Suggested Z-Wave Controller?

[OTA 64]

I currently have z-wave devices that are paired with my home security system through alarm.com.  Alarm.com doesn't have a public API, as far as I know, so I won't be able to make action files to control anything.  I've recently upgraded the lighting in my theater room with a z-wave dimmer and may in the future add a motorized drapery track.  From what I've read, I can pair z-wave devices to multiple controllers.  The controllers won't communicate with each other, but that's not really important.

I'd prefer it to be cost effective, so I could build a raspberry pi and try configuring the software myself, or I can get an out of the box controller if there are any that don't break the bank.  It would only control the lights in the room at this time.  What controller would you guys suggest I go with in home and which would have easy integration with CV?

[Ragnarok 196]

24 minutes ago, OTA said:

I currently have z-wave devices that are paired with my home security system through alarm.com.  Alarm.com doesn't have a public API, as far as I know, so I won't be able to make action files to control anything.  I've recently upgraded the lighting in my theater room with a z-wave dimmer and may in the future add a motorized drapery track.  From what I've read, I can pair z-wave devices to multiple controllers.  The controllers won't communicate with each other, but that's not really important.

I'd prefer it to be cost effective, so I could build a raspberry pi and try configuring the software myself, or I can get an out of the box controller if there are any that don't break the bank.  It would only control the lights in the room at this time.  What controller would you guys suggest I go with in home and which would have easy integration with CV?

My personal preference is the Samsung SmartThings Hub. It supports a ton of devices, and they have an API that seems decent and will work with CV. If you're looking for a DIY cost effective solution, check out OpenHAB. It's open source and basically supports all the things, and also works with CV.

[OTA 64]

26 minutes ago, Ragnarok said:

My personal preference is the Samsung SmartThings Hub. It supports a ton of devices, and they have an API that seems decent and will work with CV. If you're looking for a DIY cost effective solution, check out OpenHAB. It's open source and basically supports all the things, and also works with CV.

That's looks pretty good considering a raspberry pi and an aeon labs z-wave stick would run about $75 just for the hardware.  $25 to not have to install an OS and try to configure is worth my time.  I'll look into it.  Thanks Rags.

[OTA 64]

Went and picked up that Samsung SmartThings Hub.  It was on sale on Amazon for $80, so it was that much better.  Should be arriving at the end of the week.

[Ragnarok 196]

3 hours ago, OTA said:

Went and picked up that Samsung SmartThings Hub.  It was on sale on Amazon for $80, so it was that much better.  Should be arriving at the end of the week.

Excellent! Let us know how you like it!

[OTA 64]

On 6/28/2016 at 1:59 PM, Ragnarok said:

Excellent! Let us know how you like it!

Showed up yesterday.  Hopefully I'll get to play with it this weekend.  For anybody else interested, SmartThings has a 4th of July sale going on.  %20 off site wide and an additional 10% off for new customers with stackable coupon code Welcome10 .  Could have had my hub for $10 cheaper, but nobody can see the future.

https://shop.smartthings.com/#!/sale

[OTA 64]

Just thought I would post an update.  I got the SmartThings up and going.  Not too thrilled that it just has a phone app to access it, although I do see that people have made custom interfaces.  I was incorrect in my initial post indicating that I could pair z-wave devices to multiple controllers.  What I have to do is set the SmartThings hub as a primary controller and set my security panel as a secondary controller.  I haven't gone through this step yet as I don't have my dimmer installed.  After I get my z-wave devices installed I'll look at unpairing my existing devices from my security panel and then setting it as a secondary controller.  After that I can start playing with the lights through CV.

[OTA 64]

Figured I'd drop another update.  Got the can lighting installed and the z-wave dimmer switch paired with the SmartThings hub.  Just have to finish the theater renovations where I can get the HTPC back online and we can start playing with scripts.

[Ragnarok 196]

29 minutes ago, OTA said:

Figured I'd drop another update.  Got the can lighting installed and the z-wave dimmer switch paired with the SmartThings hub.  Just have to finish the theater renovations where I can get the HTPC back online and we can start playing with scripts.

You're gonna post a video of your setup in action using CinemaVision, right?

[OTA 64]

8 hours ago, Ragnarok said:

You're gonna post a video of your setup in action using CinemaVision, right?

You bet.  I'm sure I'll need help with scripting before I get to that point though.

[Ragnarok 196]

49 minutes ago, OTA said:

You bet.  I'm sure I'll need help with scripting before I get to that point though.

Of course! Always happy to help.

[OTA 64]

On 8/18/2016 at 10:10 PM, Ragnarok said:

You're gonna post a video of your setup in action using CinemaVision, right?

As promised.  A quick video of the action files in use with CV and the SmartThings hub.  I disabled the trailers module since it's not working for me.  I haven't had time to update yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eX05tFJ4Ig

Edited September 2, 2016 by OTA

[Ragnarok 196]

1 minute ago, OTA said:

As promised.  A quick video of the action files in use with CV and the SmartThings hub.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eX05tFJ4Ig

Well that's just awesome. Thanks for putting that together. Mind if I add it to the CinemaVision Showcase on our YouTube channel? Would you be willing to send over your Actions and help me doctor them up for other people to modify and use for their setup?

[OTA 64]

I'm in the process of working on the room.  I should be done in a couple of weeks.  I'll make a new video then that you can share and I can show off more of the lights.  The action files are pretty simple.  They only contain the web address that's created by the Kodi Callback Endpoint app for SmartThings.  The Kodi Callback Endpoint is where you set all the light levels, not in the action file itself, but I can send you the files if you're interested.

[Ragnarok 196]

1 hour ago, OTA said:

I'm in the process of working on the room.  I should be done in a couple of weeks.  I'll make a new video then that you can share and I can show off more of the lights.  The action files are pretty simple.  They only contain the web address that's created by the Kodi Callback Endpoint app for SmartThings.  The Kodi Callback Endpoint is where you set all the light levels, not in the action file itself, but I can send you the files if you're interested.

Sounds great! Please do send those over. We'll get the guide updated. If you have time to outline what needs to be modified that would help too.

[OTA 64]

I'll try to get those files copied back from my HTPC tonight and strip the tokens out of them.  There's really not much to update in the guide, just the updated link to GitHub which is here.  The guide even has an example of an action file as inserted below:

https://graph.api.smartthings.com:443/api/token/{Auth-Token}/smartapps/installations/{SmartApp-Installation-ID}/play

I'll still get those files to you though so they can be put in the library.

[Synthesis 2]

I use SmartThings by Samsung as well, and am in the process of finishing up my theater build in the basement.

I have a 25x15 room that now has a 130" motorized projection screen tucked into the ceiling between the joists on one end of the room and a DLP 1080p business class 4500 lumen projector in the ceiling near the opposite end.

I've set my lights up as a three step dimming, though I intend to make some tweaks to this as I will soon have four switches to control during the CV process.