Relay switch and dimmer modules

[damo78 0]

I'm having an enormous amount of trouble trying to figure out how to connect the following:

- 2 x Relay Switch (2 x1, 5kw)

- 2 x Dimmer

In my living room I have a 2-zone dimmer light switch. Before I fitted the fibaro modules they worked perfectly, each switching on and dimming the correct lighting zone. After lots of researching and on advice from the electrician installing (because the fibaro documentation is dreadful) I have had 2 fibaro dimmers installed behind my dimmer control, one I believe is fed from the other to allow the 2 zone control.

After much messing around I have finally got one zone to work from the HC2. It doesn't seem to recognise the second fibaro dimmer module. And neither of the dimmer controls on the physical switch work now. I have changed the module that does show up to bistable but I can't seem to get the other module to be found.

Of the two relay switches, when I initially set them up I think they both appeared, and they appeared in a strange master-slave set up even though they are in completely different rooms. I have one working properly, but the other seems not to be working at all and now the socket itself will not power up. I've tried to remove the devices but as soon as I go back to the 'Your House' in the admin of HC2 it reappears.

By the way, the documentation is so poor that it has helped neither of the two electrician's I've discussed this with. So god knows how I'm supposed to figure this out.

[Guest Kuuno]

hei

please draw a small schematic for better understanding and ill tell you how to set up

regards

Kuuno

[damo78 0]

I hope this image is okay. My electrician drew it and he explained it and it seemed to make sense to me.

At the moment the 2-gang dimmer switch left control switches on and off the zone 1 lighting. It doesn't dim them. However, through the HC2 admin control I can see the dimmer module and am able to control the dimming via that.

In the HC2 admin control I only have 1 dimmer module showing, as mentioned above, so I cannot see the other module to control the 2nd switch control. The 2nd switch control seems to randomly switch on/off, dim etc the zone 2 lights but I have no idea how to control them. I would expect the 2nd dimmer module to be seen in the HC2 admin console. Is that correct?

Also is it correct that I needed 2 dimmer module for one 2-gang dimmer control, as per the diagram?

Thankfully I've managed to get my relay switches in the sockets working. I just need to figure out how to get the dimmers working. Your help is much appreciated.

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[Guest Kuuno]

if i understand correctly then you are trying to dim the fibaro dimmer? you should use bistable or spring switches (ones that you push and they come back) to control the on off or dimming for fibaro module

i will doublecheck about your setup just in case...

Kuuno

[damo78 0]

Thanks Kuuno. Yes my switches are bistable dimmers. Push in to switch on/off, and turn to dim.

Thanks for your help

[Guest Kuuno]

Thanks Kuuno. Yes my switches are bistable dimmers. Push in to switch on/off, and turn to dim.

Thanks for your help

ok im pretty sure thats where the problem is. Best way is to buy switches with springs pushing them back so:

push once - light goes on/off

hold - light dimms

you should get the same result when turning switches to max level. then pushing turns on off and holding button down dimms them

[damo78 0]

Thanks Kuuno but I'm positive that I should not be going out a buying another set of dimmers (Old ones didn't work either) to work around the Fibaro; simple to install, none invasive etc, etc.

Btw, when Fibaro say non-invasive does that include not having to dig out larger socket holes to hold two dimmer modules (not advertised!) instead of one for a simple 2-gang dimmer? It would have been cheaper and easier just to buy a dimmer switch with built in z-wave, and then kept the old dimmer switch to replace it if I move. I'm failing now to see the benefit of these at all.

I've had nothing but problems getting this set up and if I'd have known I was buying a total beta product then I wouldn't have invested so much money in it.

Your solution is only part of the main problem too which I do appreciate your taking the time to reply, but the main problem I have is that I only see one dimmer module in my HC2 admin console when there should be two.

I'll work on the disgracefully poor Fibaro documentation around parameters later (if there is any). I just need to get the thing in my console so I can at least look at some parameters.

[Guest Kuuno]

z-wave technology by design i think does not recommend installing 2 device very close (30cm min if i remeber correclty) so i think you cant but 2 dimmer modules inside one box!

as in other topic you mentioned deleting modules. by going to delete mode and pressing btn1 on dimmer module for 3 times should remove it.

when you try to add the second module that does not show up, what happens in the adding wizard? 30s just runs down?

[Guest Futuretech]

Btw, when Fibaro say non-invasive does......

I agree, it is not so non-invasive (less then 3 minutes to install) as Fibar claims.

Pulling a new wire to the switch, putting it in the small socket with those horrible cables it is rather a 30 mins installation.

I'll work on the disgracefully poor Fibaro documentation (if there is any).

It is a disgrace indeed!

[damo78 0]

Thanks again for your continued support Kuuno

I've searched high and low for advice on how to use a fibaro dimmer module with a 2-gang dimmer switch, and the getsatisfaction.com/vesternet forums, and my electrician seemed to suggest I would need to install 2 dimmer modules to enable independent control of each switch, which I find bizarre in itself at £48 each.

So if I HAVE TO have 2 fibaro dimmer modules for one 2-gang dimmer switch, then they're going to need to be fairly close to each other methinks!!

I hope proximity isn't an issue because that means the fibaro dimmer modules are a complete waste of money for anything other than a single dimmer switch. Most houses I've ever lived in have at least 2.

With regards the deletion, I haven't tried the method you've mentioned. It's not very convenient trying to resolve this so I'll have to try it in the next few days.

Fingers crossed a Fibaro Employee takes the time to read their own forum in the next few days/weeks to shed some light on.... well everything really.

Thanks again Kuuno

[Guest KubaW]

I tried to understand what you're trying to accomplish but failed. Integrating 2x1,5 kW with dimmer? Dimming fibaro dimmers with other dimmers?

Fibaro dimmer has only one output. Your electrician is right - you need two of them if you want to control two separate lights. You can fit two dimmers into the 60mm socket with ease - we did that and it works.

[Guest Kuuno]

as per the drawing you have 2 dimmer modules there and that is the correct way to dim 2 lights (1dimmer per light you want to dim)

now for the switches this is not fibaro problem. Im pretty sure with any other module you cant use 2 similar devices in row - in your case 2 dimmers

the same result would be if you installed 2 dimmer switches in a row

i think the only way for you to use current setup is NOT to dim by turning your dimmer but holding down the button

but then you still have the problem of mounting second dimmer module so close

i solved that by mounting 1 dimemr in switch box and second one by the lamp

works good!

[HansW 1]

Same here, I'm not sure if I understand the setup. You can and should only connect bi-stable or toggle (best) switches to the fibaro module s-inputs. To me it reads the 2-gang dimmers are actually dimmers.. That is never going to work as far as I can advise you.

cheers,

Hans