There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
on June 11, 2013
This is a scene controller. You will need another controller (like the http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013V6RW0/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_4 or http://www.amazon.com/Mi-Casa-Verde-VeraLite-Controller/dp/B007005364/ref=pd_sim_hi_7) to program your devices and transfer those settings to this device.
The buttons are nicely done, and give a good tactile indication that they have been pressed. The finish of the materials and overall quality is excellent. The device I received has up and down arrows on the left and right of the four top buttons.
This would make a great second controller in a situation where you want a 3-way switch but do not want to rewire the room. Just replace the original switch with a Z-wave switch, and use this controller in a second location.
The buttons are nicely done, and give a good tactile indication that they have been pressed. The finish of the materials and overall quality is excellent. The device I received has up and down arrows on the left and right of the four top buttons.
This would make a great second controller in a situation where you want a 3-way switch but do not want to rewire the room. Just replace the original switch with a Z-wave switch, and use this controller in a second location.
on November 4, 2014
paired with smartthings hub. No need for primary remote.
I just bought this keypad controller and was able to program it without using any remote as a primary. All i did for the first (replication) step was:
- press add+remove (from instructions)
- press off buttons 1,2,3,4 (from instructions)
- when orange light was blinking, i used my android device's Smartthings app to search for a new device.
- the app found the controller as a 'z-wave remote', and the light flashed green on the controller
- proceeded as normal to add groups and scenes
NOTE: the devices i was controlling had already been added to my home network using my Android app.
I can now control multiple [z-wave outlet connected] lamps in my bedroom using this controller that i placed at the entrance. Works like a charm.
Good luck
I just bought this keypad controller and was able to program it without using any remote as a primary. All i did for the first (replication) step was:
- press add+remove (from instructions)
- press off buttons 1,2,3,4 (from instructions)
- when orange light was blinking, i used my android device's Smartthings app to search for a new device.
- the app found the controller as a 'z-wave remote', and the light flashed green on the controller
- proceeded as normal to add groups and scenes
NOTE: the devices i was controlling had already been added to my home network using my Android app.
I can now control multiple [z-wave outlet connected] lamps in my bedroom using this controller that i placed at the entrance. Works like a charm.
Good luck
on May 1, 2017
My experience is good and bad. First, I use WINK, and had a hard time connecting it. The app won't recognize the bar code, and there's nothing in the list for it. I experimented and discovered using the Lights / then GE In Wall Smart Switch that it linked immediately. Now you can't see this in your device list, so you have to do a manual programming for it. Before mounting it on the wall, take it around to the switches you want to add to a group or scene and connect them there. I have the Leviton switches, and appliance switch modules. Follow the included instructions and they connect just fine. (Press and hold the "add" and "remove" switches together until the amber light comes on, then press "add" and release, the "group" and release, and then the right toggle switch you want, then on the Leviton switches, hold the up paddle in until it turns amber. Let it go, and press it once quickly. It will add the switch). Do this for as many switches as you want in your groups and you're done. Works nicely. Now, I was not able to program any scenes, but didn't spend much time on it because I just wanted to use it for four straight on / off switches. Maybe it's something with the linking as a GE In Wall Smart Switch. I did follow the instructions but couldn't make that part work. Maybe someone else will have that answer.
Now I wanted to mount this in an in wall box that was not being used. unfortunately the holes for the screws in this switch do not match the holes in the standard junction box. I had to improvise but made it work. I hope this helps others to make it work.
Now I wanted to mount this in an in wall box that was not being used. unfortunately the holes for the screws in this switch do not match the holes in the standard junction box. I had to improvise but made it work. I hope this helps others to make it work.
on January 4, 2016
I have a small SmartThings network to control my lights and locks. I have several lights in my basement in various rooms with switches that require you to walk through the dark room to turn them on. This solved that perfectly. I can now control all my basement lights from my main basement room and turn them on before I walk into the sub-rooms.
Just be aware that this is a secondary controller. It does not identify itself as having button or switch capabilities. You will not be able to assign buttons on this device using SmartThings SmartApps. Instead, you add this device to your "My Things" list as a secondary controller so that this device can see other devices on your network (again, it's a secondary controller). Then you use this device itself to add one or more lights or devices to each of the buttons. Once I understood that, I actually found the documentation helpful in setting my basement up.
Just be aware that this is a secondary controller. It does not identify itself as having button or switch capabilities. You will not be able to assign buttons on this device using SmartThings SmartApps. Instead, you add this device to your "My Things" list as a secondary controller so that this device can see other devices on your network (again, it's a secondary controller). Then you use this device itself to add one or more lights or devices to each of the buttons. Once I understood that, I actually found the documentation helpful in setting my basement up.
on March 23, 2013
I bought a few of these and they were working fine until I ran into some devices that it would not control even though the green light flashed like it was programmed.
