Souring on zWave

[Herdfan]

That is about as good a reference as you can get. Good find.

That manual will tell you everything thing you need to know about how many dimmers can be on a bus and what type of topology to the features of the processor.

One thing to note is that a 4 Series can not use RPM's, but can use WPM's.

If I were doing a new system in a new construction, I would use an 8 Series Processor (about an $1800 upgrade from a 4) and use RPM's solely for outdoor lighting and bath fans or other large wattage load. Everything else would be Maestro dimmers. I would have a keypad at every entrance and one in the MBR and at the top of the basement stairs.

One nice thing about upgrading to HW from RadioRA is that the dimmers can be controllers. For example there is a Maestro dimmer at the entrance of the MBR which controls the can lights. But if you are leaving the room, turn off the cans also turns off all lights in the MBR. So it turns on the cans, but can turn off all the lights so all you have to do is hit one switch as you walk out.

And all the closets (and my daughter's room) turn off after 20 minutes (1 hour in the case of my daughter's room) so lights don't get left on. A double tap removes the timer feature.

 

[IVB]

cool, thanks for the info. Hopefully my distaste for zWave is tempered enough by my recent learnings about undiagnosed device failures that I can hold off rushing blithely into RadioRA, and rather plan out a decent HW install.

 

[Neurorad]

Every time I repaint a room, over the next 10 years, I'll be upgrading the switches. Either ALC, or Homeworks.

Thanks again, Herdfan.

 

[IVB]

Interesting findings on my zWave issues, looks like dead devices that I didn't know about were the issue. As mentioned in another thread, 7 of my 22 devices weren't discoverable by the leviton remote (ie, zwave communication wasn't working).

1) Upon further research, they weren't "exclude-able"/"include-able" with my Intermatic remote. Sure would be nice if I had some way of telling with the Intermatic stuff which pieces were dead and which weren't.

One good thing: I emailed Intermatic support to tell them about my 7 dead switches. All they needed me to do was to fax a letter and the order receipt to them (easy since automatedoutlet keeps that order history). I sent it in, and 2 weeks later with no muss or fuss my 7 new HA06 switches just showed up.

I'm massively hungover from too much tequila last night after our company offsite, but some day soon i'll replace the switches. That'll be nice.

 

[AutomatedOutlet]

Yes, at least Intermatic has a nice warranty. I think it's 6 years.

 

[forgets]

in case you ever sour on the switches again, i'd say consider radioRA again. It's really easy to program actually, the whole manual is only about 20 pages. As far as prices, i've been patient and started snagging my system piecemeal off ebay now for about 6 months.. switches can be routinely bought for $60 or so used, and new for around $80.. just be careful, cause every now and then a frequency 'b' switch will show up, and those aren't compatible.

i got the basic part of my system which was 4 switches the repeater and a master control for $150, guess not many people were keeping tabs on that auction.. but even if you wanted to buy the starter set they can be had on Buy It Now's for around $800.. All in all i've invested around $600 in my system now and i've got 12 switches, 4 master controls, 3 10 button in wall master controls, 4 visor controls and the RA-RS232. Of course my system is mostly used pieces (some switches are new) but that's never been a problem for me considering i got some of them for under $10.. of course that only happens once in a blue moon.

I'll re-iterate as others have said, it's been rock solid, and hasn't missed a command once.. one thing that's not mentioned much is if you're turning on and off lights quickly there is a slight delay since it has to confirm commands were excecuted.. and of course you already know about it not reporting dim level, which was a moot point for me.

 

[IVB]

in case you ever sour on the switches again, i'd say consider radioRA again.

Oh, I still think zWave sucks ass. it's just that i'm only willing to spend ass-sucking levels of $$ for automated lighting. The interoperability between vendors is pitiful, the fact that some vendors (ie, Elk) claim 2way zWave integration when in reality it's just Leviton RZCOP and that too only with Leviton switches is a freakin joke.

I've every intention of throwing out all my zWave and moving to HomeWorks hardwired at my first opportunity, which currently is 12 months out in the form of a remodel. I need to conserve cash as i'll need to 'prime the pump' for it before filing for the home-remodel loan. The whole zWave investment is sunk cost, other than perhaps a few hundred here/there.