OK. So far I’ve only used devices that were totally compatible with SmartThings, i.e. just press a button and the device gets added to the SmartThings hub. It sounds like this button controller is not like that. I don’t know anything about DTH or DH etc. Does anyone have an easy step-by-step procedure to set this up with SmartThings?
I wrote the DH for this device. I can answer your questions. The link for DH is below.
I’ll make this brief as instructions are elsewhere in detail.
You will need to go to the Smartthings IDE web page. You will need your ST log in. Create a new device handler, From Code. Paste the code from the link above - hit create. Then you will be at the edit screen. Select Publish, For Me.
When you add the cooper device to your ST hub it should grab the correct DH. If you have already add it or it got the wrong one. Find it in my devices, click on it. At the bottom of the device screen select edit. You can change the DH on that screen to Cooper Aspire Scene Controller RFWC5 RFWC5D
Get an understanding of zwave associations and scenes. These are two methods zwave controllers like the RFWC can communicate with other zwave devices. There is info in the discussion
Follow the instructions in the DH carefully. You must configure the device once with the DH for it to work, even if you just want to use it to communicate with ST.
All the info you need is in the forum, if you get stumped feel free to ask questions.
Using DH to make a controller work is a bit too complicated for me. Is there any wall mounted (120V) controller that is compatible with Smartthings without using DH?
I find it a bit surprising hat I’m not able to identify such a device.
Thanks again
rbcap
tgauchat
(ActionTiles.com co-founder Terry @ActionTiles; GitHub: @cosmicpuppy)
14
Adding a custom DH to your SmartThings Account isn’t quite as complicated as it seems - a few random vendors have provided video or step-by-step video instructions, or you can PM me and we could do a screen share for ½ hour or so for an agreed upon fee.
The number of Devices officially compatible and plug & play with SmartThings is large, but it grows slowly due to their current certification backlog.
The Community loves SmartThings because we can use great Things without waiting for official integration.
It’s been about 6 months since I first started this post regarding the availability of wall-mounted 120V button controllers compatible with SmartThings. In technology, 6 months is a lot of time these days so I’m wondering if there’s anything new in the way of wall-mounter 120 V button controllers. Has anyone come across anything?
It is surprising that such wall-mounted controllers, compatible with SmartThings are not readily available. I think it’s a basic requirement for automating lights etc. I guess SmartThings doesn’t see it as an important requirement.
There still are not any that don’t require custom code.
People have definitely been asking for this since at least 2015 since the devices exist, the issue is just getting smartthings ( The company) to write a stock device type handler for it so it could be automatically added. They said they were interested in doing it, but they just never have. Apparently other things were a higher priority.
I understand your frustration level on this, but the people in this forum are just other customers, if you aren’t interested in using custom code there really isn’t any way we can help you on this.
From my experience with the Cooper zwave scene controller, in general the devices do not really fit the ST model. ST would prefer that all sensors (a button controller) communicate to the hub and then the hub commands the actuators (relays and dimmers). In the zwave world devices like a scene controller are designed to communicate directly with the actuators, by passing the hub. When I wrote the DH for the Cooper scene controller I did my best to make both things possible. However, when you hold a button on the controller there is no information sent to the hub to tell it which button is being held. It is only told that a button is being held. This is because the device is designed to send the held information directly to other zwave devices it is controlling. I think this is why ST has not jumped on making these devices run local.
I use my Cooper controllers daily and they work very well. For the most part I use them as intended by the designers to control other zwave devices directly. The one big advantage I see to this is, I can unplug and disconnect my ST hub and the controllers still control those lights.
Turn on the hub and I can make switches act like three way switches that aren’t and tell Google “Good Night” and have all the lights go out. Excellent added functionality.
This big limit is: I cannot thru ST control a zigbee dimmer with the Cooper scene controller. I think that puts it out of contention for official ST support.
However, the Leviton Multi button controller does not have these restrictions, and is a zwave device that can indeed Be used to trigger zigbee or Wi-Fi devices because it does send all of its button presses to the hub. The main problem with it is that it’s very expensive, as much as $125 per individual device, so again, I think smartthings hasn’t got much pressure to add it to the official lineup. But there is good custom code for it and there are some community members using it.
