Messages

1

Choosing a home automation system / Re: Trouble pairing with smartthings?

« on: December 18, 2015, 08:55:14 AM »

I did write a quick "thumbs up" review in the ST forum and recommended Rollertrol for anyone who wants an excellent lower cost alternative to Somfy.  The install is more complex but well within reach of most ST users who have a more DIY mentality.

Can I make some suggestions for ways you can assist future installers (apart from your excellent forum support)?  A few pictures of the actual wiring would be helfpul - I'm quite handy and I confess I should've read the instructions word for word.  There were times when I was a little confused and uncertain I had done things properly.  Even the connections for the power supply which in fact goto each module and the motor was an area that would easily have been assisted with a picture.  Additionally, given the number of steps involved along the way, some confirmation that each step was completed properly is great (like when the motor beeps as it does for several of these steps).  Pictures of what the wiring should look like at a particular stage is great as would be quick tests to confirm things work (like a quick jumper test with a picture would've aided my installation as I wouldn't have misunderstood "cloning" - again, my fault not yours).

Last, I did have a challenge with the mounting hardware - I believe I had 2.5 or 3" aluminum tube and the mounting hardware was not quite long enough - there was insufficient height between the ceiling and the top of the hardware where the slotted pin slides into the mount.  I needed to install a few washers to drop that mounting hardware down about 1/4" for each of the mounting plates.  Basically, for the very large rollers the mounting plates need to be longer top to bottom.  Once the pin is engaged there is plenty of height above the roller but the screw hole placement is such that one can't attach the plate after engaging the pin.  Hopefully that makes sense - it seems like the mounts are designed for smaller diameter rolls.

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Choosing a home automation system / Re: Trouble pairing with smartthings?

« on: December 17, 2015, 06:52:43 PM »

That's really above and beyond.  I would imagine Raspberry Pi is a DIY adventure although the open source nature of smartthings makes it an interesting hybrid of DIY and off the shelf support.  Let me know how I can help in the future, I do like to "pay it forward" when it comes to these things.

3

Choosing a home automation system / Re: Trouble pairing with smartthings?

« on: December 17, 2015, 05:49:03 PM »

Success!!!

In the end two things were required, one was certainly my error in the cloning assumption - the cloning of course needs to be done, one of my relays required a reset to default the other didn't. 

The second thing was getting them to operate with ST - this didn't happen with the ST default detection of "dimmer switch" - oddly this did not activate the relay to perform any functions.  Perusing the ST forums it is clear that there is some custom code for a device type called "Aeon Motor Controller" which properly sets "up", "down", and "stop" functionality in the ST app.  I am happy to provide or post that custom code since it is open source if you'd like to have it on your forum for other future ST users.  With the custom device type saved and published in the ST IDE (a website controlling a user's hub and devices), the type can be assigned to the "dimmer switch" that ST detects and then all will function wel.

It does seem clear that some users had success with the default detection in ST but this wasn't the case with me.  Additionally, the custom code device type does appear to be superior in that on/off are up and down and stop functionality is also present.  ST users would probably greatly appreciate the custom code version as opposed to the basic switch version.

Thanks for all your help and people are free to ping me in the future if they require similar assistance.

4

Choosing a home automation system / Re: Trouble pairing with smartthings?

« on: December 17, 2015, 01:31:47 PM »

Thanks very much, I was confused as to which module you were referring.  I'll report back but I suspect I can get the rest done and things will work.  I will also report back the steps for other smartthings users as well.

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Choosing a home automation system / Re: Trouble pairing with smartthings?

« on: December 17, 2015, 12:17:45 PM »

What does this mean (directly copied from your web instructions)? 

•   Press the setting button on the DCG-1R-RFT Radio Transmitter Module once.

The "Radio Transmitter Module" is the plastic module into which the header connector goes and there is a black button inset next to the header connector that your instructions call the "Zwave include/exclude" button?  I just want to make sure we're talking about the same thing and not the actual "Setting" button on the motor itself.

Sorry for the multiple replies, I hope you can understand my confusion.

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Choosing a home automation system / Re: Trouble pairing with smartthings?

« on: December 17, 2015, 10:21:15 AM »

Adrian, is the "setting" button in the cloning instructions the same one as what is called the "include/exclude" button elsewhere in the instructions for the group transmitter?

7

Choosing a home automation system / Re: Trouble pairing with smartthings?

