Securifi Community Forum
Sensors and Home Automation => Home automation => Topic started by: Vito on March 29, 2014, 12:03:22 am
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I was able to setup this GE/Jasco dimmer without any issues. However, it seems to share the same problem as the Leviton dimmers, in that they do not update the status of the lights within the Almond+ after adjusting the switch (on/off or by setting a dim setting). (I was under the assumption that it was just a problem with the Leviton switches, but it looks like a wider issue.)
http://www.amazon.com/Jasco-Z-Wave-Wireless-Lighting-Control/dp/B0035YRCR2/
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Strange, I'll have to check this on Monday as I don't have a dimmer at home.
I have to admit that the device I normally use for demos is the Osram Sylvania Smart iQ bulb with build in ZigBee and it works just fine.
I know we have a few plug-in dimmers in the office, so I'll test with one of those.
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The device may actually be a 45606. I've attached the manual that I have for it. (I used to have many of these dimmers, but eventually replaced most of them due to issues with LED bulbs.)
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Tested a dimmer just now and it clearly works as per the attached screen shot.
This is a plug-in dimmer though, but technically there should be no difference as to how they work.
Can't find the 45606 for sale, so it'll be hard for us to test.
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Lars,
When using the switch to turn on/off and dim, does the Almond+ update to reflect the change?
-Vito
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I can't dim from the switch, it only has an on/off button...
But yes, the button does cause a change of state on the Almond+/web UI.
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I have one of these dimmers (GE 45612) but i can't seem to be able to add it as a sensor. On the Almond+ I click "Add Sensor" then i click the up rocker on the switch but nothing happens. Is there anything else I can try? The dimmer works fine otherwise. Is it possible that the z-wave part is not working? I just got this from amazon but would rather not have to un-install it to send it back if there is anything else I can try. Is there a way to "reset" it?
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To reset it, use the Remove option instead of Add option in the Almond+ LCD UI.
Then add the switch and it should be removed. Then try adding it again.
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I only have the "Remove all sensors" option as I was never able to add the sensor in the first place and that does not do anything either.
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To clarify:
- This is a new dimmer switch that has never been paired before
When i go to add sensor the Almond says to press the switch's "Pairing" button which according the switch manual is the up or down switch on the rocker. When i press that nothing happens and the almond continues waiting and the only option is to cancel
When i go to remove the sensor it asks me to press the "leave" button which i assume is the rocker switch as well but pressing it does not do anything either so cancel again is the only option
When i press remove all sensors it seems to do something but nothing specific to my switch
When i try to add it again i has the same experience as before.
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Huh? Are you saying that there's no remove button on the LCD UI? Having added or not added the switch has nothing to do with it. A Z-Wave device that has been paired once needs to be removed before it can be paired again, so please just follow my instructions above to see if it helps. Also keep in mind that Z-Wave sensors have a pairing distance of about 3 feet, so if you're too far away, it won't work.
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---Are you saying that there's no remove button on the LCD UI?
No, i never said that and I followed up with all the steps I took including the "Remove sensor" option. I am right next to the switch so distance is not the issue. Is there I number I can call for help? Here are my steps again:
This is a new dimmer switch that has never been paired before
When i go to add sensor the Almond says to press the switch's "Pairing" button which according the switch manual is the up or down switch on the rocker. When i press that nothing happens and the almond continues waiting and the only option is to cancel
When i go to remove the sensor it asks me to press the "leave" button which i assume is the rocker switch as well but pressing it does not do anything either so cancel again is the only option
When i press remove all sensors it seems to do something but nothing specific to my switch
When i try to add it again i has the same experience as before.
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Also, does "Remove all sensors" do the same thing as "Remove Sensor"? Only asking because that's the only operation that seems to be doing anything. Maybe I have a defective router. This would be much easier if I could call someone to trouble shoot this.
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Remove all sensors does not do the same as remove sensor, it simply purges all sensors from the Almond+, it doesn't reset them.
I highly doubt the router is defective as we've had zero Z-Wave issues.
Z-Wave has some quirks and I've had problems adding certain types of sensors as well.
