RZC0P Secondary GE 45601 Primary

[xlurkr]

I bought a bunch of GE Z-Wave goodies during the recent RS sale. Starting small, I am able to control a dimmer module with the remote. I also have a RZC0P module that I plan to use either with my Omni IIe panel or an IES touchscreen I also recently acquired. The instructions for the RZC0P are written for the Leviton handheld controller, so I'm trying to translate them for the GE remote. It looks like it's supposed to be a 2-step process: enroll the RZC0P in the network, then copy the network to it as a secondary controller.

I can't seem to get the RZC0P enrolled in the network. I think I'm supposed to use the remote's menu path setup...light setup...add...to network, but it always returns "fail". I am holding the RCZ0P button down until it flashes yellow like I'm supposed to.

Has anyone had success in getting these two to work together?

-Tom

 

[ddennerline]

I cannot speak to older RZC0P only newer VRC0P. You will need to hold the button on VRC0P for five seconds until it blinks amber/yellow color. You can then use primary controller to "include" secondary controller. A secondary controller is different than "light" because the primary controller must synchronize the routing table. If you attempt to include VRC0P the same way as a light switch it will fail to include.

If the VRC0P does *not* stop blinking yellow, then GE controller cannot communicate with VRC0P. If VRC0P stops blinking, but controller complains, then inclusion process failed.

The Leviton and GE products are listed as “certified” (http://www.z-wave.com/modules/Products/?id=37&chk=36f4cf3f7ab54e6d8af23e0bcde973bf). I am curious what kinds of tests are run. There seems to be quite a few posts about Z-Wave cross-vendor integration problems.

 

[walken100]

I cannot speak to older RZC0P only newer VRC0P. You will need to hold the button on VRC0P for five seconds until it blinks amber/yellow color. You can then use primary controller to "include" secondary controller. A secondary controller is different than "light" because the primary controller must synchronize the routing table. If you attempt to include VRC0P the same way as a light switch it will fail to include.

This is a timely conversation. I'm in the middle of trying to do this now. I don't think I'm following you. I can't figure out how to "include" a secondary controller. Could you clarify a little.

Also I read that you can transfer primary controller function to a different controller from the GE remote. Not sure if this is a better or worse option. Thoughts?

 

[Odeen]

This is a timely conversation. I'm in the middle of trying to do this now. I don't think I'm following you. I can't figure out how to "include" a secondary controller. Could you clarify a little.

Also I read that you can transfer primary controller function to a different controller from the GE remote. Not sure if this is a better or worse option. Thoughts?

I don't have a 45601 in front of me, but I WAS able to use it in the past to enroll a VRC0P.

(Historical note: RZC0P and VRC0P are identical save for the label. VRC0P was released with the Vizia RF+ equipment, but does not support Zwave 40K/sec transfer speed).

Note 2: The "Primary" controller is the ONLY device that can add and remove Z-Wave nodes. Thus, it's recommended that your Primary is a battery-powered remote, or a USB stick on a laptop. The RZC0P should not be a primary.

In order to enroll the VRC0P, you have to use the TRANSFER function on the 45601.
Quoting the manual:

To send information to a secondary remote:
Place the two remotes near each other.
Press and hold SETUP on the primary 45601 Advanced remote until the display reads LGHT SETUP.
Use either Arrow key to scroll until the display reads TRANSFER.
Press OK and the screen will display PRIMARY.
Use either arrow key to scroll until the display reads SECONDARY.
Press OK and the Screen will display ALL.
a. To send network and device information to the new remote, proceed to Step 7.
b. To send only network information to the new remote, use either arrow key to scroll to NTWK ONLY and proceed to Step 7.
7. Refer to the user manual for the secondary remote for
programming information. Put the target (secondary) remote into programming mode so that it receives information from the primary remote. See the following section on “Copying Information to this Remote” if the target remote is a 45601 remote.
8. Press the OK key and the screen will display SENDING.
9. When screen displays SUCCESS you have successfully transferred the information.

Since the RZC0P / VRC0P does not store "device" information (i.e. associations of nodes with 45601 buttons), you may need to do a NTWK ONLY transfer. Try it both ways.


Edit:
Yes, cross-vendor compatibility stinks - A lot of cheaper Z-wave gear does not account for functions available on other Z-wave devices. Some devices focus on light control, neglecting other Z-wave functions.

 

[xlurkr]

I finally got it to work.

For those of you who do not own this GE remote, the manual has a section of terms in it, and they state that "light" and "node" are synonymous. So, to add a node, you add a light. Unless it's a thermostat. But I digress...

The second thing that threw me is that when you add the RZC0P, it says "fail", but it doesn't fail. I should have realized that the first 10 times i tried it, because the blinking amber light does a funny dance for a while, then goes back to its standard blinking frequency. It was clearly doing something, but silly me, I trusted the remote.

So the technique goes something like this:

Follow the procedure to add a light to the network (no button.) Before hitting the final OK, hold down the button on the Leviton interface until it blinks amber. Then hit OK on the remote.

Wait for the remote to return "fail", and for the Leviton's light to return to blinking green.

Follow a similar procedure to transfer the remote to a secondary, network only, making sure you do the amber light thing again. This should return "success."

I did this, and I have been controlling my lone dimmer module with commands I type in a terminal window. For example, >N2ON turns the lamp on. I guess maybe the remote is node 1. Still learning.

-Tom

 

[walken100]

I finally got it to work.

For those of you who do not own this GE remote, the manual has a section of terms in it, and they state that "light" and "node" are synonymous. So, to add a node, you add a light. Unless it's a thermostat. But I digress...

You da man. That worked.