Anyone Have Experience With Wayne Dalton ZWave Enabled Garage Openers?

[Trick414]

****Cross-posted from AVSForum.com****


Heyas!

I recently installed two Wayne Dalton Series 9600 insulated doors, and two WD Zwave enabled iDrive openers. Overall I am really happy with the doors and openers, so much better than the contractor grade doors I had. The openers are super quiet and clean up the garage ceiling.

Anyway, I'm trying to get the lighting set up. The ZWave openers do not come with the lighting accessory, although you can buy it separately. I'd rather tie into the garage lighting anyway, as I installed four in-ceiling flourescent fixtures that out perform some crappy overhead bulb.

Per the instructions I purchased a ZWave in-wall switch (HA18C). I also purchased the ThinkEssentials software and ThinkStick rather than a remote to learn the scenes.

The TE software quickly recognized the switch, but would not recognize the iDrive opener itself. It "sees" the opener, but it is an unknown device.

I've been doing a few months of research on HA, and will slowly start building up my solution. Fortunately, my home came with a security system with hard-wired door and window sensors, so that should be a big help. I've been messing with Windows Home Server and CQC as well.

As far as ThinkEssentials and the iDrive opener, I posted on the ControlThink forums, but haven't had a response yet.

So, here is my question (finally):

Is there any software out there that recognizes the Zwave opener?

Thanks!

Trick414

 

[DavidL]

****Cross-posted from AVSForum.com****


Heyas!

I recently installed two Wayne Dalton Series 9600 insulated doors, and two WD Zwave enabled iDrive openers. Overall I am really happy with the doors and openers, so much better than the contractor grade doors I had. The openers are super quiet and clean up the garage ceiling.

Anyway, I'm trying to get the lighting set up. The ZWave openers do not come with the lighting accessory, although you can buy it separately. I'd rather tie into the garage lighting anyway, as I installed four in-ceiling flourescent fixtures that out perform some crappy overhead bulb.

Per the instructions I purchased a ZWave in-wall switch (HA18C). I also purchased the ThinkEssentials software and ThinkStick rather than a remote to learn the scenes.

The TE software quickly recognized the switch, but would not recognize the iDrive opener itself. It "sees" the opener, but it is an unknown device.

I've been doing a few months of research on HA, and will slowly start building up my solution. Fortunately, my home came with a security system with hard-wired door and window sensors, so that should be a big help. I've been messing with Windows Home Server and CQC as well.

As far as ThinkEssentials and the iDrive opener, I posted on the ControlThink forums, but haven't had a response yet.

So, here is my question (finally):

Is there any software out there that recognizes the Zwave opener?

Thanks!

Trick414

I do remember seeing Chris (ControlThink's founder) at the Wayne Dalton booth years ago. They seemed to be cozy, so I would think that CT does support the openers. If you can get a listing of the commands for it, I can look into supporting it via Tallus's TZWave application. I have a note out to Chris, but haven't gotten a response since he left CT.

 

[Trick414]

Thanks, I have an email into Wayne Dalton to see what info they can provide.

I think this is a great piece of hardware (the openers) that should be integrated into all the popular HA solutions out there. I did a bunch of research, and although the early versions were problematic, the latest info I have is the 2008 version (along with the newest door version) works well.

I realize that you can work around this by adding sensors to the doors, but having integrated system status right in the opener is a big deal, I think.

Trick414

 

[electron]

offtopic: Did you install the doors in 2009? Looks like they have a tax credit now for installing insulated garage doors.

 

[Trick414]

offtopic: Did you install the doors in 2009? Looks like they have a tax credit now for installing insulated garage doors.

They were installed in January 2009, so I am definitely planning on the tax credit. 30% off is nothing to sneeze at, and the "weatherization" portion of the "Stimulus Bill" is one thing I can really support. I'm also insulating the garage ceiling/attic floor as well as the one outside wall (in-wall foam) of the garage that the builder didn't insulate. I get to take a nice tax break, reduce my energy costs, and finally condition my garage.

Granted, here in Texas I won't try to make the garage the same temperature as in the house, but if I can just take the edge off it will be worth it. My garage used to get up to 120 degrees inside in the summer. I'll be glad with 90. I consulted with my AC guy and we are going to run an 8" duct and vent to the garage off the existing system.

