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Help - Smart Home Switches with SmartThings

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  • Dec 13th, 2019 11:30 am
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Help - Smart Home Switches with SmartThings

Howdy,
I am wondering what outlets and switches you are using that works best with SmartThings?

There are far too many generic 'cheap' ones that I am having a hard time sorting, like Tp-Link Kasa should be good, is Lutron....?

I have a set of three gang box: Two switches are one way and the middle is a 3-way for stairs, 3-way smart switches are hard to find. I guess I could just make one switch out of the three smart (outside lights are my main goal)



Thanks!
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If your budget permits, I suggest you look at Z-Wave switches.

It is really hard to find a good reliable 3 way Wi-Fi switch
Last edited by Gee on Dec 9th, 2019 6:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Gee wrote: If your budget permits, I suggest you look at Z-Wave switches.

It is really hard to fond a good reliable 3 way Wi-Fi switch
Thanks!

The GE one looks nice and acts as a repeater for your home hub which is pretty awesome!

It is VERY hard to find a 3-way switch, the only ones I have found so far are '3-way' but it's a remote control that you tack up on the wall rather than an actual switch.
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MikeB84225 wrote: Thanks!

The GE one looks nice and acts as a repeater for your home hub which is pretty awesome!

It is VERY hard to find a 3-way switch, the only ones I have found so far are '3-way' but it's a remote control that you tack up on the wall rather than an actual switch.
My whole house is using GE 14291, there is a newer model (2nd generation) that has a smaller foot print.

https://www.amazon.com/GE-Enbrighten-Si ... 4MF6KZ47SY

Z-Wave is more secure, doesn't require connecting to a remote server in China.

The switches are a lot cheaper at Amazon.com, they went down to 25$ USD last year.

You should also consider the Inovelli as they do go on sale from time to time

https://www.amazon.ca/Inovelli-SmartThi ... MDHFRYZTC5

Now all you need to do is get rid of SmartThings. But that is a whole different can of worms.
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Gee wrote: My whole house is using GE 14291, there is a newer model (2nd generation) that has a smaller foot print.

https://www.amazon.com/GE-Enbrighten-Si ... 4MF6KZ47SY

Z-Wave is more secure, doesn't require connecting to a remote server in China.

The switches are a lot cheaper at Amazon.com, they went down to 25$ USD last year.

You should also consider the Inovelli as they do go on sale from time to time

https://www.amazon.ca/Inovelli-SmartThi ... MDHFRYZTC5

Now all you need to do is get rid of SmartThings. But that is a whole different can of worms.
Thanks, I will check out GE and Inovelli! That GE 14291 looks awesome, I can only find one spot in Canada that sells https://www.aartech.ca/ge-46201-zwave-p ... off-switch

I actually don't have the SmartThigns hub yet as Staples may have sold more units than they should but I actually only bought SmartThings so I could interact with Konnected and Actiontiles....
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MikeB84225 wrote: I actually don't have the SmartThigns hub yet as Staples may have sold more units than they should but I actually only bought SmartThings so I could interact with Konnected and Actiontiles....
If you are set on getting a commercial hub, I suggest you look at Hubitat instead of SmartThings

If you're adventurous, then go with a computer and Home Assistant. If you want to get your feet wet, you can use your current computer and run it in a Virtual Machine.

You can make your own ActionTiles with Lovelace in Home Assistant

Check out the Home Assistant thread here

https://forums.redflagdeals.com/home-au ... t-2273829/
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Gee wrote: If you are set on getting a commercial hub, I suggest you look at Hubitat instead of SmartThings

If you're adventurous, then go with a computer and Home Assistant. If you want to get your feet wet, you can use your current computer and run it in a Virtual Machine.

You can make your own ActionTiles with Lovelace in Home Assistant

Check out the Home Assistant thread here

https://forums.redflagdeals.com/home-au ... t-2273829/
Hubitat looks pretty awesome and expensive, lol but looks to do way more than I will be needing as I really just want to make my older wired alarm system, smart - while adding a few smart switches to outside lights.

