Best option for a Z wave 3 way switch (that sends a status signal from both switches)

TSingy · October 6, 2017, 8:05pm

As a followup the ST app seems to have a checkInterval set to 1920 for devices, which is about 32 minutes, when I look in the logs the device gets pinged or polled which is the only time the status gets updated in the app to properly reflect or get the states back in synch.

kxavier23 · October 31, 2017, 5:01am

How are the GE switches working?

I am only concerned with the master status being reported if a slave switch turns the master on or off.

Could a custom DH be built just for 3 or 4 way use where the hub checks the switch status more frequently? At least you are only checking certain devices, not every device at a small interval.

Lumute · December 12, 2017, 5:18pm

I recently bought a bunch of Leviton Decora Z-Wave Plus switches, dimmers and matching remotes and really liked them but I am equally amazed to find that using the remotes don’t trigger an status update… What a huge oversight!? what the heck were they thinking?

I spoke with Leviton support today about a dimmer that refuses to join my z-wave network and asked him about this, he intermediately knew what I was talking about and said that he heard there was an update coming that would fix that problem, he took my email address and said he was going to add me to an email list to get notified about this.

I have learned over the years to not trust phone support guys on anything they promise or say. Even if this turns to be truth and the do fix it we will need to figure out a way to get our devices updated… These things are not cheap so I am wondering if I should not put up with this and return it all but then I would have to spend a ton of time removing everything (wasn’t easy to fix those suckers in the little space available) and deal with the returns, find another brand that will probably have its own issues too and install it again… what a PITA!

Do you guys know if this would also be a problem with the HomeSeer ones? or the less expensive branded Zwaveproducts ones?

davecampbell · January 14, 2018, 11:43am

I just installed Leviton 3 way Dimmer DZ6HD & matching 3 way remote DD00R. Both Switches work Correctly on / off & Dimming however In smart things it will say the Lights On when they are Not
Anyone know the Remedy to this ?

NomadTech · January 14, 2018, 2:44pm

I’m using regular z-wave (not+) and reports status correctly. Using custom DH originally by Robert Vandevoot that I modified. It does not report Slave status, as they basically are just dumb momentary switches.

github.com

Nomad-Tech/DaSmartThings/blob/master/devicetypes/nomadtech/ge-jasco-zwave-switch.src/ge-jasco-zwave-switch.groovy

/**
 *  Created from code Copyright 2015 SmartThings
 *	modified by Robert Vandervoort 6/12/2016
 *	modified by Daniel Ionescu 12/30/2016
 *  Updated fingerprint ID
 *
 *  Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 *  in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at:
 *
 *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
 *
 *  Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software distributed under the License is distributed
 *  on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License
 *  for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the License.
 *
 */
metadata {
	definition (name: "GE/Jasco Z-Wave Switch", namespace: "NomadTech", author: "Daniel Ionescu") {
		capability "Actuator"
		capability "Indicator"

This file has been truncated. show original

NomadTech · January 14, 2018, 2:47pm

That refers to Indicator Light on the the dimmer, not the actual light bulb

clsanchez77 · January 14, 2018, 4:37pm

I am using the new GE Z-wave plus switches and Add-on switches from Lowe’s and I find these work great with ST. The reporting has maybe about a 1 second delay.

I previously used are the older GE Z-wave with my Vera setup and I found with migrating them to ST that the main switch reports to ST immediately, but the Add-on switch could have a delay of up to 6 seconds. Any loads directly controlled by the switches were immediate. However, any triggers/routines operated by ST had a delay with the Add-on switch that does not exist when using the main switch.

These older switches have been moved to my garage and laundry room, where the lag time does not impact triggers.

davecampbell · January 14, 2018, 6:35pm

That can’t be correct as I have Numerous of these Leviton Zwave switches Dimmer & Non Dimmer. All have an indicator Light on the Bottom which has No affect on the other switches.

To clarify I when I turn the Lights off with either switch in this 3 way application it is Not updating that it it’s off in smart things, I know it’s not always instant however it should Update.
Point of Home automation is to Control & Know remotely.
In this case I could be Gone & smartthings tells me all lights are off, however they are on unnecessarily

NomadTech · January 14, 2018, 10:50pm

Is this what you’re talking about?

