Hi Tim,
[ "I have switched to a Leviton Serial Module to send and receive ZWave commands.....works perfect and very simple." ]
Would sure like to know more about the Leviton Serial Module and the setup your using. How about letting us know more about it. I am considering getting one to send serial commands to the module from external hardware and am wondering how the module integrates with a Vera. I realize you probably are not using a Vera but your insight would be helpful.
Thanks
The Leviton Serial interface is a very basic module and very easy to use. It has a RS232 port and the module plugs in your wall. The commands are simple compared to Vera .....usually 3 or 4 bytes of text and the commands go out! You use simple little commands to read ZWave modules as well.
I discovered is that ZWave dimmers are slow to respond so I use two modules.....one to send and one to poll the modules. The units are cheap and it gives me a backup module. So I send outgoing commands to one module and run an update poll on the second modules giving me great response time to the system. As for interfacing with Vera.....
Someone like @guessed could give advice on sending and receiving serial information from the Leviton interface.
........it can be done but I am unclear as to what the benefit would be. It is the slow response from Vera and occasional "hangs" that make the system unpredictable. If, for example, a dimmer is not responding then Vera hangs up on the outgoing scene commands......you will see 3 second responses or even longer which for my wife or my clients is enough delay to make the user feel the system isn't working. The other consideration is your ZWave Grid.....once a Vera is introduced it becomes a part of the grid. What I discovered is that dimmers look to the Vera as an active part of the Grid and sometimes map there commands through the Vera. Because of this if Vera is pondering over things due to no Internet or what ever then the scene delays popup again.....it is the same as a dead node on the network!
The one thing that I am clear on is that a fast working system has to be carefully designed.....for example watch out for single bulbs on a single dimmer. If that bulb fails then even the Leviton Scene and Zone controllers slow wayyyyyyyyyyyyy down and make you thing something is broke!
I love the idea of ZWave but in my world it has to work immediate and every time. Truthfully I am still looking for a better lighting system due to inherent design flaws in the ZWave Grid.
I love the idea of the Vera but it has proven to be more of a toy for my home and not a commercial device.
I hope that helps.....I can give you the command PDF for the Leviton Serial interface if you want to dig deeper.
Regard
Tim Alls
AllSeas Yachts
