illumino Switch can be used to control other Z-Wave devices wirelessly without the need for a wire in between. It can be used wirelessly to control other Z-Wave devices without having to use the hub.
This article serves as an expansion of illumino Switch user guide as one of its most advanced functions in an attempt to explain all aspects of illumino Switches group association advanced control.
What is Group Association?
Group Association is a specific function in Z-Wave that allows you to tell the Z-Wave device what devices it can speak to directly.
Some devices may only have 1 group association meant for the gateway, or multiple group associations that can be used for specific pre-programmed controls (varies between devices and manufacturers). This type of function isn't used too often, but when it is available, you may be able to use it to directly communicate to Z-Wave devices instead of controlling a scene within a gateway which can have undesirable delays.
Some Z-Wave Hubs have the ability to set Group Associations to devices that have these special events and functions.
For illumino Switch, it can speak directly to the devices it is associated with for directly toggling On/Off/Dim controls without communicating to the gateway, then have gateway relay the command to the Z-Wave devices.
For example:
- Using Group associations will talk directly to a Z-Wave device, this will process less than 1 second usually within 10-100ms.
- Triggering a scene, a device will need to update its status to your gateway, then have the gateway process the status update then send an action or change to a Z-Wave device based on the trigger. Sometimes there may be delays if your gateway is already processing other data which can cause some noticeable delays from time to time.
How many devices you can control?
You can control 5 devices per Group in Group Association for illumino Switch for a total of 20 separate devices over all of the buttons over 4 different Group Associations. Realistically, you will only use some of the slots, but it is possible to program all 20 slots to different Z-Wave devices.
The different assignments of Groups give you options on how you would like illumino Switch to control your other Z-Wave devices, or another illumino Switch or Dimmer Switch.
A checklist before assigning devices to groups.
Group association is possibly one of the more complicated functions of Z-Wave itself. What group association can do varies between Z-Wave devices and manufacturers.
General checklist:
- The security level between illumino Switch and the associated Z-Wave device must use the same Z-Wave security level. So if illumino Switch is connected as an S2 Authenticated secure device, the Z-Wave device associated must also be S2 Authenticated security level.
There are 4 security levels in Z-Wave:
Non-security (unencrypted)
S0 Security
S2 Unauthenticated
S2 Authenticated
How do you program Group Association?
This part is much more difficult, and in some cases may not be possible depending on the Z-Wave Hub that you are using. We will list a few hubs and known methods/steps to programming Group Association below that have outlined steps to associating devices.
Hubs / Software that are known to support Group Association in Z-Wave devices.
Other external information and sources.
If you're not sure if your hub has the capability to program group association, please reach out to our support team who should be able to help lead you through if it is possible.
illumino Switch group associations and their commands.
The illumino Switch has 2 buttons that can perform a multitude of functions per button. Top or bottom buttons can act as only on or off control, or you can utilize the top or bottom buttons individually to control other Z-Wave devices directly without a Z-Wave hub needing to process each command.
The external switch that can be optionally connected between Neutral + Traveller terminal can act as a 3rd set of wireless controls for other Z-Wave devices directly.
Below is a table of usable Group's in illumino Switch group association and what each group does:
| Group # | Function | Button # | Press Function detailed description | Command Classes used |
| 1 | Lifeline | Top and Bottom | Allows illumino Switch to report its status (Dim level), and forwards Central Scene for Z-Wave Hub automation triggers. Typically only assigned to the Z-Wave Hub Node ID specifically. | -Indicator Report -Device Reset Locally -Binary Switch Report -Basic Report -Central Scene |
| 2 | Switch On/Off | Top | Allows the Top button to control an external Z-Wave device associated with this group. Controls:
| Basic Set / Binary Switch Set (Configuration via Parameter 82) |
| 3 | Switch On/Off | Bottom | (Sends Basic SET, can be configured to use Binary Switch SET / Parameter 82) Allows the connected External Switch to control an external Z-Wave device. Controls:
| Basic Set / Binary Switch Set (Configuration via Parameter 82) |
| 4 | Switch On/Off | External Switch | (Sends Basic SET, can be configured to use Binary Switch SET / Parameter 82) Allows the connected External Switch to control an external Z-Wave device associated with this group. Controls:
| Basic Set / Binary Switch Set (Configuration via Parameter 82) |
| 5 | Switch On/Off | Top and Bottom | Allows the top and bottom buttons to control an external Z-Wave device associated with this group. The top button - always turns associated devices ON. The bottom button - always associated devices OFF. | Basic Set / Binary Switch Set (Configuration via Parameter 82) |
tldr;
- Group 1 is primarily to determine where it sends its status to the controller.
- Group 2 controls associated Z-Wave devices on or off using only the top button.
- Group 3 controls associated Z-Wave devices on or off using only the bottom button.
- Group 4 controls associated Z-Wave devices on or off using the connected external switch on Neutral + Traveller terminals.
- Group 5 controls associated devices using the top button to only send ON commands, and the bottom button to send only OFF commands.