Switch tells you current state.
indicatorStatus shows you whats’s programmed to be, not status

This is what Levitton says in the manual

LOCATOR LED SETUP
Leviton Decora SmartTM Z-Wave® devices have a locator LED on the
bottom of the paddle. The operation of the LED can be changed.
Status Mode: LED On when the load is On:
The Locator LED is used to show the current state of the load:
• Enter Programming Mode by holding the top of the paddle for 7
seconds, the Locator LED will turn amber.
• Tap the top of the paddle 4 times.
The Locator LED will quickly flash green and amber.
• Tap the top of the paddle once.
The Locator LED will flash green 3 times to confirm the selection.
Locator Mode: LED On when the load is Off (Default):
The Locator LED is designed to easily find the dimmer in a dark room.
If the setting has been changes and you wish to return to the default
operation.
• Enter Programming Mode by holding the top of the paddle for 7
seconds, the Locator LED will turn amber.
• Tap the top of the paddle 4 times.
The Locator LED will quickly flash green and amber.
• Tap the top of the paddle twice.
The Locator LED will flash amber 3 times to confirm the selection.
LED Off: Locator LED is always Off:
The Locator LED is turned off:
• Enter Programming Mode by holding the top of the paddle for 7
seconds, the Locator LED will blink amber.
• Tap the top of the paddle 4 times.
The Locator LED will quickly flash green and amber.
• Tap the top of the paddle 3 times.
The Locator LED will flash red 3 times to confirm the selection.

For the last few days, status has been delayed,especially in the mobile app.

JDRoberts · January 15, 2018, 1:45am

@NomadTech

As discussed at length in this thread, the newest Leviton switches introduced in 2017 that use the “digital remote” as the auxiliary switch in a three-way have a bug where if you press the The auxiliary switch the master gets the message and the lights will be turned off, but the master does not update SmartThings with the new status. ( or any other Z wave controller)

Leviton knows about the bug, but there’s no workaround and no timeline for a fix.

However, most people have been reporting that if they press the master switch in the Leviton group, the SmartThings app does get the new status. It’s only the “remote” (auxiliary) which is causing a problem.

The GE brand switches don’t seem to have this problem, so you have to be specific about which devices/models you’re discussing.

All of that said, there shouldn’t be a problem with the Leviton master switch itself. If that is not updating the status to the SmartThings mobile app I would definitely get in touch with SmartThings support as there’s some other problem going on.

https://support.smartthings.com/hc/en-us

NomadTech · January 15, 2018, 2:02am

Not sure where the bug is, but mi GE switches update status immediately in IDE and rarely in the mobile app.
Mobile app will update when touching the on/off button in the app.
This only started like a month ago.
I suggest comparing IDE status with mobile app status then draw a conclusion.

JDRoberts · January 15, 2018, 2:11am

Interesting. That sounds like yet a different bug. The Leviton one is something in their own firmware, the same problem occurs with other Z wave controllers.

NomadTech · January 15, 2018, 2:12am

@JDRoberts
I understand. But still worth checking IDE vs mobile app.

davecampbell · January 15, 2018, 3:13am

No That’s Not what I was referring to.

It is Simple, when I have the lights on Smartthings tells me they are off.
Or I can also turn them Off with the Switch(s) either switch, but
smartthings says they are still on.
Whatever the current setting is NOT always correct in smartthings That’s
the issue

Very odd & I know there’s a delay time

I have even set the Hub on my Bed so it was within 5 feet of Each switch so
it’s unlikely a signal issue

Lumute · January 15, 2018, 4:37am

I contacted Leviton support a month ago about the remotes not updating status problem and after a couple of follow ups I got this message from the Support Manager:

Thanks for the feedback! This is a known bug and our engineering team is working to fix this issue.

Two problems I see with this: 1st, no commitment or ETA of any kind, there is only hope they will eventually have a fix for this which also hopefully comes in the form of a firmware update (vs just releasing a fixed product be a switch or remote). 2nd, if they do release a firmware update, SmartThings does not support Z-Wave firmware OTA updates so we would have to figure out an alternate way to get it installed…

SharkBaitDLS · March 12, 2018, 2:42am

Any further traction from Leviton on this? I’m inclined to poke their support again if not. I’ve also noticed that the coordinating remotes always leave their dim level LED on which is a bit of a nuisance.

Lumute · March 13, 2018, 12:36am

A couple of weeks ago I talked to the support manager and got the same response again: he added me to the list for notification when there is a solution and that their engineers were working on it.

But do poke them or we’ll never get it fixed…

archercc · March 25, 2018, 9:37pm

I actually moved away from Leviton switches. I decided the half-second delay from the Ge/Jasco was tolerable as I moved most things to dimmers and preferred the quality of the switch itself over the LEviton. Ive all but given up on using actual scenes, I just use the Google Home exclusively now.

Best option for a Z wave 3 way switch (that sends a status signal from both switches)

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