Does RazBerry See Level Changes?

[markolbert]

I'm beginning to wonder if the RazBerry, by default, even sees level changes (i.e., when a switch goes from on to off, or off to on, or a dimmer changes level).

I say this because I've been watching the /var/log/z-way-server.log, and it doesn't record anything when I click any of several switches, all of which are known to the z-way-server.

However, the log does reflect activity when the RazBerry API is used to change a level. But that's just a matter of recording an action the server is taking. It's not responding to an event occurring elsewhere in the system.

Now, this lack of recognizing level changes involves GE/Jasco and Linear switches, which may not have the capability of pinging the server/controller with level change events. But some of those switches are supposed to send an event that "something has changed", and I don't see those either.

Has anyone had success seeing level changes, or any kind of status change event, appear in the z-way server logs when a GE/Jasco or Linear switch is tripped?

[PoltoS]

Means your switches do not report instantly the value to controller nor sends Set commands. Yes, this is the cae for many US devices due to Lutron patent. Controllers are not to blame. Blame Lutron for a stupid patent

The workaround you mention is to send Hail (something has changed). Z-Way should trpa it if it is sent.

[markolbert]

Thanx! That explains a lot of what I'm seeing.

I've read online that newer GE/Jasco switches do send a "hail" event to the controller. How do I pick that up within zway? I've been playing around with trapping all the events (via controller.onAny in main.js) but I'm not seeing anything when I manually change the switches. Either my switches don't send a "hail", or I'm not looking in the right place in the zway server.

[markolbert]

PoltoS,

In doing some more work here I'm coming to the conclusion that my switches simply don't send any kind of "hey! something has changed!" event to the controller.

In addition to the onAny approach I mentioned earlier, I also added this to main.js:

Code: Select all

    var testcallback = function(type, arg) {
        console.log('in testcallback');
    };

    controller.on('ZWave.register', function(regName) {
        console.log('caught ZWave.register event');

        if( regName == 'zway' ) {
            for( var x in zway.devices ) {
                console.log('ZWave.register ' + x);

                if( x != 1 ) {
                    zway.devices[x].data.bind(testcallback, null, true);
                    console.log('bound device ' + x + ' to testcallback()');
                }
            }
        }
        else console.log('ZWave.register regName is ' + regName);
    });

testcallback() gets called a bunch of times during system startup, but it doesn't get called when I turn lights on and off.

Do you think I'm correct in my theory that my switches simply don't report changes to the controller?

If so, are there any other ways of telling switch status other than polling? I can do polling -- I don't need real time awareness of switch state -- but I'd rather avoid it if I can.

[PoltoS]

If you see nothing in logs on switching, they just send nothing. Make sure to have RaZberry (#1) in all assoc groups of these devices.

[markolbert]

I wasn't aware of the assoc group angle. Is that done through the expert UI configuration page for each device?

[PoltoS]

yes

[markolbert]

If you see nothing in logs on switching, they just send nothing. Make sure to have RaZberry (#1) in all assoc groups of these devices.

I checked, and only one of my switches offers an association group. On all the other ones that tab comes up with this message:

Can not configure associations: groups were not reported by the device. Do interview.

But when I do an interview nothing changes. I suspect that's because the hardware doesn't offer association services.

Is there another place to ensure all the switches are part of the controller's association group?

[pz1]

If you see nothing in logs on switching, they just send nothing. Make sure to have RaZberry (#1) in all assoc groups of these devices.

My Duewi Wall plugin does send Hail events, but unfortunately it says:

Code: Select all

Can not configure associations: groups were not reported by the device. Do interview

Interview report says it is OK (and it does report Hail)