Smart dimmer light switches

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Smart dimmer light switches

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75 posts

Master Geek

#2502843 11-Jun-2020 12:25

Spoke to PDL this morning.

Looks like they are working on a plan for their iconic range. But not quite there yet. They are no longer doing Nero. You can currently purchase a bluetooth dimmer module, which will be wifi enabled in the future. With a Zigbee hub.

So might need to find a different solution, or go for some hpm switches. Haven't been completely sold on the iconic range - like the look, but find the flimsy feel of the faceplate and switch a bit off putting.

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trig42

5604 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2502859 11-Jun-2020 12:38

Do you need dimmer switches if you have Hue bulbs?

We have Hue bulbs and an Echo Plus (so don't need a Hue Hub). I just tell Alexa what strength I want the bulbs if I want them dimmed/brightened. For example - Alexa, floor lamp 100. Alexa, hall light 15.

I have most of these lights on routines in the Alexa app anyway - lounge lamps come on gradually from about 30 minutes prior to sunset (to about 25% brightness over 10 minutes), the hall light comes on at sunset. The ceiling lights in our lounge don't come on at all unless we need extra light (then it's just Alexa, ceiling lights 100 or whatever). I have another routing for Alexa, goodnight - The heat pump turns off, TV turns off, Ceiling lights turn off (if they're on), one lamp switches off and the other two dim to 5% until 1130pm and they turn off. The hall light dims to 10% for 5 minutes, 1% for another 5 minutes then switches off (allowing us to get teeth done and walk to bedroom etc.) Works well.

mulac

140 posts

Master Geek

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Trusted

#2503736 12-Jun-2020 15:47

Shanemc:

Spoke to PDL this morning.

Looks like they are working on a plan for their iconic range. But not quite there yet. They are no longer doing Nero. You can currently purchase a bluetooth dimmer module, which will be wifi enabled in the future. With a Zigbee hub.

So might need to find a different solution, or go for some hpm switches. Haven't been completely sold on the iconic range - like the look, but find the flimsy feel of the faceplate and switch a bit off putting.

Oh thanks for this information! I currently have a BLE switch so i'm interested; You mentioned the bluetooth dimmer modulewill be wifi enabled, does that mean they'll release a new version of the product with wifi? Or they'll connect to the a wifi hub via bluetooth?

davidcole

5807 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2503827 12-Jun-2020 18:45

If you went zwave the time he face plate matters nothing and the control is behind the switch.

Do need a controller though.
Should be similar to those WiFi ones linked to before. As long as they’re certified. Zwave (for nz) are certified.

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kiwijunglist

2968 posts

Uber Geek

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#2503923 13-Jun-2020 00:22

Could also look at Shelly dimmer or Martin Jerry dimmer.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

davidcole

5807 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2503934 13-Jun-2020 07:26

kiwijunglist: Could also look at Shelly dimmer or Martin Jerry dimmer.

are they certified for nz? Not sure if want an uncertified device behind a wall switch

kiwijunglist

2968 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2503938 13-Jun-2020 08:05

Not certified they have EU and UL cert

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

SirHumphreyAppleby

2513 posts

Uber Geek

#2503943 13-Jun-2020 08:27

dt:

Sonoff is another really good and cheap option, they dont have compliance in nz but theres a distributor in AU that got them complied for the Australian market and afaik we have the same electrical standards

There is certification in Aus for the Sonoff TH16, TH10, Dual and POW at least. If you know of others please post details.

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#2503946 13-Jun-2020 08:50

We have Shelly Dimmers.

They are awesome... and so dam tiny, installation is simple.

I've enabled MQTT keep everything local, but their cloud app is pretty nice too if you don't want the hassle of DIY control.

kiwijunglist

2968 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2503950 13-Jun-2020 09:03

Wheat are you using on the faceplate to control the dimmers, I don't think they've added dial support yet.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

SirHumphreyAppleby

2513 posts

Uber Geek

#2504140 13-Jun-2020 16:41

This page http://www.onesecurity.co.nz/services-2/ states that Shelly products are certified in NZ through the MRA agreement with EU and they do link to a page on Worksafe which supposedly supports their claim. I'm sceptical to say the least.

SirHumphreyAppleby

2513 posts

Uber Geek

#2505594 16-Jun-2020 09:30

In case anyone in this thread is interested, PB Tech is having a sale on smart lighting, 16-22 June. https://www.pbtech.co.nz/promotions/smart-light-sale

esawers

515 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2505650 16-Jun-2020 10:45

Currently we have PDL600 switches with the round dimmer module.

If I put something like the Shelly Dimmer behind these, does the round dimmer module become obsolete?

If I replace both PDL modules with a push button module, would this allow manual dimming as well as wifi control?

Edit:

If I buy a wifi switch that doesn't include dimming, can we still use the PDL manual dimmer?

Shanemc

75 posts

Master Geek

#2505655 16-Jun-2020 11:07

mulac:

Shanemc:

Spoke to PDL this morning.

Looks like they are working on a plan for their iconic range. But not quite there yet. They are no longer doing Nero. You can currently purchase a bluetooth dimmer module, which will be wifi enabled in the future. With a Zigbee hub.

So might need to find a different solution, or go for some hpm switches. Haven't been completely sold on the iconic range - like the look, but find the flimsy feel of the faceplate and switch a bit off putting.

Oh thanks for this information! I currently have a BLE switch so i'm interested; You mentioned the bluetooth dimmer modulewill be wifi enabled, does that mean they'll release a new version of the product with wifi? Or they'll connect to the a wifi hub via bluetooth?

The impression I got was that the current modules are capable of wifi, just need activating.

Shanemc

75 posts

Master Geek

#2505674 16-Jun-2020 11:23

trig42:

Do you need dimmer switches if you have Hue bulbs?

We have Hue bulbs and an Echo Plus (so don't need a Hue Hub). I just tell Alexa what strength I want the bulbs if I want them dimmed/brightened. For example - Alexa, floor lamp 100. Alexa, hall light 15.

I have most of these lights on routines in the Alexa app anyway - lounge lamps come on gradually from about 30 minutes prior to sunset (to about 25% brightness over 10 minutes), the hall light comes on at sunset. The ceiling lights in our lounge don't come on at all unless we need extra light (then it's just Alexa, ceiling lights 100 or whatever). I have another routing for Alexa, goodnight - The heat pump turns off, TV turns off, Ceiling lights turn off (if they're on), one lamp switches off and the other two dim to 5% until 1130pm and they turn off. The hall light dims to 10% for 5 minutes, 1% for another 5 minutes then switches off (allowing us to get teeth done and walk to bedroom etc.) Works well.

That sounds like a pretty good set up. At the moment I cant image only using automation and Alexa, but maybe its just not having tried it, and adjusted to talking to Alexa all the time.

Anyway on the weekend I saw a pretty cheap set up at bunnings - Sengled smart bulbs for $10, so I have brought a handful to experiment with.

So well see if we miss the dimmer. At the moment the dimming range of the bulbs is not that great, so dimming down for TV at night is not ideal. However there is the, unanticipated, advantage of being able to control on individual bulbs - the lounge has 5 light running off the one switch, which I can now individually control, so I might be able to create a suitable dimming that way.

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