The Wink home automation thread

[IndyColtsFan]

The app specifically says you can't trigger off of Leviton switches.

You could get an Ecolink motion sensor and have it turn the light on when motion is detected and then off after X minutes of no motion being detected. If you're going to do that though, you might be able to just use one of the standard (ie, no home automation) switches instead. The Ecolink is a little more flexible since you could move the sensor around for best coverage, however.

 

[mfridman]

Thanks, but that's not quite right for my situation. Do you know if any switches (non Leviton) can be used to trigger an action?

 

[MjnMixael]

Wow, ok then. I was unaware and really am surprised.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Thanks, but that's not quite right for my situation. Do you know if any switches (non Leviton) can be used to trigger an action?

Yes, Lutron Casetas can. I have two in my bar - one controls lights on one wall and the other controls lights on another wall (not possible to wire them all to one switch without extensive demolition and rebuild). If I press the switch on the entrance wall, it kicks off a robot which powers on the lights on the other wall as well. Also, the reverse is true - if I press the off button on my way out, it shuts down both sets of lights.

 

[mfridman]

OK, sounds like Lutron Casetas can work. I was hoping to standardize on z-wave, in order to keep things flexible.

Does anyone know if the Linear z-wave switches will trigger robots?

How about the GE z-wave switches?

Does anyone know if the Aeon Labs plug-in switch (Aeon Labs DSC06106-ZWUS) sends an activation signal back to the Wink hub?

 

[MjnMixael]

Honestly, I started out the same way. I thought Z-Wave was the thing. I was trying to stick within Z-Wave. But then I became a tester and got some Zigbee stuff. I also fell in love with Lutron's Caseta ClearConnect line.

I don't think Z-Wave is very good. It's been less reliable than Zigbee or ClearConnect for me. Also, interesting to note, Google's recent OnHub includes Zigbee, but no Z-Wave.

In the end, I think it's just far too early... well not early. I don't know what it is, but I don't think it's a good idea to pick a side if you are going to do Home Automation right now. There are too many decent hubs that can do everything that it's just silly to limit yourself.

And if you want my semi-professional tech opinion... with all these hubs becoming the focus, I'd be very surprised to see any one standard win out completely. This isn't turning out like Bluray vs HDDVD... there's Zigbee, Z-Wave, ClearConnect, Weave, Thread, Bluetooth, Wifi, MyQ. And the focus in Home Automation has been getting them to work together, not exclusivity. That points me to a future where the wireless protocol doesn't matter as long as it works.

To note, that's Wink's plan. Smartthings seems to be following suit with prettier V2 hub that seems less "techy". That's definitely the language Google is using for OnHub in regards to being a router and I'm sure they'll use that same language for Home Automation stuff. Look at Nest's popularity. Stupid simplicity. Average consumers don't get a crap about which is better, Zigbee or Z-Wave. They just want it to work.

 

[Eoaspen]

OK, sounds like Lutron Casetas can work. I was hoping to standardize on z-wave, in order to keep things flexible.

Does anyone know if the Linear z-wave switches will trigger robots?

How about the GE z-wave switches?

Does anyone know if the Aeon Labs plug-in switch (Aeon Labs DSC06106-ZWUS) sends an activation signal back to the Wink hub?

I am using the GE 15-Amp White Single Pole Decorator Light Switch Item #: 339577 Model #: 45637 and was able to create a robot to shut off the controlled light after a specified time. I am not able to test it right now however I am using another GE dimmer to trigger other lights and it works great.

 

[Eoaspen]

 

[Mike A.]

OK, sounds like Lutron Casetas can work. I was hoping to standardize on z-wave, in order to keep things flexible.

Does anyone know if the Linear z-wave switches will trigger robots?

How about the GE z-wave switches?

Does anyone know if the Aeon Labs plug-in switch (Aeon Labs DSC06106-ZWUS) sends an activation signal back to the Wink hub?

I have all of the GE, Linear and Leviton Zwave switches and no problem triggering robots with any of them. I also have a Aeon in-wall module that's installed as a Leviton dimmer and it works to launch a robot. I just created a new one and it functions fine.

The Aeon plug-in does work. In fact I used that specifically as a manual trigger to launch various robots for a while. i.e., a convenient push button at my desk to fire off a robot controlling actions elsewhere.

Edit to addd:

I don't want to start unpairing stuff here to test it but if you can't get it to work as a Leviton switch for whatever reason then you might try setting it up as a generic Zwave switch.

 

[mfridman]

I want to unpair my Leviton switch and try it as a generic zwave device to see if I can get a robot trigger to work. I can't get Wink to "forget" the damn thing! Anyone know how to do this?

