR and they are all the presumed older flavor and include fine. I have one that I suspect might be the newer version, but it is currently not in a testable state. Looking at the firmware / version stickers, they appear to all say ‘1.0’.

#9

You might have gotten a bad Leviton device. In the same thread you linked to, a couple of us had the same issue.

Swapping out for a different unit fixed the problem. As I mentioned in the post linked to, even the Leviton programmer couldn’t handle it.

#10

I don’t think so. Given that my device has a newer version than any of the others and also supports routing, perhaps you also need the new controller to include the new devices.

In any case, I am told that MCV and Leviton are “working on it.” Meanwhile I am waiting patiently.

#11

Sadly, you could be waiting forever. :frowning:

If swapping out for a different device is possible, I would at least try it.

#12
If swapping out for a different device is possible, I would at least try it.

I already have. This is one of the major reasons that I got interested in Insteon/Altsteon. The KeypadLinc Relay is a good alternative at a much better price – and it works!

[url=http://www.insteon.com/2487S-keypadlinc-dual-band.html]http://www.insteon.com/2487S-keypadlinc-dual-band.html[/url]

#13

Great! However, I was referring to replacing with the same unit, but I agree…the Insteon KPLs are much less expensive!

#14

My impression is that either the firmware / capabilities / behavior changed in more recent versions of the devices, or there was some window in the recent past (2012) where this was the case. I have a working device that seems to be more recent than the original discussion. I have a second device that’s even more recent, but I can’t test it right now.

#15

I am also having difficulty with a VRCS4-MR scene controller.

After configuring it (I have tried every variation described in the forums and wiki), it seems fine. It then works fantastically…once. After an initial use, in which the Vera recognizes its press and the scene is carried out quickly, the device starts causing “Unable to get any information on node” errors. Historically, this error disappears after about a week or so, but the device never operates again.

I have two questions:

  1. Has anyone tweaked the settings of these devices to make it go from failing to working? Or, has it simply worked or not worked for those out there.
  2. Does anyone have an idea of alternate solutions to make the switch work indirectly with Vera (I’d be willing to buy a handheld controller if there was some way to make this thing function)?
#16

Hi,

I had a horrible time getting these set up with Vera. I tried all different combinations and finally what I did in the end was buy a Leviton Handheld Z-wave Controller (VRCPG-BSG), include it as a secondary controller to Vera + got a ControlThink Z-wave USB stick and software paired that to the Vera also as a secondary controller; prevented the Vera from automatically configuring the Leviton VRCS4-MRZ; and finally setting up scenes and zones and programming them through the Control Think USB Stick and software direct to the VRCPG-BSG and then to the VRCS4-MRZ.

This actually worked like a charm and the responsiveness of the switches and associations was near instantaneous. However, I think there is a bug in the Z-Wave firmware of the the VRCS4-MRZ as every once in a while, the local load will stop responding to the Vera out of the blue – if I power cycle the controller from the circuit breaker and “reboot” the VRCS4, the associations come back about 90% of the time (once I had to exclude the switch from Vera and re-include it to restore it). Royal PITA, but overall pretty reliable now. Overall, the Leviton switches in general are 100% reliable - the VRCS4 with local load is the only switch I’ve ever had problems with.

I have not tried the following (though I might to see if it increases the reliability of the switch):

http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/SectionDisplay.jsp?section=38971&minisite=10251

Hope this helps.

#17

It’s stories like these that make me wonder what’s really going on at Leviton and MIOS. I figured that you might be able to do something with Leviton’s proprietary controllers but htcheng went much further and shows how unreliable these devices can be even after they are configured. I’ve made several phone calls and Emails to both and there is still no response even 6 months later. In any case, these controllers are overpriced for what they do despite that its the only combo Z-Wave multi-button controller/switch on the market. There are lots of alternatives, including Insteon/Altsteon which work much better with Vera. Perhaps the new UI7 firmware update will solve this problem, but in the meantime, I hope that this thread stands as a warning to anyone who wants to use the VRCS4-MRZ with Vera.

#18

@htcheng - I’m really glad you got it working to your satisfaction, though the method seems a little convoluted and quite expensive for a switch.

I really don’t think that your definition of 100% reliable is the same as mine. You wrote a paragraph on flaky and unreliable behavior, “Royal PITA”, and end it with 100% reliable? It made me chuckle.

Thanks for sharing.

#19

I don’t think my VRCS4-MRX has ever acted up. But some VRCZ4 and VRCS2 (and VRI06) have. Haven’t found any pattern to it.

@gengen,
I do have some open bug reports with MiOS in relation to Leviton. But no response / action (of course).