Reddit reviews GE 45631 Z-Wave Wireless Keypad Controller

Hi! Welcome to the expensive, frustrating and exciting world of home automation!

You will find people using all sorts of things for switches, from arduinos shoved behind a wall plate, to multi-hundred dollar crestron panels.

I would suggest diving into the world of z-wave for this particular niche. I did a lot of research on this subject, and I think it will best accomplish your goal. GE makes a line of z-wave switches. They aren't cheap, but they work really well with home assistant. I would check those out! Feel free to PM me or reply below with any other questions.

Good luck!!

Edit: You might also want to check out something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003OUWABU

This enerwave controller looks fairly similar aesthetically http://www.thesmartesthouse.com/collections/scene-controllers/products/enerwave-7-button-scene-controller-zwn-sc7-z-wave

Leviton makes some multi zone/scene controllers too, but they are pricey. https://www.amazon.com/Leviton-VRCS4-M0Z-4-Button-Remote-Controller/dp/B0050T2O1O

And GE has some (imo) ugly ones too https://www.amazon.com/GE-45631-Z-Wave-Wireless-Controller/dp/B003OUWABU

Wow. I've got 2 of the SC7s and they are really great, especially for the price. I found 2 sites selling them for ~44 + shipping, but I got them originally for <$40 shipped. There is the GE 45631, but it appears to work as a full secondary controller rather than a scene controller. Even the Levitons are more expensive now!

Aeotec has the minimote, but it's not wall-mounted--there's this Eaton controller, but it's still more than the Enerwaves for fewer buttons. The only other ones I know of are the Evolve LCD scene controllers, but they're way expensive. Really not sure what happened to the trusty Enerwaves...

Looking Through Amazon - Search for Zwave Scene

ZWN-SC7 Z-Wave 7-Button Scene Controller
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Leviton VRCS4-M0Z Vizia RF + 4-Button Remote Scene Controller
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GE 45631 Z-Wave Wireless Keypad Controller
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Just the top most three.

It depends on your platform. I use SmartThings, you can set something up that when one light is turned on, others do as well. Kind of like grouping them as a scene selection. With other HA systems, you can set up where a quick double tap to one switch turns on others.

If you're on straight z wave, then you could use the GE zwave keypad and group scenes. It's a nice item, doesn't need a gang box, just mount to the wall. Available on Amazon.

You could just replace can switch one for one.

Or use something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003OUWABU?pc_redir=T1

Though I think that'd require each light to be a smart bulb/outlet.

All the lights in my bedroom are on Zwave plug-in dimmer modules. I initially used this GE Zwave controler but it's been a pain in the ass and unreliable after two years of use.

Today, I pretty much just use voice commands to an Echo Dot.

Other people use Aeotec Minimotes.

In the near future, GE/Jasco is supposed to release updated zwave wall-mounted controllers, but I'm still waiting for the light-switch-with-built-in-motion-sensor that was supposed to launch in 2016, so I wouldn't hold my breath on those.

Edit: It's also possible to re-purpose Amazon Dash buttons for your own uses. Openhab 2 has this built-in now, and there's also DashRunnerApp (which I have not tried) and probably a few other ways I don't know about to make this work.

This is the closest thing to that I know of: https://www.amazon.com/GE-45631-Z-Wave-Wireless-Controller/dp/B003OUWABU/ref=sr_1_13

It's not wall-mounted but I've got one of these, as well as it's smaller brother, the HA09: https://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-Settings-Wireless-Master-Control/dp/B000BRGU2E/ref=sr_1_1

Both of those works pretty well but now I need to add them to Home Assistant properly so that things stay in sync when I use them.

Can you explain that more detailed? I was looking at getting either this ge one or this enerwave
What else would I need to connect them to wink?
Alternative option, would they work right away with smartthings?

GE makes one

Here you go:
https://www.amazon.com/GE-45631-Z-Wave-Wireless-Controller/dp/B003OUWABU


Folks seem to rave about the HomeSeerer switches as they support multi-taps for scenes.

I had that exact same issue in our house and I used it as an excuse reason to start some home automation. I installed zwave switches and then some keypad controllers to be able to control the lights from more normal locations.

I also had secondary switches (second switch on a three-way setup) that annoyingly controlled things that weren't the closest, so I was able to use auxiliary switches and set them to control what I wanted them to.

But all that said, Lutron makes great stuff and based on the comments from /u/jehovahs_waitress if they have an option that makes sense, it would be much easier to do that than to start the path of home automation.

You can get 4-zone wall controllers.

Like this. GE 45631 Z-Wave Wireless Keypad Controller https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003OUWABU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_MopxwbJ3M98R3

Then get one of these for each group you want to control

Aeon Labs DSC26103-ZWUS - Z-Wave In-Wall Micro Controller https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008VWBNAU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_LppxwbZ9DQ7SX

That should do it. You might need an electrician to safely install the relays for each group.

These?
In the Q&A somebody said it was fully compatible for ST, but not sure I believe them, lol

I think instead of wireless switches, you could use a motion or other sensor..?

What you are describing is a scene controller.

They aren't cheap.

Leviton VRCS4-1LX Vizia RF + 4-Button Scene Controller for Multi-Location Control with IR Remote Capability, White/Ivory/Almond https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001U3Z4DO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_m1RNzb1GAJ99V

GE 45631 Z-Wave Wireless Keypad Controller https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003OUWABU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_c6RNzb1WTK3GZ

A "button" might also work.

Aeotec Panic Button, Z-Wave One Button Remote Control, Scene Trigger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PJ88FUA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_r7RNzb1GX0JCC

I have read some things about piezoelectric buttons that don't require any batteries, but haven't seen any actually for sale.

Put in zwave outlets and get an in-wall scene controller. You can set up "macros" (aka scenes) that control the outlets via the zwave radio.

$30ish per outlet, $40+ for a controller. The one below is mediocre but tie it to ge outlets and it should so fine.
https://www.amazon.com/GE-45631-Z-Wave-Wireless-Controller/dp/B003OUWABU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504920314&sr=8-1&keywords=Zwave+scene+controller

Your worst case scenario is to put 2 remote zwave switches up in the ceiling fan. This will require bypassing the remote module in the fan, and wiring the lights driectly to one of these zwave switches. Secondly, You would remove the wall switch as it won't help this setup (wire it straight through and put a cover on the box.) And finally, you would still have to use the original remote to control fan speed. Maybe put a zwave scene controller panel over the unused wall switch box.

If you open the wall switch box and you find that 14-3 wire was run between the switch and fan, then your options just got alot better. You could expand the box to be 2 gangs, Put in a zwave switch for the lights, zwave fan controller, and send the power down that the black wire, and the other the red. You'll still have to bypass the fan's remote control module, but now for the fan and the lights as the zwave in wall fan controller will handle the speed.

Yes they are, and that's the problem. The way this switch/receptacle is wired up, I can't separate the outlets and have only one be controlled by the switch unless I want to replace the wiring between the switch and outlet. That's what I was trying to avoid.

What about something like this conroller with the receptacle I posted in the OP?