Home Assistant looks freaking amazing, thank for that link! I do have a Pi collecting dust, maybe a Pi Hole but HA looks really cool
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MikeB84225 wrote: Home Assistant looks freaking amazing, thank for that link! I do have a Pi collecting dust, maybe a Pi Hole but HA looks really cool
You can use the Pi for Home Assistant and there is an add on to install Pi Hole. You can run both on the same Pi

For your alarm, if you have look at that thread. I have my alarm in Home Assistant. You just need to add a virtual panel to your alarm box. Here is the link

https://www.amazon.ca/Eyez-Envisalink-R ... B016WQTJ4S

It only works with DSC or Honeywell panels

Hubitat does go on sale for under ~79$ USD a few times a year. If you decide to go with Home Assistant, you can use your Pi or have it running on a Virtual Machine using your existing computer. Just make sure it stays on.
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Hubitat just finished a sale for $69-ish USD. I'd guess it'll happen again at BF.

Anyhow, Zooz switches work well for me, but the "click" isn't as nice as the GE switches. Also note that you need to have a neutral wire at the switch for basically all switches to work properly. Otherwise you'll need to open up the switch and solder a small fuse between the ground and neutral terminals (or do it externally .... Or just connect the neutral to ground ... Both not recommended).
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MikeB84225 wrote: Thanks, I will check out GE and Inovelli! That GE 14291 looks awesome, I can only find one spot in Canada that sells https://www.aartech.ca/ge-46201-zwave-p ... off-switch

I actually don't have the SmartThigns hub yet as Staples may have sold more units than they should but I actually only bought SmartThings so I could interact with Konnected and Actiontiles....
The Innovelli can be used as a 3 way switch whereas the GE you need to buy a second "add on" switch to support 3 way.

The only downside to Innovelli is the switch feel and click isn't as good as GE.

Inovelli Z-Wave Switch https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07T2416D8/ref ... 8DbDP4VFQ4
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VertigoM wrote: The Innovelli can be used as a 3 way switch whereas the GE you need to buy a second "add on" switch to support 3 way.
@ChubChub

The second generation Inovelli doesn’t require a neutral wire if installed as a single switch.

Installed as a three way, you keep your existing switch. I want a uniform look, so I don’t mind paying for the dummy switch.

If the GE switches are too expensive, you should consider the Honeywell switch. It is identical to the GE one but at a lower cost. Both are from Jasco.
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MikeB84225 wrote: Thanks!

The GE one looks nice and acts as a repeater for your home hub which is pretty awesome!

It is VERY hard to find a 3-way switch, the only ones I have found so far are '3-way' but it's a remote control that you tack up on the wall rather than an actual switch.
Not sure why you guys are saying 3-way smart switch are hard to find. All you need is this "add on switch" in addition to the regular smart switch
https://www.amazon.ca/GE-Repeater-Requi ... r_1_5?th=1

I have a few of these and they worked flawlessly.
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Gee wrote: @ChubChub
The second generation Inovelli doesn’t require a neutral wire if installed as a single switch.
Didn't know that; thanks! I haven't installed a new plug/switch in at least 2 years, so I probably should not have assumed nothing changed.
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ChubChub wrote: Didn't know that; thanks! I haven't installed a new plug/switch in at least 2 years, so I probably should not have assumed nothing changed.
It really hasn't changed much. They managed to shrink down the size of the switch and improved security.

The neutral wire is still the preferred method, but you can use a resistor or a by-pass switch to get around the need for a neutral wire.
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Zwave for sure. I replaced all my Wemo switches to Zwave as the wifi ones are unreliable. In particular the Wemo switches are very bad. Sometimes you have to "reboot" the switches after firmware update or when they are unresponsive. To make it worse, you can't even switch on and off the light manually when it's frozen.... Tried to save money with those cheaper switches but ended up spending more and now problem free with all zwave switches. FYI, I'm using all GE switches.
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Thanks a ton everyone, GE or Innoveli it is!
GE extends Z-wave range, looks like the Innoveli Red does too (just not the black)

I am freaking PUMPED to come home to have my kitchen light already on for me, lol.
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MikeB84225 wrote: Thanks a ton everyone, GE or Innoveli it is!
GE extends Z-wave range, looks like the Innoveli Red does too (just not the black)

I am freaking PUMPED to come home to have my kitchen light already on for me, lol.
What's your plan to trigger those switches to turn on?
Time of day or sensors?

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