Linking Two Z-Wave Dimmers?

[devedsmith (Mr. Smith)]

I have two light fixtures with a dimmer each on separate circuits. I once read that I could link two z-wave dimmers to mimic each other so that no matter what one does the other does in real-time.

The reason is that in this room the two lights are on opposite sides of the room. To turn on all the lights I have to turn on one, then walk to the other end of the room and turn on the other one. So I thought I could simply link (group/gang) the two dimmers together so that they work in unison.

I’ve read about double-tapping, creating hardware scenes, and such - even using ST to create a Routine (Scene) that does this. Any input on this problem? I"m sure there is an easy way but I would rather do this between the two dimmers if at all possible so that the dimming control is real-time.

Thoughts?

Oh, a footnote: I bought two GE Smart Dimmers (1272A) thinking that this “linking” was inherent to z-wave. I have a technician coming Wednesday to run my neutral wires (because I hate the attic).

[Stephen_Johnson]

I went the easy way and created a Webcore piston that triggers off a change to my great room lights to automate the same change to a table lamp with a Cree bulb. Turning the main lights on, off, or changing the level is matched in the lamp. There is a slight delay, .1 to about 1.5 seconds, but mostly it’s very quick.

[Danabw (Dana)]

There’s a SmartApp called Dim with Me that allows you to tell one light to follow another. Easy to use, but requires setup via IDE.

I use it to make the second light in a dumb ceiling fan follow the other light.

[Kjamsek]

Depending on your specific Z-Wave device and the handler you are using you have another option that would eliminate the ST as a middleman after the initial setup. This is done via Association Command Class and specific device ID’s. If you add a device’s node ID into another (appropriate) device’s association group it will send RF command directly that device. Manufacturers usually define multiple association groups for specifc actions like on/off, level control and etc…

[devedsmith (Mr. Smith)]

Dim with me sounds great. Where can I find it?

[Danabw (Dana)]

Some options:

Trendsetter SmartApp (I haven’t used this, but looks very interesting and is being updated/maintained - Dim With Me is a couple years old and really doesn’t have a current owner/maintainer)

[RELEASE] Trend Setter

Trend Setter - A SmartApp for grouping devices Read First I am not usually one for releasing stuff I write because I am my own worst critic and usually self destruct before putting anything out into the general public (I've revised this post more times than I'd like to count). I am trying to change that behaviour... Although I am a software engineer by trade, I am not a Java/Groovy developer so I may not have written some of the code in the most efficient way. I expect this to change from feedback and as my knowledge grows. I tend to find I use the app to control a lot of things more than anything else so this is useful for that. I have only used this on an Android phone and can't be sure how it'll behave on an iOS device due to the parity issues between Android and iOS apps so give…

Current repo for Trendsetter (i.e., where you get the code to install - the repo location has changed and the first post in the thread can’t be updated:

Kriskit/SmartThings

===================================
Dim With Me SmartApp (I use this, haven’t run into any problems)

tierneykev/SmartThings/blob/master/smartapps/wackware/dim-with-me.src/dim-with-me.groovy

General info on using IDE and custom code:

FAQ: An Overview of Using Custom Code in SmartThings

So you're new to SmartThings, you asked a question, and someone suggested "custom code" as an answer. Or you were browsing the forums, and you found something that sounded like it would be perfect for what you wanted, but again, "uses custom code." What does that mean, how hard is it to do, and what's the difference between a "SmartApp" and a "Device Type Handler"? (Note: the official terminology has changed a couple of times. "device type handler," "device handler," "DTH," and "device type" all mean the same thing, and you will find all these terms used in the forums.) SECTION I: SMARTAPPS AND DEVICE HANDLERS: WHAT THEY ARE SmartAPPS: Tiny Programs to decide what a specific device should do when, or to collect the information from a specific device SmartApps, including the var…

[JDRoberts]

Dim with me sounds great. Where can I find it?

You can find many different lighting smartapps by looking on the quick browse list in the community – created wiki, look in the smartapps section, and then look on the lighting list.

http://thingsthataresmart.wiki/index.php?title=How_to_Quick_Browse_the_Community-Created_SmartApps_Forum_Section

In most cases community members create these for themselves and then share them with the community, so they all have slightly different features. I think trendsetter is probably the most popular right now, but there are lots of good ones.