Hello, I’m new here. I’m not new to home automation - my first automated home was extensively automated (using Homevision Pro and UPB lighting) and my 2nd was automated (but not nearly as much using SmartThings). We just purchased a new (existing) home and I plan to automate it with Hubitat… looking for some planning thoughts since I’m new to Hubitat and suspect the technology has probably evolved since my last project.
Its a pretty large house (6600 ft2) which includes a basement. I was originally planning to use Zwave switches for lighting but have been turned on to RadioRA2. My concern is that due to the size of this home, I believe I need a good mesh for some other devices to work properly (locks, thermostats, motion sensors, etc)
My biggest complaint of ST (besides lag in the system) was switches that would suddenly become unresponsive and I would have to repair them (readd to the system). Was this a ST issue? Or a Zwave issue?
I am debating still between ZWave/Zigbee switches and RadioRA2 Select. By my initial estimates, I have 50-80 switches to automate and am OK giving up a few keypad options (I think). But I'd be happy to use zwave or zigbee switches if they are reliable... does a large number of devices make it more or less reliable? If I make sure I get the new zwave plus stuff, does that help? Or should I target Zigbee stuff instead? I understand RadioRA2 is very solid - but won't that make the rest of my stuff less reliable (since I won't have a strong mesh network)?
Sorry for all questions, getting ready to kick things off and have been doing my planning/research but I still don’t feel confident with my plan for this yet. I’d rather pick the right path up front versus a couple false starts... thanks!
We have people here with 300+ devices in one hub, I believe RadioRA2 is Lutron? Honestly, if RadioRA2 is Lutron and requires the Pro hub to work with HE then you will need multiple Lutron hubs and the HE hub, I would use the HE hub and distribute the devices(z wave or zigbee). Yes, using RadioRA2 could make your other devices mesh weaker because you will have less z wave repeaters for example, but if you create a good z wave mesh that will not be a problem, just repeaters everywhere, every switch or dimmer connected to the AC power will be a repeater. Zigbee probably will need a bunch of repeaters too, I installed everything z wave but the nice bulbs, smaller contacts sensor or motion sensor came in zigbee, so I ended using both, if you add RadioRA2 will be 3 different meshes, not impossible but definitely needs planning. If you reach the limit of total devices per mesh, adding an additional HE hub and link it to the first hub is easy. Just remember, depends on what are you going to install first, maybe a couple of lights or everything.
I have broken the project into 5 phases so I can stay focused on the priorities:
hub, outside lighting (simple automation based on sunsets, etc), pet notifications (notify us when cat at the back door), and door locks (so crew doing work can get in out if we are not home, etc)
Since many of these systems tie together, I wanted to ensure I wasn't heading down a bad path. Zwave and Zigbee seemed like a good option so that everything would be well connected, but then RadioRA2 started making me doubt myself. The Homeseer 200 switches seemed like a great option with their additional status lighting.
If you can afford RadioRA2, there's no question it would be better. I'm having a really hard time thinking of a downside. The 433mhz passes through walls, etc. better than ZWave (900mhz) and far better than Zigbee (2.4ghz). Support is excellent. The look, especially when Picos are added, is well accepted.
Because Switches / Dimmers are so visible, you might think about making them Lutron and leave the ZWave / Zigbee to the sockets / receptacles and the battery devices (contact / motion sensors).
This is something that I had in mind but I did not write it, everybody here loves Lutron, the only thing is the device limit per hub but you can connect multiple Lutron hubs to HE so no problem.
Thanks, (I apologize if I’m not supposed to ask this) is there a good place to purchase RadioRA2 Select equipment? Seems to be a lot of options and not everything appears available everywhere... it’s a bit overwhelming to try to put together an initial system purchase
LOL! Yes, this is a handy feature my wife loves... I just use a simple motion detector (Zooz) near the door. I mount it low and turn the sensitivity way down (to minimize false alarms). When cat comes to the door - Hubitat announces in each of our common areas (using a Sonos speaker), turns the light on at the door, and then notifies someone else by turning on their bedroom light. If my wife or I are home, it usually turns on our Nightstand light. If we’re not, it will turn on one of the kids lights. It will also text one of the kids so they know to go get him. Works pretty well - everyone happy with it.
