Minimote with different skins than the Instructions
There are 2 different minimotes with different labeling. The Scene buttons are numbered, and the buttons under the panel are different. Just update the Minimote firmware with the instructions below and the button mapping will be the same.
+ Button = Include Button
- Button = Exclude Button
Blank Button = Associate Button
Join Button = Learn Button
Detailed Minimote Guide
Now that you have a Minimote, you have to decide if you want to use it as your primary controller or as a secondary controller. Below will explain the short differences between them in the sections below.
But the first thing you should do when you receive your Minimote is update it to the latest firmware version and charge your Minimote.
Update the Minimote Firmware to V1.19
Go to https://aeotec.freshdesk.com/solution/articles/6000124117-minimote-v1-19-firmware-update-
Charging your Minimotes' battery.
In order to charge your Minimote, all you need to do is directly connect your miniUSB cable that comes with the Minimote into any USB port to charge it. You can use your Laptop, PC, or any 5VDC USB Adapter to charge your Minimote.
- Plugin your Minimote into any USB port (Smart Phone Charger, Laptop, Desktop, etc).
- You'll notice that a red LED will appear next to the miniUSB port of the Minimote.
- Leave your Minimote charging for at least 2 hours to fully charge the Minimote (assuming that you are using at least a 5VDC and 1A output charging adapter).
- When the LED next to the miniUSB port turns blue, this will indicate a full charge on your Minimote. You may now remove the Minimote from USB connection.
When battery level is getting low.
Its hard to really determine when the battery life is getting low, but there is one faint LED indication that may help you determine this. When the battery gets below a certain percentage, you will notice that the LED will flash its red LED dimly at a short interval. You can use this to determine when your battery levels are low, but even with this indication, the Minimote should last a couple of months depending on your use.
How long does my battery last on a full charge? (Recommended settings)
The battery should last about 3 months on a full charge assuming you are controlling something or tapping its button 20 times per day depending on the health of the battery itself, or how often you use it. We highly suggest disabling any Wakeup Interval that your gateway may set to this controller in order to conserve your battery life. (Having the Minimote is not necessary for its use and can be seen as a waste of battery).
You can set the wakeup interval depending on your gateway, each gateway is different, and not all will let you set this if it allows you at all.
We suggest: Wakeup Interval = 0 for the maximum battery life you can get.
If you are seeing battery life less than 2.5 months, you may want to consider setting the Wakeup Interval in case that it may be the culprit.
Primary Controller
The Minimote as a primary controller has limited functions as a whole. Mainly you can only control switches and dimmer style products, but you can utilize sensor type products by associating them directly to the switches and dimmers to turn them ON and OFF, but the amount of control you have over when they turn on and off is limited.
This particular style of use is only for users who do not have too much they want to do besides control lights and set automation to turn lights on and off depending on the status of the sensors (The way the lights react will depend on the default settings of the sensors).
The great thing about the Minimote as a primary controller is that you can utilize the ‘include’ and ‘exclude’ functions with ease. Adding and removing devices from your network becomes easy.
Example of Sensor Use (Multisensor and Door Window Sensor)
Multisensor
Initially the sensor when tripped as a motion sensor will turn lights ON for 4 minutes, turn then turn lights OFF after 4 minutes are over if there is no further motion detection. This is not configurable.
Door and Window Sensor
When the Door Window Sensor opens, it will turn the lights ON, then when the Door Window Sensor is closed, the lights will turn OFF. You cannot add any conditions or modify this.
Exclude Device
1) Tap the Exclusion (-) button, LED should blink red
2) Tap button on the device you want to remove
3) After LED stops flashing rapidly, tap any button to get out of the exclusion mode
Factory Reset
1) Pull down the panel on the minimote
2) Press and hold the bottom 2 buttons down
The Red and Blue LED will alternate faster and faster.
3) When both Red and Blue LED become solid, you may let go.
Include Device
1) Tap the Inclusion (+) button, LED should be blinking blue
2) Tap the button on the device you want to add
3) After LED stops flashing rapidly, tap any button to get out of inclusion mode
ALL ON or OFF
Using ALL ON and ALL OFF on the Minimote is a great way to test if the device you want to include into your network was successfully included. They should react to the ALL ON or OFF broadcast and indicate that you can create a scene properly.
ALL ON
Press and hold the top 2 scene buttons, this will turn all switches and dimmers on.
ALL OFF
Press and hold the bottom 2 scene buttons, this will turn all the switches and dimmers off.
Creating Scenes
Creating scenes in Primary Controller mode and Secondary Controller mode’s Group Mode (please refer to the Secondary Controller section below). To create scenes, follow the steps below:
1) Press and hold a scene, this will cause the minimote to blink rapidly (keep holding!)
2) Go to the device that you want to control (switch or dimmers only), and tap the button on the device (while still holding the minimote scene button down). The LED on the minimote should show a reaction [blink faster and turn solid for 1-2 seconds, then continue to blink]
3) Now here comes the interesting part [you should still be holding onto the scene button still!]
3.1) The Device is ON
-When you let go of the scene button when the device is ON, you can toggle the switch on and off.
3.2) The Device is OFF
-When you let go of the scene button when the device is OFF, you can only turn the switch off.
4) Determine what preference you want for the device from step 3.1 or step 3.2 then let go of the scene button.
5) Test, tap the scene button
6) Repeat steps 1-5 to add more control to other devices. (You can add multiple devices to a single scene button)
Note: You repeat the steps on the same button to add control to Multiple devices, if you repeat the steps above on the same device, you remove control on that device from that scene button.
