My Lighting plan for new house, your opinions please

[JDRoberts]

@Dave_MB

I hope for any input but here are a couple of things i want to confirm:
All Zwave switches/plugs will work as a normal dumb light if ST or the internet is down?

It depends on exactly how you set them up. If it is an individual switch controlling an individual relay on the same circuit , then yes, it will continue to work manually.

If you are using features like double tap, or if you have it controlling devices on other circuits or in other parts of the house, then it will not work unless the hub is also working.

I can set a scene and schedule in ST and a different one in Lutron so if i’m away and I can pause the ST and rely on the Lutron app to perform the important task like away lighting.

I’m sorry, I’m not quite sure what you were saying here. If you have two scenes doing the same thing, they may or may not both fire, it just depends on the exact details.

At the present time, there’s no easy way to pause a smart lighting automation in SmartThings, but There will be with the new app.

Lutron and smartthings use the term “scene” somewhat differently. In SmartThings, scenes do not have triggers, they are instead activated by routines or other automations.

So I think the general answer to what you were asking is yes, Lutron scenes set up through the Lutron app can run whether or not smartthings is operating. But the answer to any one scene will depend on the exact setup.

Is there a email that goes out when ST is down?

This answer is complicated. You should always get a notification on your phone if your hub goes off-line. Also, you can sign up for notifications from the official status page, but they often get sent out an hour or more after an outage actually occurs.

SmartThings Status

I’m tired right now, so someone else can explain about simple device viewer and other wellness monitoring options.

Do you think 15 Zwave plus units (well placed) will provide ample coverage? (i can always a a few more)

It depends on exactly where they are placed in the home. If you put 15 units in three rooms on one floor they may not help at all for something on the other side of the house. I thought I had given you the following links already, but there are two different FAQs that should help. (These are clickable links)

Read the FAQ on range and repeaters, and in particular start with post 11 in that thread, then go back up to the top of thread and read the whole thing.

A Guide to Wireless Range & Repeaters

And then read this FAQ, which is specific to Z wave coverage for a large house:

FAQ: Create an all-around z-wave presence in a 4,000 sq ft home?

Is there a way to create an all-around “z-wave presence” in my 4000 sq ft home? My home is not just a two story block home. It is a one story, spread out “ranch style”, so it really covers 4,000 sq ft on horizontal terrain. What I want to do is create a z-wave mesh that is available anywhere in my home, similar to my WiFi system. (In the WiFi case, I simply distributed Unifi AP-Pro’s throughout the home so that all spaces are covered.) So . . . how can I do something similar with Z-wave? I don’t want to worry about NOT having a Z-Wave signal available. I just want it to be there when/if I need it. Any suggestions and/or words of wisdom?