I have just started to build a system and plan on adding a lot of remote dimmers and switches as we remodel the house. I picked up a Vera2 unit and 2 lamp dimming modules that go between the wall socket and the lamp cord. Created a scene that turns the lamps on at dusk and off at 11:30 pm. All is working fine until I realized that I can’t just walk into the room and turn the lights on anymore because the control modules are behind furnitur.
So, I bought a Tricklestar 200ZW-US-W remote thinking that it would be a simple process to use the remote to turn the lights on and dim as needed at any time and still have the Vera2 controls working the scenes.
Does anyone know if there is a document that shows how to get this working? I am at a total loss. I have added the remote to the room on mios.com but can’t get it to control the lights.
The other option is to use lamp modules that have a load sensor. That way, all your lamps can be turned on at the lamp switch as normal, which can be very helpful if you have visitors who don’t know all the secrets of your HA system. The downside is that if you (or they) turn the lamp off at its switch, you can’t turn it on via the lamp module without turning the lamp on manually.
When you say “The other option”, is that saying that I should be able to get this to work or I have made a mistake by buying the remote and setting it up this way? Sorry, but I’m real new at this and just don’t understand where I’m going wrong.
What I thought I was doing was setting up the remote to tell the Vera controller to do the work of dimming and switching. Maybe I need to slow down and only have the remote in sync with the wall switches?
Are the outlets where the lamps are plugged in controlled by a switch on the wall or are you trying to turn the lamps on with the switch on the lamp itself?
There is no wall switch. We used to walk into the room, turn the knob on the lamp and it came on. I installed a dimmer control at the plug end of the lamp (behind the couch) and can now use the scene functions and have it on timers with Vera. Where we ran into the problem was a dark rainy day we wanted to turn the light on. Without getting behind the couch and unplugging the controller, the only way was to command Vera on my PC to enter the scene that turns the light on.
So, I went and purchased the remote control, thinking it would just connect to the system and control the light. I can get Vera to see the remote, but don’t know how to set it to command Vera to do the dimming.
Am I on the right track thinking this should work? Maybe as a newbie, I just haven’t found the right way to make it work.
I think CMRancho has the right idea for your scenario… load sensing lamp modules would work best.
Its a lamp module that allows you to turn the lamp on from the original switch, no need to turn on/off from the module itself when controlling locally.
If you really want to stick with what you have I would recommend just interfacing a remote control app on a smartphone (either the stock vera one or sqremote).
I find the physical remotes (like the tricklestar) too cumbersome to setup and deal with. But that could be I just have bad experiences with them…
I have an Aeon Labs Minimote sitting in a drawer somewhere that I still don’t know how to configure/setup.
I’d like to get the current config working before I set out to buy more goodies. I guess as a newbie, my real question should be “How do I set a button on a remote control to activate a light”?
As I said, good luck… I don’t believe physical remotes are easy to setup. The reason for this is that they are designated as “controllers”. Just like vera is designated as a “controller”. Zwave has the ability to have both “primary” and “secondary” controllers. Vera should be your “primary”. The tricklestar should be a “secondary”. The trouble comes in trying to and figuring out how to configure them that way, and every “controller” is different.
When I tried to do this I ended up screwing something up and my vera became “secondary” and wreaked havoc on my entire setup. This is why I wouldnt recommend it. If you have the option you may want to consider returning the tricklestar and going with one of the other options we recommended.
At least, thats MHO. Secondary controllers aren’t as easy to setup or as flexible as they should be.
If you still want to try, you’ll have to wait around for someone to post who has the tricklestar or just try to mess around with it yourself… you have to go to the “Add device” button on the top of UI4… select zwave… then controller… then there are some instructions on how to transfer the network between controllers but that is where it gets more specific to the type of controller you have.
If you only have those 3 devices you are limited to what you can do.
As others have said, you need to add the remote as a secondary controller. Depending on what plug in dimmer modules you picked up you may not be able to use the association command.
You could set up two scenes, one to turn on both modules and one to turn them off. Assign one scene to each of the remotes buttons.
Sounds good, can you direct me how to assign a scene to a control button? I know it sounds like I’m an idiot, but I just need the first step then I SHOULD be able to go from there…
Correct me if I am wrong but I dont think you can control a scene with a button on the remote, thats one of the major drawbacks. This is another reason I don’t like physical remotes.
At least this is how it works on the Aeon Mini-Mote (unless there has been an update I am not aware of)
In my opinion the best scenario would be to associate the remote with the devices as mhn suggested. The Tricklestar does allow associations. That way, even if vera is down the remote will still control the devices.
As I said before, It depends on the dimmer modules, what brand are they? The Intermatic HA0 2 & 3 will not accept associations, ACT / Schlage will. Not sure about other plugin modules.
I’m using the Leviton lamp dimming module # RZP03-1LW and through an email to Tricklestar found that it was not associating. They sent me a new document that had different instructions and it’s working now.
What I learned was that in order to use the Tricklestar remote, you need to put it in configuration mode to include the device and then change it to operation mode to associate it. The original documents had it in config mode for both.
Now, I’ll try to get it set up to work with Vera. I’d like to get this to work, the remotes are real small and simple, only an up and down button on them.
Well, f you get it working, please post your procedure and results… you will be helping someone else in the future. Obviously, nobody here knows how to configure a tricklestar remote.
The RZP03-1LW does accept accociations and more importantly to your situation is a load sensing module.
You should be able to control it via the lamps on / off switch.
Give this a try.
If the module is OFF, turn the switch on the lamp OFF for a few seconds, then ON again. The module should turn on and turn the lamp ON.
Resurrecting an old thread here; for a somewhat different reason.
Has anyone been able to use the Tricklestar as an inclusion controller? It would be worth the money to me not to have to carry my Vera around to include/exclude devices.
Okay, so I figured it out (Zombie thread lives again).
I have a Vera Lite and the Tricklestar 200ZW remote. I wanted it to control a GE Electric Z-Wave outlet on my network.
First, you setup the tricklestar as a second controller on your network:
[ol][li]Place the tricklestar in configuration mode (black switch towards outside)[/li]
[li]Press the tricklestar up button for 2 seconds (light should briefly turn green)[/li]
[li]Press the tricklestar up button 4 times rapidly (light should turn green)[/li]
[li]Press the + button on the vera unit (Vera and tricklestar will flash as they communicate, and the last thing you’ll see on remote is a green flash)[/li][/ol]
Now the remote is on the vera network. You can go to the control panel and see it, but you can’t do much (scene notifications etc don’t work). You’ll need to command the remote now to control what you wanted to.
[ol][li]Put the tricklestar in operation mode (Black switch inward)[/li]
[li]Go to the device / outlet you want to control, in my case this was an outlet that had an on or and off state.[/li]
[li]Press and hold the button on the remote that corresponds to the action you are about to take (Lamp is on? Press and hold the off button)[/li]
[li]While still holding the remote button, manually toggle the device / outlet (turn the lamp off – Remote flashes green)[/li]
[li]Repeat for the other direction (press and hold up button, and toggle device on)[/li]
[li][/li][/ol]
And like magic (at least for me), pushing the buttons on the remote now toggle the outlet! (ugh.)
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