wall scene controllers: makes/models - good, bad or ugly experience -

[AutoFrank 372]

Hi All

 

There have been a number of threads going back a while on scene controllers/masters. These are mainly wireless zwave devices such as the latest Remotec ZRC90,  GE 45631 Zwave controller keypad or the cooper aspire keypad, anything that is available with the europe frequency. (excluding remotes lime the octan nodon, minimote, philio button and swipe for now)

 

The post is an invitation for people to share their experience (good, bad and downright ugly) with these types of devices. hopefully we can get to a list of devices like we have IP cameras and other HA devices.

 

Now - who wants to go first

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Thanks

-Frank

 

 

 

 

[matt1981 37]

Just now, lennypenny said:

Hi @matt1981

 

When you edit your VD, look up in the address area, it quotes an ID there.........but how to use it in HA I really have no clue as I have not had the need for it yet.

My one VD when I edit is for example - http://192.168.171.15/fibaro/en/devices/virtual_edit.html?id=283     .    Why do you not try the syntax you use for scenes but use the device id.  Worth trying I guess

Have you asked @morpheus75 yet?  He is also most helpful when you ask him

ah, didnt think of looking there.. ive read most of his posts on the HA and of course his pdf's, that he posted have surely helped me.  ill ask him what he knows about using VD's in the HA.  

 

again, thank you for the help, much appreciated! 

[lennypenny 4]

Just now, matt1981 said:

ah, didnt think of looking there..

@matt1981,   Sometimes I feel like I walk in the dark and purely by change I stumble upon something worthwhile.  Of course the brilliant help around here helps too.  I am just not a technical type of person so I need quite exact instructions and I learn best by seeing examples

[morpheus75 77]

@lennypenny @matt1981

hello

the only way so far i have managed to run VD through HA Bridge is to create a scene and then use the scene trigger within HA Bridge.

 

eg

VD ID is 17

the button i want to press is '2'

 

fibaro:call(17,'pressButton','2')

 

once done then just start this scene. i know its a little bit more long winded but it works until i can find a more direct solution.

cheers

[lennypenny 4]

1 hour ago, morpheus75 said:

fibaro:call(17,'pressButton','2')

HI @morpheus75,

 

Thanks for your reply.  Can I bee cheeky and ask you for the full LUA code for your example VD ID 17 with button 2.  I am going to enjoy trying your solution out when my new iTach stuff finally arrives.  Then I can just ask Alexa to turn on my whole Caboodle (TV/Lights/DUNE Box or KODI Box) etc

 

In fact as I was writing this the tichy little iTach Arrived so I have a mission this afternoon

[morpheus75 77]

@lennypenny

 

hi

i have just done a bit of searching and now i have the api for direct control of the VD using the api instead of the long winded method of creating scenes..

 

http://username%40email.com:password@ipaddress/api/callAction?deviceID=ID&name=pressButton&arg1=(button number)

 

i have just tested this and it works.

 

substitue the usual values for username and password and ip address etc

same applies to the device ID.

 

for button number use the normal method of working out which button you want to press and substitute that value.

 

See my VD i have

i will try and explain how to work out the value to use for pressButton

Each element has a value starting at 1.

in my scenario my VD is structured as follows:

LABEL

4 BUTTONS

LABEL

4 BUTTONS

1 BUTTON

 

so my LABEL is '1' 

4 buttons are '2', '3', '4' and '5'

and so forth.

 

so if i wanted to press the 'BEDROOM' button i would code is like:

 

fibaro:call(ID,'pressButton','9') 

this would be in a scene and the api would be:

 

http://username%40email.com:password@ipaddress/api/callAction?deviceID=ID&name=pressButton&arg1=9

 

hope this was clear-ish

any issues feel free to ask again...

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited May 10, 2017 by morpheus75
update imapge

[matt1981 37]

@morpheus75 perfect! This is exactly what I've been looking for! 

 

Thanks!

