@hugheaves
You should submit a feature request in Mantis (bugs.mios.com) with that function. That is a good idea.
[quote=“mcvflorin, post:121, topic:171262”]@hugheaves
You should submit a feature request in Mantis (bugs.mios.com) with that function. That is a good idea.[/quote]
Done:
http://bugs.mios.com/view.php?id=2503
It would certainly be nice to see this at some point.
Hugh
[quote=“homejones, post:64, topic:171262”]Very curious - what is the minimum load for these dimmers? I wonder whether a group of 6-8 Ecosmart 9.5W LED bulbs in recessed cans would effectively dim…?
I know these are incandescent dimmers, but I remember reading somewhere that some LED bulbs would work with incandescent dimmers as long as there was a minimum load.
Thanks![/quote]
Did you ever get a reply about this - or figure it out on your own? I’m considering upgrading my bulbs to dimmable LED and don’t want to install Zwave dimmers if they won’t work. Please do let me know, thanks.
[quote=“Timon, post:116, topic:171262”]I detest Lutron, and will never buy any of their products again, for asking for a patent for an obvious idea as sending out a message that “I’ve changed states” and the patent office should be hung by the toes for granting it. Then the other manufactures should have protested the patent as being obvious in the first place. Our patent system is so damn broken that it needs a total overhaul.
It’s the same with Phillips and their patent for Pulse Width Modulation of RGB LEDs to make colors. Mixing colored lights to create colors is nothing new and PWM for controlling the intensity of LEDs was prior art back in the 70’s. You should not be able to get a patent for combining them. Again the patent office screwed up in granting it and the other manufactures should protest the patent and get it rejected even now.
[quote=“PurdueGuy, post:114, topic:171262”]DaveGee is right…it’s a patent issue, but owned by Lutron. Leviton (and others) pay a license fee to Lutron to allow them to report them instantly.
If you CA600/CA3000 can speak directly to Vera (and not via an intermediate device) then Vera should get the notification. But there is no guarantee. The switch essentially says “hey everyone, I just turned on” but there are no acknowledgements back and forth, and Vera might not see the message every time.[/quote][/quote]
The Lutron patent in question is this one:
which was issued in 1999, so in another four years, we’ll be free of it. Sad when innovation depends on a patent expiring.
Good find GroundLoop. Never tempted to find the patent info. Sad we have to wait another 4 years.
- Garrett
[quote=“homejones, post:64, topic:171262”]Very curious - what is the minimum load for these dimmers? I wonder whether a group of 6-8 Ecosmart 9.5W LED bulbs in recessed cans would effectively dim…?
I know these are incandescent dimmers, but I remember reading somewhere that some LED bulbs would work with incandescent dimmers as long as there was a minimum load.
Thanks![/quote]
I know this is an older post but I’m also curious on alternate dimmable bulbs with CA600 dimmers. I have a ton of these in the house and with incandescents going away, I’m wondering if any LED dimmables will work. I know I tried a dimmable CFL once before in a floor lamp and the results were not good. The bulb in general ran warm for a CFL even without a dimmable zwave module. When I tried the dimmable module, the bulb died in about a week.
I’m also wondering if the LED’s would work if they are in a track lighting fixture with multiple bulbs? But even 6-8 bulbs with only 5-10 watts each won’t draw much. The problem is even with the electric savings of the LED’s, changing all my switches over to non-dimmables would take me about 10 years to recover the cost.
Hi (new to the forum and z-wave)
I would love to find out the same info as well, hopefully someone knows (or knows where the info is)…
Thanks!
If you search the forums there are many many posts on this subject (for instance: http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php?topic=6074.0).
I use lot of LEDs with dimmers in my house. First, make sure the LEDs are dimmable. Using non-dimmable LEDs with a dimmer is a fire hazard. I typically need about 30W worth of LEDs to dim correctly (not stay dimly on when the dimmer is off) with my GE dimmers that do not use a neutral. If you have a dimmer that uses a neutral then this isn’t a problem. That is because the dimmer itself needs a bit of power to run the z-wave radio - and if there isn’t a neutral line that power has to go through the load (i.e., the LED bulbs).
As these switches require a neutral I expect that you don’t need a 30w minimum, but I haven’t tried them yet. I have a big box of CA600s in my garage so I may eventually.
If you have problems you could also always put a dummy load in series with the light bulbs:
http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php?topic=9262.0
The thread that won’t die…
Just to add some info: I tried a CA600 with a 36w dimmable LED load (2x 18w). Ramp rate was smooth but they would not completely turn off.
