[Articles] CEDIA: Z-Wave

[twilo123]

i also saw ASIHome post somewhere else that the leviton zwave vrc0p will support locks and firmware updates when they release the new one. i forgot to ask leviton while i was there. you didn't ask by chance did you? interested in a release date.

 

[ASIHome]

Leviton is waiting on 4.5.2 to be ratified by Zensys (Sigma). Once that is done, the pieces are already in place to get us an updated serial interface.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

I might be dense, but I'm still just not seeing how this will enable and existing switch to become 'z-wave' enabled. Does it go inline with the switch? How would the existing switch 'toggle', 'activate, 'push', etc... this Z-wave device?

 

[WayneW]

The device has 7 connections, so PURE speculation (ie I didn't research):
2 110VAC to the load (hot, neutral)
3 110VAC from the feed (hot, neutral,ground)
2 low voltage to the existing switch (as a dry contact)

so the existing switch is now just a trigger to this module. Any toggle of the switch would cause the load to toggle (like a hardwired 2 way switch, so you can forget that up=on)

or, it could be a trigger like the old cheap X-10 push switches... flip up momentarily to turn on, flip up momentarily to turn off, flip up and hold for dim/bright?

 

[Steve]

I think the existing switch is simply used as a contact closure for the device. But the wiring diagram did confuse me a bit.

 

[twilo123]

i didn't quite understand all of the contacts either but the guy did reference x10 when trying to describe it to me at the booth.

The device has 7 connections, so PURE speculation (ie I didn't research):
2 110VAC to the load (hot, neutral)
3 110VAC from the feed (hot, neutral,ground)
2 low voltage to the existing switch (as a dry contact)

so the existing switch is now just a trigger to this module. Any toggle of the switch would cause the load to toggle (like a hardwired 2 way switch, so you can forget that up=on)

or, it could be a trigger like the old cheap X-10 push switches... flip up momentarily to turn on, flip up momentarily to turn off, flip up and hold for dim/bright?

 

[twilo123]

from some other posts regarding this topic on here it seems that this has been in play for many months now. any idea on when the final ratification might be or better yet an ETA on the the leviton release?
for updating the firmware portion what will the connection type be? just use the rs232 interface or a secondary usb connection or something?
form factor the same still?

Leviton is waiting on 4.5.2 to be ratified by Zensys (Sigma). Once that is done, the pieces are already in place to get us an updated serial interface.

 

[twilo123]

also on the micro switch the cut out button on back is for inclusion and the hole next to it is a led for operational status like the led on leviton serial controller.

 

[twilo123]

assuming your speculation is right could this device be used in other areas such as for example controlling pumps for a pool? i am no electrician by a long shot so please excuse my ignorance here.

The device has 7 connections, so PURE speculation (ie I didn't research):
2 110VAC to the load (hot, neutral)
3 110VAC from the feed (hot, neutral,ground)
2 low voltage to the existing switch (as a dry contact)

so the existing switch is now just a trigger to this module. Any toggle of the switch would cause the load to toggle (like a hardwired 2 way switch, so you can forget that up=on)

or, it could be a trigger like the old cheap X-10 push switches... flip up momentarily to turn on, flip up momentarily to turn off, flip up and hold for dim/bright?

 

[twilo123]

Aeon had an appliance module also which was rather bulky.

 

[twilo123]

here are pics of their TED type zwave device. Monitors energy similar to a TED.

The guy said that this is actually a 2nd revision of the device. the first had problems because the clamps were to small and flimsy so they add the new ones you see in the first pic.

i forget which is for what but it supports 4 double A batteries, a usb port for usb to a/c adapter, and you can see there is a 3rd phase port in pic 3 below. i believe you can use that one to connect directly to a circuit for power (not phase but circuit).

from zwave side he said it subscribes to the multilevel sensor class. it will do historical reporting as well as live current draw ratings. i guess it has a dbase and basic webserver or something for the historical piece although he didn't go into detail about that side other than to say it supports historical.

 

[twilo123]

couple of pics of their door/window sensor also

see how the first pic shows the blue battery on the top left and the sensor protruding on the bottom right. if you noticed the holes for both are exact replicas. this is so that the installer can flip the cover either way so that once they screw on the sensor they don't have to unscrew it and turn it around to match the cover. it will work either way to eliminate this issue.

 

[WSeverino]

Twilo - I have one of the Aeon home energy meters. Unfortunately, the CT clamps in the picture do not fit on the mains so they had to replace them again. They are sending me the new clamps next week. As for the logging functions, I use Micasaverde's energy plugin for the historical data.

 

[twilo123]

really because he said they just replaced old ones for those. maybe those are the new ones you are thinking of?

 

[drozwood90]

Z-Wave enabled Fireplace...? Wow!

Where do I get one of those?!

--Dan