I have a Black dimmer that worked fine in a 3-way dumb switch configuration with Smart Things and 2 LED bulbs. The dumb switch is between the dimmer and load. When I switched the dimmer to Home Assistant, it started behaving erratically, not being able to dim the full range and sometimes not being able to switch the lights off. I checked all wires, line for voltage, load to the fixture, and the dimmer to dumb switch wires. (Those wires have a phantom current of 30V, but that should not be an issue, I tested to make sure they are not connected to any other wires). I tried the dimmer in a 1-way set up, connecting the wires in the other box with a wire nut, but that didn’t help. I tried different settings for the dimmer. I replaced the dimmer with a Red one, but that had the same behavior. I can’t figure out what else to do, especially since the switch used to work. Does anybody have any tips for what I can do to fix this?
Kinda strange. Obviously, if the switches are working properly on one hub and the only thing that changes is the hub, there is nothing incorrect with the wiring. You can disregard the phantom voltage on the travelers. That’s expected with a 3-way.
I’d try factory resetting the switch and then re-add to HA. Are you on ZHA or Z2M? See if that helps. It could be a driver issue.
If you can’t resolve there, exclude from HA and re-add to ST if that hub is still up. See if you have the same issue.
If you hadn’t tried a second switch, I’d wonder if the first switch had gone bad during the swap-over. But since you’re getting the same result with two switches, the odds of that are pretty low.
Thank you for your reply, Bry. I forgot to mention that these are Z-wave dimmers (connected via the HA ZWA2 antenna). I tried your recommendations, very helpful!
- Originally a Black dimmer started exhibiting the strange behaviors (lights always on, cannot turn off, dimmer works only partly). I replaced it with a Red dimmer, which had the same behavior. I removed the dumb switch and connected the wires with a wire nut.
- Excluding, resetting, including with SmartThings did not fix the issue.
- I swapped the Black dimmer back in the original location, with the dumb switch disabled (1-pole set up) and it works fine!
- But when I put the Red dimmer back in its original 1-pole location, it continued to behave erratically (lights always on, cannot turn off, dimmer works only partly).
- It seems this is not a wiring issue or a Z-wave hub issue, but something with the firmware, since the switch behaves the same when excluded.
- Basically one switch exhibited the problems, but then started working again, and now the other switch has the problems.
- Is there a way to roll back the firmware updates, or reset more thoroughly than a factory reset?
- I ordered an aux switch, but I don’t think that addresses the issue.
Ok, so playing musical dimmers is getting a bit confusing.
I presume that the Black Gen 2 dimmer (LZW31) is presently installed and that’s the one you’d like in this position. You wired to bypass the dumb switch and set the Switch Type to “Load Only”, and that works. Correct so far?
So if that is working, I would re-wire to put the dumb switch back into the leg and reset the Switch Type to “3-way Toggle”. I know it didn’t work before, but try it again.
I can’t recall if you can roll firmware back by reflashing over a newer release. Why are you asking about rolling back? Did you recently flash the firmware and think that caused the issue?
What firmware is the LZW31 presently on?
Sorry, I’m trying to be as clear as I can, but I can imagine it is confusing. Thanks for your help!
The Red dimmer is now erratic (does not turn off, dimming from 50%-100%). It is on firmware version 1.57. I’m going through all the settings to see if that is an issue, but that is not working, and neither is factory resetting.
We are working on the black dimmer, correct? That is what you first posted about. Let’s get that working first and then we can worry about the red one.
Sorry again for the confusion. The black dimmer started working again after I wired it in a second circuit. I put it back in its original circuit and it is still working.
However, now the red dimmer that was in the second circuit stopped working correctly in the same way. It seems very similar to this behavior: Dimmer will not turn off . I have now ruled out wiring faults. The dimmer is also not permanently disabled, because the black one started working again. (Unless a fused relay can unfuse itself.)
It seems the issue must be related to either the change from SmartThings to Home Assistant, or the upgrade of the firmware to 1.57 that was initiated by HA.
I tried reinstalling the dimmer, installing it without load first, factory resetting it and turning settings on and off to get it out of its funky state but it has not been successful yet. I’m concerned my other dimmers will display the same behavior when I port them over from ST to HA. Any idea of how I can get the dimmer out of this state? It seems like it has happened with other people before. Thanks so much for your help!
Got it. So this issue is with a Gen 2 Red Dimmer LZW31-SN?
What is the wiring topology? 2-way, 3-way? If 3-way, line/load same box, different box, etc.
If I understand correctly, this one was also working correctly and stopped?
Tell me again what the issue is.
You think it might be related to upgrading to 1.57? That’s the firmware it’s on now?
Did you recently upgrade to 1.57 and is that about the time the issue started? It sounds like HA may have kicked off the firmware upgrade when you added the switch to HA? So it sounds like the issue started immediately with HA? In other words, the switch never worked properly in HA?
I don’t know how HA flashes. Is there a log that reflects if it did both targets?
Z2M or ZHA?
Yes, Red Series, LZW31-SN
It is wired 2-way with 8 LED bulbs.
It was working fine until I moved it to the other location for testing. It does not turn off, dims only from appr 50% to 100%.
I recently upgraded to 1.57, kicked off by HA.
I think it did not work in HA, but I’m not 100% sure. I have other dimmers that I migrated to HA and they work fine (also upgraded to 1.57), one on 1-pole, another 3-way.
I don’t see any firmware log, apart from the 1.57 confirmation.
All dimmers are Z-Wave JS.
I tried replacing a LED bulb with an incandescent one and fully disconnecting the dimmer. I feel I should be able to get it back working, since the other one did as well. And I’m concerned about continuing the migration to HA.
Thanks again for your help!
Neutral or non-neutral?
Double check to ensure you wired the line and load correctly after putting it back in the original location.
If those fail, I’d factory reset it. That’s a long press on the config or exclude it via the hub.
The dimmer has a neutral connection. I triple checked and marked line and load 
I installed it in a different location but that didn’t help. I’ll factory reset it again to see if that works.
I excluded the dimmer, then factory reset it by pressing the paddle up + function button. Behavior is still the same. Is there a way to roll back the firmware? Or is the dimmer broken and I should get a new one?
This behavior is very strange, it was never connected incorrectly and worked well for years. The other dimmer with the same behavior somehow fixed itself.
Ok, thanks.
I suppose it’s possible it got damaged during the swap-out. It’s hard to say.
I’m not sure if you can roll back the firmware. I’d either flash what is on there now, 1.57 or 1.61. It’s worth a shot.
For future reference, a factory reset of the LZW31-SN is a long press of the config until it turns red. Don’t press the paddle. But in your case I’m sure you factory reset because with Zwave, that is part of an exclusion.
Thanks for your help. I think i’ll give up and order a new switch. 