Aeotec (aka Aeon Labs)

Aeotec (also known as Aeon Labs) is the maker of a variety of Z-Wave devices available worldwide.

Z-Stick Series 2

This is Aeotec's Z-Wave interface. It features an include button and a battery which allows it to be unplugged from your Mac and taken to a new Z-Wave device for inclusion. When it's reconnected to your Mac, Indigo will determine if new devices have been added (or removed) and will log the appropriate messages in the Event Log.

To include a device, remove the Z-Stick and press the button. The LED will flash slowly to indicate that it's in include mode. Go to any devices you want to add to your Z-Wave network and perform the inclusion process for that device according to it's directions. The LED surrounding the button on the Z-Stick will stop blinking for a couple of seconds to indicate that the device has been included.

To exclude a device, follow the procedure above except press and hold the button on the Z-Stick. The LED will flash rapidly to indicate it's in exclude mode.

Tip: We highly recommend that you position your Z-Stick carefully. If you have it plugged directly into your Mac then the chances are that the range is reduced and you may have problems communicating with devices that are physically far away. Also, if there are any other electronics close to it (external hard drives, etc.) then you may want to try to move the stick around a little by using a short USB extension cable. We've also found that if you position it vertically and face the button side towards the most distant device you'll get better reception.

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Z-Stick Plus (Gen5)

This is a newer version of Aeotec's Z-Wave interface. Indigo's usage instructions for this interface are the same as the Z-Stick Series 2 (see above).

This interface will be found by the built-in macOS modem driver, so no 3rd party drivers need to be installed. It will show up as usbmodemXXXXXXX where the XXXXXXX is a number derived from the USB port it's plugged into. Note that it will change if you move it to a different USB port so you'll need to reselect in the Z-Wave config dialog if you do.

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Inclusion

Most Aeotec devices are included/excluded just by tapping the button on the device.

MultiSensor

Indigo supports receiving the motion sensing commands, as well as reading the temperature, humidity, luminosity and the battery level from this module.

For Indigo to define/sync this module, it must be awake. To wake the module remove the back cover and press the small black switch 3 times in a row. The red LED will then stay lit while the module is awake. You can now perform a Define or Sync operation in Indigo. When finished, press the button 3 more times to put the module back to sleep (the module will automatically sleep after 10 minutes).

Note the sensor values make take several minutes to refresh in the Indigo UI since they are only updated when the Multi Sensor periodically broadcasts them.

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Minimote

The Minimote can be used as a secondary Z-Wave remote control to directly control individual modules, or it can be used to trigger actions inside Indigo when its buttons are pressed.

Including Minimote into Network

To add the Minimote to your Z-Wave network, follow the instructions to add a new Z-Wave device to your Z-Stick or EZController and to Indigo. Use the Learn button on the Minimote to include it with the Z-Stick or EZController once it is in inclusion mode (for the EZController hold the Add button for several seconds while the network information is sent to the Minimote).

Keeping the Minimote Awake

During the Define/Sync process, or when changing any of the Minimote configuration settings it must be awake. Although the manual says pressing the Learn button will cause the remote to stay awake for several seconds, in our experience it doesn't reliably work. Instead, we recommend press and holding any of the 4 main buttons on the Minimote throughout the Define/Sync process or whenever you need to make a configuration change (like changing the button modes).

Changing Button Modes

The Minimote can operate in two different modes: direct association mode, and scene mode.

When not used with Indigo the individual buttons can be directly associated with other Z-Wave modules (lamp modules, dimmer modules, etc.). In this mode the Minimote does not send the Z-Stick any commands when the buttons are pressed, thus Indigo cannot execute triggers upon button presses.

If you wish to create triggers for button presses from the Minimote, then you will use scene mode. In this mode the Minimote sends unique commands to Indigo for each main button press. You can then define Z-Wave triggers in Indigo to detect these button presses and execute actions (control other modules, run scripts, etc.).

Note the behavior is mutually exclusive:

  • If you use direct association mode to directly control modules (ex: lamp), then Indigo will not be aware of the button presses and you will not be able to trigger actions upon pressing buttons. If you use this mode then you can follow the steps in the Minimote manual to associate a module directly with the button.
  • If you use scene mode, then Indigo can detect when buttons are pressed and an Indigo Z-Wave trigger can be assigned to execute actions (turn devices on/off, execute an Action Group, send email, etc.), but the button will not be able to directly control a module. Press and hold dim/brightening also does not work in scene mode.

