So I have some Lutron lights (unfortunately didn't buy the pro hub initially), mostly some outlets and now starting to get sensors so I can start automating.
Before I do, I want to ask about a hypothetical automation.
I think I'm going to want motion sensors to control the lights (I know this is possible and I'll need the Lutron pro hub). I've never automated anything beyond setting a schedule so bear with me. I'm going to want to say... If motion detected between 3-7pm turn on lights at 85% and off if no motion for 10 minutes. From 7-11p turn on lights at 35% and off if no motion for 5 min. I only want this apply on weekdays and a different rule to apply on weekends.
A) is this feasible?
B) what happens to the rules if someone uses the switch or activates the lights via Alexa? Does it completely override it? Do the off rules still apply?
C) what happens if there is overlap between 2 sensors?
Completely separate question but don't want to start a separate thread. I have a fan/light in a bedroom. There is only one switch with a slider to adjust the brightness of the light. Regardless of the switch being on or off the fan is only controlled by the string (works even if light off). If I replace this with a Lutron light switch (not fan) will this continue to work like this? We rarely touch the fan setting so only need automations for the light?
Yes that is all possible with RM. Yes it will override and yes it will still turn off at the set delay. As far as the overlap it deepens on how the rule is set up but you can set it up to behave how you like.
In the above rule I have the lights come on at different levels depending on the time and mode. I also have them turn off at different delays depending on the time or mode.
As far as your fan/light I think that depends on how you wire the new switch but is very doable.
Even easier way is use built in motion lighting you can set one or more motion sensors and Eve have motion sensors that keep the light on but not turn the on. You can have different level per mode which is what I do. Weekday modes, weekend modes. Built within that app is optional override states from controlled elsewhere, be it stay on or stay at that level but still turn OFF. I then have RM to control the switches for instant OFF or ON.
I would recommend starting of with something a lot simpler to "get your feet wet" and then slowly working up to your end state. Start with just using the motion sensor for on and off after delay. Then add the time of day. Then add weekday vs. weekend. It will make it easier rather than trying to go right to end-state right off the bat. You're going to spend a lot of time trying to get it to what you think you want and a couple of months from now when you know a lot more you're going to end up re-designing the whole automation anyway. At least that was my experience.
What you described is almost exactly what I do for my living, dining, kitchen, and hallway lighting. All Lutron dimmers, several different Zigbee motion sensors. Set brightness according to modes based on time of day/night. Works great.
I am looking for better motion sensors to replace my monoprice 4-in-one multisensors which have minimal battery life, so the NYCE NCZ looks like a good option and looks fairly clean/professional which is a plus. However I have never tried zigbee devices. I believe they are 2.4 GHz, so I am a bit worried about signal strength. My Lutron devices only require one hub since their protocol is <1 GHz which penetrates walls better, but I need 2 2.4 GHz wifi routers (2x Ubiquiti UAC AC Pro) for decent WiFi. Does this indicate I probably need two Hubitats to get similar coverage with zigbee protocol, or can zigbee broadcast at higher power than say -24 dBm?
Zigbee is a wireless mesh network protocol. The mesh is strengthened as you add devices which can act as Zigbee repeaters. I have about 6-7 Iris 3210-L Smart Outlets spread throughout my house which establish a very solid Zigbee mesh network. Only mains-powered devices will as as Zigbee repeaters, and not all of those do a good job as repeaters. For example, many Zigbee light bulbs are terrible repeaters and can cause more problems than they solve. Sengled bulbs are designed to NOT be repeaters to avoid these pitfalls. Battery powered zigbee devices are not repeaters as that would drastically reduce their battery life.
So, do a little research and buy some decent Zigbee repeater devices, pair them with your HE hub, and strategically place them around your house to establish a solid mesh network. Then add in your zigbee battery powered sensors. They will automagically figure out the best repeater to communicate with.
Slightly off topic but germane to your decision process - the Zigbee motion sensors seem to react more quickly than the Z-Wave motion sensors. Perhaps a generalization but that is what I have observed.
Thanks. I was trying to not harp on the Monoprice/Zooz 4-in-1 sensors too much, but their motion sensors are so slow that for instance if the hall light does come on based on motion, I will have already passed through it completely so I abandoned my efforts to have motion lighting first with a Vera Plus and also with Hubitat too. Faster response time is probably as great of an interest as having battery life >1 month. I'm actually very interested, just what is the response time of the NYCE zigbee motion sensors? I was thinking to order a couple to try-- are they fast enough you can actually illuminate a hallway before passing through it? If that actually works, I'd no doubt end up linking some to lighting throughout the house for instance in the garage and dark closets etc.
Thanks for your reply and link to the zigbee starter doc. All I needed was a push to look that direction: now that I also see the battery life for the zigbee door/window sensors also looks much better than my current z-wave sensors, there is a good chance I'll try replacing every z-wave device in the house with zigbee.
I have found several generations of SmartThings motion sensors to be pretty quick. Also the Sylvania (OEM'ed by Centralite) and NYCE seem to be pretty quick. Not happy with the speed of the Aeotec or Adurosmart.
I have two and I'm beginning to think one of them is faulty because the other one seems pretty good. With such a small sample size and my experience, I can't recommend.
