UPB and Apartments

[potts.mike]

I have a zwave setup in our apt. now but its pretty unreliable. I think that all the rf around here is just killing it. 
 
That being said I am looking at moving to UPB for lighting but am wondering what kind of issues I might run into. should I be worried about noise on the powerline, needing phase couplers or other networks interfering?
 
Our place is about 1000 sqft in a building with several hundred units. I would love to hear other peoples experiences with upb in higher density living.
 
-Mike

 

[tmbrown97]

I've read that many apartment buildings are 3-phase - not sure you'd have the access to install the right phase couplers if they turn out to be necessary.  Ube might turn out to be a good option when released; funny I would've likely recommended Z-Wave as a smart place to start in an apartment!

 

[picta]

Centralite JetStream works great in apartments.

 

[potts.mike]

Would one of the phase couplers that plugs in to the 240 outlet that the dryer or stove uses not work?

 

[JonW]

Would one of the phase couplers that plugs in to the 240 outlet that the dryer or stove uses not work?

 
That's exactly what I was thinking.  But, like mentioned above, if it is 3 phase, you could then have that 3rd phase unbridged.

 

[potts.mike]

Short of pulling the panel apart is there a way to tell?

 

[tmbrown97]

There have been some very informative topics about that lately - a search of CT with 3-phase yields a couple:
 #48  
http://cocoontech.com/forums/topic/16863-upb-and-omni-with-multiple-main-panels/
 
they talk about how to identify if you have 3-phase (I like the voltmeter at the dryer outlet trick) and also explain why a standard two-phase couplet won't work, since the two legs are at 120° apart instead of 180° skewing the timing.

 

[potts.mike]

I am going to buy a couple switches and give this a shot. I am going to start with replacing the zwave scene controller and zone controller that aren't working for me. Are the Simply Automated parts below what I need to get started?
 
SA-US240: Base switch, controls the load
SA-UCQT-40: Remote switch
SA-UMC-DB9: Serial interface
SA-ZPCI-P50A: Dryer passthrough phase coupler.
 
Thanks for the advice.

 

[ChrisCicc]

I agree Z-Wave is ordinarily your best option. If you're worried about phases being accessible I wouldn't get UPB, I'd go with dual-band INSTEON instead... 

 

[InspiredTim]

Make sure the ZWave modules are Fibaro branded as they seem to be the most reliable branded ZWave modules out there.

 

[gizzmo]

Is it possible that you may need more zwave devices to improve the network?

 

[potts.mike]

I have 12 vizia rf+ modules in a 1000 sqft apt.

 

[tadr]

I have 12 vizia rf+ modules in a 1000 sqft apt.

Strange.  Leviton stuff is good quality.  What's your controller?

 

[potts.mike]

VRCOP hooked to CQC.I really think that it is just all the rf around the apartment. I am lucky to get 5KB/s on my wifi here....

 

[potts.mike]

I had my cart filled and was about to checkout when I thought I better check the dryer plug. It unfortunately has four prongs in a configuration that doesn't match any of the plug in phase couplers. It looks like I am stuck trying to get the zwave working better.