I spent a week talking to my systems support team and they said it should work.
It turns out if any of your devices have a NodeID higher than 32 this switch will not control them. This should be made a lot more clear in the manual and the product description.
So if you have have a lot of Z Wave devices you may not want to buy this switch.
The good is it works really well for all the other devices. Unfortunately for me the devices I want to control happen to be the ones with the highest node ids.
I spent a week talking to my systems support team and they said it should work.
It turns out if any of your devices have a NodeID higher than 32 this switch will not control them. This should be made a lot more clear in the manual and the product description.
So if you have have a lot of Z Wave devices you may not want to buy this switch.
The good is it works really well for all the other devices. Unfortunately for me the devices I want to control happen to be the ones with the highest node ids.
keep in mind that this is a secondary controller--you need a primary to set up your network the first time
on July 10, 2013
I'd give it a 5 star if the programming buttons were somehow hidden under a flap or something. My 4-year old punched them a few times and disabled the controls. Re-setup is not difficult.
The only caveat: You'd need a primary z-wave enabled controller to first setup up your network. Z-wave set it up like this for security reasons; you don't want your neighbors to turn off your lights, or vice-persa. Once you set up your network on the primary, then you can download the network setting to this controller, your secondary.
The directions work. Follow them carefully. The only issue was getting the node, i.e. the Z-wave wall switch, to send the signal the first time during programming. I had to hit the Z-wave wall switch 20x to get the green light to flash on this controller. I had the same issue with the primary controller setup as well.
Overall, it works well and is very thin. The mounting tape allows installation pretty much anywhere. It looks like a real wall switch. Responsive. On/off control flawlessly. The only issue other issue is that the face plate click off with little effort.
The only caveat: You'd need a primary z-wave enabled controller to first setup up your network. Z-wave set it up like this for security reasons; you don't want your neighbors to turn off your lights, or vice-persa. Once you set up your network on the primary, then you can download the network setting to this controller, your secondary.
The directions work. Follow them carefully. The only issue was getting the node, i.e. the Z-wave wall switch, to send the signal the first time during programming. I had to hit the Z-wave wall switch 20x to get the green light to flash on this controller. I had the same issue with the primary controller setup as well.
Overall, it works well and is very thin. The mounting tape allows installation pretty much anywhere. It looks like a real wall switch. Responsive. On/off control flawlessly. The only issue other issue is that the face plate click off with little effort.
on March 2, 2015
Does pretty much exactly what I want. Also it's super thin and light, and you can just mount it with double stick tape to the wall anywhere you want and it doesn't stick out any more than a regular light switch cover plate. Very cool. Like all Z-Wave devices the programming is a little bit tedious and don't throw away the instructions because you have to do the steps in exactly the right order. Sometimes I hit a button not quite firmly enough and nothing happens, so the switches could be a bit better. It will actually make a soft clicking sound but not switch on, unless you push down more firmly. If you look at the unit a little light on the switch comes on if you press the button firmly enough, so there is some feedback. You learn to press firmly, but still, the switches need to be improved.
You can assign 'scenes' and multiple fixtures and brightness levels to each switch pair. For instance, I have one button turn on the kitchen lights fully, and the next button to turn on the den lights fully. A third button turns all the lights in both rooms to about a 50% dim level for a kind of late evening movie watching "scene". Simple, flexible, no smart phone or wifi complications necessary.
I also wish they would print simple programming instruction on the back, or had a card insert that slipped in and out of slot or something. If you want to add a light to a scene later, dig out the manual and figure it out all over again.
This is so thin because it uses two thin quarter-sized button cell type batteries (CR2032). I have used it for six months and the batteries are fine, but I have no idea how long they will last.
You can assign 'scenes' and multiple fixtures and brightness levels to each switch pair. For instance, I have one button turn on the kitchen lights fully, and the next button to turn on the den lights fully. A third button turns all the lights in both rooms to about a 50% dim level for a kind of late evening movie watching "scene". Simple, flexible, no smart phone or wifi complications necessary.
I also wish they would print simple programming instruction on the back, or had a card insert that slipped in and out of slot or something. If you want to add a light to a scene later, dig out the manual and figure it out all over again.
This is so thin because it uses two thin quarter-sized button cell type batteries (CR2032). I have used it for six months and the batteries are fine, but I have no idea how long they will last.
on March 3, 2016
I have an older home and this had made my life so easy and has helped me bypass the need, at least temporarily, to have to get new switches installed. My GoControl bulbs are VERY reliable Smart bulbs, and paired with this, my lights are much easier to control!
