The Wink home automation thread

[IndyColtsFan]

Hey guys, wondering if you can help me out. I'm very techy and want a hub to control my Schlage Touchscreen lock, future MYQ garage opening device, and future window/door sensors. Nothing too crazy, not really into any of the lights, maybe smoke/co alarms. Would WINK fit my needs and work well? I was thinking of waiting for SmartThings version 2 but hate waiting lol

My advice is to wait.

 

[bigverm24]

My advice is to wait.

Definitely wait on v2 of ST. Not sure if Wink plans on coming out with a new version so no harm if you buy those things on the wink site you get the hub for free anyways.

 

[quagga]

Good day Wink-user folks,

So I found myself in with this system after winning 11 Cree Connected bulbs from Cree. I've since added a 12th and two GE bulbs (BR30s). All of those are working very well, but now I'm interested in adding some sensors to have a bit of automation in the home automation world. I'm also looking for a plug-in / power strip toggle option (for a fan or humidifier in one of our rooms).

Reading through the threads, it seems like the Tripper is well regarded and cheap so I'm probably going to plunk down for a set of those. I want an action when the front door is opened and another for my computer closet (to turn on the bulb inside). The trippers should do that and seem like the most cost effective unless someone has another suggestion.

The other question is the "plug". I could buy the Quirky Pivot strip, but that is a bit of a money and it's linked to Wink. I got the Wink Hub for free and I want to keep my options open when the v2 ST hub comes out. It looks like Linear or Leviton are my other Zwave options? Which I might prefer if I ever decide to change systems. I see that ST supports both the Quirky Pivot strip (though through cloud to cloud) and the trippers through Zigbee.

I'm also a renter so a plug-in module is preferable to an outlet to install (hence why I like the bulbs).

Any advice would be appreciated. Now I'm going back to remotely turning all the lights in the house on and off.

 

[aosmer]

If there is any advice I can offer, it would be to stay away from the Quirky Pivot strip. I gave it a go, and ended up returning it. There are some major flaws with it. The biggest one being that if your internet ever drops (even for a second), the outlets switch to the off position. If that wasn't annoying enough, if you don't have an internet connection the manual on/off toggle won't even work. I ended picking up a few of these on Amazon, and minus polling issues, they've been rock solid.

 

[JFHughes08088]

Quick question. I purchased many ge link bulbs and they work great. I have begun to wonder how much I like having to keep the switch "on" in order to keep the bulb smart.

My question is this - if I connect a simple smart switch to a line controlling a light fixture with ge smart bulbs, will turninv on at the switch automatically turn on the bub? Can I further dim it by accessing the bulb from the app? In other words, on by the switch, then dim at the bulb?

 

[CAL7]

Just test it by manually turning it on/off. I think the problem you'd have is that when the light is powered on, it goes to full brightness (not the previous dim level).

 

[JFHughes08088]

So if the switch is off, can the bulb be turned on itself of does the switch have to be on first

 

[bigverm24]

Quick question. I purchased many ge link bulbs and they work great. I have begun to wonder how much I like having to keep the switch "on" in order to keep the bulb smart.

My question is this - if I connect a simple smart switch to a line controlling a light fixture with ge smart bulbs, will turninv on at the switch automatically turn on the bub? Can I further dim it by accessing the bulb from the app? In other words, on by the switch, then dim at the bulb?

Yes, you can control the lights separately from the switch, as far as dimming goes. Switch on, lights on and dim to whatever level.

 

[JFHughes08088]

How about if there are 4 smart bulbs in the ceiling fixture, smart switch to control it. Can the lights be off and I set a group of lights and call it "dining room", then turn on, off or dim from app icon I made for the group? Also, it the switch is not dimmable but the bulbs are, I can turn on or off (full bright) at the switch then dim at the app through group?

 

[JFHughes08088]

I ask because if I pick up some of the less expensive zwave Linear switches, I can control the light at the switch and the bulbs through the app

 

[fletchb]

How about if there are 4 smart bulbs in the ceiling fixture, smart switch to control it. Can the lights be off and I set a group of lights and call it "dining room", then turn on, off or dim from app icon I made for the group? Also, it the switch is not dimmable but the bulbs are, I can turn on or off (full bright) at the switch then dim at the app through group?

You have to turn on the switch first then you can control the 4 smart bulbs by group.

 

[bigverm24]

How about if there are 4 smart bulbs in the ceiling fixture, smart switch to control it. Can the lights be off and I set a group of lights and call it "dining room", then turn on, off or dim from app icon I made for the group? Also, it the switch is not dimmable but the bulbs are, I can turn on or off (full bright) at the switch then dim at the app through group?

switch has to be on.

Instead of smart bulbs in the ceiling fixture, you could save at least $5 per bulb on say a dimmable phillips LED, and take that $20 savings and buy a $60 Leviton dimmable switch instead of the $40 Linear switch. Then you have a single point instead of having to control and switch and 4 bulbs separately....the app gets crowded very quickly if you have a bunch of smart bulbs you have to control through it.

