I have a bunch of GE/Jasco Binary and Dimmer switches - model #'s 456xx
My question is, does anyone know if these should send a power status update to the controller when manually switched on or off? I am running into a problem with my automation engine when actions are dependent upon the state of the switch. If turned on/off through the API, it will obviously update the state of the light due to the Set/Get paradigm... but if someone flips the switch manual, the new state of the switch is never updated (At least not in a timely manner)...
I would have thought the switch would be intelligent enough to send an update to the controller when someone physically alters the state of the switch... maybe my assumption is incorrect, or possibly it is not implemented in the software for Razberry? I do not see any activity in the logs...
I am experiencing the same problem. I am using the GE z-wave three way switches and I am checking for updates every five seconds. The server detects that there was a change when I press the switch manually but the update does not indicate the new state of the switch. I am going to check tonight if it is the same for my dimmer switch which is the same as elegant's.
UPDATE: Here is the update output from the server from a light on followed by a light off. They look the same.
What model switches do you have neobaud? I have 3 way binary, 3 way dimmer, single dimmer & binary... pretty much the whole slew...
When i run the following command:
/ZWaveAPI/Data/1367016866
I get no updates at all when walking up to any switch and flipping it on and off a few times... The only time there is an update is if i post a Get() request to the device. So as of right now, i am having to run Get() commands to all of my lights every 8 seconds... dreadful performance... sad panda...
As we know (we are in Europe, so we might have not 100% correct knowledge), most of US light applianes do not report their state on state change due to patent by Lutron. So, the polling is the only way ;(
I think PoltoS is correct. I have been doing some research on the interwebs and i think it is the case it is one way polling. That is quite a bummer considering the amount of cash they make you drop on these bad boys.
I think i am going to have to custom make a sensor (implement a xbee motion sensor or something) that will trigger the update of the switch state when activated so I am not constantly calling Get() on all of my switches...
neobaud, you can use '/ZWaveAPI/Data/[time]' to get only the changes since [time] instead of using 0 to get a complete list of everything. In that case i used 1367016866 because it was the time right before i tried to manually turn the switch on and off so I could see only those changes
...also, is it just me, or is it somewhat ludicrous that there is this Zwave standard that requires companies to certify their product, for one company to turn around and patent what is a seemingly common sense function??? I mean, we are talking home automation... why would anyone want to know when i light changed state (That was sarcasm lol)... patents... seriously... what a joke
I am just getting started and looking at switches. But if I can't tell if someone switched it on or off, it would almost seem pointless to get.
Avoid such old switches in the first place. If you only have a few of them you may consider polling, as PoltoS said. If you want a responsive system you'll need 1 second intervals, which easily overloads the Z-Wave mesh
Since 29-12-2016 I am no longer a moderator for this forum
I am just getting started and looking at switches. But if I can't tell if someone switched it on or off, it would almost seem pointless to get.
Avoid such old switches in the first place. If you only have a few of them you may consider polling, as PoltoS said. If you want a responsive system you'll need 1 second intervals, which easily overloads the Z-Wave mesh
Noob question: What is the minimum switch to get and is there an easy way to determine that from the manufacturer?
Update: would it be suggested to get a touch panel and a micro in-wall switch instead of rocker type switches?
