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Bug in updating/polling multilevel switches [SOLVED]

Posted: 14 Aug 2016 01:27
by jadedeane
Updated subject to more correctly reflect nature of the issue, namely problems with Z-Way updating/polling multilevel switches. See post 10 and on.

Looking at GE in-wall on/off, dimmer, and fan switches. Any specific experiences? Extra points if you've used homebridge and homebridge-zway :)

Re: Anyone have experience with GE switches?

Posted: 15 Aug 2016 19:08
by CudaNet
I actually have all 3 paired within z-way but I'm not familiar with homebridge. What would you like to know ?
jadedeane wrote:Looking at GE in-wall on/off, dimmer, and fan switches. Any specific experiences? Extra points if you've used homebridge and homebridge-zway :)

Re: Anyone have experience with GE switches?

Posted: 16 Aug 2016 09:55
by jadedeane
Curious as to general experiences but went ahead and picked up some on/off and dimmer switches, along with their add-ons. Can leave homebridge off the table, very solid there for anyone else using it.

I'm able to see on/off/dimmer level changes when the line switch is used, but when the load/add-on switch is used (be it to power things on, off, or adjust dimmer levels) nothing. Not sure where to go from here to troubleshoot further...

Re: Anyone have experience with GE switches?

Posted: 16 Aug 2016 10:02
by jadedeane
Interesting. When I make a change via the load/add-on switch I see nothing in the z-way server logs. Not a peep.

Re: Anyone have experience with GE switches?

Posted: 16 Aug 2016 18:48
by CudaNet
Yes, you won't. You need to installer the Niffler module. I had the exact same issue for all the devices with exception of the plug receptacles themselves. All control via z-way is instant, the minute you move to a physical switch - nothing gets updated. However if you ask zway to update, sure enough - it updates.

When I added Niffler, it corrected this behavior. It would be great to have native support within z-way !

CN
jadedeane wrote:Interesting. When I make a change via the load/add-on switch I see nothing in the z-way server logs. Not a peep.

Re: Anyone have experience with GE switches?

Posted: 16 Aug 2016 20:08
by jadedeane
Ah yes, Niffler. I've been using that app with my Kwikset locks, which solved the lack of state change updates I had with those. Love it!

With regard to Niffler and GE switches, I have my dimmer switches added to Niffler (on/off switches don't seem to need this. Presume because, like the dimmer switches, they're the line switches as it were). Still don't see state changes in Z-Way when I use the load/add-on switches.

Could you expand on your use of Niffler with your GE switches (dimmers?), and whether or not you're using the load/add-on switches and see state changes?

Thanks!

Re: Experience with GE switches and status update failures

Posted: 16 Aug 2016 20:30
by jadedeane
Oh this is interesting (still learning a lot about Z-Wave). Perhaps this has something to do with dimmer status: https://community.smartthings.com/t/zwa ... ate/4864/6

Re: Anyone have experience with GE switches?

Posted: 16 Aug 2016 20:41
by CudaNet
Yes, in my testing - I didn't need Niffler for my GE binary switches. I actually didn't review the logs after I added my dimmers to Niffler. I was able to see an immediate state change in /smarthome as well as /expert. I'll take a look tonight when I get home.

I'm not using the add-on switches which I assume you mean 3-way.

CN
jadedeane wrote:Ah yes, Niffler. I've been using that app with my Kwikset locks, which solved the lack of state change updates I had with those. Love it!

With regard to Niffler and GE switches, I have my dimmer switches added to Niffler (on/off switches don't seem to need this. Presume because, like the dimmer switches, they're the line switches as it were). Still don't see state changes in Z-Way when I use the load/add-on switches.

Could you expand on your use of Niffler with your GE switches (dimmers?), and whether or not you're using the load/add-on switches and see state changes?

Thanks!

Re: Experience with GE switches and status update failures

Posted: 16 Aug 2016 20:45
by jadedeane
Yes, sorry, add-on = 3-way. The dimmer switches status updates are near instantaneous (on, off, dimmer levels). Those blasted add-on switches when physically switched don't result in any updates.

Almost wish there were a method in Z-Way to simply poke them every so often.

Re: Experience with GE switches and status update failures

Posted: 16 Aug 2016 20:51
by jadedeane
Something else I stumbled across here says GE switches don't support associations (noticed that when I did the interview, and specified device-type after): https://community.openhab.org/t/zwave-r ... ate/4987/2

But they, at least when using the main (line) switch send NIFs.