Hi. First post. Just ordered an HE hub and a GE z-wave toggle switch, so I have to make them relevant, lol.
I have several outdoor motion sensor coach style lights (Heath-Zenith (Hampton Bay from Home Depot)). They work well, but there's no option to make them stay on constantly from dusk to dawn. I did an autopsy on an extra one, and it seems pretty well integrated.
You can make them stay on constantly for six hours, or until daylight, by toggling the power switch off and on within 3 seconds. It resets to motion after those six hours or daylight.
Is it reasonable to assume that Hubitat and a Z-wave switch could be made to do this toggling? Or, would I have to wire up the light to be conventionally controlled, which can be done, and install outdoor z-wave motion and light sensors to input to the Hubitat?
Thanks.
If it's only 1 off/on cycle it shouldn't be a problem, just set up a rule that cycles the switch (I'd put a small delay, maybe 1 second between the actions) everyday around sunset.
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I was thinking some more.
Maybe HE could use the fact that a motion light is triggered, (I have four).
Could HE read any info from the GE switch that could tell if there was a load?
Neglecting that, maybe a z-wave relay to let HE that the light is on?
Doubt that you can use the motion sensing event from the lights as they are only using it internal to flip the current to the bulb. Monitoring the power draw at the switch may be possible depending on what the driver exposes, although I only recall that attribute for plugs/outlets. May be able to place a light meter in the area (at which point you may just want to add an outdoor z-wave/zigbee motion sensor) to signal back to HE when lux > x from sunset to sunrise...
I found some documentation on the switch, and it does appear that only switch position is provided.
edit: here is GE/Jasco link: Advanced Configuration
Also LED on/off and ALL ON/ALL OFF behavior (although it doesn't say how.)
Some of Innovellis switches do power monitoring, and i use a Qubino relay in a standard switch to monitor my radon fan for power use (to make sure its always running).
S
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What I'm discovering is that these Heath-Zenith lights can get locked out-off-if one switches off and on in a different time interval that is required. Something that can happen in a momentary power outage or maybe some kind of ha control scenario. I'm thinking now just to hardwire all the motion lights and use a separate motion sensor. I ordered a Zooza.
To close this out, I replaced the toggle switches with Jasco smart switches, put up Zooz motions, and use Simple Automation Rules to do either motion controlled or dusk to dawn lighting. Rolled up last night and all the lights came on: cool.
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