 

Matt

 

[Igy 23]

When you take into consideration the price of these controllers and current price of small android tablets, than its also alternative to use tablet as a controller. You will get also information about consumption, notifications and much more options to be controlled. Not mentioning that it looks cool when you have it on the wall in your house with fibaro interface

[shaunfrost 9]

On 09/05/2017 at 4:02 PM, Dugbi said:

Hi All

I have 2x Remotec ZRC-90 units which are used mainly for emergency lighting and All on and All Off functions. Installed them due to the wife struggling with the whole automation process so I had to simplify. At first they were a complete night mare due to the templates in Homecentre2 not being correct but in recent updates that seems to have been sorted. As far the controller goes they are sturdy and work well. I light the fact that they are removable aswell. Another great product has been the Aeotec 6in1 Sensor unit. I have 14 installed in the house and they operate with no issues. Highly adjustable and look the part. The Homecentre2 template is getting better but it still has issues with fire warnings and transmit times. The lumens sensor is very fidly and doesnt have much of a threshold but its good enough to detect night and day. I would also have to recommend the Remotec IR controller. I have 5 of these units and they are fantastic. I can now controll all my aircons and heaters via the automation system and they work very well. The inbuilt temp sensor is garbage but I use the Aeotec sensors for room temp anyway. To end I would have to say my favorite unit is the Fibaro RGBW. Since I discovered this baby I havnt installed a wall switch. All my lights and power points are controlled by boxes in the roof space that use the RGBW controler to switch relays. This way I can have parallel control over any light, power point and HVAC. I run the units of a dedicated 24vdc supply line powered by solar and a small battery. They can sense Temp and there own power feed so I can get a warning when the solar starts to drop off. I love these little units and have them all over the house. Best thing is for one box you can control 4 different items.

Cheers

@Dugbi

 

This RGBW solution in the roof space seems very intriguing, but I have read it 3 times and I am trying to get my head around it, sounds like something I might like to do.. can you explain to me an example like you are talking to an idiot

 

[AutoFrank 372]

4 hours ago, shaunfrost said:

@Dugbi

 

This RGBW solution in the roof space seems very intriguing, but I have read it 3 times and I am trying to get my head around it, sounds like something I might like to do.. can you explain to me an example like you are talking to an idiot

 

 

@Dugbi

@shaunfrost

 

I was also intrigued by this ....

 

I assume it is something like this ?

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Edit - I updated the image above to remove the inputs

 

 

Edited May 11, 2017 by AutoFrank

[Dugbi 9]

Pretty much that scenario. Though I dont think you can use the input from the switches if you are using the outputs. I purchased some lovely 4x relay banks with din rail mounts from ebay, about $22.00 each and then fed the earth into the relay as the switch. Ill take some photos of the boxes I have built so far.

[AutoFrank 372]

21 minutes ago, Dugbi said:

hough I dont think you can use the input from the switches if you are using the outputs.

 

Thanks @Dugbi

I amended the image above to remove the inputs until somebody verifies that it's possible 

[petergebruers 1,268]

2 hours ago, Dugbi said:

Pretty much that scenario. Though I dont think you can use the input from the switches if you are using the outputs. I purchased some lovely 4x relay banks with din rail mounts from ebay, about $22.00 each and then fed the earth into the relay as the switch. Ill take some photos of the boxes I have built so far.

 

It's a bit complicated, due to the different modes of operation the RGBW. A quick summary. If the mode is RGB/RGBW then the 4 inputs control the 4 output like dimmers. The GUI displays a colour wheel. If you set it to input/output mode, you have 4 independent channels. Each channel can be set to "input" (it measures voltage, 0-10 V) or output (acting like a dimmer). It is indeed impossible to have 4 independent inputs and 4 independent outputs at the same time, although you'll find 8 terminals on the device. For more background, please have a look at Parameter 14. Inputs / Outputs configuration.  It says "relevant for main controllers other than Home Center 2 only" because an HC automatically sets this parameter to a sane value, based on the mode (RGBW, input, output).  But it's interesting to see how these 4 channels can be configured.

[Dugbi 9]

A few interesting things I found out about the unit

1. The outputs are power variable meaning that you can use them to control Lights but but only light of the same voltage as the units power feed.

2. Unfortunatley the power value is for all individual outputs meaning that they are all either on/off or variable. You cant set the individual output channels individually.

3. You can also use the units earth feed into a Input to measure the feed voltage or run the earth through a relay contact to use it as a sensor or switch. One advantage of this is that I use simple reed switches as water sensors and simply feed the earth across the contacts. If water closes the contacts you register 0 volts at the GUI other wise it shows 24vdc. Also I use these on my solar battery system were the RGBW runs of the solar feed and when the voltage drops to a certain level it isolates the solar feed and switches to a mains charger unit for the batteries, The beauty being one RGBW unit does both functions.

