Zwave/UPB missing hardware

[dgeffs]

I am getting ready to make the leap from x-10 to something else. Trying to figure out what that something else will be is harder than I anticipated. At the moment I am looking at Zwave and UPB and trying to make a decision. After looking around at the different manufacturers I am having trouble locating a couple of items I feel necessary to complete my system.

While I can find a fixture dimmer and relay in the PCS line of products I don't seem to find this in any Zwave product line. Have I overlooked something or are these devices not present for Zwave? In addition I don't find anything like the old x-10 desktop controllers that had 16 buttons where you could control all the devices from a single point. There appear to be some desktop controllers that are simply a wall controller module enclosed in a special box for desktop use. However these only control maybe 4, 6, or 8 devices. I need to control more in a single package.

I'll be using an M1/CQC in the background and I really want the switch to report local contol to CQC so that my screens report actual light level when controlled from either another controller or adjusted at the switch. Any suggestions and comments regarding "gotchas" are appreciated. This will not be an inexpensive conversion and I'd prefer to have as few surprises as possible.

Dale

 

[Steve]

The multibutton controller were designed really as scene controllers, not as a button for each device as in x10. If using CQC as stated you would probably want to create an interface with all of your lights, etc and use that.

UPB switches do not broadcast their status in response to a link. But if the M1 makes a change, or you change something at the local switch both the M1 and CQC will know about it.

 

[Event5]

Dale,

As you transition from X10 to Zwave, UPB or what ever, you may need to adapt your thinking from x10(remote control) to "new tech" scene control. All of the new devices will be controllable from a single desktop controller through scenes. Each device will be able to receive multiple "scene" controls rather than just one house code.
On the other hand (depending on how many devices you are controlling) maybe building up a 4 plex box with 2 (8 button) controllers side by side would take up about the same space on the desk as a Maxi Controller and control up to 16 devices.

Dave

 

[nightwalker]

After i made the switch to UPB it took a bit of re-training myself to stop thinking of things in terms of X10. This is one of those cases where a complete newbie probably grasps things a bit quicker.

 

[dgeffs]

A newbie to x-10 I'm not. I've been using it since BSR introduced the technology back in the mid seventies or whenever it was. I do have a lot of trouble with the scene concept and I've never used them with x-10 even though with the M1 and CQC I could do it easily. Just because I want to watch a movie in my den doesn't mean the lights need to be adjusted the same way every time. Ideally the room goes dark but perhaps my wife wants to read on the other side of the room while I watch somthing. I just think (in my case) individual control is far more flexible than any selection of grouping or scenes.

It looks like the deal breaker here might be the fixture modules. I'm running 5 of these currently and have no way to substitute a switch for them.

 

[hucker]

A newbie to x-10 I'm not. I've been using it since BSR introduced the technology back in the mid seventies or whenever it was. I do have a lot of trouble with the scene concept and I've never used them with x-10 even though with the M1 and CQC I could do it easily. Just because I want to watch a movie in my den doesn't mean the lights need to be adjusted the same way every time. Ideally the room goes dark but perhaps my wife wants to read on the other side of the room while I watch something. I just think (in my case) individual control is far more flexible than any selection of grouping or scenes.

I think you are missing the point on scenes. For example we have lots of exterior lights. We have a switch for each one (by doors for example) but I have scenes setup for the each side of the house (NSEW) and I have a scene for all exterior lights. I have a scene for turning all interior lights off when we go to bed or leave or arm the alarm away. We have a great room in our house with dining room kitchen and den. I have a scene for dinner that turns all the lights off except for the chandelier and the ambient lights in the dining room. The dimming works on this and it is very slick. I have a scene that turns all of the fans in the house off in case of fire.

Scenes are a good thing for me and they are simple to set up with upstart.

 

[Steve]

I've been using it since BSR introduced the technology back in the mid seventies or whenever it was.

Wow, I had no idea he did that