Adding automation to existing mechanical installation

Sergio · Post by **Sergio** » Monday 15 December 2014 12:04

I'm new to domoticz and I want to start by controlling my garage/outside lighting, as it's very common in our family to leave them on.

I posted the following message in general forum, but no one replies:

The biggest question I make myself is, having a said house, with no electronics in it's installations... If someone wanted to start sensing and controlling lights, how could be done?
For example: you have a room whose main light is turned using two or three mechanical common commuted switches. What kind of device would be attached to the existing system, to sense it's state and be able to switch without loosing the mechanical behavior and without having to change any existing switch?
In a commuted system every switch connects to each other in series so it can be possible and easy to insert another switch in the middle. I wonder if there's some device that simulates a commuted switch.

I suppose that's the easy situation. But how about single systems, where there's only a simple mech switch?

Does anyone knows of a simple/cheap rf module that I can insert in the middle of an existing mechanical commuted circuit and control (and sense) that circuit as it was and ordinary commuted switch?

Thanks!

pvm · Post by **pvm** » Monday 15 December 2014 12:11

I did not understand the question in the other tread. What about a zwave switch?

ThinkPad · Post by **ThinkPad** » Monday 15 December 2014 13:23

Have you seen this post: http://www.domoticz.com/forum/viewtopic ... t=20#p1118 ?

Sergio · Post by **Sergio** » Monday 15 December 2014 13:29

Thanks pvm for your reply. I apologize for my question not being clear enough.

What I want to avoid is replacing my current mechanical switches. Only split cables and add a controller. In my limited electronic knowledge, I find that it will be more than possible that some device already exists for that.
If I googled well, what you propose is to replace the switch. I built my house few years ago and installed nice looking switches that weren't cheap at all.
It's usual my lighting circuits to have 3-5 conmuted switches each (big rooms loft styled) so controlling one light would imply replacing 5 switches with 30-50€ ea. As a general rule, they are ugly, will be expensive and have assorted switches while I'm replacing them. Plus reliability problems with them with lightnings and bad electric supply.

I thought that I could add some kind of RF three way (double, as for regulations) relay in the room distribution box and just modify the wiring for this module to act as an additional commuted switch. But if I push on a mechanical switch, It won't sense the change and domoticz would stay thinking lights are in the previous state.

Do you understand what I mean?

pvm · Post by **pvm** » Monday 15 December 2014 15:07

If you have space behind your switches you can use for example fibaro modules. They will monitor your switch and switch your lights (or dim)

Sergio · Post by **Sergio** » Monday 15 December 2014 16:25

Thanks for pointing me there. Do you know any particular model?

pvm · Post by **pvm** » Tuesday 16 December 2014 12:09

FGD221 dimmer for example

Sergio · Post by **Sergio** » Tuesday 16 December 2014 13:25

pvm wrote:FGD221 dimmer for example

Thanks again. Jsut another couple of questions (noob warning light on)
Do that dimmers collect and send back their status to domoticz? So if the server starts it gets current lighting status.
Are there cheaper alternatives?

Sergio · Post by **Sergio** » Tuesday 16 December 2014 14:03

The FGD211 works at 868,42Mhz. In fact, all I find from fibaro works on that frequency.
Z-Wave is not compatible with RFXTRX433

pvm · Post by **pvm** » Tuesday 16 December 2014 17:25

It does Sergio.

Cheaper, maybe X10, the newer models support bidirectional communication if I remember correctly.

Sergio · Post by **Sergio** » Tuesday 16 December 2014 17:38

pvm wrote:It does Sergio.

Uhmmm I had a chat session with fibaro/zwave salesman this midday and told me that it wasn't compatible. He told me that they all operate in 8xxMhz.

pvm · Post by **pvm** » Tuesday 16 December 2014 20:02

Sorry, 'it does' was on the topic remembering state.
I missed the 433 MHz requirement

vodor · Post by **vodor** » Sunday 15 May 2016 9:04

Hi Guys not sure if this post is still running or if you will see this I have a similar question or problem. I have a 433mhz kaku setup (used zwave before) but ran into a odd little snag.
I am trying to wire a KakU ACM-1000 relay in my light switch socket along side my mechanical on off switch. The kaku relay works fine however I am unable to use the mechanical switch it does not control the lights at all. The zwave relays I have on the other side works perfectly both with manual switch and domotics. Any suggestions have you tried this setup before rather than wiring in the roof at the light socket?

I think I can replace my mechanical switches with double poll switches to have both manual and relay work however maybe there is another way?