These are VERY handy to have around the house. I used them with my GoControl Z-Wave light bulbs and my Aeon Lab appliance z-wave switches and they work beautifully. As is explained, this does not work as a standalone switch. You must have the devices synced up with some sort of hub, whether you have SmartThings, Vera, Wink, etc. I personally have Nexia from when I had a Schlage lock. I'm looking to switch, but it works fine.
The only thing I'd say is a little frustrating is that this is difficult to explain to others to use, especially people who aren't technologically savvy. So, I try to leave it in "scene" mode so that my "groups" aren't getting turned on and off accidentally. Other people have mentioned they don't like not being able to control just one device, but you can, simply by putting it in a group by itself. Yes, that means devoting an entire button to one device, but it works fine.
These are VERY handy to have around the house. I used them with my GoControl Z-Wave light bulbs and my Aeon Lab appliance z-wave switches and they work beautifully. As is explained, this does not work as a standalone switch. You must have the devices synced up with some sort of hub, whether you have SmartThings, Vera, Wink, etc. I personally have Nexia from when I had a Schlage lock. I'm looking to switch, but it works fine.
The only thing I'd say is a little frustrating is that this is difficult to explain to others to use, especially people who aren't technologically savvy. So, I try to leave it in "scene" mode so that my "groups" aren't getting turned on and off accidentally. Other people have mentioned they don't like not being able to control just one device, but you can, simply by putting it in a group by itself. Yes, that means devoting an entire button to one device, but it works fine.
on January 16, 2015
Having many GE/Jasco paddle switches (GE 45609) installed I ran into a problem in a three way setup (GE 45609 and auxillary GE 45610) where I had one switch box with all of the necessary wires for the GE 45609 (line, load, neutral, traveler and ground) but for some reason was missing a neutral wire where the auxillary GE switch would go.
Those familiar with the GE Jasco 45609 know that you can get the main switch to work without the auxially in a three way set up which is what I did. However, I needed a solution to create a switch in the second location as the GE Auxillary will not work without the neutral.
This device was the answer to my problem. It is one of if not the only battery powered zwave wall switch solutions that I could find. I was able to successfully pair this controller with Smartthings using other reviewers guidance:
Press and hold Add and Remove until the orange light flashes. Then press the left side of each button (the down arrow) one at a time from top to bottom. The orange light will turn solid and it is ready to add to smartthings. From there it is the usual steps to add the device to smartthings. It should recognize it as a Z Wave Remote.
Once added follow the instruction booklet to add devices into a group. Now, I am able to control not only the problematic three way switch from this device but was able to create groups to control nearby lights with the other 3 buttons. Yes, smartthings will know the current state of your light after using this device.
Note- I am aware of the "32 node" issue. This was not a problem for me. Smartthings assigns node IDs 01,02...10 then starts with a lettering scheme 0A, 0B...etc before going to 11,12. I thought devices that were assigned a node id with a letter might be a problem but they were not. Added to the groups just like the others with no problems.
4 stars instead of 5 because it isnt the most attractive natural looking switch and if you want to install it on a switch box using screws the device is oddly too long to use both screw holes.
Those familiar with the GE Jasco 45609 know that you can get the main switch to work without the auxially in a three way set up which is what I did. However, I needed a solution to create a switch in the second location as the GE Auxillary will not work without the neutral.
This device was the answer to my problem. It is one of if not the only battery powered zwave wall switch solutions that I could find. I was able to successfully pair this controller with Smartthings using other reviewers guidance:
Press and hold Add and Remove until the orange light flashes. Then press the left side of each button (the down arrow) one at a time from top to bottom. The orange light will turn solid and it is ready to add to smartthings. From there it is the usual steps to add the device to smartthings. It should recognize it as a Z Wave Remote.
Once added follow the instruction booklet to add devices into a group. Now, I am able to control not only the problematic three way switch from this device but was able to create groups to control nearby lights with the other 3 buttons. Yes, smartthings will know the current state of your light after using this device.
Note- I am aware of the "32 node" issue. This was not a problem for me. Smartthings assigns node IDs 01,02...10 then starts with a lettering scheme 0A, 0B...etc before going to 11,12. I thought devices that were assigned a node id with a letter might be a problem but they were not. Added to the groups just like the others with no problems.
4 stars instead of 5 because it isnt the most attractive natural looking switch and if you want to install it on a switch box using screws the device is oddly too long to use both screw holes.
