DIY HomeKey locks via Reactor

[toggledbits]

A recent thread on supporting the ZRC-90 Z-Wave scene controller got me to wonder, what does everybody use and like?

I'll start... oh, and no dashboards. I want to hear from you all about dedicated scene controller devices. Dashboards and apps are great to a point, but my experience is that higher WAF is achieved with (a) a dedicated device (b) in a known location (c) with predictable functions and (d) no extra steps to operate (just walk up to it and push a button -- same effort as a light switch/dimmer). She's not wrong. It's a pain to unlock the phone, find the app, open the app, find the device, tap the device, when you can just walk across the room and push a button. Bonus points for something that can be labeled readably (low WAF for stuck-on tape/thermal labels).

I have a ZRC-90 and it's great, but it was temperamental to get working on Vera, and wasn't smooth sailing when it made the move to Z-Wave JS either. A couple of include/exclude cycles were needed to get it fully working on both. Since then, I've done a battery change, and while the buttons work as reliably as ever, the device continues to report the old battery level despite having a measurably fresh battery for over a year now. But I would still recommend it.

I have a Hank 4-button that is probably the best and most reliable battery-operated scene controller I have ever used. It's small and unobtrusive, so it lives on a lamp base in our living room and controls the room's mood lighting. I'm not sure they're still available. RIP.

I just ran across the Minoston MR40Z on Amazon, and I may try one of those. It looks like an installed (in-wall) Decora switch, but the buttons are actually a removable remote that you can pull off the wall and take to the couch. No line power required. Kinda cool. Maybe a good Hank replacement. But, I've never heard of this manufacturer before, and the concern is always "will I be able to buy more/replacements in one/two/five years?"

Among the wired controllers, the Zooz ZEN32 seems to be the most popular modern unit. I like it, but the LEDs are too small for my aging eyes to discern their color in daylight -- they are pin-head sized. Four of the five buttons are too small to label, so low WAF.

When I started my Z-Wave network, I used the Leviton four-button scene/zone controllers (VRCS4 and VRCZ4), and these are still all over my house. They're glitchy first-gen Z-Wave stuff (Vizia RF+ actually, so compatible but with proprietary features that aren't usable). They're now discontinued for Z-Wave. Leviton's newer units are WiFi, so if I go that route, it's HomeKit via Home Assistant for those.

During the pandemic lock-downs, I built a touch-screen scene controller using an Adafruit PyPortal. It had screens with 1 to 8 labeled, colorable soft buttons that could either perform a device function (i.e. publish to MQTT) or take you to another screen, so it was the love-child of scene controller and dashboard. Wife found it agreeable. But it was just a prototype. Memory limitation of the device was an issue because the PyPortal is really an inexpensive teaching device with a big load of Circuit Python overhead, and the graphic display needs a lot of RAM, so it was severely limited. I'm sure it could work out with the right micro and programming closer to the bare metal. Packaging and powering would also need to be addressed. And, at the end of the day, while "cute," it doesn't seem like something I would want to sell with the house if we ended up moving some day.

So, I'm interested in what others are doing and using, or more specifically, what your significant others are comfortable with and willing to use.

[Pabla]

I am currently using the Zooz Zen32, I have about 4 scattered throughout the house. They are nothing remarkable, I do like how in recent FW updates you can now control the RGB light colours to show states of certain things. The buttons are definitely on the smaller side, especially for labelling. I am still trying to figure out a way to etch in the some labels on the buttons but have not come up with a solution yet. Functionality wise they work as you'd expect a scene controller to work so no issues there.

[akbooer]

For Zwave, I used to love the 4 button MiniMote, but for similar functionality (non Zwave) I now use Philips Hue smart switches (detachable for hand held.) Labelling the buttons in either of the cases is a non-starter, really.

For voice control, I can use an Apple HomePod Mini, through HomeKit, but for single buttons I’ve also got some Shelly devices.

For wall-mounted buttons, I use the MK Grid system, with Shelly i4 or relays in the wall box. This has the advantage of being available in 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 wallplate configurations with interchangeable toggle or push buttons, and you can get buttons with etched labels for common functions (fan, etc.)

No really good winning solution here.

[therealdb]

• Remotec ZRC-90 in the hallway on the 1st floor (2nd for us in Europe :D). It has the same issues, but when it works, it works. I just printed some labels with a Dymo. My wife loves it and uses it every day. Batteries are required.
• Shelly i3 on my wife’s night table, with just 2 buttons. Labels indicate functions with a legend (1 = single, 2 = double, 3 = triple). It uses MQTT but is very quick. My wife uses it for one function: changing the roller shutters from bed. In Europe, we have these kinds of buttons, and they're very useful when placed in a box.
• Shelly i4 on my desk, because sometimes I’m lazy. It has two roller shutter buttons (so, 4 independent buttons). It’s the same as the i3 in terms of MQTT and WiFi.

Recently, Shelly in Europe has acquired Qubino, and their new Z-Wave products are amazing. They’re inexpensive (about 15 Euros when on offer) and very easy to use (with OTA support under Z-WaveJS as well). I’ll use a Shelly Qubino Wave i4 for my newly redesigned entry, with the same 4-button layout and labels as the Shelly i4. I may eventually replace my i3s/i4s with Wave i4s because I prefer Z-Wave. No batteries required, and it has some aesthetic appeal, which is important to both my wife and me.

For me, the tablet we have in the Open Space is the best solution. I’m fine with no buttons, especially since my cars are all button-less, and the trend is clear. I’ll probably get a Sonoff NSPanel Pro for my desk and/or the 2nd floor hallway, as I could add a dashboard via HTML/Fully Kiosk and do more than just use buttons. Overall, we use Alexa a lot for scenes. Shelly has started integrating with Matter, and I’m curious to see how that works. I have Hue lights but no controller at the moment; a couple of friends love them.

[mrFarmer]

I like the Heat-it z-push wall controller. You can use it with one, two or three paddles mounted that can be used as switch and scene controller. The design fits with my normal wall power outlets and operate like a normal switch to anyone who does not know (or care like the misses). They are 800 devices and after a year the battery still shows at 100%
Cheers Rene

[Crille]

I have a Sonoff NSPanel connected to HASS via NSPanel_HA_Blueprint in the hallway where the physical buttons are remapped from the relays to just publish MQTT messages to left or right garage door, appreciated by the whole family. Weather and QR code for guest WiFi also used by some but the rest is just for fun and as @toggledbits said, more of a dashboard rather than a scene controller but it was mentioned

We have Xiaomi Aqara Mini Switches in each bathroom/toilet for manual override of the extraction fan if needed.

My only Shelly i3 is connected to a cheap dumb twilight switch so Reactor can control which lights to turn on/off rather than the actual relay.

We have some IKEA Tradfri wireless dimmers, I had an idea to use one for manual start/stop of our Wallbox charger but it never happened as we found ourself use Siri for that when needed.