Physical dimmer switch and Aeotec Nano Dimmer

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Paul1977

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#268413 18-Mar-2020 09:53

We will be installing some Aeotec Nano Dimmers into our new house so we can turn on/off and dim the lights via smartphone and/or home assitant.

However, we would also like to be able to dim the lights via the physical switch as well. I don't see how this can work with a traditional knob, but will it work with push button dimmer like this?

Our switches will be from the PDL Iconic series.

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#2440552 18-Mar-2020 10:09

Hey Paul - I still have a few of those New In Box I could let you have below retail... I didn't put any physical dimmers in, but used "Alexa dim the lounge lights to 50%" when I needed it - although in honesty I never dimmed at all in practical use.

(I used PDL iconic as well)

Get in touch if you want to get some slightly cheaper Aeotec Nanos...

Cheers - Neil G

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Paul1977

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#2440568 18-Mar-2020 10:22

Talkiet:

Hey Paul - I still have a few of those New In Box I could let you have below retail... I didn't put any physical dimmers in, but used "Alexa dim the lounge lights to 50%" when I needed it - although in honesty I never dimmed at all in practical use.

(I used PDL iconic as well)

Get in touch if you want to get some slightly cheaper Aeotec Nanos...

Cheers - Neil G

Thanks Neil, will do.

In our current house we dim the lights A LOT.

dolsen

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#2440580 18-Mar-2020 10:52

Paul1977:

We will be installing some Aeotec Nano Dimmers into our new house so we can turn on/off and dim the lights via smartphone and/or home assitant.

However, we would also like to be able to dim the lights via the physical switch as well. I don't see how this can work with a traditional knob, but will it work with push button dimmer like this?

Our switches will be from the PDL Iconic series.

No, I don't believe it will work with a push button dimmer, but, it will work with a push button momentary switch.

SumnerBoy

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#2440582 18-Mar-2020 11:00

dolsen:

No, I don't believe it will work with a push button dimmer, but, it will work with a push button momentary switch.

Yeah you need a momentary push button switch. You press+hold to dim up/down, and single press to turn on/off. I think double-press might set to 100% dimming from memory.

I have these in my house, but with openHAB handling the lighting we never use the physical switches anymore.

Paul1977

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#2440728 18-Mar-2020 14:53

Thanks.

Does the PDL Iconic range have a push button momentary switch? I can't find one.

billgates

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#2440757 18-Mar-2020 15:33

Hi @Paul1977. We both are going for the same bits for the home automation as well :)

Below is the momentary switch you need. As @Talkiet mentioned, I have also gone with Aeotec gear but with a standard PDL Iconic switch in front as I will be deploying Amazon Alexa in each room or use the Hubitat controller with preset scenes based on times etc.

One point you might want to tell you sparky specially if you have any 2 way or 3 way switch to control lights. Make sure that the sparky wires all the switches in parallel into the Aeotec Nano dimmer. When you do it like this you can push any of the switches and it will turn on the lights while giving you all the double tap and hold features. Also when you wire it up normally like this with the dimmers it allows you to put the wiring back to normal if you ever want to sell and remove the Aeotec gear to take away with you to your new place.

https://www.pdl.co.nz/products/detail?CatNo=PDL381M10PML&tab-document-1=0

Do whatever you want to do man.

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Paul1977

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#2440765 18-Mar-2020 15:49

billgates:

Hi @Paul1977. We both are going for the same bits for the home automation as well :)

Below is the momentary switch you need. As @Talkiet mentioned, I have also gone with Aeotec gear but with a standard PDL Iconic switch in front as I will be deploying Amazon Alexa in each room or use the Hubitat controller with preset scenes based on times etc.

One point you might want to tell you sparky specially if you have any 2 way or 3 way switch to control lights. Make sure that the sparky wires all the switches in parallel into the Aeotec Nano dimmer. When you do it like this you can push any of the switches and it will turn on the lights while giving you all the double tap and hold features. Also when you wire it up normally like this with the dimmers it allows you to put the wiring back to normal if you ever want to sell and remove the Aeotec gear to take away with you to your new place.

https://www.pdl.co.nz/products/detail?CatNo=PDL381M10PML&tab-document-1=0

Thanks for that @billgates. I'd looked at that switch but didn't realise it was what I needed. Not a great picture of it, is it a "spring loaded" rocker style like you might have for a garage door opener?

I'm out of my depth a little... wiring the Aeotec gear in parallel, is that something that gets sorted at the fit-off, or does it have to be done a certain way during the prewire?

dolsen

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#2440768 18-Mar-2020 15:52

billgates:

Hi @Paul1977. We both are going for the same bits for the home automation as well :)

Below is the momentary switch you need. As @Talkiet mentioned, I have also gone with Aeotec gear but with a standard PDL Iconic switch in front as I will be deploying Amazon Alexa in each room or use the Hubitat controller with preset scenes based on times etc.

https://www.pdl.co.nz/products/detail?CatNo=PDL381M10PML&tab-document-1=0

Is that a momentary rocker switch? Not sure I would like the rocker aspect of it (although some might). I believe (but have not tested) that you would be able to use the 41EPBM-VW (listed as a bell press mechanism), even though it says control link.

