What do I need to make my dimmers work (vizia rf)
- Thread starter Bzncrewjr
- Start date
drvnbysound
Senior Member
You will need a VRUSB-1US (Zwave USB Stick; aka, Primary Controller for programming) and the VRC0P-1LW (Zwave Serial Controller; aka Secondary Controller).
UPB requires a powerline interface which plugs into an Omni serial port. I'd get the Leviton one for the least hassle. Most people also have a second powerline interface connected to a PC running UPStart. This isn't 100% required if you go the HLC route because the panel can program the switches itself, but likely you will want to make some tweaks.
Between phases, its a bit of trial-and-error. Some people get away fine with nothing, some use passive bridges and some use a repeater. If you get a repeater and use all the Leviton switches which are Gen 3, you likely will never have problems. The only switches not Gen 2 or above are Simply Automated so use caution with them. They work with passive couplers, but NOT a repeater, which require Gen 2 or above. If you stick to all the Leviton stuff, you'll be fine.
Between phases, its a bit of trial-and-error. Some people get away fine with nothing, some use passive bridges and some use a repeater. If you get a repeater and use all the Leviton switches which are Gen 3, you likely will never have problems. The only switches not Gen 2 or above are Simply Automated so use caution with them. They work with passive couplers, but NOT a repeater, which require Gen 2 or above. If you stick to all the Leviton stuff, you'll be fine.
Bzncrewjr
Active Member
Ah. No such thing as a free lunch. So I still need an interface. This one looks like what you are describing.
https://www.amazon.com/Leviton-36A00-1-Powerline-Interface-Module/dp/B000CEP5LS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472076457&sr=8-1&keywords=leviton+powerline+interface+upb
The Vizia rf reviews were awful, so I sent them back. So I don't need more software (like that USB stick) to program UPB if I buy some UPB dimmers? Just the interface?
So I'm assuming UPB is vastly superior to the old X10. I used some X10 modules in my last house. Lasted a few years and went bad. Would come on in the middle of the night, lights blazing, when an airplane flew over head.
I still have the Omni here bench testing before I lug it out and install it in the new house. So far, it's pretty impressive. I'm learning the PC Access software which isn't as intuitive as I hoped, but once you figure it out, seems very powerful.
--Russ
https://www.amazon.com/Leviton-36A00-1-Powerline-Interface-Module/dp/B000CEP5LS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472076457&sr=8-1&keywords=leviton+powerline+interface+upb
The Vizia rf reviews were awful, so I sent them back. So I don't need more software (like that USB stick) to program UPB if I buy some UPB dimmers? Just the interface?
So I'm assuming UPB is vastly superior to the old X10. I used some X10 modules in my last house. Lasted a few years and went bad. Would come on in the middle of the night, lights blazing, when an airplane flew over head.
I still have the Omni here bench testing before I lug it out and install it in the new house. So far, it's pretty impressive. I'm learning the PC Access software which isn't as intuitive as I hoped, but once you figure it out, seems very powerful.
--Russ
Correct - just the UPB interface. You can hook it up to the OPII to control everything or you can plug it into your PC and run the UPStart software to program things. As your system grows, most people end up having two interfaces so you never need to remove the one from the OPII, but starting out, one is just fine. Yes, UPB is vastly superior to X10. To give you an example of how superior it is, when I was first using UPB, I accidently plugged the UPB PIM into a power strip in my wiring closet that was fed by a APC UPS battery system AND it had an X10 noise filter on it as well (I meant to plug it into a different power strip that didn't go through the filter/battery). UPB still functioned nearly flawless transmitting THROUGH those two devices. I also have several outside UPB plug in modules for outdoor lighting that are at the end of a 50 ft wiring run that goes through a sub-panel for my pool/spa. Still never an issue communicating with them.
There are two "flavors" of UPB, and an OMNI can work with either of them. Generic UPB devices (switches, etc.) needs to be programmed with UPStart software before you can use the switches in your network. UPStart software is free from the PCS web site and also usually Leviton's web site and Simply Automated's web site, but usually at PCS its the most recent.Bzncrewjr said:
This software basically sends your naming, numbering, and network information to each switch and lets you program in "links" which means many devices respond to a single command. Like you can have a "party link." Send it and all lights go to a certain level.
On top of UPB Leviton/HAI has created a standard called HLC. I use HLC and really like it. Basically HLC is a means that was created to make your setup easy and very functional. If you use Leviton UPB switches, the panel can actually program for you, so technically you don't need UPStart but you can use it to make tweaks. The nice part of HLC is the Omni automatically polls switches after they were switched so it tracks their status. Also, even if you don't have Leviton switches you can use HLC, but you have to program them with UPStart. The OMNI can only program Leviton switches.
HLC works really nicely if you buy Leviton Room Controllers and Leviton House Controllers. These devices track all the lights in a room and/or house and they give you a high-end feel. You can even get the buttons engraved which is nice but adds cost.
UPB is nothing like X-10 very reliable and it can do a whole lot even without a controller. Any switch can control any other switch. its very cool.
drvnbysound
Senior Member
ano,
I was watching a webinar yesterday that showed there is a box to check in UPStart to have each device (e.g. dimmer) send the status if it was used locally. If you check this on all devices, is that really any different than what you mentioned regarding HLC ("The nice part of HLC is the Omni automatically polls switches after they were switched so it tracks their status.")?
I was watching a webinar yesterday that showed there is a box to check in UPStart to have each device (e.g. dimmer) send the status if it was used locally. If you check this on all devices, is that really any different than what you mentioned regarding HLC ("The nice part of HLC is the Omni automatically polls switches after they were switched so it tracks their status.")?
Good question. Yes its true when you switch a light it can send its status, and it works, but there is a problem. If you switch several switches at once, sometimes the reply signals get lost. That is problem #1.drvnbysound said:
But there is a bigger problem. Many people use UPB links which can switch many lights all at once, and switches DO NOT transmit their status when changed with a link. If the switches did transmit, you may have 10 or 20 switches all transmitting at once and it would not work.
Leviton has created a great solution with HLC. What you do is segment your switches by room, with up to 8 per room. (You can use two if you have lots of lights in a room.) Then you use the Leviton ROOM controller to send links to the lights in a room. Each room has 4 links assigned plus all on and all off. For example in my kitchen I have "Normal" "Cooking" "Dining" and "Party." I activate each link and it sets up to 8 lights to the correct dim levels. Then the panel waits a few seconds, then polls each switch in the room.
Instead of sending the status when a switch is switched, the Omni does it a different way. All switches are programmed to send a certain link when switched on or off. When the Omni sees that link, it knows which switch set it (its coded in the link packet) and the Omni polls that switch. So status is not immediate, but it usually is correct within 10 or 15 seconds. The Omni has a way to poll many switches fast so it doesn't take that long.
Leviton also has a HOUSE controller. These have one button per room, and you can control the whole room with one button.
In any case, If you have an Omni, HLC is really something to consider. It works really well if your willing to take the time to learn how to set it up. If you search, Worthington has a presentation on HLC. Its worth downloading.
