I think I screwed up. I had a regular zooz dimmer switch that controlled the main lights in my room (a single chandelier fixture in the middle). I wanted to get easier dimming capabilities and have a single button that would turn it on/off at full brightness, one to dim to 50%, another that would turn on and dim to 25%, and another that would turn on and dim to 10%. I decided to replace it with a Zooz Zen32 Scene Controller figuring I could configure each button to control the light.
I am having trouble setting this up. It seems as though the scene controller doesnt dim. It sounds like I should have left the switch in place and added the scene controller separately? I paid my electrician to install this so I am a little annoyed at myself
I guess the other option would be to replace the bulbs in the chandelier with smart bulbs and then use the rule machine to dim the light bulbs directly?
The ZEN32 scene controller cannot dim; the big button is just an on/off switch, and the other buttons can be configured to do whatever you want (most easily on Hubitat via their button events, technically Z-Wave Central Scenes; I believe you can also use Z-Wave Association). I do use one sort of as a dimmer, but I cheated: the bulbs are smart bulbs, and the buttons dim that way. (EDIT: so, yes, this option that you mentioned would work -- you'd just need an automation on the hub to handle it.)
Depending on what Zooz dimmer you had before, you might be able to put it back and still get what you want--any recent device and many of the older ones with updated firmware support multi-taps (also Z-Wave Central Scenes), so you could do something like a double tap down for 50% brightness, triple tap down for 25%, etc., or whatever you want.
I would think you could use the Button Controllers App and configure the small buttons to dim up and down when the buttons are held or just use 4 of them for 25% 50%, etc. I use the ZEN34 remote for this purpose, hold the button to dim up.
Download the App from HPM, simple setup. This is my two button remote...
I reused the old dimmer somewhere else. I think I am going to go with the bulb idea and just use the buttons to control those directly instead. Now to find compatible bulbs
I have a Zen32 functioning as a dimmer, where the upper two small buttons function as brightness UP or DOWN, but the Zen32 itself does not provide dimming. I merely set up the buttons to control the dimming functions of another switch that IS a dimmer.
It depends how things are wired. If the ZEN32 is purely a controller, there are a couple ways you can configure it to dim the lights of your choice. But that assumes the lights are capable of dimming on their own -- either smart bulbs or commanding some other dimmer. I think there are some in-wall devices that could work.
The ZEN32 doesn't have an integrated dimmer, just a relay, so if you're expecting it to directly dim the device behind it, you're out of luck (without more hardware).
The zen32 and your previous zooz dimmer should be wired the same. Turn off power to the switch and take a photo of the wires and where it goes (line, load, neutral). Match that up with the previous switch and you should be good. Then you can get zooz battery powered scene controller set rules of that dimmer switch.
The other option is to keep zen32 in place but chlhange your zen32 parameters to non local control and add in smart bulbs. Then use it strickly as a scene controller aka big button (big button doesn't actually toggle power as it is set always on mode), and control the bulbs instead.
I have a similar situation. I needed a z wave scene controller. i wanted it to be dimmable (good luck). So my plan (I have not implemented yet but have purchased) it to install a Qubino mini dimmer to control the load. Then use the Zen 32 to control multiple different switches. This is going to be installed into 1 single gang box, not sure I have the room but I am going to try. By the way all buttons on the Zen32 can be used as scene controllers.
Just thought I would pass on a plan I came up with.
I have tried to do this method but . I tired the Sengled color led e12 bulbs as those were the only things I could find on amazon https://www.amazon.com/Sengled-Required-SmartThings-Control-Candelabra/dp/B092D6QSKK/. These didnt work so well. Whenever power is restored to them, they cycle through the different LED colors which is annoying. I didnt change parameters to non local control, so that probably would solve that particular issue. The other issue is 2 of the 5 bulbs stopped responding all together.
I then was up at my cabin this weekend where I have ikea tradfri e12 bulbs that I use with Smartthings and Hue. I had 4 extras still new in box and bought a new one on the way home. These are white only (what I wanted) and only $9 a piece. I finally got these installed and added to the zigbee network (what a pain in the butt. I will say sengled were WWAAAYY easier to add). These seem to work well and respond well. However, even at the lowest level of 1, they are wayyy brighter than the standard led e12s I had in there with the Zooz zwave dimmer. Even with only on bulb on at level 1, it lights up the whole room.
Now I think I am back to you other suggetion of cutting power via the breaker to the room and wiring in a standard Zooz dimmer switch to revert back to the original setup. I have a few button controllers like the Aqara I can use to set scenes instead.