[quote=“swazi, post:129, topic:171262”]The thread that won’t die…
Just to add some info: I tried a CA600 with a 36w dimmable LED load (2x 18w). Ramp rate was smooth but they would not completely turn off.[/quote]
I tried with 4 18w LEDs and had the same result. Swap out one of the LEDs with an incandescent and they all work find. My electrician is going to try the TimsAll dummy load thing. We’ll see.
Now this is interesting - you are up to 72w and the advertised min load is 40w
Weird unrelated note. I have a bunch of these (non dimming) installed and we lost power and all of them stopped working completely which freaked me out a little. Flipping their respective circuits off and on from the circuit breaker re-energized them and they’re working fine again. I also have a few GE switches that did not have any issues
I’m a newbie with some of these in the mail to be delivered this week.
i have a question about using these on a 3 way switch. is it possible to install one CA600 on one end and keep the standard switch on the other to obtain the same results? i wasn’t sure what the proper install was to achieve this. thanks.
[quote=“tipton, post:133, topic:171262”]I’m a newbie with some of these in the mail to be delivered this week.
i have a question about using these on a 3 way switch. is it possible to install one CA600 on one end and keep the standard switch on the other to obtain the same results? i wasn’t sure what the proper install was to achieve this. thanks.[/quote]
Yes. You can use a single CA600 in a 3-way circuit with either a 2 way or 3 way traditional switch at the other point. Pretty sure the wiring diagram is in teh included instructions, and I think the CA600 has to go closest to the live wire.
I have the CA600 and CA3000 Dimmers and Relays in my house controlling all lights. They work great for just replacing one of the switches in a 3/4 way wiring, although I did purchase the CA5100 remote switches so they would match the rest per my wife’s instruction 
You won’t be able to find the CA3000 anymore but you can still pick up the CA600 on ebay in a pack of 6 for $99 which comes out just under $20 per switch, the perfect price. The Z-Wave licensing will eventually be the doom of Z-Wave if it is not corrected, this is why Intermatic stopped selling Z-Wave devices. I just can’t see paying $50-$60 for a switch and some are up to $140 per switch, multiply that by 20-40 switches in your house and it gets very expensive.
The only problem I have now is that since I used the dimmers I have to use incandescent light bulbs instead of CFL or LED. I am still searching for an LED light that will work with the dimmers correctly (meaning the light turns all the way off when you turn the switch off).
[quote=“Chris H., post:135, topic:171262”]I have the CA600 and CA3000 Dimmers and Relays in my house controlling all lights. They work great for just replacing one of the switches in a 3/4 way wiring, although I did purchase the CA5100 remote switches so they would match the rest per my wife’s instruction
You won’t be able to find the CA3000 anymore but you can still pick up the CA600 on ebay in a pack of 6 for $99 which comes out just under $20 per switch, the perfect price. The Z-Wave licensing will eventually be the doom of Z-Wave if it is not corrected, this is why Intermatic stopped selling Z-Wave devices. I just can’t see paying $50-$60 for a switch and some are up to $140 per switch, multiply that by 20-40 switches in your house and it gets very expensive.
The only problem I have now is that since I used the dimmers I have to use incandescent light bulbs instead of CFL or LED. I am still searching for an LED light that will work with the dimmers correctly (meaning the light turns all the way off when you turn the switch off).[/quote]
Not possible with the CA600 based on design. It has to pass power through the bulb to operate itself since it lacks a neutral. The only option is to install a dummy load on the line (25W resistor) so that the bulbs don’t get the power. But this essentially means you’re chewing up 25W at all times per circuit just to save money with home automation :-\
Few more left. Get it before its gone.
I got cooper just before i saw this.
Automated Outlet still has the 6 packs for $100
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intermatic-Z-Wave-InTouch-600-Watt-Dimmer-CA600-6-PACK/130903456048?ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1&ih=003&category=94879&cmd=ViewItem
They also have the CA5100 companion switches for 6/$70
[quote=“Freakin, post:138, topic:171262”]Automated Outlet still has the 6 packs for $100
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intermatic-Z-Wave-InTouch-600-Watt-Dimmer-CA600-6-PACK/130903456048?ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1&ih=003&category=94879&cmd=ViewItem
They also have the CA5100 companion switches for 6/$70[/quote]
I read a lot of issues with CA600… is it that bad? like the buzz sound and some dimming issues.
People tend to only post when they’re having a problem. I’ve got five installed. Never had a buzzing issue. I did have one that sometimes interacted with another circuit and would brighten and dim. Eventually that one became unresponsive in the On position and got very hot. AutomatedOutlet replaced it under warranty without any problems. The replacement hasn’t shown the same problem.
Its advantages are cost and the use of standard switches in multi-way circuits. Disadvantages are that it’s no longer made or supported by Intermatic (but Automated Outlet does support the ones it sells), and lack of instant status like most non-Leviton brands.