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Using Virtual ZWave Nodes to interface to SmartThings hub
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 Posted: Saturday Feb 2nd, 2019 07:35 pm
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Treworgey
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Hi All,


I'm after a bit of advice.  I have a Comfort system with CBus integration.  Recently I have managed to connect the Comfort to SmartThings in such a way that my CBus lights are represented with Virtual ZWave Nodes.  This allows SmartThings and hence Alexa and Siri via Homebridge to control my CBus lighting. :)

To achieve this I have a response on each ZWave virtual node that sends CBus commands based on the dimmer value supplied by Smartthings - using nested if then else statements I have achieved 4 brightness levels.


Problems to solve:

1. A better way to integate the counter values to get more control of the dimming level.

2. A way to get feedback from the CBus level to Smartthings via ZWave.


I have an original CBus UCS and I believe a 2-way ZWave UCM.  As I understand it the newer CBus UCM allows commands to be sent to CBus by just changing the counter value, so I guess I could copy the counter value received from the ZWave UCM to the CBus counter so set the dimmer directly?  I also believe I could map the same counter to both so this happens automatically.  Is this correct?


The ZWave virtual nodes do not seem to report the counter value back to the ZWave network.  Changing the counters in Comfigurator or via a response does not seem to be reflected by Smartthings.  Is this because I haven't associated the virtual notes with real ZWave devices?  I can't seem to see any mention of associating devices in Smartthings.
Perhaps I need a newer ZWave UCM or firmware?  My ZWave UCM reports Version 7.103 with ZWave Module 3.34.


Many thanks in advance.


Chris Williams

Worcester

England

Last edited on Monday Feb 4th, 2019 12:59 pm by Treworgey



 Posted: Monday Feb 4th, 2019 06:53 am
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Ian
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I had the same issue using virtual z-wave nodes and HomeSeer. After discussion on here Slychui sent me an updated firmware and the relevant command to use. If I remember correctly it is discussed in this thread; http://www.comfortforums.com/forum62/4709-1.html



 Posted: Monday Feb 4th, 2019 12:55 pm
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Treworgey
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Hi Ian,

Thanks for the heads up.  I have read your post and it seems like the 'special' version of the ZWave firmware would do what I need.  Do you know what triggers the ZWave/UCM to send the unsolicited Virtual Node status?  I assume it is sent whenever the Counter or Flag value associated with the node is changed.  I guess if the Virtual Node were acting like a ZWave input device, such as a button, this is what it would do anyway?

I wonder if this 'special' version is still available and if it is compatible with my hardware?

Thanks again,

Chris

 

Last edited on Monday Feb 4th, 2019 12:56 pm by Treworgey



 Posted: Tuesday Feb 5th, 2019 06:29 am
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Ian
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I suggest involving Slychui in the discussion! The command I use in responses is Send RS232 UCM02 06,10,01 - the 10 in this instance relates to the z-wave module, so changes depending on which module.



 Posted: Tuesday Feb 5th, 2019 11:19 am
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slychiu
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If you want to send commands from zwave to cbus I remember that you don't need virtual nodes. Map zwave to comfort counter and map cbus to comfort same counterChanging the value of the counter should affect both zwave and cbus. However check that you have ucm/cbus2 and the latest ucm zwave 3 firmware  Specialfirmware not needede



 Posted: Tuesday Feb 5th, 2019 12:09 pm
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Treworgey
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Hi, thanks for the information.  I read with interest that you can map both cbus and zwave to the same counter.  I have an original UCM/CBus so will need to upgrade.

I think this will fix my dimmer resolution issue, but can you confirm that the CBus status will be reported to the ZWave network?  This doesn't seem to happen now when I manually change the counter mapped to ZWave.  Perhaps there is a later ZWave firmware update that resolves this, or perhaps this just doesn't work with the Smartthings hub as the ZWave controller?

Thanks again,

Chris



 Posted: Friday Feb 8th, 2019 05:24 am
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slychiu
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In the UCM/Zwave3 manual, page 19;
"Zwave 7.072 - Note the counters mapped to Multilevel Switch e.g. Nodes 2,4,5 etc.
above will have values of 0 to 254 corresponding to levels 0 to 99 for Zwave and
vice versa. This conversion allows the Comfort app to use the full scale sliders
from 0 to 255. Setting a counter to 255 will turn on the multilevel switch to the
last remembered value. Note that this does not apply to Binary switches e.g. Node
3 above."so counter update from Cbus will get passed on to Zwave



 Posted: Monday Feb 11th, 2019 03:32 pm
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Treworgey
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Hi, thanks for the information.

I think the problem is that I am using Virtual Nodes to make Comfort simulate ZWave nodes that are actually CBus groups.  I do not have an actual ZWave device, either input (switch) or output (lamp).  I have a Controller (Smartthings) that is manipulating a simulated output (Lamp) directly.  This Lamp is not 'associated' with a ZWave input (switch). Perhaps I need another Virtual Node acting as an input (switch) that I can associate somehow in the controller with the virtual output (lamp)?

I am adding the Virtual Nodes to Smartthings by telling Smartthings to add a new device then clicking 'Create Virtual Node' in Comfigurator - there is no control over what sort of device appears - just appears as a multilevel dimmer.  Perhaps I am doing this bit wrong?

I believe the issue is at the ZWave interface and I think I have the latest hardware and firmware.  I appreciate that using the latest UCM/CBus2 would save on programming responses, but I am not convinced it will solve the issue of status feedback to ZWave.  I may try using a different ZWave controller to see if I get different behaviour.

Perhaps the new UCM/Pi will solve all my problems! ;)

Thanks again,

Chris

 

Last edited on Monday Feb 11th, 2019 03:34 pm by Treworgey



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