HomeSeer’s new Z-Wave switches now available

HomeSeer announced a couple new switches at CES 2018 with integrated RGB lights which can be used to indicated status for other elements in the control system. There is a $55 dimmer and a $50 toggle switch available, both support Z-Wave Plus, multi-tap, and S2 security. This isn’t a new concept in the home automation device market, but it is quite unique at this price point. It is unclear whether the RGB status lights can be used with other controllers, but for a Z-Wave Plus switch, the price isn’t bad either way – as long as dimming a few low voltage LEDs isn’t on your requirements. Looks like the load needs to be at least 150W.

HomeSeer reached out and let me know that the 150W CFL/LCD load mentioned in the specifications is the maximum load, not the minimum as I initially read it – which makes a lot more sense (whoops).

Also, while we were chatting I asked about how to use the RGB lights in other home automation controllers (HAC):

Yes, we designed the new feature to use Z-Wave parameter commands. Every Z-Wave certified controller has that capability.

With our systems, we expose those parameter commands as event actions

So… you can create an event that blinks the 3rd LED red if the front door opens… and that might take you 30-60 seconds to create that event

With other systems, it will take a bit more work

We created a SmartThings device handler to do this and did 2 separate videos on making this work

With Vera, you’d need to send a LUA script command. Create a scene and set the action to run LUA code. The following code will set the default color to blue:

http://luup.call _action(‘urn:micasaverde-com:serviceId:ZWaveNetwork1′,’SendData’,{Node=’12’,Data=’112 4 14 1 3′},1)

Vera users can get the parameters from our online user guide

Really pleased to see that the feature is exposed as cleanly as it is. Even the “more work” required is quite straight forward.

HomeSeer just posted a video demonstrating how to control the RGB lights in their system: