Aloha! New member here, lots of Zwave questions.

[ShawnHawaii]

Thanks for the help Nick and Steve!
I think I might just call Zwave and hopefully they can tell me whats best to do. I am leaning toward just putting 3 of the dimmer switches in that Steve linked to: http://www.zwaveproducts.com/Vizia-RF-Zwav...mer-Switch.html

and splitting up the wiring that goes into the 3 rocker switch now. That will work fine correct?
I dont think I will need a scene controller if I use Vera since that can make scenes for me anyway correct?

Shawn

Then just hard wiring the switch so that its always on. I dont think it will hurt resale later on as I think most people who use a outlet want it always on all the time anyway, and if they plug in a floor lamp they just use the floor lamp switch. (I think that was the original purpose of wiring the one outlet to a switch was to control lamps and such) Then I can control just one item from the wall outlet and assign it to Vera. (i.e. Living room outlet light

Just realize that this might also be against code. Code dictates that certain rooms must have EITHER a central ceiling fixture or a switched outlet that can be controlled from the entry point(s) of the room so that it is not necessary to walk into a dark room and possibly injure yourself looking for a light.

Your best bet is to contact someone locally to determine if this is the case in your particular situation.

 

[pete_c]

In my current home / historically in the last home all of the bedrooms, living room and dining room were wired such that the wall box contained a separate wire (switch) for the ceiling fan, ceiling light and 1/2 of the wall plates (double rockers). Initially they had fit this wiring in a double gang box with a single wall plate. I changed the wall plates to double switch wall plates. I put a powerline switch in the gang box and a dual switch for the fan/light combo.

If you have conduit you might be able to add more wires if so needed. Typically for my setup all of the outlet wires go thru the ceiling box, down to the switch where as the switch box has the source line, neutral leads in each bedroom. This also makes it easy to "unswitch" the outlets. For the three way switches each of the boxes contain travelers in addition to power. I've pretty much disconnected the travelers and used powerline switches to switch the main sourced power switch without the travelers.

I did have some issues with 3-4 gang boxes fitting in more than two powerline switches (very tight almost overlapping but not fit).

The problem is since the wall switch controls only one outlet which one do I replace for vera to communicate with? The plug or the switch? Or both? Does anyone make a zwave multi-switch for the wall?

In my family room the wall switch controls the cans by the fireplace and I have separate light modules for two table lamps. I use one scene to light all three lamps.

I have a 2 car garage with genie garage door openers on them. What is the best kit to automate them with using the Vera and AutoHTN? Anyone try this and have an item number or link? I dont understand how it would hook up to my genie garage door opener. My searches only turn up Wayne-Dalton remote controls and I have a genie garage door opener.

I left the original wiring in place (vehicles have homeminder switches) and added door sensors and additional switches but have run into problems (safty) automating garage door. (logic used doesn't always work with WAF). The if then scenerio might work one way but there's always a catch-22 such that I would rather not take chances. I do utilize the open / close status of the garage door to drive events (TTS-Email-etc).

 

[ShawnHawaii]

So do you think the best way to do it is to just hire an electrician and have him put in 3 of these in the wall?:
http://www.zwaveproducts.com/Vizia-RF-Zwav...mer-Switch.html

Also anyone have any idea what motorized shade system will work with Vera and Zwave. I found some affordable battery powered Somfy shades but they only work with a IR(infra red) remote I think.

In my current home / historically in the last home all of the bedrooms, living room and dining room were wired such that the wall box contained a separate wire (switch) for the ceiling fan, ceiling light and 1/2 of the wall plates (double rockers). Initially they had fit this wiring in a double gang box with a single wall plate. I changed the wall plates to double switch wall plates. I put a powerline switch in the gang box and a dual switch for the fan/light combo.

If you have conduit you might be able to add more wires if so needed. Typically for my setup all of the outlet wires go thru the ceiling box, down to the switch where as the switch box has the source line, neutral leads in each bedroom. This also makes it easy to "unswitch" the outlets. For the three way switches each of the boxes contain travelers in addition to power. I've pretty much disconnected the travelers and used powerline switches to switch the main sourced power switch without the travelers.