According to the manual it shouldn't be that hard to join the sensor though, as it simply states "When prompted by your primary controller, tap the top or
bottom of the rocker" which I guess is what you've said already. Normally you have to switch it on rather than off for it to join the network.
One question, does it switch on and off the light it's connected to?
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lalvarez,
It sounds like your dimmer switch is faulty. Did you purchase it used? Do you have another controller that you could use to test it's operational status? The "Remove Device" option on the Almond+ should work to clear the device from a Z-Wave network - and you would just need to press on or off on the dimmer switch for this to happen. The fact that it's not doing anything makes it seem like your switch is faulty.
-Vito
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Yes the dimmer works perfectly otherwise. I made a video showing what I am experiencing in case it's of any help. At the end of the video I also show that the switch is successfully switching the lights.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wzfh2oeya28r43v/2014-10-06%2011.39.06-480p.mov?dl=0
And as I already mentioned it's a brand new switch (as well as the almond+ which is also brand new).
And yes, i do have another sensor that I got from you guys although it's a zigbee and not z-wave but that one also doesn't pair up. Also made a video of this attempt:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kshoggnqi2ibbqs/2014-10-06%2011.59.22-480p.mov?dl=0
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Not sure about the Z-Wave switch, but I think you're pressing the button for too long, you just just tap it once to start the pairing process.
For the PIR sensor I'm certain you're pressing the button for too long, it needs a quick tap, that's it, as in less than 1 second, so in other words, you're never starting the pairing process.
To reset the ZigBee sensors from us, you need to press and hold the button for 10 seconds.
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ok so the quick tab worked for the zig bee (btw that kind of info would be tremendously helpful in the instructions!)
but the other switch still is not pairing. Wish i had another z-wave switch to test and i hope i dont need to hire an electrician again to come and uninstall this switch.. how else can i test the zwave, is there some kind of diagnostics page somewhere?
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lalvarez,
Even for the Z-Wave devices, you only need to give it a short tap. That being said, there are occasions where a single tap doesn't register against my Vera controller. I've sort of formed a habit of hitting every switch twice (usually an on and off, or off and on), as this give a much greater chance that the communication will be successful. Try hitting remove and then tapping the switch a couple of short times. I was just able to verify that the Remove Device option on the Almond+ actually completes successfully multiple times - which means that you should have some sort of response on the Almond+ regardless of the state that the switch is in.
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ok so the secret was the "short tap". After an infinte amount of tries i finally got it to pair. Thanks for all the advice, however i would really include this "short" tap info in the pairing instructions. I would have saved me hours of frustration.
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The problem is that every Z-Wave device manufacturer has a slightly different way of doing things. Sometimes it's a short tap, sometimes it's press a button three times really fast, sometimes it's the tamper switch and in the case of thermostats, it's a menu option, and so on.
We don't really know and if the device/sensor manufacturer has poor documentation, there's really nothing we can do about it since we can't guess how something needs to be paired.
Admittedly it's no better with ZigBee devices, as there are just as many different options used for adding them.
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Gotcha, well the switch instructions were useless, it says you should follow your "controller" instructions!! I think it's intended to be used with their own brand controller. What makes the Almond great is that it's easy and intuitive to setup.. this is not your fault but this pairing experience was a major snag in an otherwise easy and pleasurable setup. If the almond included a short "Things to try if it's not pairing" or something like that the pairing screen could cycle through if it is not paired right away would go a long way or at least a troubleshooting guide for pairing on the knowledgebase because even this message board is hard to search. In either case i'm glad i finally got it working and thanks again for the help and sticking with me until i got it. Now I am just waiting for more functionality from the Almond+ besides simple on and off so i can do some actual automation :)
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Well, because there's at least half a dozen or more different ways of adding a sensor, depending on the sensor type, it might be impossible to do this.
It's not a bad idea though, but it's not that feasible as there are some 1,000+ certified Z-Wave devices, plus at least a few hundred ZigBee devices. Admittedly we don't support all of them, but it gets really complicated really quick.