Fibaro Dimmer 2

Hi all,

I’ve recently fitted another Fibaro Dimmer 2 to my setup but I’m having issues with the lights turning straight off after either flicking the switch or using the SmartThings app.

The Dimmer is wired up in the same way as the other two, the only difference is these lights are LEDs - is this likely to be the problem? I do have some Bypass 2s knocking around however I thought these were more for issues with lights not dimming propely/not fully turning off.

Thanks!

Are you certain the LED lights you used are dimmable?

I don’t think they are to be honest but I’m not particularly fussed about the dimming at the moment, just wanting to be able to turn on and off

Apologies but how would I go about doing that?

I’m using Rajiv’s device handler, not sure how up to date it is though however it does work fine for the other two dimmers I have installed

Ok seem to be getting a bit further. I’ve updated the device handler, set parameter 13 and set the force calibration option to 1 (without Bypass).

The lights stay on for a few seconds longer now before cutting off and I get a Voltage drop detected message.

Am I calibrating the Dimmer incorrectly?

That seems to have worked :smiley:

I am however getting a Load Fault appearing in the device - can that be ignored?

Spoke to soon! Seemed to work for around 5mins but then the lights cut off again and the ‘Voltage drop detected’ message was showing :frowning:

Ahh, I left it on 1 but I had been going back in and out of the settings not realising it triggers the auto-calibrate again.

I’ve now set param 1 and 2 to the values found in the IDE logs and we seemed fine for 7 or 8 mins before seeing the ‘voltage drop’ and '‘load error’ messages again and the lights cutting out.

f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:39:08: info New sensor reading: Name: power, Value: 0.0, Unit: W
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:39:03: info Dimmer level is 0%
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:39:03: info Dimmer turned off.
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:39:01: info off(): Turning dimmer off.
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:38:59: warn Load Error detected!
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:38:58: info New sensor reading: Name: power, Value: 26.9, Unit: W
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:38:53: info Dimmer level is 100%
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:38:53: info Dimmer turned on.
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:38:52: info New sensor reading: Name: power, Value: 0.0, Unit: W
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:38:49: warn Voltage drop detected!
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:38:49: info Dimmer level is 0%
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:38:49: info Dimmer turned off.
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:38:46: info New sensor reading: Name: power, Value: 27.3, Unit: W
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:38:41: info Dimmer level is 100%
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:38:41: info Dimmer turned on.
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:38:40: info New sensor reading: Name: power, Value: 0.0, Unit: W
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:38:37: warn Voltage drop detected!
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:38:37: info Dimmer level is 0%
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:38:37: info Dimmer turned off.
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:37:58: info clearFault(): Clearing active faults.
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:35:13: warn Load Error detected!
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:35:10: info New sensor reading: Name: power, Value: 27.4, Unit: W
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:35:05: info Dimmer level is 100%
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:35:05: info Dimmer turned on.
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:35:03: info New sensor reading: Name: power, Value: 0.0, Unit: W
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:35:01: warn Voltage drop detected!
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:35:01: info Dimmer level is 0%
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:35:01: info Dimmer turned off.
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:35:00: info sync(): Syncing configuration with the physical device.
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:28:45: info New sensor reading: Name: power, Value: 28.2, Unit: W
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:28:43: info New sensor reading: Name: power, Value: 26.3, Unit: W
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:28:39: info Dimmer level is 100%
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:28:39: info Dimmer turned on.
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:28:38: info on(): Turning dimmer on.
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:28:33: info Dimmer level is 0%
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:28:33: info Dimmer turned off.
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:28:33: info New sensor reading: Name: power, Value: 20.9, Unit: W
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:28:32: info off(): Turning dimmer off.
f6554d24-56dd-450b-b9f0-6e2e81da0eb4 21:27:24: info clearFault(): Clearing active faults.

Just stumbled across this on the Fibaro site:

Voltage drop error suggests that parameter 2 value should be reduced until disappearing of the failure. You can also recalibrate the load using parameter 13.

I’ve dropped the figure set in option 2 a little and it’s been fine for the last 10 mins. Will keep an eye on it and see how it goes.

Thanks very much for your help Robin :smiley:

It was from the live logging page. It was auto-calibrated at 18 but that gave the load and voltage errors after around 5 mins.

I then reduced to 17 which gave me around 15mins, 16 gave me 30 mins and I’m now on to 14 and waiting. I’ve not noticed any reduction in brightness from the bulbs as of yet but that could just be my eyes!

Hi. New to Smartthings Community, and didn’t want to start a new thread. Have a question regarding the Fibaro Dimmer 2. I am planning on installing many Fibaro Dimmer 2s in our major house renovation occurring at the moment, and want to avoid any disasters!

