trevorst Posted December 31, 2017 Posted December 31, 2017 I need to add a few more switches to my home and although I have mostly Insteon with just a couple of Zwave switches I am considering going with Zwave. I am going in that direction because Insteon appears to have no new development and will be left behind. Also the Insteon modem issue still exists. So I am looking to find the state of the art direction for Zwave switches. Any thoughts appreciated.
asbril Posted December 31, 2017 Posted December 31, 2017 Homeseer 100 switches are the best with excellent status reporting. The 200 series is coming out soon and promise to be even better. https://forums.homeseer.com/showthread.php?t=192977 https://homeseer.com/lighting/
stusviews Posted January 1, 2018 Posted January 1, 2018 I need to add a few more switches to my home and although I have mostly Insteon with just a couple of Zwave switches I am considering going with Zwave. I am going in that direction because Insteon appears to have no new development and will be left behind. Also the Insteon modem issue still exists. So I am looking to find the state of the art direction for Zwave switches. Any thoughts appreciated. What new development are you looking for?
G W Posted January 1, 2018 Posted January 1, 2018 I need to add a few more switches to my home and although I have mostly Insteon with just a couple of Zwave switches I am considering going with Zwave. I am going in that direction because Insteon appears to have no new development and will be left behind. Also the Insteon modem issue still exists. So I am looking to find the state of the art direction for Zwave switches. Any thoughts appreciated. Agreed. Insteon has been stagnant for the past three years.
stusviews Posted January 1, 2018 Posted January 1, 2018 Agreed. Insteon has been stagnant for the past three years. Specifically, other than locks, what device does Z-wave have that Insteon doesn't? There is a Z-Wave plug-in motion sensor, but where is there a convenient place to plug one in, in most homes? I'm not taking sides, this is merely a question.
mwester Posted January 1, 2018 Posted January 1, 2018 Specifically, other than locks, what device does Z-wave have that Insteon doesn't? There is a Z-Wave plug-in motion sensor, but where is there a convenient place to plug one in, in most homes? I'm not taking sides, this is merely a question. The multi-sensors -- I quite enjoy a single device that does motion, light-level, and temperature. The garage-door units -- a real unit, with the often-required (by code) strobe and alarm with delayed door operation. Wall-switch/dimmer with integrated occupancy detection -- awesome replacement for the Insteon motion detector for many use cases. On/Off and Dimmer units that record power consumption -- useful, but not generally so. There are numerous others in existence, but the above are the unique z-wave offerings that I'm currently using.
fasttimes Posted January 1, 2018 Posted January 1, 2018 How do Zwave and HomeSeer switches compare to Insteon? All I know about Insteon switches is that you can link them together using the switches themselves (completely impractical for a large network) or you can use something like the ISY to create those scenes. Do ZWave and HomeSeer switches link to each other in a similar fashion? Are the more reliable than Insteon?
asbril Posted January 1, 2018 Posted January 1, 2018 How do Zwave and HomeSeer switches compare to Insteon? All I know about Insteon switches is that you can link them together using the switches themselves (completely impractical for a large network) or you can use something like the ISY to create those scenes. Do ZWave and HomeSeer switches link to each other in a similar fashion? Are the more reliable than Insteon? Homeseer is a brand using Zwave technology. In other words Homeseer switches are Zwave switches, but not necessarily the other way around. To the best of my knowledge, Zwave switches (and therefore Homeseer switches) always need a hub to 'talk' to each other.
stusviews Posted January 1, 2018 Posted January 1, 2018 The multi-sensors -- I quite enjoy a single device that does motion, light-level, and temperature. The garage-door units -- a real unit, with the often-required (by code) strobe and alarm with delayed door operation. Wall-switch/dimmer with integrated occupancy detection -- awesome replacement for the Insteon motion detector for many use cases. On/Off and Dimmer units that record power consumption -- useful, but not generally so. There are numerous others in existence, but the above are the unique z-wave offerings that I'm currently using. Interesting list. But which Z-Wave devices offer what is indicated above in blue?
