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Updated September 23, 2008 0600am EST

I have some shades I would like to use Somfy LT 30 Radio controlled (battery powered) motors. I know about Somfy’s RTS universal Interface. I need to provide that with dry contact. What Z-Wave processor can I use that can give me dry contact?

You can get off the shelf Z-Wave window controllers that will control your Somfy LT30’s from Electronic Solutions and from RS Scene Automation.

I’m interested in replacing the control of several outdoor lighting time clocks with Z-Wave. I need a dusk-to-dawn source detector. Any suggestions?

There are several home controllers that provide dusk-to-dawn or “astronomical” time control of Z-Wave devices. Try looking at products from Cooper Wiring Devices, Leviton, Intermatic, HomeSeer, Control Think, and mControl. Look for products that advertise “astronomical” time control. These products use your latitude and longitude to calculate when local dawn and dusk occur for each day of the year. This way your lighting stays in sync with the changing length of the days through out the year.

I’m having a difficult time with Z-Wave remote signal reception, even with additional Z-Wave products, looking for high-gain antenna, or booster amplifier to increase output. Multiple hops through additional Z-Wave products have proved to be unreliable. I’m using a Z-Wave Nevo universal electronics remote control with Nevo connect.

Remember Z-Wave is a low power mesh networking technology so each device can only be expected to transmit a maximum of 30 meters “open field” to the next device.  In real world conditions, homes with lots of RF reflectors or absorbers, the range may be realistically half of that.

In addition, there are no high-gain antennas or power boosters, as the FCC doesn’t allow this for home control products in the unlicensed band. Please send a more specific email listing the products you are using to hop the signal, details of your physical environment, and your contact information. I’ll get in touch with you and see what we figure out.

How to reset a Z-Wave network? I have two Z-Wave networks, in two different properties.  In each case, I am no longer sure which controller was used to set them up.  In both networks, the controller was used to set up, then the network was "transferred" to an Elk M1-XZW, which did the controlling from that point on. Since that setup, one or more of the nodes (mostly old Intermatic switches) have died. How can I effectively troubleshoot each network, recover good nodes, detect and remove bad ones? I’m willing to get one or more new controllers, like ControlThink's USB stick Pro, but in the end, I’d like day-to-day control to be via the Elk M1. I’m also willing to change out the Elk XZW to the newer XSP->Leviton RXC0P interface.

I’m sorry to hear that you have experienced some failures of early Z-Wave switches. You don’t say how large each of your networks are but you do mention that you no longer have the primary portable controllers you used to set them up. I think your idea to reestablish the networks using a ControlThink ThinkEssentals Pro is a good one. This software and USB interface will allow you to recreate both networks with new and different Home ID’s as it can generate unique and random Home ID’s. It also has some very handy diagnostic tools as well as control capability. Perhaps the most compelling feature is its ability to back up and restore Z-Wave networks from a stored data file.

It seems some home automation manufacturers are writing applications for the iPhone. I have several Intermatic Z-Wave lamp modules. Is anyone making applications for these?

There are several smart phone applications that speak to general home control gateways that then speak Z-Wave. For just a few try looking up Lagotek, Hawking, HAI, and HomeSeer, Also check out Wayne Dalton’s House Port, Z-Wave Home Control software and USB interface for Apple OSX .

 

Mark Walters, our resident Z-Wave expert, is vice president of the Z-Wave Alliance.