 

[mfridman]

I don't want to start unpairing stuff here to test it but if you can't get it to work as a Leviton switch for whatever reason then you might try setting it up as a generic Zwave switch.

Mike, how did you set up Leviton switches to trigger robots? Did you set them up as generic zwave switches? Can you check, please?

 

[Mike A.]

Mike, how did you set up Leviton switches to trigger robots? Did you set them up as generic zwave switches? Can you check, please?

It's been a while now but I believe that the Leviton switches were just done through the normal add process as Leviton switches. I don't recall having any issues pairing those so I wouldn't have done anything else otherwise. Some other various switches like the Aeon in-wall dimmers I also paired as Leviton dimmers in order to get the dimming function to work vs being seen as a binary Zwave switch. As far as Wink knows, they are Leviton dimmers and they work fine as well.

Where exactly in the app are you seeing a limitation in using the Leviton switches to trigger robots? Mine appear in the list of available trigger devices along with everything else. Unless they've changed something along the way since mine were paired related to how they are characterized in the database when paired, then yours should too. I can't really test that though without taking them out of my net and trying to re-add them and I don't want to do that if they have changed something since they're switches that I rely on for day-to-day functions.

 

[mfridman]

It's been a while now but I believe that the Leviton switches were just done through the normal add process as Leviton switches. I don't recall having any issues pairing those so I wouldn't have done anything else otherwise. Some other various switches like the Aeon in-wall dimmers I also paired as Leviton dimmers in order to get the dimming function to work vs being seen as a binary Zwave switch. As far as Wink knows, they are Leviton dimmers and they work fine as well.

Where exactly in the app are you seeing a limitation in using the Leviton switches to trigger robots? Mine appear in the list of available trigger devices along with everything else. Unless they've changed something along the way since mine were paired related to how they are characterized in the database when paired, then yours should too. I can't really test that though without taking them out of my net and trying to re-add them and I don't want to do that if they have changed something since they're switches that I rely on for day-to-day functions.

Here is what I see if I try to set up a robot. In addition to the warning message, my Leviton switch dies not show up in the list of triggers.

 

[mfridman]

Here is what I see if I try to set up a robot. In addition to the warning message, my Leviton switch dies not show up in the list of triggers.

Also, I am using Wink app v.3.5.0.5 with hub firmware v.1.1.0

What versions are you using?

 

[Mike A.]

Also, I am using Wink app v.3.5.0.5 with hub firmware v.1.1.0

What versions are you using?

That's odd. I don't see the same trigger limitation. All that's listed as far as any restriction is my thermostat.

I'm using hub version 1.1.0
IOS app version 3.5.0
Android version 3.5.0.5

When you press and hold on the Leviton switch, then select "Edit this light," what does it say in the line below the name of the device?

In Android mine say "Light Bulb" (for some unknown reason). Though I could have sworn that previously when I've looked it said "Zwave" for those.

One thing that I just thought about now is that all of my Leviton devices and other devices installed as "pseudo-Leviton" devices are dimmers not binary switches. Wonder if that might be the difference?

Were you able to remove and try to re-pair it as a generic Zwave device? I have a bunch of those in various forms and as above no problem using them as triggers. I doubt that Wink will know that it's a Leviton switch unless you specifically designate it as such in some way.

 

[daudet419]

Hi, brand new Wink Hub user here. I made the mistake of buying a Leviton zwave switch as my first device--it had the blue house icon on the package--at Home Depot. Well, my luck, the Leviton switch won't trigger robots.

What I want is a way to have a light to run, say, 3 hours after it is turned on manually, and then turn itself off. Because my kids leave lights on all the time!
Is there a list somewhere of which switches and dimmers will trigger Robots?

I don't think you did a mistake on Leviton.
Hold on to your Leviton switch and be patient.

I am on the same boat. I have 2 Leviton plugin module because they are cheap a Home Depot Canada. 39$ CAN, and they had Wink Logo.
My main usage is for the pool pump and I want to be notified when it shut off at 7pm to remind me its time to put the solar blanket on.
It is good for up to 15 amps or motor up to 1hp. Mine is 1.5hp so I figure out it will work for a week or so, but it has been 2 months now and still working. it draw about 7amps so I think it will last for ever.

All I can say that is being fixed on the Beta testing Hub since last week. I have used my spare Leviton plugin module on Beta and can trigger robot now.

So I am just waiting for the Production Wink to release it sooner or later.

I also have Linear wall switch and GE plugin and wall switch as 3way and I have Robot that turn it off after 2 min. They work great.
Hope it will answer your questions

 

[RonK]

Hi, this is my first foray into home automation and I have an operational issue I am trying to figure out.