Example I have a LED TV mounted on the wall in timber frame displaying all my families photos it also has a Apple TV gen4 running to display and play music and multimedia. Around the outside hidden under the lip is a 24vdc RGBW LED strip. I use 1x output to switch a relay which controls the 240AC feed to the display and Apple TV and the 3 other outputs to turn on the Red Green and Blue LED's. I have scenes that turn the LED's on with a delay between each color that gives a rainbow type of effect. The LEDs work as a night light in the living area aswell as coming on at 7:00pm indicating that its time for my kids to get showered. The RED LEDS are aslo set to come on and off if the Intruder alarm is activated and the Blue LEDS flash on and off indicating a water leak in the house. I have installed a 24vdc solar system with backup batteries that feeds the circuit, the wireing is all in the roof space and is separate to the house feed. If there is a power outage or fault the automation system is not effected. Im in the process of making LED night lights that come on as people move through the house. I have also run a feed to my UPS system and removed the batteries. This allows my QNAP servers, Voip Router, ADSL Router, Network Switch, Wireless Router and Homecentre2 to run for 14 days without power. Once you go down the 24vdc path there is very little limitation to what you can do, and the best thing is it's way cheaper than fitting a individual unit in each power point.

Oh I should mention the best thing about running with RGBW and switching relays. I supply a feed to lights external to the wall switch. Let me explain, the wall switch sends 240vac to the light, the light already has a earth so it turns on. You turn the switch off the light goes off. The RGBW detects someone in the hallway so it sends a 240VAC feed (Via Relay) to the light. The light turns on. The person leaves the sensing range and the RGBW turns the light off. It the RGBW fails it doesnt matter as the wall switch still works regardless. This has worked so well in my house that no one even touches the wall switches any more as the system switches the lights on or off (I get a laugh every now then when I have visitors and they think my house is haunted because they reach for the wall switch and the lights turn on before they get there. I have my mother in law convinced that I have a computer system in the house that reads her mind and does things before she thinks it.) Any way the great thing about this is when your in wall switch units fail you cant turn your lights on at all (yes it happens, I have had 2x Fibaro dual relay unit weld the contacts open).

[kroeatschge 29]

I'm using a ZME_WALLC-S for different scenes.

So far im not happy with it. It takes way to long from pressing a button until something happens.

The quality of the device is not good. It feels like a cheap childrean toy right out of a kinder surprise egg.

WAF = zero.

 

Usually I have to press multiple times to wake it up somehow and get the scenes running. Of course then they run multiple times. Sometimes it just doesn't do anything.

After the first scene ran it works quite fast, but of course that's not usuable, as it sits in a drawer and waits for someone to use it in sleep mode.

I'm faster walking down 2 stairs and switching on the light by hand

For me this is not acceptable and I'm looking for a reliably alternative.

 

[jm3dina 0]

i have 3 of aspire cooper scene controles RFWC5 and i did make work 2 of them with 4.120 after update i can't make it work.

 

Works fine when you can add it.

 

 

 

[AutoFrank 372]

2 minutes ago, jm3dina said:

i have 3 of aspire cooper scene controles RFWC5 and i did make work 2 of them with 4.120 after update i can't make it work.

 

Works fine when you can add it.

 

 

 

 

Hi @jm3dina

How did you get them to work 

Are they zwave or rf ?

[jm3dina 0]

Fibaro support send me a LUA to configure the device after that you need make a LUA scene. But actually doesnt work with HC2 4.140

[AutoFrank 372]

3 hours ago, jm3dina said:

Fibaro support send me a LUA to configure the device after that you need make a LUA scene. But actually doesnt work with HC2 4.140

 

thanks @jm3dina

Could you post the lua code here and where you purchased the device or PM me the info

 

_af

[jm3dina 0]

ill find the LUA but as i said. Doesn't work any more! @AutoFrank

 

I have a year trying make work the Aspire Scene Controller (Zwave certified device) but the Fibaro Support is poor! They said me that i will wait for a update and i have received 3 updates and still not working.

 

The support from manufacturer is not the best for a Premium Device. if you call them you can die before they hangup. My experience with fibaro you are alone in the world saving this forum!