Hope this question is in the right place... apologies if not...

I want to dim my ceiling light using the MX-810. Do I need a lightswitch that's RF and dimmer capable? I found this on Amazon: Leviton Ivory White Almond RF Z-Wave Scene Capable Dimmer Switch LED 600W RZI06-1LX. Is this what I need?

Thanks for any guidance you can give!

Actually, Lutron now makes a line of dimmers and switches that can be directly controlled by all URC RF remotes. Here is some information for you ...

[Link: universal-remote.com]

The part # is MRFA-600M-URC. This is a dimmer for incandescent lights only, and available only thru a URC Dealer.

For the sake of conversation, is this the only option for my application? Will an RF dimmer fail to work if it is not the Lutron specifically sold by URC, or, will the non-URC dimmer need to be programmed in a less user-friendly manner (such as learning codes)?

You can't control any dimmers (or any other RF-only component) directly via RF unless it's the URC/Lutron one. Any other dimmer would have to be IR-controlled.

There are some remotes that use Z-Wave to directly control the dimmer you mentioned, but not the URC remotes.

Mike

I see, so I could also use this one, which is IR-controlled?

westsidewholesale.com/600w-maestro-ir-dimmer-with-remote-control-light-almond.html (NOTE: this company has been caught link spamming by Google.)

Here's where I'm at right now: I read the features of the Lutron / URC dimmer, and I don't know that I value all the functionality that it has. I only need to turn on / off / dim ONE overhead ceiling light. So, when I read all the features that the Lutron / URC has, I figure that my needs don't justify the price tag. All the scenes and such just don't really resonate with me... Know what I mean?

I see no reason why that switch couldn't be controlled by your 810. It's simply a matter of teaching the codes from the supplied remote to your 810. Heck, for all I know, the Maestro codes may already be in the database. If you are looking to save some money and you don't mind having to point the remote toward the switch every time, this would certainly be a viable option. That being said, since you're only talking about one switch, I'd pay a little bit more and spring for the URC product. In my eyes, native RF control is a much more reliable and elegant way to do it.

True, true... Much to be said for elegance. But at what price?

Now that we're specifically talking money and not functionality: I can't find the price for the URC product anywhere. I saw it on a Canadian site for $199 and an American one for $150. That's a far cry from the IR one above for $40. Do you know what they generally run at the dealer?

We sell them for 225 per unit installed, plus programming. If the URC dimmers are out of your budget the Lutron Maestro will work, codes are in the IR DB and they work. You will need either line of sight to the switch for the IR or use a URC RF base station with an extended emitter placed at the dimmer (depending upon your local electrical code this may or may not be allowed inside the wall box). Obviously if you are buying an RF kit from URC solely for controlling a single dimmer you might as well just get the URC RF dimmer.

You could always do this.

Buy an X10 INFRARED MINI CONTROLLER IR543....Ebay has them for around $10.

You can also buy and X10 dimmer switch while you're there. Plug the IR 543 controller into your wall where you have your RF Base station/MSC-400 plugged in. Run an emitter from the RF Base to the controller. Install your dimmer. Use the X10 codes in your URC database. Now you have RF control for about $30. Depending on your home X10 may not be 100% bullet proof but I've had good success with this arrangement. YMMV

You are limited as far as light settings.......basically on and off at what ever ramp speed you set on your dimmer.

Regards,
John

I believe you also have full control over dimming when using the IR543.

I knew the IR543 could do it, just wasn't sure about the URC Commands. I do see the DIM and BRIGHT commands looking at the database again.

Thanks for the info.

Regards,
John