I have one GE In-Wall Smart Dimmer paired with my ST hub. That controls my ceiling LEDs. I would like to add a second switch on a different wall, but that wall is not wired for a switch and does not have any electricity. Is it possible to get the Osram Lightify Dimmer to “talk” to the GE Dimmer to control the lights? I have not progressed to the point of the codes and stuff I see some of you folks using. Honestly, I don’t even know where you guys enter that stuff yet…and it’s intimidating at this point…
Any other piece of hardware (not codes) that would make this happen exists, do tell.
Thanks!
These two devices can’t talk directly to each other because they use different protocols. The GE device is Z wave and the Osram device is zigbee.
But they can both talk to the SmartThings hub, which is one of SmartThings big advantages. So you could have the Osram switch send a message to the hub which then sends a message to the GE switch to turn on the lights.
Having said that… The Osram device itself will require custom code to work with SmartThings. There’s no way around that right now. That’s going to be true of pretty much every zigbee device which is not on the official “works with SmartThings” compatibility list.
The good news is that most certified Z wave devices can work as a generic on/off/dim switch with SmartThings without requiring any custom code, whether they’re on the official list or not.
And you can use the official SmartLighting feature to have one switch “follow” another, which would solve the use case you described.
And there is a Z wave battery operated switch which is very similar to the Osram.
So if you’re willing to use the gocontrol device, you could make it work without using custom code.
Custom code sounds confusing at first, but really it just means that you are going to copy the author’s code and paste it into your own account. It’s pretty straightforward. And if you are willing to use it, it will open up a whole additional set of features and devices.
The following thread explains the basic custom code concept. You might take a look at it and see if it’s something you would be willing to consider. If not, that’s fine, you should still be able to do most things, but as in this example it may mean choosing a different device than you were originally looking at.
This pairs to your Hub but doesn’t mimic the functionality of a lightswitch. It’s more like a wall mounted remote than it is like an actual dimming switch.
It sort of usurps the intended use of the product, but it’s better than nothing. I have mine set up like this: push top = on, hold top = set to 100%, push bottom = off, hold bottom = set to 6%.
Yes Chris, that is the one. How does the your action of “push” vs "hold"
change anything? If you perform either action to the top of the switch, it
results in the light coming on to 100%, and same for the bottom - light
reaches lowest brightness. Is there no “hold then release” somewhere in
between max and min brightness so that it truly acts as a “dimmer?” Thanks.
Newbie statement, then a question basic:
To me, it is easier to replace bulbs than it is switches. So if I am
simply replacing regular bulbs with smart bulbs, I have to get my family
and myself out of the habit of turning off switches? The smart bulbs would
always have to have a flow of electricity ready so my phone can turn them
on, right? Otherwise, if the switch is turn off, didn’t I just make it
useless?
AND finally…code is copied from these forums, but where is it pasted
to???
If you were to use this device with the OSRAM Lightify Bridge, it would work like a traditional dimmer:
Pressing the top rocker turns things on
Pressing the bottom rocker turns things off
Holding the top rocker increases brightness
Holding the bottom rocker turns things off
Our implementation isn’t nearly as elegant, though one could argue that it’s more flexible, as you can control pretty much anything with it via SmartThings. We treat it like a button controller with only 4 distinct actions:
button 1 pushed
button 1 held
button 2 pushed
button 2 held
You can configure the length of time you need to hold the button down for it to be considered “held”. I have mine at 1 second
So for me, the only way to turn my light off is to push the bottom rocker. Pushing the top rocker turns it on to the level it was at previously. If the lights are on and at 100%, pushing or holding the top rocker does nothing, but holding the bottom rocker dims to 10%. Holding the top rocker brightens it back up to 100%.
I would most definitely like to improve this device integration to behave like originally intended, but currently we don’t have any code that would provide this kind of “increase/decrease level while being held” behavior.
Thanks Chris. That is how I thought your switch was working and that will work for me. The convenience of having a switch on my far wall is worth any shortcomings of fancy performance. I look forward to learning more and you have been a help. Thanks.
So there’s an official button controller device type handler for the Osram lightify dimming switch now? That’s cool.
BTW, there is a community created device type handler for this device which does give you press to hold dimming, but it sort of an odd duck: it’s using zigbee commands directly, so it can’t be used for dimming with Z wave devices and you’re basically limited to one hop. So it’s similar to the people who are using the GE remotes with their Z wave devices. It’s known to smartthings, but doesn’t have the flexibility of a button controller.
Pssht. I was born in California, raised in Montana, served the US army for 10 years as a soldier and 5 as civil service. I now live in Florida. I’m not British.