To change the button mode setting press the Edit Device Settings button in the device dialog then check or uncheck the Enable scene mode for all buttons checkbox. After changing the checkbox press and hold any of the 4 main buttons on the Minimote to keep it awake while you press the Save button.

Factory Resetting

The Minimote can be factory reset by press and holding the Associate and Learn buttons together 10+ seconds. For more details on using the Minimote see its manual.

Key Fob (4 button or single panic button models)

The Key Fob can be used as a secondary Z-Wave remote control to directly control individual modules, or it can be used to trigger actions inside Indigo when its buttons are pressed.

Including Key Fob into Network

To add the Key Fob to your Z-Wave network, follow the instructions to add a new Z-Wave device to your Z-Stick or EZController and to Indigo. Use the Learn button on the Key Fob to include it with the Z-Stick or EZController once it is in inclusion mode (for the EZController hold the Add button for several seconds while the network information is sent to the Key Fob).

After the module has been included with the Z-Stick it needs to be put into normal operational mode. To do this tap once quickly the Mode button on the back using the tool included with the Key Fob.

Keeping the Key Fob Awake

During the Define/Sync process, or when changing any of the Key Fob configuration settings it must be awake. Although the manual says pressing the Learn button will cause the remote to stay awake for several seconds, in our experience it doesn't reliably work. Instead, we recommend press and holding any of the 4 main buttons (or single button for panic button model) on the Key Fob until the LED is glowing or flashing green, then continue to hold it down throughout the Define/Sync or configuration change process. Note you must hold the button down for a couple of seconds before it will enter wake mode: press-and-hold, wait ~3 seconds, start the define/sync in Indigo, continue to hold down button, and finally release once the sync is complete.

Changing Button Modes

The Key Fob can operate in two different modes: direct association mode, and scene mode.

When not used with Indigo the individual buttons can be directly associated with other Z-Wave modules (lamp modules, dimmer modules, etc.). In this mode the Key Fob does not send the Z-Stick any commands when the buttons are pressed, thus Indigo cannot execute triggers upon button presses.

If you wish to create triggers for button presses from the Key Fob, then you will use scene mode. In this mode the Key Fob sends unique commands to Indigo for each main button press. You can then define Z-Wave triggers in Indigo to detect these button presses and execute actions (control other modules, run scripts, etc.).

Note the behavior is mutually exclusive:

  • If you use direct association mode to directly control modules (ex: lamp), then Indigo will not be aware of the button presses and you will not be able to trigger actions upon pressing buttons. If you use this mode then you can follow the steps in the Key Fob manual to associate a module directly with the button.
  • If you use scene mode, then Indigo can detect when buttons are pressed and an Indigo Z-Wave trigger can be assigned to execute actions (turn devices on/off, execute an Action Group, send email, etc.), but the button will not be able to directly control a module. Press and hold dim/brightening also does not work in scene mode.

To change the button mode setting press the Edit Device Settings button in the device dialog then check or uncheck the Enable scene mode for all buttons checkbox. After changing the checkbox press and hold any of the 4 main buttons on the Key Fob to keep it awake while you press the Save button.

Wake Interval

Although the Key Fob reports to Indigo that it supports wake intervals, it never appears to really wake (so ignore the wake interval UI in the device settings dialog).

Factory Resetting

The Key Fob can be factory reset by press and holding the Mode and Learn buttons (on the back) together 10+ seconds. For more details on using the Key Fob see its manual.

Home Energy Monitor (DSB28)

The whole home energy monitor device can, once installed in your circuit breaker box, monitor the power usage of the entire house.

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Micro Smart Energy Illuminator (DSC19103)

This device appears to have a firmware issue where status updates are not broadcast when the device is controlled locally. Other Aeotec devices do - so you can set their polling to be “Only When Activity Detected”. For this device (at least until we hear back from Aeotec) you'll need to set its polling to something else.

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zwave_devices/aeotec.txt · Last modified: 2019/01/26 00:10 (external edit)
 

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