Zwave GE dimmer - ramp rate

[scubaguyjohn]

With Insteon devices and ISY, I can set dimmer ramp rates conveniently. 

Does ISY permit Zwave dimmer ramp rate settings (as with Insteon devices)?   ...ie, when zwave dimmer switch ON, ramp to 90% over 3 minutes?

Also, my GE zwave dimmers default to whatever dim level is set no matter how many times they are turned on and off.    For example,  once a zwave dimmer is set to 40%, the zwave dimmer always defaults to the 40% level even after its turned off and on again.  Insteon dimmers behave differently:  they revert back to the the default dim level after being turned off. 

..this is an issue with a zwave dimmer set to a low dim level over night, but when turned on in the morning,  I'd expect it to return to 100% (if that's the present default level).

With ISY, is it possible to make GE dimmers behave like Insteon dimmers so that the dim level resets to the default level and not the last selected dim level?

thanks.

[Brian H]

The Ramp Rate in the Insteon switches is a feature supported by its firmware.

Do you know if the Zwave switches in question have the feature you are asking about?  If not you probably can't do it.

If you have the model numbers of the switches. Maybe we can see what its features are.

[MWareman]

As said above, on level and ramp rate are features of the switch - not ISY.

In zwave, the switch firmware has parameters, and the ISY can set values to the parameters. You will need to find the documentation for the switch to find out if the switch supports the features you need and specifically what parameter you need to set to what value to implement it.

[lilyoyo1]

I haven't seen a zwave dimmer that supports changing it's ramp rate yet. 

[Bumbershoot]

3 hours ago, lilyoyo1 said:

I haven't seen a zwave dimmer that supports changing it's ramp rate yet. 

The Homeseer 200 series does, but only in one second intervals.

[DrLumen]

The Leviton and GE ZW dimmers also have configurable ramp rates. The leviton in 1 second intervals. The GE supposedly has configurable ramp rates in x steps at so many milliseconds per step. I'm still fighting with mine though. I've got it (the one that really matters) turning on quicker than the default but the off time is still an issue. Unless there is an undocumented setting somewhere, the GE's do not support a default dim level.

http://www.ezzwave.com//advanced-operation

 

[scubaguyjohn]

thanks for the replies...the GE Zwave Plus devices have configurable ramp rates - I'm curious if that parameter shows up in the ISY interface?

Dr Lumen, I too am having issues getting the GE units to ramp appropriately...in theory, they should take up to 4 minutes with the max settings...the most I seem to get is about 10 seconds with LED lights...

In the past, I used ISY extensively with Zwave and Insteon devices...however, due to Insteon keypad failures and the severe lack of a decent software interface for ISY, I wanted to try SmartThings...now I'm wondering if ISY has more capabilities in some areas with the zwave devices.  The ISY reliability/flexibility was excellent and I used it for 6 years but gave up waiting for a friendly interface...now  I'm curious if it might give more control over the zwave devices...not sure that aspect would over come the interface issue for me though....

[lilyoyo1]

LED light are a different beast when it comes to turning on. Because of the threshold it takes to turn on, they can't mimic incandescents. The best bulbs from my experience to come close are the Phillips warm glow

[DrLumen]

4 hours ago, scubaguyjohn said:

thanks for the replies...the GE Zwave Plus devices have configurable ramp rates - I'm curious if that parameter shows up in the ISY interface?

Dr Lumen, I too am having issues getting the GE units to ramp appropriately...in theory, they should take up to 4 minutes with the max settings...the most I seem to get is about 10 seconds with LED lights...

In the past, I used ISY extensively with Zwave and Insteon devices...however, due to Insteon keypad failures and the severe lack of a decent software interface for ISY, I wanted to try SmartThings...now I'm wondering if ISY has more capabilities in some areas with the zwave devices.  The ISY reliability/flexibility was excellent and I used it for 6 years but gave up waiting for a friendly interface...now  I'm curious if it might give more control over the zwave devices...not sure that aspect would over come the interface issue for me though....

scubaguyjohn, I guess it depends on how far you want to go and how complicated you can live with. I've found the configuration options easy to set from the ISY. However, considering you can write your own device handlers for the SmartThings hub, you can get a lot more control of the devices with those. As to things like a default dim levels, you could probably do that in a ST device handler but I think those are only reactive. I guess with a combination of a device handler and the ST app one could set dim levels based, for example, on the time of day. The programming of ST device handlers appears straight forward and there is tons of documentation, examples and published device handlers. However, I found the learning curve to be steep for ST handlers.

The only reason I'm using the ISY (at least for the time being) is that it is not cloud based. My internet was out for a few days and all the ST shtuff quit working. I'm still using the ST hub for a few non-critical sensors but that is all.

[DrLumen]

5 hours ago, lilyoyo1 said:

LED light are a different beast when it comes to turning on. Because of the threshold it takes to turn on, they can't mimic incandescents. The best bulbs from my experience to come close are the Phillips warm glow

I found that depends on the LED source and controller. The generic LED replacement bulbs do have an unsatisfactory (IMO) threshold but PCM controllers, like RGB controllers, have a smooth dimming curve from 0 to full.

[MWareman]

thanks for the replies...the GE Zwave Plus devices have configurable ramp rates - I'm curious if that parameter shows up in the ISY interface?

 

All parameters can be set with the ISY Admin interface. You just need to know the parameter number and size - and the value you want to set it to. This is usually available from the switch manual or manufacturer.

[scubaguyjohn]

thanks everyone...I installed smartthings webcore and...wow!  It's everything I wished isy had in terms of a GUI...the only downside is I'd prefer local processing but I don't see performance issues as I have fast, reliable internet...I don't understand the isy business model...if ISY had software like webcore and smartthings, they'd clean up...ISY reminds me of the hardware suppliers in the 80's when everyone was rushing to build the latest and greatest PC...but the real money (and survival) was in software.

Anyhow, the zwave dimmers coupled with LED lamps are a bit clunky with ramp rates but the parameters are all accessible as with ISY.