Wall Scene Keypads

[lparks]

I am looking for some rock solid (probably engravable) scene controllers to be able to program rules around the pressing of keypad buttons. I would like to be able to setup lighting and music scenes using a keypad.

In my opinion, the SeeTouch RadioRA keypads are the finest looking/performing around. Can I purchase and set up a repeater and SeeTouch without being an official/licenses lutron resellar? What's the bare minimum I need to get a SeeTouch integrated with my Hubitat? (Repeater and Seetouch?).

I am surprised that nobody makes a ZigBee or zwave controller with the same quality as SeeTouch. I have seen some Control4 installations use a similar keypad, but I think it's proprietary to Control4.

Any help is appreciated. Should I just settle on some PICO's?

[april.brandt]

My boss came up with something cool on his desk the other day. I was thinking it would be awesome at home for automation. Your question brings it to mind for me because I LOVE that thing. Wouldn't it be cool if ... So here's the link. I'm sure where there's a will there's a way. There's a smaller version of this too that's a bit cheaper. Kind've an "outside the box" response for you.

Amazon.com: Elgato Stream Deck - Live Content Creation Controller with 15...

[jwetzel1492]

I did something similar using the Eaton Cooper Aspire keypads. I ended up writing my own driver for them that could make them behave either as switches, as buttons, or as a fan controller.

[RELEASE] Cooper Eaton Aspire RFWC5 Keypad driver for Hubitat

https://github.com/joelwetzel/Hubitat-Cooper-Aspire-Scene-Controller Cooper Eaton Aspire RFWC5 RFWC5D Keypad driver for Hubitat This is a Hubitat driver for the Cooper Eaton Aspire RFWC5 and RFWC5D 5-button keypads. These are in-wall z-wave scene controllers, but this driver allows them to be used as keypads for a variety of purposes. Supported Devices RFWC5 - This is the easiest to find. It can easily be purchased online. However, its design has wavy curves that you may or may not like…

[jwetzel1492]

And if you make them behave as buttons, it's trivial to use Rule Machine to trigger any kind of automation from them.

[Royski]

You could use this already
Sadly you need an always on PC, but you could program it to use HE Maker API
I've also thought about using it lol.

[Ryan780]

There's a great write up that @bravenel gave on the differences between Pico's and keypads a while back. He knows more about Lutron than anybody else here, so if this doesn't answer your question, I'm sure he will.

Lutron RA2 Select or RadioRA 2 Essentials

This is entirely a choice based on how you set up your house for lighting control. I bought a home that had the original "classic" RadioRA already installed. In some areas, there are no light switches, only keypads. I have since replaced that old system with RadioRA2, and kept keypads in the same places for the same functions. Having said that, we don't use these keypads as primary lighting control. Instead we use Hubitat apps and Alexa. But, when we do use them, they have augmented funct…

[bill.d]

Yes, RadioRA 2 level 1 (Essentials) training is free. It takes a few hours and is a mix of technical and marketing content.

The minimal install would be a main repeater and keypads. You can find reasonable prices from a good distributor (I use Hanks Electric, get a quote from paul@hankselectric.net) or used on Ebay.

One of the best reasons to use a keypad over a Pico is due to physical device communications paths/limitations.When one uses a Hubitat programmed Pico or keypad with Lutron dimmers the path becomes Keypad/Pico→ Main Repeater → Hubitat→ Main Repeater→ Lutron dimmer/switch. That path can cause an IO bottleneck with Picos (but not keypads). If you are using Lutron dimmers the best way to address this issue is to use phantom buttons on the main repeater. So Hubitat sends a single command to the main repeater. The main repeater then does all the communications with the individual Lutron dimmers/switches. This is not an issue if you are using Picos to control non-Lutron devices.

[lparks]

In order to support the keypads as well as pico devices, Should I be looking for a

1. Lutron RA2 Select
2. Lutron Radio RA 2 Main REPEATER
3. Lutron Caseta L-BDGPRO2-WH

I assume 1 or 2 to support those non pico keypads.

Thanks...

[bill.d]

@lparks

In order to support the keypads as well as pico devices,

#2. Only full RadioRA 2 with the main repeater supports keypads. Neither RA2 Select nor Caséta support keypads.

[mik3]

Is there a way to speed up Caseta pico remotes ?

When using Hubitat there’s a delay controlling Lutron devices.

[SmartHomePrimer]

Not exactly what the OP is looking for, but these Aqara OPPLE Zigbee 3.0 scene controllers are now available and on sale for a few more days. Just ordered the 6 button version last night.

[bill.d]

@mik3

Is there a way to speed up Caseta pico remotes ?

The issue is caused by a communication bottleneck (Picos are transmit only devices that don't know when the bridge receives the message). The Picos triggering Caséta devices via Hubitat flow is Pico→ Bridge→ Hubitat→ Bridge→ Caséta device.

The best way to minimize delays is to program the Caséta devices as a scene on the Lutron bridge. Then have the Pico call the scene via Hubitat button controller. Scenes are virtual buttons on the Bridge and are part of the integration report. You can add non-Caséta devices to the Picos in whatever Hubitat button controller app you are using.

[mik3]

How would this speed up anything really? It would essentially be the same thing if you just let the pico and the bridge do the talking.

• pico to Lutron
• Lutron runs scene
• Hubitat sees it via Lutron

[bill.d]

@mik3

How would this speed up anything really?

Because the Lutron bridge is receiving a single command from Hubitat. From there the Lutron bridge handles all the individual Caséta device commands. As opposed to Hubitat sending multiple device commands to the bridge and the bridge executing them. I'm not technical enough to explain the IO issue, other than seeing in my own system that making the change sped up controlling multiple Lutron dimmers via a Pico button push.