I did have some issues with 3-4 gang boxes fitting in more than two powerline switches (very tight almost overlapping but not fit).

The problem is since the wall switch controls only one outlet which one do I replace for vera to communicate with? The plug or the switch? Or both? Does anyone make a zwave multi-switch for the wall?

In my family room the wall switch controls the cans by the fireplace and I have separate light modules for two table lamps. I use one scene to light all three lamps.

I have a 2 car garage with genie garage door openers on them. What is the best kit to automate them with using the Vera and AutoHTN? Anyone try this and have an item number or link? I dont understand how it would hook up to my genie garage door opener. My searches only turn up Wayne-Dalton remote controls and I have a genie garage door opener.

I left the original wiring in place (vehicles have homeminder switches) and added door sensors and additional switches but have run into problems (safty) automating garage door. (logic used doesn't always work with WAF). The if then scenerio might work one way but there's always a catch-22 such that I would rather not take chances. I do utilize the open / close status of the garage door to drive events (TTS-Email-etc).

 

[pete_c]

So do you think the best way to do it is to just hire an electrician and have him put in 3 of these in the wall?:
http://www.zwaveproducts.com/Vizia-RF-Zwav...mer-Switch.html

I would suggest that if you are not familiar with doing electrical type work then hire an electrician. Putting in the switches can either be relatively easy or difficult depending on the logic used for initial wiring. Personally I prefer wall switches and today have more wall switches in place than light / appliance modules.

As you are just starting the Z-Wave endeavor you might want to go initially with external modules which you can move around to give you a base of what is possible / preferred and some familiarity with setting up the switches / scenes etc. IE: you could put three switches in one box but maybe for now want to just put one wall switch in and use two external modules. This will also help you decide what you want or do not want to control with Z-Wave. The cost/efforts are minimal with external modules .

 

[ShawnHawaii]

Thanks for the suggestion pete. I think I will try the plug ins first then see how I like the Vera and Zwave interface/experience.

So do you think the best way to do it is to just hire an electrician and have him put in 3 of these in the wall?:
http://www.zwaveproducts.com/Vizia-RF-Zwav...mer-Switch.html

I would suggest that if you are not familiar with doing electrical type work then hire an electrician. Putting in the switches can either be relatively easy or difficult depending on the logic used for initial wiring. Personally I prefer wall switches and today have more wall switches in place than light / appliance modules.

As you are just starting the Z-Wave endeavor you might want to go initially with external modules which you can move around to give you a base of what is possible / preferred and some familiarity with setting up the switches / scenes etc. IE: you could put three switches in one box but maybe for now want to just put one wall switch in and use two external modules. This will also help you decide what you want or do not want to control with Z-Wave. The cost/efforts are minimal with external modules .

 

[electron]

I saw some Z-Wave compatible blinds made by WinTop at CEDIA (they are visible in the CEDIA video I posted). I'll be finishing the Z-Wave post today, and include as much info as possible.

 

[Deane Johnson]

ESI makes some Z-Wave modules for controlling blinds and shades. Go to Products and then Z-Wave to see the various availabilities.

http://www.elec-solutions.com/

Motorized blinds have the potential for getting a little expensive. You have to buy the blinds, the motorization and the control system. When you push the total button, it's more than most of us want to spend on a window.

Having something hit the market with it all integrated in the blind would certainly be welcome. I'll be watching for Dan's report on what he saw at Cedia.

EDIT:

I found this link to WinTop on a Z-Wave press release.

http://www.switchdiy.com/index.php

Deane

 

[pete_c]

I like the idea of motorized blinds for the types of blinds between glass (untouchable) more than externally mounted.

Part of that is WAF and the other part is that my cleaning folks (10 years ago) got a bit overzealous cleaning the blinds in the old home and caused some damage in which I had to replace the blinds (think it was 2-300 each set - 2 sets). I had made the assumption that they knew how to clean blinds without being destructive. That memory still lingers for me today. In the current home the last cleaning person four years ago in the current house that told me to clean my blinds I fired for that reason alone and now using same folks for last 4 years.