Again, the doors are really nice and quiet. We had a few "cold" days (by Texas standards) and I could tell that the doors were really doing a good job.

 

[Trick414]

I got a reply back from Wayne Dalton about this question.

They took a pass on answering the question, but at least they are aware of the issue:



**CS** The needs you have expressed are common and we are working on
many new products to address them right now, unfortunately, we cannot
discuss them as they are still in development. You may wish to check
the Zwave alliance web site:
http://www.z-wavealliance.org/modules/iaCM-ProReg-II/ for information on
other vendors. Leviton does offer a device to connect to HAI and other
systems. In addition, we will be announcing several new products for
the DIY and professional installer so please check back often for new
product announcements. **CS**

Best Regards,
Customer Service

 

[drozwood90]

Maybe I'm not understanding because I don't use Z-wave, and I'm not familiar with the product itself...

But why not just install a cheaper (again I'm assuming because it's Z-wave enabled, it is more $$ then a "normal" unit) unit, then parallel a Universal Relay type "thing" to the button that is generally hardwired to the wall near the man door to the house?

I'm not saying getting something like this is bad...but what does this unit tell you? Can you poll it for it's open / closed status? Are there other advantages that I'm not understanding?

Thanks!

--Dan

 

[twilo123]

this is going back a bit but i have used the wayne dalton z-wave garage conversion kit which is essentially the same thing. i have a nice long review on accessha as well as the hawking forum but the forums are gone now. i did a search from my old posts and here are some of them below. i did wind up getting the package as you see from the 2nd quote. i wanted to test it out and see how it plays with the network. i actually had it associated to other lighting controls if i remember correctly, not just from a remote and the keyfob. i think i associated a scene with a switch and a basement screw in module. i was and am still very annoyed that it doesn't actually control/monitor the door. i think this very misleading on the manufacturer's part but that is just my opinion.

http://zwaveworld.com/forum/index.php?act=...p;f=2&t=182
"i went and ordered the wayne-dalton z-wave garage door opener but after reading an article regarding remote access i have decided to return it. as you can see from the email from their support below, while the product is z-wave compatible, it is only legally allowed to work internally within your base network. in other words, it is currently against the law for the opener to be accessed and controlled remotely through an internet gateway or cellular device. if all you want it for is to work internally on your z-wave network it can function like a garage door opener (which i already have so why do i need the conversion kit for that) or they suggest using it as a scene device to operate your garage door and some lights at the same time. my response to that is that i can just have a motion sensor activate a scene when i open my garage door with my regular ir remote and get the same result. anyways, they hope that regulation will change sometime in august or september of this year. looking forward to the change. until, then i will have to pass. good product but wrong timing for now.


quote:

The Garage Door Opener Conversion module, WDRR-372R, and 3 button transmitter keyfob, 3150R, are not Z-Wave devices but are simply a means to operate any garage door opener using the standard Wayne-Dalton garage door opener frequency. The Wireless Gateway, WDHA-12R, is the bridge device between the 3150R and Z-Wave. When a button on the keyfob (or Homelink or
Car2U) is depressed, it sends a signal out that is picked up by both the WDRR-372R and WDHA-12R simultaneously, one operating the door and the other operating Z-Wave.

Due to current United States government Federal law, we cannot provide you a means to operate your garage door remotely through your phone, internet, PC or the like. The regulation covered under the law is currently being reviewed to allow this, however, to date it is still in a review committee.

To address the issue raised about the instructions, we are working on a set of instructions to show more clearly how all three units, keyfob, conversion module and gateway, work together. It will be released on the web sometime in July or August.


Best Regards,
Customer Service "


http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9739525-1.html
"8. the wayne dalton garage door opener does not add into the gateway. it is not a module but a secondary controller. you will NOT be able to control the garage door opener outside of the remote control. this works for typically 100 feet +. the unit has an IR piece to control the garage door and it's own controller to setup modules/scenes on. you can add it as a secondary controller on your network however it will take the 1st 3 scenes from the master remote automatically, otherwise just copy the modules over and manually program your scenes into the wayne dalton controller. the kit was very easy to install. i will give them a big + for this."