There are also a number of different battery operated multibutton devices which work very well with smartthings, but you do have to be willing to copy and paste the initial custom code to set it up. And they don’t meet the requirement of being mains powered.
So different people have Approached the question of a wall-mounted scene controller in different ways, I just don’t know one that exactly meets the requirements of the OP, since they don’t want to use any custom code.
I also have the same desire. I am looking for a simple on/off switch to replace current light switches, but NOT directly control the power to the lights. I have ST, Hue hub and hue bulbs deployed, and all work great from the ST app (or from the Hue app). The issue is that the “normal” light switch, when turned off, cuts power to them so they can no longer be controlled. I could bypass the switch all together, but then the wife and visitors cannot simply turn lights on and off with the switch. Elsewhere I have GE z-wave wall switches connected to lights without smart bulbs. This is fine. Can all be turned on and off remotely, or from the switch. I am just trying to find a solution when the bulbs themselves are actually smart, but we still need to be able to just turn them on or off from a switch -a wired switch with power - no batteries please. want it to go in an replace the existing mechanical switch.
The solution you seek is simple I think. Bypass the switch as you suggested. But install zwave or zigbee switch and don’t wire the load to it. You can then flip the switch, ST sees the change and turns on the light.
I’m fairly sure none of the switches would care if there is a load. Dimmers could be a different story. You could test the ones you have by simply removing the bulbs (no load) and see how ST responds when the switch if flipped.
I had considered that. Two issues that I considered - the z wave switch will not know the actual status of the lights (likely solve this with some other automation and virtual switches), and the cost - the bulbs are ban enough, but $30+ for each dumb switch to match the rest of the normal switches is extreme
Regarding switches to use with Hue bulbs, this is a very good question, and a very frequently asked one. We even have two community FAQs on it. Start with the short FAQ (the topic title is a clickable link). Then if you want more details on things like tying off the line, look at the long FAQ.
What options are there for120 V button controllers that can work with Smatthings using custom code? As mentioned in this post, one option is the Cooper Z-wave scene controller. I haven’t come across any others. Are there others? Any additional comments regarding the Cooper controller would also be appreciated. Is it widely used by others in this forum? I sense that it’s not??? If not, what are people using to meet this requirement? I need about 7-10 units throughout my house - so I’m just trying to decide what the best option is.
What are some good options for a battery operated wall-mounted multi-button controllers?
I think one option is to mount a tablet on the wall.
I’m just trying to get a feel for what other Smarthome users are using to control lights, fans etc. in situations where the actual power switches are remotely located, e.g. in a control area in the basement.
Thanks to everyone for all the valuable comments already provided - much appreciated.
From what I can see, these are the two 120V button controllers that can work with SmartThings:
* Leviton VRCS4
* Cooper Z-wave scene controller
Are there any others I’m missing?
Which would be the best solution, technically?
Does the Leviton VRCS4 require custom code?
On a separate note, I have 6 Leviton VRCZ4 controllers currently already installed, that I haven’t been able to use with SmartThings. I bought these 5-6 year ago for well over $100 each. Does anyone know of a way that somehow these controllers can be made to work with SmartThings? I checked on this another time and there didn’t seem to be a way. Has anything been developed more recently?
Thanks again for your thoughts/comments/suggestions - Much appreciated.
VRCZ4 Does not seem to have a device type available. I have no idea why, it seems like it is very similar device to the Cooper RFW5 or the VRCS4. I notice this line in the instructions: “If using a non-Leviton Programmer/Remote, refer to the Programmer/Remote instruction sheet.”. When I wrote the DH for the Cooper there was a 1/2 page of very cryptic commands tell how to set it up without a cooper programming tool. It took my a long time to sort that out, on learning is that the commands had to be issued in exactly the order specified. I’m guess, no one has yet cracked the setup procedure.
The VRCS4 will require a custom device handler as well. Don’t let that spook you too much as that is part of the benefit of SmartThings, users can make code to get things working.
I won’t speak to which is best. I have Coopers, I’ve not messed with the Leviton’s. You will need to read reviews on both.