I have a Wink hub that I am using inconjunction with a light fixture that has two GE-Link light bulbs. The Wink App works great to control the lights as a group. I added a Tapt wall switch because I want to control the fixture separately from another that is on the same circuit (Tapt is set to keep the circuit hot so that a ceiling fan can be controlled separately from the light fixture). The Tapt is linked to the lights and also works well. However, once the Tapt was linked to operate the lights, the Wink App no longer lets me control them as a group (either via "All Lights" or a created group that includes just the two bulbs). I can control them individually from the App without a problem.

Is this behavior normal or is there something about the way I linked the bulbs to the Tapt switch that is causing the problem?

Thanks!

 

[gofastdan]

I posted this in another Wink forum but haven't had any responses so thought I'd introduce myself here as well.

I’m new to the whole home automation tinkering thing. I purchased the Wink hub primarily because of the low cost and the integration with my Amazon Echo. Over the past month I’ve installed both Linear and GE switches, both dimming and non-dimming, and they all work well. I’ve also automated the garage doors and installed some other random components but that’s a different topic. Bottom line, I’m having fun spending lots of money to satisfy my geek nature…

My question, has anyone been able to alter the parameters that control the led indicators on either Linear or GE switch products? All of the switches I’ve installed have a default behavior of having the status led as a nightlight function, ie, led indicator on when the load is off and off when the load is on. I don’t mind that but my wife won’t let me install a switch in the bedroom because she insists on having the bedroom pitch dark. The Linear WD500Z-1 in particular describes changing parameter no:3 but I can find no way to access that parameter, or any other of the configuration settings for that matter.

It's funny, I also have one Evolve LRM-AS switch which appears to be the same unit as the Linear. It mentions using an EHC-100 hub to configure the switch, but this appears to be a fictional piece of equipment. Can't find any actual product by that name on either Linear or Evolve's site, and I probably wouldn't be willing to spend the money on something like it just to configure a couple of switches anyway...

 

[zarthan]

I don’t mind that but my wife won’t let me install a switch in the bedroom because she insists on having the bedroom pitch dark. The Linear WD500Z-1 in particular describes changing parameter no:3 but I can find no way to access that parameter, or any other of the configuration settings for that matter.
.

Wink doesn't support all features of every device. The easiest way to fix this for the bedroom is to cover up the light or get a new wife. Covering the light is the cheapest and least disruptive alternative.

 

[mfridman]

I think i saw in Leviton manual that status light can be flipped to normally off.

 

[gofastdan]

Wink doesn't support all features of every device. The easiest way to fix this for the bedroom is to cover up the light or get a new wife. Covering the light is the cheapest and least disruptive alternative.

I considered using white out. That certainly is cheaper than a new wife but is still a pretty inelegant solution. I'd like the smart home of the future to be smarter than that!

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I posted this in the Wink users group Facebook page but wanted to get thoughts from here as well:

What is the best way to monitor the temps inside of your refrigerator and maybe a freezer? I had an issue with my refrigerator this weekend, resulting in a lot of food going bad so I thought to myself "I wonder if I could monitor the temp in Wink and send an alert if it drops below a certain level."

 

[mfridman]

I posted this in the Wink users group Facebook page but wanted to get thoughts from here as well:

What is the best way to monitor the temps inside of your refrigerator and maybe a freezer? I had an issue with my refrigerator this weekend, resulting in a lot of food going bad so I thought to myself "I wonder if I could monitor the temp in Wink and send an alert if it drops below a certain level."

I could think of two ways to do this. If you are a little geeky, you could do an arduino project which would read a temperature probe, and if it drops below a set point, send a zwave notification.

Another more roundabout way to do this: what if you used a smart outlet which can monitor energy use? If the freezer is using a lot of energy (door open) or if it is not using any energy at all for a long time (dead) you know something is wrong.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I could think of two ways to do this. If you are a little geeky, you could do an arduino project which would read a temperature probe, and if it drops below a set point, send a zwave notification.

Another more roundabout way to do this: what if you used a smart outlet which can monitor energy use? If the freezer is using a lot of energy (door open) or if it is not using any energy at all for a long time (dead) you know something is wrong.

For a refrigerator, #1 would be more effort than I'd want to make and #2 would be tough to calibrate, I think. I was looking at perhaps using a Spotter inside the refrigerator or perhaps an Aeon Labs device once I get my STv2.0. A freezer would be a bigger challenge I think and your solutions would probably be necessary for that.

EDIT: Some users report success with SmartThings: https://community.smartthings.com/t...dity-sensor-work-from-inside-a-fridge/15060/5

 

[MjnMixael]

Could just wait for the inevitable smart refrigerator to along with your smart oven, smart microwave, and smart dishwasher.