Dimmers and Dimming
If there is a dimmer linked to a scene button, then you can press and hold it to dim it up or down. Let go of the scene button when you've come across the correct dimmness that you want.
Note: If you dimmed it up before, then it will dim down the next time you use the dimmer function.
Associate 3 Way Switch/Dimmers or Sensors to Switches or Dimmers.
The Multisensor will be used as an example, just replace Multisensor with the sensor that you are using or the 3-Way master switch that you are using. Follow the steps below:
1) Press the Associate button under the Minimote panel (Button on the bottom left)
2) Press the button on the Z-Wave Switch that you want the Multisensor to turn on or off with
3) Press the switch on the Multisensor
4) Stop association mode on the Minimote (Press any button), and test if the setup is working.
Removing Association between 2 devices
Run the same steps that you used to associate the devices together (refer to the above section for the steps), instead of blinking green, it will blink red to indicate a removal of association.
Secondary Controller
The Minimote as a secondary is a lot more versatile. You have more control and conditions over your devices, and a topping to the whole thing, you can actually read Multilevel sensor readings such as temperature, light, and humidity from a Aeotec Multisensor (The Minimote as a primary controller cannot read these of course!).
The Secondary controller has 2 different modes, Scene Mode and Group Mode. Initially, the Minimote will start off in group mode, unless the controller otherwise configures the Minimote during inclusion to be in scene mode (sometimes configuring a battery device will fail, so the Minimote will remain in group mode, this can be changed with a parameter setting configuration.
Below I will give you the PROs and CONs of each mode:
Group or Scene Mode?
Right now it is time to make your decision on what type of secondary controller that you want.
Scene Mode Minimote
Pro
1) You can utilize 8 different scenes, 2 different presses per button
2) With the 8 scenes, you can have more variation and customization depending on your controller
3) It is much easier to organize your scene control through your primary controllers interface (ie. Vera)
Con
1) If you step too far away from your primary controller, you won't be able to use your minimote as intended
The direction of the signal is as such:
Minimote Scene button Press -> Primary Controller -> Scene (devices)
2) The activation of the scene may be slightly slower
3) NodeID of the primary controller must be NodeID = 1, this may be an issue for those who have performed a controller shift and moved the primary role to a different controller.
Group Mode Minimote
Pro
1) The activation of the scene button is almost instantaneous (this is determined by how far you are from a singular device)
The direction of the signal is as such:
Minimote Scene Button Press -> Scene (devices)
2) The scene created is sent directly to the devices that are programmed to it
3) If you have a dimmer on a scene button, you can dim it up and down just by holding the scene button down, then let go when you want it to
4) You can only have basic scenes such as switch and dimmer control.
5) You can be away from your controller and activate scenes in
Con
1) You can only utilize 4 different scenes
2) Harder to manage scenes (there is not visual outlook)
Make your Decision, Parameter settings to set
Now you should make your decision, if you choose group mode, most likely you will not have to change any settings, but just in case, I will tell you the parameter settings that you need.
Group Mode Parameter 250 [1 byte dec]: 0
Scene Mode Parameter 250[1 byte dec]: 1
If it is failing to configure the Minimote, you will have to wake up the Minimote
Wake up the Minimote
1) Press and hold the Learn Button (or Join Button) for 3 seconds, then let go. This should keep the Minimote awake for 30 seconds.
2) Now sending in the configuration within the 30 seconds.
NOTE – I suggest presetting all the configurations before waking up the Minimote.
Learning the Minimote as a Secondary Controller
Follow these simple steps to put your Minimote as a secondary controller to your current Primary Controller.
1) Put your primary controller into inclusion mode (it’s the same as adding new devices into your network)
2) Tap on the Learn button on your new Minimote
3) You should see the LEDs on the Minimote flash, then blink blue to indicate a success. You should now be able to see and configure the Minimote on your Primary controllers interface.
Secondary Controller Scene Mode
As a Scene controller, how you make this is totally up to the gateway or software that you are using to program them. You will need to find out more from your gateway or software provider support team or through your own general research. Most likely you will need to look through Scenes/Triggers/Events creation.
If you need help setting this up, then I suggest looking through the gateway/software website on creating Events/Scenes/Triggers.
In this mode, you will have the most control, but you lose the dimming control over dimmers.
Node ID of primary controller requirement.
If you are going to use Scene mode, make sure that your Primary controller is NodeID = 1, if you've done a controller shift or shifted the primary role to another controller, it is possible for your primary controller not to be NodeID = 1 and be a different NodeID.
If that is the case, you'll need to ensure that you find a method to make the newer primary controller NodeID = 1.
Button Mapping
Button 1 = Top Left
Button 2 = Top Right
Button 3 = Bottom Left
Button 4 = Bottom Right
Button 1 Quick Press = Scene ID 1
Button 1 Long Press = Scene ID 2
Button 2 Quick Press = Scene ID 3
Button 2 Long Press = Scene ID 4
Button 3 Quick Press = Scene ID 5
Button 3 Long Press = Scene ID 6
Button 4 Quick Press = Scene ID 7
Button 4 Long Press = Scene ID 8
Secondary Controller Group Mode
To create scenes in group mode, just follow the same instructions as the instruction manual, or the primary controller style of creating scenes. They are completely the same.
Associate 3 Way Switch/Dimmers or Sensors to Switches or Dimmers.
This method is done in the same manner as a primary controller on either group or scene mode, just follow the instructions in the Primary Controller instructions above.