My question is if my z-wave hub (such as SmartThings) is down will the wall switches (I am putting centre off momentary switches, aka on/off/on) still perform all functions to turn on, turn off and dim the lights? I assume the switches will still work if the zwave hub is off, but thought it best to ask. Thanks.

Thanks. That’s a relief, even if expected. So clearly the dimmer module itself has memory and stores and controls light levels locally without reference to the hub. The hub is only needed when you want to wirelessly communicate with the module.

Have another question while you’re about. If I want to use around 30 modules (a mix of Fibaro dimmers and Fibaro dual switches/relays), do you foresee any problem with controlling this many within SmartThings. Is there no limit to the number of z Wave modules being controlled by SmartThings?

Thanks again, David.

  1. :sunglasses: This is true for any zwave network, not just SmartThings.
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Thanks both. I think I can live with 240!

Can I ask how you best dealt with aesthetics? Ie style of light switches and ensuring that you didn’t have a load of individual pattress boxes to have space to house the dimmer modules?

I am going with Schneider Electric White Metal on/off/on retractive Switches. I am going with 47mm back-boxes, but I think even in a 3-gang switch you can only fit one Fibaro Dimmer module per backbox, so I am forced to introduce a few 2-way switches even where I might not have had one before, just to make space to house the dimmer modules.

If you wouldn’t mind, if you know of any tricks dealing with the aesthetics they would be appreciated.

thanks again, am pretty excited about this opportunity to make our house smart, but want to ensure it isn’t at the expense of the house not looking good!

That’s brilliant, thanks, albeit I had to watch some you-tube videos just to start to understand it!

Since I’m going to use on/off/on centre off retractive switches, with up (L1) using S1 and down (L2) using S2, I don’t think I can reserve S2 for an entirely separate gang switch for ‘the magic’, but I think I can do this via, say, double or triple clicking the down switch for additional scenes.

If I get this right you effectively run cords from S1, S2 and SX from every Fibaro Dimmer in the junction box to every switch in the room. So if I have a 3-gang, with 3 retractive centre-off switches in one pattress box, then there will be 3 Fibaro Dimmers in the junction box each running S1, S2 and SX to each of the 3 retractive switches? And I could still run all these switches to other switches to create two-way switches if desired?

This certainly makes it easier to avoid having to have a load of individual switch boxes just to house the Fibaros! Will speak to our electrician about this set up. I am very much in debt to you, thanks!

Just one additional question. Anything specific to watch out for to ensure this set up still meets building regulations? I get that the junction boxes need to be securely fixed and easily accessible. Are there any other considerations?

Thanks. Out of interest what switches do you use?

Nice. I am in the UK as well. I do remember seeing these retrotouch switches before and liking them, but my wife wanted something more traditional. Hence going with Schneider Electric centre-off retractive switches. As per photo.

I assume the retrotouch switches don’t come with a centre-off version with ability to press the switch up and down? If not, do you find visitors still find the operation of the retrotouch switches to be intuitive?

Your arguments are incredibly persuasive. I hadn’t actually explicitly realised that many traditional rocker switches expect you to push down for on, whereas the centre-off retractive switch is up for on. I also note the centre-off retractive switches I’ve tried are a little stiff, and I could see kids and the elderly struggling a little with them.

I’ve just placed an order for the retrotouch 1-gang and 3-gang white retractive switches. Now hoping that I can convince the wife!

Just to be sure, how would you alternate between dimming up and dimming down on these? Is it as follows:

  1. if light is off, press once to turn light on to previously set dimming level

  2. if light is on, press once to turn light off

  3. if light is on, press and hold to dim up

  4. To dim down, release after dimming up as per 3, and then press and hold again to dim down?

thanks
David.

Sorry. Can’t help myself. This set up now frees up the S2 on the Fibaro Dimmer for performing ‘the magic’ as you put it.

My only concern is for those not particularly interested in the Home Automation bit, this results in switches out in the open that people will press with random/ non-intuitive results. I guess you should always make a single push of a switch alongside another switch controlling the load, to do something related to that load. Eg a pre-set dim level for that load. And reserve double-clicks that might ‘turn off all lights in house’, as those not interested in Home Automation are unlikely to double click.

Just wondering how you’ve tried to keep things as intuitive as possible? In some ways, my thinking is it might be better to keep ‘the magic’ switches entirely separate and, even, covered (but easily uncovered) if that is at all possible. Otherwise the unititated might start an impromptu disco!

:slight_smile:

Anyone recommend any great Z-Wave Scene Controllers? A search on the web shows the ‘ Z-Wave Remotec Scene Master‘ which seems reasonably priced at £44 even if a little boring looking. Thinking I could put a few of these around the house, as these clearly wouldn’t be confused with other switches.

a