Help needed - Light automation with Aeotec Nano Dimmer and PDL switches

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Help needed - Light automation with Aeotec Nano Dimmer and PDL switches

anandpatel18

56 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#247714 18-Feb-2019 20:24

Hi,

I'm building a new house and going to install Aeotec Nano Dimmer Z-wave modules behind my light switches but I can't figure out which PDL switches I need to get my electrician to install to make sure they work with the Aeotec dimmers.

I'm specifically getting the PDL Iconic range: https://www.pdl.co.nz/getmedia/27a1457d-f37c-4750-adb5-0fa8233a6326/PDL-Iconic-Trade-Product-Brochure.aspx

And I know I need to get momentary switches for it to work best with Aeotect dimmers. But I can't figure out/getting confused on the exact switches I need.

There are these in the iconic range:

https://www.schneider-electric.co.nz/en/product/PDL354PBDMUN-VW/pdl-iconic-300w-240v-pb-dimmer-mechanism%2C-2-wire-with-controllink/

But also these:

https://www.electricaldirectltd.co.nz/product/2591-PDL-Iconic-381M10PML-VW-10Amp-Spring-Return-Momentary-Switch-Mech

Both seem totally different, which ones are the correct push button switches I need? Any help would be great.

Thanks,

Decal

222 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 26

ID Verified

#2183295 18-Feb-2019 22:00

Heya

I have just done exactly what you are wanting to do with the iconic switches and fibaro dimmers.

Get your sparky to run all the wiring like he would normally for all lighting circuits including circuit with 2 or 3way switching. When he goes to wire up the switches get him to wire them all in parallel into the Aeotec dimmer. When you doit 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.

For switches you want the second one, the momentary 10amp switch mech. The first one is a standard dimmer and wont work with the Aeotec dimmer.

anandpatel18

56 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#2183299 18-Feb-2019 22:13

Awesome, thank you heaps.

I'll tell sparky to get these https://www.electricaldirectltd.co.nz/product/2591-PDL-Iconic-381M10PML-VW-10Amp-Spring-Return-Momentary-Switch-Mech

As for your comment about wiring in parallel and using any switch to turn on and off. Are you talking about when you want to control a group of lights with one aeotec dimmer? The way I'm reading and understanding is you wire all lights with any switch, but how does that work if you just want to control certain areas? I was planning on just putting a Aeotec dimmer behind each group of lights.

Once again thanks heaps.

Edit, I read again and do you mean any areas I'm running two-way switches I should do in parallel? Which makes sense now rather then all switches in house hahaha. I only have a couple of areas with two-way switches.

Decal

222 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 26

ID Verified

#2183388 19-Feb-2019 08:08

anandpatel18:

Edit, I read again and do you mean any areas I'm running two-way switches I should do in parallel? Which makes sense now rather then all switches in house hahaha. I only have a couple of areas with two-way switches.

Yeah now you got it :) from the sparkys perspective the cabling is exactly the same its just terminated slightly differently.

KaroriPete

96 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#2184371 20-Feb-2019 14:40

Decal:
anandpatel18:

Edit, I read again and do you mean any areas I'm running two-way switches I should do in parallel? Which makes sense now rather then all switches in house hahaha. I only have a couple of areas with two-way switches.

Yeah now you got it :) from the sparkys perspective the cabling is exactly the same its just terminated slightly differently.

How easy is it to get the Aeotec units into standard flush boxes along with stiff lighting cables and the existing switches - is much swearing required?

Decal

222 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 26

ID Verified

#2184379 20-Feb-2019 14:51

Its not to bad if you are only putting one in there. In some cases the sparky just cut the back of the flushbox out and pushed the module into the wall cavity for face plates with multiple switches