 

[fletchb]

switch has to be on.

Instead of smart bulbs in the ceiling fixture, you could save at least $5 per bulb on say a dimmable phillips LED, and take that $20 savings and buy a $60 Leviton dimmable switch instead of the $40 Linear switch. Then you have a single point instead of having to control and switch and 4 bulbs separately....the app gets crowded very quickly if you have a bunch of smart bulbs you have to control through it.

Yes this is better if you can do it that way. But for older homes with fans on the same circuit , this can be a problem.

20 years ago, home builders did not realize you can't run a fan through a dimmer switch. So if he has a fan on the same circuit, he needs a switch and not a dimmer.

 

[FreddieT]

So if the switch is off, can the bulb be turned on itself of does the switch have to be on first

No. If the switch is off, then the bulbs won't be able to do anything through the app. The bulb circuitry itself needs to have power at all times (switch turned on) in order for the bulb to be able to be controlled via the app.

 

[bigverm24]

just saw a post to the official Wink facebook page...user asking for local connectivity and if it was "on the roadmap"...Wink responds by saying "nothing yet...but its a future possibility"...ugh

 

[IndyColtsFan]

just saw a post to the official Wink facebook page...user asking for local connectivity and if it was "on the roadmap"...Wink responds by saying "nothing yet...but its a future possibility"...ugh

Oh, I thought they claimed they were "working on it" when someone in this thread asked them months ago. Oh well, I'm planning on abandoning Wink and maybe it would be smart for me to eBay the hub while I still can.

 

[FreddieT]

Oh, I thought they claimed they were "working on it" when someone in this thread asked them months ago. Oh well, I'm planning on abandoning Wink and maybe it would be smart for me to eBay the hub while I still can.

I think a lot of people are waiting on ST v. 2 to come out, and when it does there will probably be a glut of Wink hubs being given away at next to nothing. So it might be a good idea to beat the rush especially if Wink's horizon stays as is!

 

[quagga]

If there is any advice I can offer, it would be to stay away from the Quirky Pivot strip.

Thank you for that! I've removed the Quirky Strip from consideration but still ordered the trippers. I like that Aeon switch you linked to; I'm going to try and wait for their Sixth Gen switch if I can. Otherwise I'll pick up a few of those switches you mentioned.

 

[manofice]

Definitely wait on v2 of ST. Not sure if Wink plans on coming out with a new version so no harm if you buy those things on the wink site you get the hub for free anyways.

My advice is to wait.

Thanks guys

 

[manofice]

Oh, I thought they claimed they were "working on it" when someone in this thread asked them months ago. Oh well, I'm planning on abandoning Wink and maybe it would be smart for me to eBay the hub while I still can.

While I'm going to make pretty much all my devices run in SmartThings V2, I would take that wink hub off your hands to play with in the mean time if you're not looking for a bunch of cash for it??

 

[CAL7]

As for your z-wave trouble I am surprised. I have ALOT Of zwave devices both supported and unsupported and I have never once had one loose pairing or fail to pair the first time. I have a generic zwave motion sensor that has been flawless. I wish I could get the same reliability out of the quirky zigbee products. I'm almost wondering if you have a faulty hub or some other kind of interference causing issues.

Following-up. I spent a few hours over the weekend re-pairing a GE switch and GE outlet, both of which are logically called switches in the app. Both which I had previously paired, but then lost contact with the hub.

They turned on and off Sunday with no problem. Perfect status in the app. Come home this evening and neither turned on according to schedule. Wink thinks they are on, but they're not. The manual switch controls the circuit, but it's not communicating to Wink.

STv2 - hurry!

 

[quagga]

Ben Kaufman has an update on the Facebook Wink Users Group:

Hello we have exciting updates in the next few days (including long awaited Zwave and Zigbee polling.... We are also pleased to welcome up to 1000 people on iOS to be testers of the next generation of each app version prior to launch in Apples App store. This will allow you to help us test features prior to them rolling out to the broader public- Generally speaking this would put you about 1 month ahead of the rest of the world in terms of seeing what we are working on. If you're interested in our "test flight" program email sachin @ wink.com and he will get you all setup. Thanks for all your continued support. Wink is becoming great with your help. Keep complaining here, it helps us be better. Give us good app store ratings though

Polling sounds good .

 

[smhawkes]

What would like to see in a Wink update is lights turning on and off according to the schedule or robot.

 

[rtga]

Ben Kaufman has an update on the Facebook Wink Users Group:



Polling sounds good .

I sent an email this morning and promptly received an invite. It seems the app store is partially down at the moment so I can't install it yet ("Cannot connect to iTunes Store"). I will try to post some updates once I get the beta installed.

 

[blampen]

I sent an email this morning and promptly received an invite. It seems the app store is partially down at the moment so I can't install it yet ("Cannot connect to iTunes Store"). I will try to post some updates once I get the beta installed.

Seems to be back up. Just got the beta installed