What do I need to set up remote control of lighting, thermostats and door locks via the internet or an Android phone?
ADT Pulse, GE Security and now Honeywell are entering that market. Each system and platform has its pluses and minuses depending on what you are trying to accomplish. I use HomeSeer for remote lighting. Vera by Micasaverde and the Schlage Link are also available. And there are also the security panels with Z-Wave including 2Gig Technologies.
Are there any Z-Wave on/off switches that would work with metal halide lights? I tried a Jasco/GE switch but after wiring it up it never successfully turned on the light.
That depends on what size breaker are controlling the lights you want to turn on and off. Depending on the size of the circuit there a couple of options you might want to explore:
15 Amp:
Leviton VRS15-1LZ – Vizia-RF + 15A Relay Switch for Single Pole/3-Way
20 Amp:
Evolve LFM-20 – 20A Z-Wave Relay Fixture Module
30 Amp:
Intermatic InTouch CA3750 Contactor Module
I’m looking to control a Jaccuzi tub motor. Is there a 20Amp in wall Z-Wave Timer Relay/Switch?
Currently there is not a Z-Wave Timer Relay Switch on the market. You possible might look at the following devices:
Evolve LFM-20 – 20A Z-Wave Relay Fixture Module
Intermatic InTouch CA3750 Contactor Module
I have a ZW4101 installed to my ADT pulse system and I can control it from the web remotely. I bought a GE GE45600 wireless lighting Z-Wave remote control and went through the pairing process, but every time I pressed the button from the device, it doesn’t seem to be talking to my remote so my remote will time out (it blinks red twice at the end) Do you know what might be the issue here?
It appears that you have made the GE 45600 Z-Wave Wireless Lighting Control Remote a secondary controller on the Pulse network according to the instructions. Please look at pages 9 thru 12.
Could you tell me the power consumption while sending or receiving data with a Z-Wave device?
The power consumption is negligible. Take a look at the HSM100-EU 868 Z-Wave Multi-Sensor. This sensor operates on 3 AAA batteries and reports status for illumination, temperature and battery every hour by default. In my network I have the sensors reporting every 6 minutes as I utilize the illumination level to control the lights. I get between 12 and 14 weeks out of a set of batteries. If you increase the reporting interval to between 24 and 30 minutes the batteries last a year.
I want to use sensory software as a controller for Z-Wave with our USB Z-Wave transmitter. Can I also use another handheld Z-Wave controller in the same network?
What Z-wave USB Stick are you using for your Primary controller? What Sensory software are you utilizing? In Z-Wave you have a primary controller and can have multiple secondary controllers within the network. The primary controller is the device that is used to build the network and/or add devices to the network. Secondary controllers are added to the network then the network information is sent to the secondary controller from the primary controller. When the primary controller is updated (with new devices) the secondary controller should be updated to keep the controllers in-sync.
Will a Wayne Dalton Z-Wave garage door opener work with either a Micasaverde or Schlage Link bridge?
The Wayne -Dalton devices will work with Vera and possibly the Schlage Link system unless you’re referring to the I-Drive system.
I have Hunter Douglas vertical Luminette blinds with IR controls. I’d like to make these operate by RF. What do you have to offer? Is the DBMZ the right device for this?
Either of the devices should work:
ESI ABMHZ – Z-Wave Enabled Window Treatment Motor Control – AC
ESI DBMZ – Z-Wave Enabled Window Treatment load monitoring DC Motor Control
If you are using the CTZUS-1US ThinkStick USB Z-Wave Interface I would look at the following as remotes:
Leviton VRCPG-SG Vizia RF+ Z-Wave Remote Control with Timers
Leviton VRCPG-BSG Vizia RF + Basic Proqrammer/Controller
As this is all Leviton it should be fairly easy to incorporate either of these remotes into the system.
I’d like to know if I can use the GE 45601 Z-Wave Wireless Lighting Advanced Remote Control to control my light switches which is 868.42 MHz the European Z-Wave?
Here are a couple of handheld remotes to look at that will work for you:
Aeon Labs DSA03202B-ZWEU Minimote-EU – Black
Homepro ZTH200 Z-Wave Handheld Controller, (Euro)
I’m about to order Hunter Douglas silhouette shades. I want to control them with my iPhone so I can open and close them from a remote location. I also want to grow my Z-Wave network to control some lamps and heating too — all via my iPhone. The shades and a few lamps are the priority, though, what do I need to do to get started?
With Z-Wave devices you can build and expand your network as much as you want. Watch this video for examples of how to get started. For your immediate needs you can either try Vera by MiCasaVerde or HomeSeer. These options have no subscription fees. You might start by reviewing theses two options and then map out what you want to automate today and in the future – build your wish list, then go back review the options again.
I have a Trane Z-Wave thermostat. It was originally used on another Z-Wave network. I am trying to pair it to my current Z-Wave network, but it still shows as paired with the old one. I have tried powercycling, restoring factory defaults in the hidden technicians menu, and unpairing using my Z-Wave system. No matter what, the thermostat interface still shows as paired with the old system. Is there a way around this?
It depends on what systems you are working with. A Z-Wave device can only exist in one network at a time. When a device is added to a network the HomeId from the primary controller and the Id on the device’s Z-Wave Chip are combined to created a unique Id, which allows you to control the device. In the manual for the Trane thermostat see page 16 for the Z-Wave Inclusion and Removal. The Thermostat needs to be removed/reset from the network before it can be added to the new network. This can be done with any primary controller.
I am building out my ADT security system with additional Z-Wave devices. I just discovered my foyer chandelier is operable from four separate switches. Is there such a thing as a five-way switch?
The Leviton Line of Z-Wave supports a five-way setup depending on the kind of light your chandelier is.
I have a sump pump in my basement and I was wondering if there were any Z-Wave products with a set of contacts that if they had power applied to them (a float switch closing and allowing power to go through) could send a signal alerting me.
There are a number of devices either on the market or due out this quarter that could accomplish what you are asking about. Are you currently running a Z-wave system? Depending on what system/controller you are using will help determine the applicable solutions.
I have a Honeywell Vista 20 that I need to work with a door lock (Schlage Wireless Keypad Lever). How would I go about this?
The Honeywell Total Connect 2.0 is the company’s entry into Z-Wave. There are a number of ways to tie the Vista 20P into other automation systems allowing you utilize the Z-Wave technology (door looks, lighting, climate control) and the security panel together.
Are there any Z-Wave outlets available that support dimming? I want to install track lighting on the ceiling and control it with Z-Wave but the only option I see at this point is to install an outlet and plug in a big Z-Wave dimmer box and then plug the track lighting into that.
Currently there are no Z-Wave dimming receptacles on the market. At CES 2011 there were a number of manufacturer’s that were showing in-line modules. One of the modules on display was a dimming module, but I have not seen them come to market yet.
Is Z-Wave appropriate for a small apartment building? We have an 11-unit building and are looking at Z-Wave for entry control with video. We need to activate the entry door remotely from each unit. We would also like to be able to change the door lock combinations from our office. Can we have access to some features by each tenant and other features only available to the office?
Yes Z-Wave can be appropriate for small apartment buildings. Evolve Guest Controls are installed at the Wynne Hotel in Las Vegas, which has over 65,000 devices in 8000 + guest rooms.
How do I pair my GE 45606 light switch to me MCC AVL 300 remote?
The instructions for the AVL 300 remote will show you how the 45606 Dimmer Switch should pair/include in the network the same way, using the same procedure as IWD 600 Dimmer. If the device doesn’t pair/include, unpair/exclude the 45606 dimmer from the network then pair it again.
Find the Z-Wave products you need at our Amazon store:
