Agree with Behold, if just lights then the LightwaveRF products do very well and have most of what you will want as an attractive price. If you go for ST then to do smart switches you probably need to use something like a Fibaro Dimmer 2 on each lighting circuit which can be expensive (though you can then use your existing switches and save purchasing any new switches.
1 Like
But fibaro is cheaper than each bulb.
Also ST can do power outlets on a extension cord if you have to use them. Dimming options are also available if you want to control a spot light which lightwave/fibaro wonât do.
Or you can use some of the cheaper Osram or aeon light bulbs with ST.
So it depends on all you have.
Can you list it all?
@Behold81 & @cjcharles Thanks for the input, guys. Iâm slowly starting to get a handle on this stuff. I started to look at the LightwaveRF stuff properly, and then got really confused, as they refer to everything as âdimmersâ - and thatâs because all of their faceplate-style light switches are actually dimmer switches. The other thing that threw me was, on the Vesternet site, the 1-gang dimmer switch says it ârequiresâ a 1-gang slave switch as well.
I emailed LRF support asking if they had simple on/off toggle switches; they got back to me straight away saying that, in my situation, I would most likely benefit from a micro-relay to go into my existing switches, as the dimmers wouldnât be appropriate. Having looked into it, I think theyâre exactly right⌠but that sort of leads me back to SmartThings! I already noticed that there are tons of micro (and even nano) switches that are Z-Wave-compatible, and that means I wouldnât actually have to change my physical switches (assuming they fit, that is).
Still slightly paralysed by indecision, but Iâm a-learninâ.
So micro/nano can be installed in the ceiling void. Under a rose if big enough.
In the switch box if big enough. Or the plaster void if you have one.
The next point is do you have neutral in your Switch box. If not you will need it for most modules.
Fibaro do a 2 wire option.
Or neutral will be at the rose or in the void in a junction box.
Work this out first.
Also push switches are best for dimmin. So you might want to buy these with the modules to fully use the wall switch function.
1 Like
@Behold81 Yep, as mentioned above, I have 3-wire switches everywhere thanks to a complete rewire in 2012, so all of my switches have a neutral wire. Thatâs why I was saying I think Iâm slightly more open to options, as Iâm not restricted by the 2-wire-only requirement.
What do you mean about the push switches for dimming? I definitely donât want dimming switches - just on & off. Hence why I got confused by all the dimmers available!
There is also the Mi|Home product by Energenie.
They do not do slave light switches yet though and you will still need a hub.
Personally, as I have no neutral at my light switches, I have gone for lightwaverf light dimmers and sockets.
Easy to install an work with ST but, again, as you have already said you need their hub.
My set up uses Lightwave RF dimmers and sockets integrated with a Raspberry Pi.
I can turn the lights on and off at the switches and also use ST for full automation with motion, light level and also turn on and off randomly when we are away.
By using the Pi you eliminate the cloud to cloud or IFTTT delay.
One thing to note though is that the Lightwave system is 'stateless '.
So the fibaro dimmer can be configured to not dim. And it actually auto senses if the light is even possible to be dimmed.
Others you get a relay not a dimmer model as itâs one of the other.
For just on/off you can keep your switch. Dimming can be done still via an app. Personally dimming has uses for automation in the future. And motion has uses too. Especially with dimming. Auto lights on at times and motion to brighten the light among one of the ideas.
You can tart up the Devolo / Popp / Z-Wave.me controllers with different facepates and switches. Lots of options here, not just plastic. You can get glass, steel, chrome etc etc. See some examples below:
Single controller, with double rocker. Glass faceplate and matt chrome buttons. Mounted (stuck) on limestone:
Double controller, both with double rockers. Glass faceplate and matt chrome buttons. Mounted (stuck) on painted wall:
Double controller, one with single rocker, one with double rocker. Glass faceplate and matt chrome buttons. Mounted (stuck) on glass splashback:
Another cool thing you can do with them because they fit into a standard EU size is to combine with other HA gadgets. Here is one combined with a HeatIt Underfloor Heating Thermostat (Z-Wave):
8 Likes
Thatâs pretty outstanding. A great feature of these is that they can be placed anywhere. No need for a backbox. Because of this you can put them next to a sink (in the UK) or by a shower, or wherever you like without breaking any regulations.