danbutter Posted January 1, 2018 Posted January 1, 2018 I thought the same thing! Found this GE switch: http://a.co/bKPofPL
mwester Posted January 1, 2018 Posted January 1, 2018 Interesting list. But which Z-Wave devices offer what is indicated above in blue? GE/Jasco 26931 (Default mode is occupancy, but some have reported they can make this work as a motion detector...) GoControl GD00Z-4 (My door opener is actually an older model of this... basic features are the same though)
asbril Posted January 1, 2018 Posted January 1, 2018 I thought the same thing! Found this GE switch: http://a.co/bKPofPL I learn something every day in this forum. Would this switch work as part of a 3-way ?
mwester Posted January 1, 2018 Posted January 1, 2018 I learn something every day in this forum. Would this switch work as part of a 3-way ? It uses the same GE add-on switches as the other GE Z-wave switches (GE 12723). (Alas, what you can't do is have the other switch also be an occupancy switch -- which is a shame, as my utility room is "L" shaped, and it would be nice to have the lights turn on automagically regardless of which door one enters...)
Bumbershoot Posted January 3, 2018 Posted January 3, 2018 HI all, I'm delighted to learn of these GE/Jasco dimmers/occupancy sensors. When occupancy is sensed, does the device directly control the load, or does the controller need to be involved? I'm hoping for near instantaneous response from the load. Thanks.
mwester Posted January 3, 2018 Posted January 3, 2018 The device directly controls the load - no controller necessary. And in the three-way configuration, it uses the "standard" Z-Wave approach where the other switch is a special dumb switch (i.e. not a standard wall switch, nor is it a z-wave switch). The advantage -- the three-way works without a controller, and even without any configuration at all. The downside -- you must use one of the GE three-way remote switches, and it must have a traveler a la the standard dumb switch 3-way configuration... Since all I need is to be alerted if someone manually turned on the lights in the basement rooms and left them on, I don't need instant status for those -- polling every few minutes is quite acceptable to me.
Bumbershoot Posted January 3, 2018 Posted January 3, 2018 The device directly controls the load - no controller necessary. And in the three-way configuration, it uses the "standard" Z-Wave approach where the other switch is a special dumb switch (i.e. not a standard wall switch, nor is it a z-wave switch). The advantage -- the three-way works without a controller, and even without any configuration at all. The downside -- you must use one of the GE three-way remote switches, and it must have a traveler a la the standard dumb switch 3-way configuration... Since all I need is to be alerted if someone manually turned on the lights in the basement rooms and left them on, I don't need instant status for those -- polling every few minutes is quite acceptable to me. Thanks for the reply. I'm simply looking to quickly switch on the light in a couple of water closets that guests frequently use, and I'd just as soon not have any obvious motion sensors visible. Some folks have expressed to me that they are uncomfortable seeing these devices (thinking they're cameras), especially where privacy is an expectation.
stusviews Posted January 3, 2018 Posted January 3, 2018 I don't need instant status for those -- polling every few minutes is quite acceptable to me. Aren't you at all concerned about the extra traffic the polling causes? Somewhat related, does anyone know, not speculate, the amount of energy being used by transmitting a signal? Certainly a transmission, whether powerline or RF, consumes some energy, however miniscule that may be..
mwester Posted January 4, 2018 Posted January 4, 2018 Aren't you at all concerned about the extra traffic the polling causes? Somewhat related, does anyone know, not speculate, the amount of energy being used by transmitting a signal? Certainly a transmission, whether powerline or RF, consumes some energy, however miniscule that may be.. Nope, not concerned about the traffic, or the RF energy, in the least! It's all a matter of perspective -- I have 4 wireless access points on the property, and they report 19 wireless devices connected right now (many more when the kids are home especially with guests), I have two cell phones in the house, and again many more when the kids and guests are here, and I have many Insteon RF-capable devices that are filling the airwaves with chatter (just watch the L3 log to see all that). A poll of several devices every 5 minutes is statistically meaningless in the RF racket of today's world, and almost meaningless in the overall Z-Wave traffic, methinks...
stusviews Posted January 4, 2018 Posted January 4, 2018 All the RF devices in the world impact, primarily, those devices' batteries, not the energy you are using. With all the wasters in the world, do you consider your impact toward saving energy inconsequential? Rhetorical question, response entirely optional. I'd still like to know about the energy polling wastes, none-the-less. Does anyone know? No doubt there are benefits to some amount of polling, but I'd still like to know more. Saving energy is not a matter of opinion, in my opinion
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.