At my house I use 600 series so use PDL681MT10PB - and the led works driven from the Aeotec nano dimmer (for the 2 way switching). At the dimmer I use the Aeotec wallswipe.

Paul1977

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#2440773 18-Mar-2020 15:59

This has all suddenly gotten very confusing.

The Aeotec stuff was a bit of an afterthought and the prewire is next week, so I'm hoping they can just proceed as normal and switches etc can be finalised prior to fit-off.

If the sparky prewires everything like he would if I weren't having the Aeotec gear, can the rest be sorted at fit-off?

chevrolux

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#2440795 18-Mar-2020 16:45

A stranded pre-wire should be fine for 2, 3 way switching, so you want have any issues there. It's just how the "remote" switches are wired in to the dimmer later that changes.

The rocker style Iconic switches are quite nice IMO, but personally I like 600 series with the push button mech linked above better.

Edit: just to add though... once you add voice control and build il some automation, very seldom do you touch the switches. Think "Alexa, its move time", or "Alexa, bedtime", etc..

Paul1977

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#2440798 18-Mar-2020 16:52

chevrolux:

A stranded pre-wire should be fine for 2, 3 way switching, so you want have any issues there. It's just how the "remote" switches are wired in to the dimmer later that changes.

The rocker style Iconic switches are quite nice IMO, but personally I like 600 series with the push button mech linked above better.

Edit: just to add though... once you add voice control and build il some automation, very seldom do you touch the switches. Think "Alexa, its move time", or "Alexa, bedtime", etc..

Thanks @chevrolux.

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billgates

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#2440929 18-Mar-2020 22:49

@Paul1977 The way it has been described to me as well is that for each light circuit/x number way of switching you only need 1 Aeotec nano dimmer. The physical wiring runs are the same if you were wiring for a 2/3/4/5 way circuit. The main difference is how they are terminated. So at the main switch where the Aeotec nano dimmer is located behind, the sparky needs to join all phase wires from each switch together and the same with the neutrals. These are then connected to the switch side of the Aeotec dimmer. That way if you push any of the connected switches it will complete the circuit and trigger the Aeotec dimmer.

Be aware for this configuration you need push button switches like what you use for door bells and garage doors etc.

If you do it like this it is easy for a Sparky to revert back to normal if you want to remove the dimmer.

@dolsen Yes that is a rocker switch that I linked to above as described below.

https://eref.se.com/nz/en/myse/product-pdf/PDL381M10PML-VW

Do whatever you want to do man.

Paul1977

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#2441114 19-Mar-2020 10:33

billgates:

Be aware for this configuration you need push button switches like what you use for door bells and garage doors etc.

@billgates would this configuration work with standard on/off switches, but you just wouldn't have any dimming control from the physical switch.

billgates

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#2441121 19-Mar-2020 10:54

It will not work with standard on/off switch when it comes to 2/3 etc way switches setup so need the front dimmer module as well. For any single switch only circuit, the standard on/off switches will work fine though with only Aeotec Nano dimmer behind it.

I would also run CAT6 cables to each of your rooms including bathrooms and toilets and install Aeotec Multisensor 6 to automate motion detection based light activation, time based specific dimming night activation, act as a security alarm sensor etc. I ran 13 CAT6A runs in different ceiling areas of the house and terminated it with a field termination plug and will buy and install the recessed Multisensor 6 in these areas.

Also look at quality LED lights in your house like bedrooms, toilets, bathrooms specially that remove the blue light. We went with below Christchurch company. Their gear is excellent quality and all assembled locally too.

https://www.visionarytechnologies.co.nz/sleep-technology

Do whatever you want to do man.

dolsen

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#2441146 19-Mar-2020 11:21

billgates:

It will not work with standard on/off switch when it comes to 2/3 etc way switches setup so need the front dimmer module as well. For any single switch only circuit, the standard on/off switches will work fine though with only Aeotec Nano dimmer behind it.

The nano has a S1 and S2 input. At a minimum, you could have 2 way switching with 2 simple switches each using one input.

2 way switching using 1 input could be achieved by com from dimmer (remember - not phase) to com on wall-switch 1. 1 & 2 linked on wallswitch 1 and wallswitch 2. com from wallswitch 2 to S1 input on dimmer.

Your electrician should be able to read the installer manual, understand it, and wire it up correctly.

So, yes, you can use "normal switches", but, as someone who went from "normal" to momentary switches - you get a much better experience with momentary switches.

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