Looking for a z-wave sensor in order to make current switches 'smart'

quakerix

Hi,

I've bought Philips Hue and want to keep using my current wall switches. So what I thought is to disconnect the wall switches from turning on or off the light since Philips Hue doesn't like that. And placing a sensor that sends a signal to Homey that then switches the light via the Phlips Hue app.

I've been searching for these sensor. Who has any experience with this situation?

I've found the FGBS-001, a generic sensor. Did not yet find any how-to to implement it behind a current wall switch. I'm worried about the fact that its 12Volt while I want to hook it up to the regular power.

And i've found EM6514 at: https://www.e-domotica.com/nl/producten/signaleren/e-domotica-wandschakelaar-sensor#guides

But i'm not sure if it works with Homey.

Any suggestions?

MrDutchfighter

Hi, you can use the Fibaro wall switch. With this you can still use your normal switches. I've been using the dimmers to control my lights via Homey based on motion and still to be able to control them via the wall switch.

quakerix

MrDutchfighter said:

Hi, you can use the Fibaro wall switch. With this you can still use your normal switches. I've been using the dimmers to control my lights via Homey based on motion and still to be able to control them via the wall switch.

the thing is with that switch that it is actively doing something. it will cut the power.  That won't work with Philips hue.

so i need a passive sensor that sents a signal when the button is pushed.

DaneeDeKruyff

This: https://www.klikaanklikuit.nl/nl/awmt-003-ingebouwde-mini-zender.html is probably the easiest way, though not z-wave

Fire69

quakerix said:

MrDutchfighter said:

Hi, you can use the Fibaro wall switch. With this you can still use your normal switches. I've been using the dimmers to control my lights via Homey based on motion and still to be able to control them via the wall switch.

the thing is with that switch that it is actively doing something. it will cut the power.  That won't work with Philips hue.

so i need a passive sensor that sents a signal when the button is pushed.

Not necessarily  I use this relay too with Hue.
You connect power and the wall switch to the Fibaro relay, but don't connect the Hue to it.  Connect the power directly to the Hue.
Then you make a flow <when relay turned on - turn on Hue> and the opposite <when relay turned off - turn off Hue>

The only disadvantage is that when you use another app (the official Hue app for example) to turn on/off the Hue, the relay is not synchronized anymore and you have to push the switch twice to turn the Hue on or off.

quakerix

DaneeDeKruyff said:

This: https://www.klikaanklikuit.nl/nl/awmt-003-ingebouwde-mini-zender.html is probably the easiest way, though not z-wave

Thanks, i know that one. I'm currently trying to get rid of all my 433 stuff since its too unstable. 

Fire69 said:

quakerix said:

MrDutchfighter said:

Hi, you can use the Fibaro wall switch. With this you can still use your normal switches. I've been using the dimmers to control my lights via Homey based on motion and still to be able to control them via the wall switch.

the thing is with that switch that it is actively doing something. it will cut the power.  That won't work with Philips hue.

so i need a passive sensor that sents a signal when the button is pushed.

Not necessarily  I use this relay too with Hue.
You connect power and the wall switch to the Fibaro relay, but don't connect the Hue to it.  Connect the power directly to the Hue.
Then you make a flow <when relay turned on - turn on Hue> and the opposite <when relay turned off - turn off Hue>

The only disadvantage is that when you use another app (the official Hue app for example) to turn on/off the Hue, the relay is not synchronized anymore and you have to push the switch twice to turn the Hue on or off.

Ah ok, so the switch can be used as a sensor which is not actively switching. Isn't that solution a bit expensive? 

And isn't there a way in Homey to obtain the current status of lamp X and do the opposite? If the Philips API supports it.. then an app could be build that does that i guess.

MrDutchfighter

You can use this card to toggle the light. This means. When 'light button is pressed' --> 'toggle lamp'. This will always toggle it off when it's on and on when the light is off.

And yes, 50 euros is quite expensive. But 60 euro per Philips light as well So it depends on how you look at things.

quakerix

MrDutchfighter said:

You can use this card to toggle the light. This means. When 'light button is pressed' --> 'toggle lamp'. This will always toggle it off when it's on and on when the light is off.

And yes, 50 euros is quite expensive. But 60 euro per Philips light as well So it depends on how you look at things.

Toggle... PERFECT.

True true regarding the $$. But I was wondering if it was necessary and if people had experience with other sensors that are more 'simple' and thus cheaper. 

I ordered the: https://www.e-domotica.com/nl/producten/signaleren/e-domotica-wandschakelaar-sensor#guides

Just to see if i get it to work the same way you did. 

Fire69

quakerix said:

I ordered the: https://www.e-domotica.com/nl/producten/signaleren/e-domotica-wandschakelaar-sensor#guides

Just to see if i get it to work the same way you did. 

I would have ordered the Fibaro Dual Relay: https://www.amazon.de/Fibaro-Relais-Unterputzeinsatz-Schalter-FIBEFGS-222/dp/B00WH0S8F0/

Only 7€ more, and you can switch 2 lights with it, so it's 23€/light instead of 39€ for the e-Domotica

quakerix

Fire69 said:

quakerix said:

I ordered the: https://www.e-domotica.com/nl/producten/signaleren/e-domotica-wandschakelaar-sensor#guides

Just to see if i get it to work the same way you did. 

I would have ordered the Fibaro Dual Relay: https://www.amazon.de/Fibaro-Relais-Unterputzeinsatz-Schalter-FIBEFGS-222/dp/B00WH0S8F0/

Only 7€ more, and you can switch 2 lights with it, so it's 23€/light instead of 39€ for the e-Domotica

Nice! And its working flawless with Homey? I will order one when i'm back from holidays.

Fire69

quakerix said:

Fire69 said:

quakerix said:

I ordered the: https://www.e-domotica.com/nl/producten/signaleren/e-domotica-wandschakelaar-sensor#guides

Just to see if i get it to work the same way you did. 

I would have ordered the Fibaro Dual Relay: https://www.amazon.de/Fibaro-Relais-Unterputzeinsatz-Schalter-FIBEFGS-222/dp/B00WH0S8F0/

Only 7€ more, and you can switch 2 lights with it, so it's 23€/light instead of 39€ for the e-Domotica

Nice! And its working flawless with Homey? I will order one when i'm back from holidays.

Yep.
I actually use it in 2 different ways:
- to control the lights in the kitchen that are physically connected to the relay
- to control 3 Hues above the dinner tables (obviously not physically connected to the relay).  Made 3 flows for this.
During the day they are turned on at 100%
After sunset only at 50%
And when I switch off the relay they are turned off.

It has a nice effect also (if you would like that).  Because the Hues are turned on 1 by 1, there is a very slight delay.
So you see them turn on as Hue1, Hue2, Hue3. When switching off I reversed it so they turn off as Hue3, Hue2, Hue1.

Stupid but I think it's funny 

nebsnel

So, you have a fibaro relay switch behind your physical wall switch and hue connected to Homey (through flows)
Is there any delay when you (for example) turn on the light with the wall switch and let Homey dim the hue light to 50% or change color? If so, how much delay?