RF lighting control - anyone here use zigbee, z-wave, or insteon?

[jkeyser14]

I would like to be able to control my garage's exterior lights either from the garage or wirelessly from the house. I haven't been able to find any good home automation forums online and was wondering if anyone here has used any of these products. I've verified that Insteon can do remote 3-way switches and their stuff is cheaper than everyone else, but it seems that longevity is questionable.

On the opposite end, I haven't been able to find much about zigbee.

Z-wave on the other hand seems to be supported by Cooper, Lutron, GE, and others. I would love to go this route because I don't feel that these companies would risk their reputation by putting out a sub-par product, but these systems seem to be very expensive and I can't find much information on how to set up their products.

 

[ixlr8]

I used X-10, got tired of fighting with limited programming and unreliable functionality. I switched to Insteon about 4 years ago and it works much more reliably, and with the ISY-99, much easier to program, and more powerful programming. I have about 25 devices in the house and garage, I have had one device fail after about 4 months. Other than that they have been reliable. From keypads in the house I can control the lights in the garage which is about 100 ft from the house. I can also control, and monitor the status of, the garage overhead doors.
Smarthome-Insteon forum;
http://www.smarthome.com/forum/forum.asp?forum_id=9
ISY-99 forum;
http://forum.universal-devices.com/
These should give you a good idea of what you can do, and it's limitations. From what I understand Zigbee and Z-wave are more powerful systems, with higher costs, not that Insteon is cheap by any means.

 

[Dusty Floor]

I also switched from X10 to Insteon, with the ISY99; it's been very reliable for me (about 15 devices, most 2+ years old), the only failures I've had are controlled outlets that I've installed outdoors (which they are not rated for); each one that I've taken apart has had critters (ants, etc.) in it, so I can't really blame the technology. Now that they have an outdoor-rated appliance module, I've switched to that (I control my gutter/roof heat cables, Christmas lights, and in the spring and fall, my pond pump with them). Even the older X10 stuff lasted well, it just wasn't as flexible as Insteon, and communication was not as reliable... I'm still using a few of them here and there, and have a box with a half-dozen or so working modules under my desk.

From what I've seen on the forums (same ones that ixlr8 mentions), there were issues with some of the earlier devices, but newer ones seem to be better; be sure to pay attention to the load ratings, btw; some of the devices are somewhat limited.

If you want simple remote on/off, you don't need the ISY99 (you can link the individual devices to each other, or to keypads); if you want to program your stuff on schedules, or build logic into it (i.e., turn the floodlights on if the garage doors are opened after dark), then the ISY99 beats all of the other controller options hands-down, IMO

 

[jkeyser14]

Thanks for the feedback. Since I'm not looking for anything too fancy (yet) I'll probably just go with the Insteon.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Besides myself, this is about the 4th or 5th request for a simple, hard wired, remote control light switch.

I have a friend in the electronics business who is working me up a quote ! My specs said 200-300' range. Remove standard light switch, insert new RF switch. He suggested that the new switch handle have a spring loaded return to center, no contact. Up momentary contact for ON. Down momentary contact for OFF.

 

[ixlr8]

Thanks for the feedback. Since I'm not looking for anything too fancy (yet) I'll probably just go with the Insteon.

Insteon works very well, I have been happy with it. Just remember that it uses the power lines in your house to transmit the signals, you need to make sure that your controller (switch) and your responder (controlled light) are on the same phase.. or make sure you have a way to get the signal delivered to both phases. There are several methods of getting the signal to both phases. Easiest is a filter plug that plugs into your electric dryer socket, then the dryer plugs into the filter plug.

 

[jkeyser14]

Insteon works very well, I have been happy with it. Just remember that it uses the power lines in your house to transmit the signals, you need to make sure that your controller (switch) and your responder (controlled light) are on the same phase.. or make sure you have a way to get the signal delivered to both phases. There are several methods of getting the signal to both phases. Easiest is a filter plug that plugs into your electric dryer socket, then the dryer plugs into the filter plug.

They have rf built in now as well.

 

[cowboyjosh]

Love my Lutron Radio Ra2. All my lighting and HVAC is controlled by the Ra2 iPad app.