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I don't know if this is new or new to me.   Our landscaper just installed this cool new irrigation controller that is wifi enabled and I can access via their app.   It's pretty cool.    Lot's of controller options.   Can delay watering if forecast is for rain.   Very nice.  ...

I'm trying to replace a 4-way circuit with 3 Leviton Z-wave switches.   A Master switch and 2 auxiliary switches.   The master controls the load and the other 2 send signals to the master.   I know how to do this if I place the master on the left of the diagram. But that switch is in the garage...

So I'm trying out z-wave because Smart Things and Alexa seems to play well together.   I bought a GE z-wave dimmer and learned the hard way it only works on 2 way circuits unless you buy another of their z-wave slave dimmers.   Here's my problem.   I have a TON of 3way and 4way circuits I want...

I found one of my zones hardwired contacts are faulty.  Somewhere in the wall likely someone (sheetrockers?) may have cut it, maybe it was me.     Is there a simple wireless-to-wired solution I can replace this zone with?    All the other hardwired zones are fine, it's just this one zone, and...

So I bought some Leviton vizia rf + dimmers.   What do I need to make these work with my Omni LTe?    Got the Dealer PC Access.  No place to configure these things.   So I assume I'm back at the hardware buying table.   What do I need?   --Russ  

I've been bench testing the Omni Pro before installing.    Got PC Access for Installers software and I think I have it somewhat figured out.  The power seems to be in the "automation" tab where one can create lots of fun macros. Also go the SnapLink iOS App working, kind of cool on the surface...

So I'm a total newb to this HA stuff.  I'm comfortable with wiring and programming.  It's the hardware I'm unsure of.   I bought an Omni Pro controller, PC Access for dealers (should be here next week).   What do I need to use dimmer switches?  The electrician is installing all switches and...

I see lots of great deadbolts etc. that support Z-wave and other automation.   What about solutions for sliding glass doors?   I'd like to have all external doors connected with automated locks.   We have sliding doors and I don't know how to automate them. One thought was a magnetic lock, but...

New construction:   I'm having electricians wire as they normally do.  This will include many 3-way maybe some 4-way switches. My plan is to live in the house and figure out where automated switches make sense and add them later.   Now I'm exploring switches/dimmers.  Many choices, however it...

What is the best way to run cables to these windows for future blinds? I'm assuming a power line and a Cat5 cable at a minimum.      How/where should I run these? I have a bank of 5 windows.  I don't want to run 10 wires.   Can they all share the same power and data?   If so, where/how should I...

This weekend, I pulled a mile of cable.   Whew!   It's all hanging down.      What is the most professional way to pull this into my wiring closet where the rack will be mounted? I'm thinking of a PVC conduit that the sheetrockers can wall around with a big fat pipe(or 2 or 3) with my wires...

Our electrician is starting his thing, so the time to start pulling my wire is coming soon.   There seems to be 2 schools to accomplish this.   1) Nail a plate to the stud and pull a wire down to it.   Let sheetrockers cut the hole.   2) Leave the wires attached to the stud.  Measure/record...

I'm looking at all the holes the electrician drilled through walls.    I know data and video should never be near HV wiring.  But is it okay to run alarm wiring through the same holes as the HV conduit?   --Russ

New construction:   I'm thinking a big conduit from the proj to the rack   The projector needs at minimum:     Power and HDMI     That's all I have going to my current projector.    What else should I be considering?  Should I prewire or just a pull string for    CAT5 AV jacks VGA     Maybe I'm...

So my idea is to mount 2 sets of switches for the magnets on the windows.   One for full closed and one with the window open a few inches (to allow some air in)   My idea is to be able to leave the windows open a few inches and arm the alarm.   I'm thinking to make this work, I would need 2...

Santa brought me a bunch of great tools (thanks to this forum) for the LV wiring.   Is there a good resource, book, website, youtube that describes best practices.   So far, I've learned: Quality wire matters.   Clad is not solid.  Good tools make the job easier.   So far, my plan is to pull...

So I see the Omni controller has lots of cool hardware connections.  Seems fairly simple on that end.   How does one program this thing?   Say I want to program lights to come on at dusk.  What software and how do you make this thing do magic?   Surely you must have to tell it what is connected...

What are best practices for keeping sheetrockers from cutting LV wires to stuff like alarm window sensors, speaker wires, cat5 cables?   I'm considering doing my own wiring of these in a new construction situation and want to prevent the wall crew from cutting my wires.   What is the best way to...

so we visited a "parade of homes" today and saw under cabinet "floor" lighting that was triggered by motion.   So in new consteuction how should this newb wire for this?    we will eventually install some panel  (HAI?) for HA.   What's the best way ro preare for this? A Low voltage to ​HV switch

We like to keep windows open at night in the summer. Is there a way to alarm the window screen so the window zone can be disabled and have the screen alarmed. Say if an intruder cut the screen.