upstatemike
Senior Member
I do not think anybody makes an automation switch designed to work with standard mechanical switches in multi-way circuits. What would be the reason for doing that? It can't save any money because a specialized device like that would be very low demand and high cost. Certainly more than the price of 5 $20 Icon switches.alternety said:RE: Virtual 3 way switch. If that is for me I don't think that is what I am trying to do. I need to do this - existing conventional 5 way lighting circuit. Remove one and only one switch and replace it with a controlled switch for UPB or whatever. Everything works as before but now sixth unrelated remote control can participate in the circuit switching by controlling the one electronic switch in the circuit.
This ought to be simple to make with a relay that simply duplicates the innards of a mechanical 4 way switch.
I noted one thing really useful about the UPB switch - it can be programmed not to dim. It appears to use the neutral so if the TRIAC can survive the inductive loads this solves the problem with using fluorescent lights without risking someone trying to dim them. That is very interesting to me.
As for your concern about dimming... the safest thing is to just use relay switches. I think a Triac can still have load type issues even if it is set to act as an on/off switch instead of a dimmer.