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Updated December 8, 2008 0600am EST

I’m waiting for next generation Z-Wave chip, called P400, supports 2.4GHz frequency. But, I can’t find any news and release plan recently. When will the P400 be available in Korea, China, and Japan?

The next generation “P400” Z-Wave chip from Zensys is scheduled to ship sometime in early 2009. As you point out, this version will have support for the 2.4 GHz band as well as the current 900 MHz band and the plan is to use this capability to introduce Asia to Z-Wave technology as their governments have not approved the 900 MHz band for home controls. The last plan I saw has North America and Europe continuing to use the 900 MHz band. Remember you get better range and object (wall) penetration with the lower 900 MHz band.

I have a Harmony 890 remote control and would love to use Z-Wave products to control accessories in my house. I’d like to control lights that are plugged into particular outlets in my home theater. What’s the easiest way to get started?

The easiest products to get started with are plug-in lamp and appliance modules. These are available from ACT, Cooper, Leviton, HomeSettings, and GE. These products control corded devices. These same companies also make in-wall switches and dimmers if you don’t mind installing these types of devices. Cooper and HomeSettings also make receptacles (outlets) that install in the wall as well.

I have ACT Z-Wave switches. I would like to control an air conditioning unit to regulate room temperature. I have seen some thermostat products, RCS TZ40/TZ43/Wayne Dalton WDTC-20. How can I use these products? I’m in a tropical country and I don’t have a residential HVAC system.

If your air conditioner unit only has an on/off switch and no provision for an external thermostat, the best you can do is to use a Z-Wave controlled device to control the power to the unit. First, determine if cutting the power to the unit (unplugging it) does anything undesireable such as forcing the unit to the off state. Second, determine how much power the unit uses. There are several Z-Wave devices that can be used to control more than 20A 120v if necessary. Lastly, if just turning the power to the unit on and off and relying on its external controls isn’t enough, you could use a Z-Wave temperature sensing device, a central controller to poll the sensor and to decide based on the temperature when to power it or not. 

Which of the Z-Wave Alliance members are German companies (or sell products in Germany)? So far I just found: Danfoss and Merten. Are there any others?

Also try Advanced Control Technologies (ACT), Beaumotica, BeNExt, Forest Drapery Hardware, Hawking, ICOM Technologies, Innovus A/S, Pulse, Reitz (Duwi, Popp, Schwaiger) and Seluxit.

I have purchased a Leviton Vizia RF+ remote and a few dimmers and they are working fine. I also purchased an Intermatic CA3500 receptacle but cannot get it to associate to the Leviton controller. Intermatic claims the Leviton controller won’t work with their receptacle and Leviton says its controller should work with all manufacturers’ equipment. Any ideas or suggestions?

I’m not sure why you would want to associate a receptacle to a handheld controller. The Leviton controller should include the CA3500 just fine and should control it just like it was any other basic switch type node. The CA3500 is a Z-Wave compatible device and should perform inclusion and basic operation, on/off with any Z-Wave controller including the Vizia RF controller from Leviton.

I need a remote that will control Vizia RF Z-Wave in wall switches. I have ordered two so far that say they are compatible with all Z-Wave products but neither have worked. Any suggestions?

Leviton does have a proprietary feature that allows the switch to be associated back to a controller so its status will always be reported without polling. This is a nice feature for in-wall controllers but much less useful for hand-held controllers. You should be able to include and control, on, off, bright, dim (if it is a dimmer) the Vizia RF in-wall switches and dimmers with any Z-Wave certified controller. I have done this in my own home with all of the Intermatic, Wayne- Dalton, GE, Monster, and ACT hand-held controllers with no problems. If you are not having any luck I suggest you contact Leviton technical support they are very helpful and I’m sure will be able to get you going.

 

Mark Walters, our resident Z-Wave expert, is a home automation consultant and the former vice president of the Z-Wave Alliance. Mark is well versed in numerous home automation technologies including CE Bus, Insteon, X10, Z-Wave, ZigBee, and KNX.