Table top switches

[kwolter]

One thing that seems to be missing from my mostly HS4 install is a way to control lights from a table top wireless switch. Beyond the normal schedule or motion controlled lighting scenes it would be nice to have the ability to have a small remote to say touch to turn on a end table lamp by the bed. Do these currently exist?

I remember using an X10 big red button back in the day, and zwave had a multi button remote. I’m mostly looking for a one or two button device to pair in rooms that would just control one or two things in those locations.

Any ideas? Thx!

[mik3]

One thing that seems to be missing from my mostly HS4 install is a way to control lights from a table top wireless switch. Beyond the normal schedule or motion controlled lighting scenes it would be nice to have the ability to have a small remote to say touch to turn on a end table lamp by the bed. Do these currently exist?

I remember using an X10 big red button back in the day, and zwave had a multi button remote. I’m mostly looking for a one or two button device to pair in rooms that would just control one or two things in those locations.

Any ideas? Thx!

I use pico remotes.

[ksum]

I made this MQTT Remote for turning on/off the holiday lights at Christmas. It is an Arduino with momentary buttons which sends and receives MQTT topics Remote1/Button1/ON (or OFF) and through Remote1/Button4/ON (or OFF). I have events in HomeSeer fire off when the MQTT Message is received. This way I can use it for different things throughout the year. If I had a second it would send Remote2/ButtonX/On, etc. There is also a message when the remote is powered on and connected so that it can receive the status each button should have as the buttons have an LED inside. I use this to indicate that that button's item is on so I wanted to be able to sync it when powering the remote up. I need to revisit the code as it drains battery power fairly heavily right now. Will also be building a case out of wood for a better look. May end up loosnig the light up buttons for smaller ones as well.

In these pictures, Button 2 shows that the controlled device is On.

Karl

[Guest]

Any ideas? Thx!

Two possiblities (which I use):

I repurposed an old Android cell phone to act as an HS Touch client. I just leave the phone connected to a charger. Small screen, but it does work. The phone does not have a SIM card of course, but works just fine without it (just no phone calls).

I also have a small box with a HS WD200 switch mounted in it. I got a AC power cord, wired it to the switch, and then simply plug the switch into the nearest outlet. The load wire on the WD200 is left unconnected. Now I have a table top controller with multi-tap capability to run events, and 7 Status LEDs to play with.

[mik3]

I think the easiest solution, is grabbing a pico remote. All of these options are cool ideas, but seem to be more work then it's worth? It also possibly introduces more room for failure.

Just my 2 cents.

[Alex_W]

I also use Android phones with no SIM cards as remotes.

[ksum]

An Android phone could be set to use a Google Voice number and then only needs WiFi so now you also have a house phone which can also be accessed on your mobile. IF you need that sort of thing.

Using an old phone or even an inexpensive tablet does provide the ability for a larger selection of buttons, a more flexible interface, and expansion to in-wall units in other locations for a common use and look.

[logbuilder]

kwolter I agree with you about the need for remote controls. Here we use them in multiple locations (wife bedside, my bedside, couch in TV room, downstairs leisure chair, exit door to alarm security within HS, in autos to run an Arriving scene. Some are insteon based and others are z-wave. For z-wave, I like the Aeotec WallMote Quad. It has an internal battery so you just charge it every once in a while.

[logbuilder]

For those using the pico remotes, they look really nice. How do they interface to HS?

[Eman]

Fibaro does Z-wave buttons :Amazon US



Eman.

[mik3]

For those using the pico remotes, they look really nice. How do they interface to HS?

They register as button presses, and you associate an event to them. When pico remote button becomes ON do action.

[spike5884]

I have one of these and it works pretty good. Rechargable.
Hank Z-Wave Plus Four Button Scene Controller

[kwolter]

Lots of good ideas here. Thx!

[logbuilder]

They register as button presses, and you associate an event to them. When pico remote button becomes ON do action.

Is there a hub and/or a plugin you use?

[logbuilder]

I have one of these and it works pretty good. Rechargable.
Hank Z-Wave Plus Four Button Scene Controller

Never heard of that one. Looks good and I like z-wave. Thanks.