Wall Mounted Battery Operated ZWave Remote?

Community Playground General Discussions
1

Could anyone recommend a simple wall mounted battery operated zwave remote?

I currently have a light switch that is used to turn my fireplace on. I recently got my fireplace to be able to be toggled from my Vera3. The existing light switch was wired up with what looks like thermostat wire and was used just to complete the circuit (there is no power in the box). Currently if I turn my fireplace on with from the Vera I have to turn it off with the Vera, if I turn it on with the switch I have to turn it off with the switch.

I was looking around and came across the GE 45631 that seems to be what I need, it just has too many buttons on it. Would anyone happen to know if there is something similar to the GE 45631 that has maybe 2 buttons on it that I could mount in the single gang box that the switch is in now? This remote would only be used to turn the fireplace on/off (maybe the lights above it if it had 2 buttons).

Thanks
~Mike

2

I use the ZWave.Me Wall Controller. This is available with one paddle or two. Each paddle provides two switch functions. It is configurable to allow direct association, simple 1-4 scenes or more complex multiple scene modes.

The controller is low-profile so can be glued or screwed to a flat wall without the need for a wall box.

The WallC model (aka BJ2000) works well on UI5 1.5.622. The latest WallC-S model uses the Z-Wave Plus chip and will not configure on 1.5.622. I am told that it will work on the Beta 1.5.672 or on the latest UI7 release.

See Vesternet’s excellent guide for installation and usage instructions.

3

[quote=“RexBeckett, post:2, topic:185646”]I use the ZWave.Me Wall Controller. This is available with one paddle or two. Each paddle provides two switch functions. It is configurable to allow direct association, simple 1-4 scenes or more complex multiple scene modes.

The controller is low-profile so can be glued or screwed to a flat wall without the need for a wall box.

The WallC model (aka BJ2000) works well on UI5 1.5.622. The latest WallC-S model uses the Z-Wave Plus chip and will not configure on 1.5.622. I am told that it will work on the Beta 1.5.672 or on the latest UI7 release.

See Vesternet’s excellent guide for installation and usage instructions.[/quote]

That is along the idea of what I am looking for, but I was hoping to remove/replace the standard single gang light switch that currently controls the fireplace and replace it with the remote, so I was looking for something like you mentioned but one that would utilize the single gang box the the GE 45631

PS my Vera3 is running UI7 if that matters

4

I think they are designed to fit European wall boxes. They would probably fit a UK box - I didn’t try this. From what I remember of US switches, they would not be the right shape to cover the hole.

5

[quote=“mikefletcher85”]Could anyone recommend a simple wall mounted battery operated zwave remote?

I currently have a light switch that is used to turn my fireplace on. I recently got my fireplace to be able to be toggled from my Vera3. The existing light switch was wired up with what looks like thermostat wire and was used just to complete the circuit (there is no power in the box). Currently if I turn my fireplace on with from the Vera I have to turn it off with the Vera, if I turn it on with the switch I have to turn it off with the switch.

I was looking around and came across the GE 45631 that seems to be what I need, it just has too many buttons on it. Would anyone happen to know if there is something similar to the GE 45631 that has maybe 2 buttons on it that I could mount in the single gang box that the switch is in now? This remote would only be used to turn the fireplace on/off (maybe the lights above it if it had 2 buttons).

Thanks
~Mike[/quote]

Your fireplace is a millivolt system. I have the same setup. Here are some options. If you use a mimolite and wire it in under the fireplace that would be an option. Then replace the wall switch with a wireless wall switch and then both vera direct and or the wall switch would control the fireplace. Skytech makes some nice fireplace remotes that include a wall switch so you have a handheld remote and can use the wall switch. I would like an option to have vera communicate with the RF receive unit from Skytech to have the best of both worlds. Here is something you may want to consider. The millivolt system works in a power outage. If your power goes out, you can still use your fireplace for heat. If you modify that switch then your emergency source of heat is disabled. Skytech makes both battery and AC powered receivers and the battery one would be the fail safe solution. If anyone knows of a way to control an RF device via vera I would love to hear about that solution.
Also with Skytech, the fireplace communicates with the remote and will shut of the fireplace via timer or if the remote is out of range for safety. I thought I wanted vera to run the fireplace via a memolite, then decided there was a bunch of safety reasons I did not, the Skytech is the way to go, although it’s not integrated with vera it’s safe and convenient and timers can be set if desired.

6

They are thin and flat, so you can just stick them anywhere on a wall with some double sided tape.

7

You are right, they do look to fit Euro boxes, I forgot to mention that I am in the US, our boxes are rectangular.

I understand that they can be stuck anywhere, but the box is already in the wall so I was looking for something that could use the existing box as covering that box will not be aesthetically pleasing.

[quote=“osmosis, post:5, topic:185646”]Your fireplace is a millivolt system. I have the same setup. Here are some options. If you use a mimolite and wire it in under the fireplace that would be an option. Then replace the wall switch with a wireless wall switch and then both vera direct and or the wall switch would control the fireplace. Skytech makes some nice fireplace remotes that include a wall switch so you have a handheld remote and can use the wall switch. I would like an option to have vera communicate with the RF receive unit from Skytech to have the best of both worlds. Here is something you may want to consider. The millivolt system works in a power outage. If your power goes out, you can still use your fireplace for heat. If you modify that switch then your emergency source of heat is disabled. Skytech makes both battery and AC powered receivers and the battery one would be the fail safe solution. If anyone knows of a way to control an RF device via vera I would love to hear about that solution.
Also with Skytech, the fireplace communicates with the remote and will shut of the fireplace via timer or if the remote is out of range for safety. I thought I wanted vera to run the fireplace via a memolite, then decided there was a bunch of safety reasons I did not, the Skytech is the way to go, although it’s not integrated with vera it’s safe and convenient and timers can be set if desired. [/quote]
I used a GE duplex Zwave outlet from lowes with a 120vac to 12vdc power adapter (stole from an old dumb 8 port switch I had) and hooked that up to a 12vdc Bosch style automotive relay (wired in parallel to the regular light switch). When I energize the outlet it toggles the relay and turns the fireplace on. My issue is that the regular light switch on the wall is wired in parallel so I was looking to eliminate the wall switch and replace it with a battery operated zwave remote.