1 Like
Yup, all the ones the pics except for the last one are literally stuck on the wall with double sided tape!
1 Like
Your heatit thermostat/switch integration is very impressive. Could you post some links to the items you bought that made this possible?
The wall controller is this: https://www.z-wave.me/index.php?id=30 [Iâm not sure if the one in the pic is type 1 or 2 because I have both types - it is possible to fit either in differing faceplates but sometimes you need to cut bits of the plastic first]
The Underfloor Thermostat is this one: http://heatit.com/
But anyway those choices just suited my place - you can get metal faceplates (matt and glossy), glass faceplates in all kinds of colours, white or black buttons as well etc etc
Hi all, Iâm a bit unsure if I can do what I want to do via ST and a physical switch:
Itâs for my bathroom. I have fitted Lightify bulbs in my ceiling light. All works fine via ST. However, Iâd like the option of controlling these lights with a physical switch in the bathroom.
(I know I could do this via a fiboro dimmer module and my existing light switch, but I want to avoid doing any wiring)
So, Iâm thinking I could use a battery operated z-wave wall switch⌠but what Iâm unsure of is whether such a switch can dim my bulbs. Are they momentary switchesâŚi.e., can they be held down, and secondly, how to I get ST to translate a hold into a dim command?
Am I correct in thinking that you cannot dim to any variable level using a âholdâ in ST?
I created a device handler and smartapp for the wall switches above. The smartapp does allow âdim whilst heldâ however, due to limitations in ST the frequency of dimming is just under 1Hz⌠which means that itâs not a great experience. If ST ever makes devices work locally then this might change.
The thing is that I created the smartapp because, like you I assumed that dim whilst held would be something I would want⌠but Iâve found in practice itâs not needed. This is because the buttons on these wall controllers can trigger actions off a press, a hold, a hold-release, a double click, a click-hold and a click hold release. As a result I just have certain preset dim levels that I can trigger⌠which is far better than holding down the button and trying to get it right.
For example on one rocker. I have the top rocker pressed = turn on at 100%, the bottom rocker pressed = turn off. The top rocker held = 70%, and the bottom rocker held = 30%. Iâve found that to be enough for most rooms⌠if I need more I add it to the double clicks. It may not seem it from my description but in practice this is far more intuitive.
2 Likes
Came across this https://www.amazon.co.uk/COOLTOUCH-switch-z-wave-protocal-response/dp/B01MQRHG2L/
It is more attractive than the majority of Z-Wave switches I have seen, is available in 1, 2 and 3-gang versions and says it is available in a European Z-Wave version.
What I could not see is whether it needs 2 or 3 wires. Any one come across it and know?
So Iâve been playing with a devolo/popp wall controller switch.
I understand the hold to dim doesnât work well in ST, so like you, I just use preset levels.
However, I opted for using CoRE, cos I needed some more complex rules, which your app doesnât provide.
However, I think itâs a great app - and I wondering how I can get CoRE to provide options for hold-release, double click, etc - basically all the various hold types you use in you app. Do you know?
Iâm a bit undecided about these controllers however, as they are a bit hit and miss (sometimes unresponsive/ long lag time). Maybe I have a defective switchâŚ
If you have installed the latest device handler, ive made a direct integration with CoRE. You simply add your wall controller and schange the attribute to âbutton eventsâ and then select which trigger you want to use
1 Like
Sorry, bit confused.
Iâm using V1.7.3 DTH and V1.6 App
So, If I understand your above post correctlyâŚI open your App, select my desired controllerâŚand then Iâm not sureâŚwhat attribute do I change to select âbutton eventsâ
Thanks 
If you are using CoRE then you donât use the app, You just use the device handler. Then when making a rule within CoRE select the wall controller and change the attribute to âButton Eventsâ and then you will see all the options click / hold / double click etc etc
2 Likes