Recommended Hardware for Lighting

Community Playground Getting Started & Initial Setup
1

Hi, I’m interested in doing basic lighting controls, scenes, timers, etc. So what is the go-to hardware to get for this. I’m on a 120V split-phase (e.g. USA).

Is ZWave the best option right now?

What manufacturer makes the most reliable hardware. I want a system to be 100% reliable on the mechanical side. Is this a reasonable expectation?

I’m leaning towards Leviton Vizia RF+. If there is something better, or more reliable, what would that be.

Thanks!

2

I have the Leviton units, since I started with Z-Wave ~3 1/2 yrs ago. Haven’t replaced a unit yet. They do take a little while to get use to since they use a paddle-style switch (press to turn On, press again to turn Off).

Apparently they also have a 5 yr [limited] warranty, but I’ve never had to use it, but I’m guessing this is also part of why they’re pricey by today’s standards.

The biggest benefit is the instant updates to Vera. aka Z-Wave “[tt]HAIL[/tt]” commands, meaning that Vera is instantly aware of changes in the light-switch state when manually activated.

Not all of the devices do this, even if it’s what you’d expect. It’s definitely handy for scene scripting etc, esp when you want to instantly co-ordinate other activities when someone manually activates a light (etc). If this isn’t important to you then there are cheaper options (esp if you follow the forums for a while, as people often post “specials/model runouts”)

3

The link referenced here can also help, although it’s not complete…
http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,3479.0.html

4

This sounds like a good feature. I could imagine if I wanted to connect 2 or more circuits on the same paddle, I would need this, correct? Or can you group the paddles even without the Vera? My outdoor lights are on 4 circuits right now, so I definitely want to be able to tie them together.

5

From experience, the warranty does work, even after 3 years.

6

When used in standard 3 way config, with traveller wires, you use a ZWave switch (or dimmer) at one end to control the load, and a special type of ‘matching’ switch (or dimmer) at the other end.

These matching dimmers are shown on the Leviton site, with model names like VP00R, and are cheaper than the load bearing ZWave switch that’s actually controlling the 3 way. These operate completely independently of Vera, just like a regular 3 way does.

But there are also cases where you don’t have a 3 way wiring setup, but you want one. In this situation, you can put a Scene (or Zone) controller at the new location, and establish a scene coupling so that they toggle each other. I have this in one of my rooms. Depending upon how complex the scene definition is, and the devices involved, this may or may not require Vera to be running to coordinate things.

7

I will add that I also like Leviton switches. I have many GE switches before, and swapped them to Leviton. The GEs are a little quieter, but the lack of associations made me switch to Leviton.

Leviton switches work great with Leviton scene/zone controllers, since the communication is nearly instant. For non-Leviton devices, the commands go through Vera, which can slow things down a bit.

Price is definitely something to consider though. Here is a comparison from Amazon:
Leviton VRS15 (Regular On/Off switch): $86.70
GE 45609 (Regular On/Off switch): $40.00

8

Monster Illuminessence hardware is physically identical to the Leviton Vizia RF series. That’s what I have throughout my house. The hardware is bulletproof, as far as I can tell.

9

That was a driver for me also, plus they are available in different colors (and typically come with 2 other face colors, besides white).

Yeah, the Monster gear, despite being older (Vizia RF), works well and may not be as pricey.

I guess the newer Z-Wave firmware that supports beaming is currently/only now trickling into the Leviton devices though.

10

I too would spend the extra money and go with Leviton. Most of my house uses leviton or the Monster version of the Leviton switches. I recently purchased the Intermatic switches off of ebay (6 pack) as the price was right and I can use them in places that do not get a lot of use.

  • Garrett
11

I haven’t played with Vizia RF+, so I don’t know what I’m missing (aside from assigning LEDs on that series of scene controller), but everything works really well, I got the quality switch feel I wanted, & I outfitted my entire house on the cheap.

I’m also slightly obsessive & require all my switches to match. The difference between the Leviton & Monster gear is only which logo is embossed in the pad, so it doesn’t offend even my OCD. ;D

12

The differences between Vizia RF (also Monster) and Vizia RF+ is fairly subtle.

It boils down to the internal ZWave chipset generation, resulting in 9600 (RF) vs 40k (RF+) and the placement of the dimmer controls (RF = side, vertical… RF+ = top, horizontal)

Even newer Vizia RF+ have LED color control on the 4 channel scene controller LEDs, vs plain Green for the earlier Vizia RF+ models.

They all interoperate, so it’s mostly cosmetic for the dimmers.

13

Yep, that’s all I can think of too; plus, as said, the introduction of the newer Z-Wave firmware that supports beaming.

I’ve seen (what I believe to be) interoperability issues with a VRCZ1 and a pretty old Vizia RF plug-in dimmer with Z-Wave v1.xx or so.