« on: December 17, 2015, 09:56:04 AM »

I didn't do the cloning procedure - I thought that was for using more than one remote or more than one motor on a specific channel.

That is likely the culprit at least at this point since the group transmitter must not have the correct programming information?  I am jumpering the neutral to the open/close/stop and nothing happens but that must be cloning as well.  Just to confirm the neutral terminal has 3 wires because each of the relays has a neutral lead (brown, grey and white I think) - the 3 striped wires goto the individual function terminals.  Also, cloning must not be necessary for the handheld remote to work?  I already have stop limits set as well as intermediate positions with each of the two shades on its own master channel.

I'll clone tonight when I get home for each of the two group transmitters and re-test.  Again, thanks.

8

Choosing a home automation system / Re: Trouble pairing with smartthings?

« on: December 16, 2015, 09:02:02 PM »

I did see that article.  I am still a bit confused though.  I am shorting across the neutral terminal and the white/black stripe or the neutral and the other two terminals for open/stop/close on the radio transmitter module and nothing happens except the blue light in the z wave module blinks.  I can't get the motor to move by shorting across (closing) those circuits?

Am I performing the test of the radio transmitter module incorrectly?  Can you let me know what terminals or wires to short to get the motor operating and then I can probably figure out which terminals are being shorted by the smartthings software and connect them properly.

9

Choosing a home automation system / Re: Trouble pairing with smartthings?

« on: December 16, 2015, 06:37:31 PM »

Is it true that it has to be wired correctly if the remote works?  Or does the remote communicate with the motor controller and the z wave relay is separate?  I'm asking because I can clearly have the z wave activate something on the motor controller but no movement occurs.

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Choosing a home automation system / Re: Trouble pairing with smartthings?

« on: December 16, 2015, 06:19:41 PM »

I've done more troubleshooting - the hub is finding the device and calling it a "Dimmer Switch".  With this device type it doesn't function.  I can change the device types to many choices, none of course are your shades but some of them clearly activate the relay in that the red light on the z wave relay goes on and then the blue light on the header controller but the shades don't operate.

Again, I'm sure they are wired correctly because the remote functions.  I'm quite a bit closer than I was though.  The current question is what device type I can use to make these functional (up/down) in smartthings.  Anybody successfully using them in ST would know this - I posed the question on the ST forum although there are very few posts about rollertrol so I think very few people are using them.  If these do work I'll post that too since lots of people balk at the price of somfy motors and these are more affordable.

Thanks - let me know if you discover anything useful.

11

Choosing a home automation system / Re: Trouble pairing with smartthings?

« on: December 16, 2015, 11:41:44 AM »

Is it just automatically and indefinitely in a pairing mode when plugged in?  Or do you push the button next to the header plug and it's available for a period of time?  The Vera I think has some sort of auto-include but the relay would still need to be broadcasting connection information.

12

Choosing a home automation system / Re: Trouble pairing with smartthings?

« on: December 16, 2015, 09:04:28 AM »

I have two modules because I have two shades.  The power supply did seem a bit fussy during the installation but I wasn't certain if that was related to minor wiring issues along the way or a problem.  I did test the output of the power supply when it was working and it was a solid 12V DC.

It seems unlikely that I have two defective z wave relay modules?  Perhaps it is the power supply but the shades operate properly with the remote.  I'm open to trying another relay or power supply or anything else you think might be of help?

Can you elaborate a little bit on the pairing process?  I have about 25 devices on my network so I have quite a bit of experience with all sorts of devices (somfy shades, switches, sensors etc.)  Most devices need to be toggled to become discoverable and I presume that is what the button next to the header plug is?  Is it just a matter of powering on the unit and pressing the button and then searching for devices (that would be typical with the smartthings hub)?  If so I've tried that many times.  Is there any sort of reset that can or should be done?

Thanks

13

Choosing a home automation system / Trouble pairing with smartthings?

« on: December 15, 2015, 09:07:32 PM »

I recently installed two 12V DC rollertrol rollershades with the z wave motor control units.  Everything works perfectly by remote control but I am unable to pair with my smartthings hub although I understand they are compatible.  I know there is a zwave include button next to the header connector and I've tried powering up the shade and searching, pressing the header connect button and searching and just about everything else I can think of but the hub doesn't find a new device.  The hub is quite close to the shades so I don't think distance is an issue.

Anybody have any troubleshooting ideas?  I checked the smartthings forums and there are only one or two posts about rollertrol but one is someone who had no trouble.

Thanks