I am looking into maybe getting a bunch of these switches for a remodel, but I want to make absolutely certain that what I want to do will work. I don’t really care what protocol they are, as far as zwave, zigbee or wifi. I don’t really need dimming, but it will work. I have 4 switch locations, 1x basement, 2x breezeway, 1x garage. This is a typical 4-way setup. Each box does have a neutral. Wiring is as follows: 120vac Line 14/2 to basement box –> 14/3 to breezeway box 1 –> 14/3 to breezeway box 2 –> 14/3 to garage box –> 14/2 to breezeway interior lights. Basically, no matter which door someone comes in or out of, they have control over the breezeway lights. Its a 24x10 breezeway between the house and garage. I WANT presence detection IN the breezeway, whether thats 1 or 2 mmWave switches at each end (if needed at both ends). From what I understand, I cannot use a smart switch at either of the 2 middle (traveler) boxes and 2 aux switches at the ends, unless I completely misunderstood something. I will NOT be using any dumb switches on this if I can use this setup. I’ve asked Gemini about this and it insists that there is a way to make this layout work, but I take that with a grain of salt. I am open to hear your thoughts. If its not possible to use these switches in the middle, I will just end up using a standard presence detector and Jasco switches I already have and control it through HA. Using mmWave in the basement and garage boxes to control the breezeway lights is a no go and will not do what I want. Thank you for any clarifications.
It looks as if you would need a mix of mmWave and Inovelli On/Off or dimmer switches.
You cannot use dumb switches with the mmWave switch.
You can use Aux switches with a mmWave switch; however, the mmWave has to be on either end of a multi-way. In your case, you need motion detection in one of both of the breezeway boxes which are in the middle, so that won’t work.
The solution would be to use a mix of smart switches, using one or two mmWave switches in the middle and the Inovelli On/Off (or dimmer) in the other positions. You would then use binding to allow the switches to communicate with each other, since a wired connection can’t do that with an all-smart-switches multi-way.
@Bry I just saw that this in a breezeway which is technically outside but covered. Do you know if you can use regular indoor products like the Inovelli’s in a breezeway or do you have to have weather resistant outdoor switches and receptacles? If you do, then I don’t think this will work.
The term breezeway tends to be used loosely. There are some structures that are called breezeways that don’t meet the book definition.
If the breezeway is fully enclosed, meaning it has walls and windows (or walls with no windows), then that is not considered a wet location and regular switches can be provisioned there.
However, if the breezeway does not have walls, or has walls but has openings without windows, then that is considered a wet location.
If the switch is being provisioned in a wet location, then you need to use a weatherproof cover for flush mount switches or a weatherproof enclosure for surface mount switches.
You use regular switches inside of weatherproof enclosures or boxes with weatherproof covers. So you can place an Inovelli in either of those.
The enclosures or covers are available in plastic. The question I can’t answer is if mmWave can penetrate the plastic cover and be effective.
My initial thought is that if mmWave can penetrate a wall, it ought to be able to go through a plastic cover, particularly where the target is very close. But that remains for someone to test.
If it can go through my glass shower door (which it does), then I imagine the plastic weatherproof cover should be fine as well. You might lose some of the field of view though.
Thanks for all the replies. My appologies, I was missing a few details. I was so hyper-fixed on the 4-way setup. This space is considered indoors. It has heat, roof, 4 walls and exterior doors. One thing I completely overlooked, there will be a constant 120v 14/2 in both breezeway boxes. They are double-gang boxes with 2 switches. Each will have switches to control the exterior sconces at each door. These may end up being smart switches as well. They will be fed from the same basement box that is providing main power to the whole thing. The only box that will not have dedicated power for this circuit is the garage box. Does this change anything since I can provide constant power? I will keep the 14/3 in the boxes, just in case dumb switches are ever installed.
Here is the corrected wire layout:
120VAC from breaker –> Basement box (double gang for basement 3-way and breezeway 4-way) –> 14/2 and 14/3 to Breezeway box 1 (double gang, 2 switches) –> 14/2 and 14/3 to Breezeway box 2 (double gang, 2 switches) –> 14/3 to garage box (5-gang, 5 switches) –> 14/2 to load.
If you have unswitched power at each location, then yes. Here is the theory, and this is as far as I will take it:
All Inovelli switches except one just need a hot and a neutral. They won’t have a Load or a Traveler.
In the Basement Box and first Breezeway box, power an Inovelli On/Off just using the available hot and neutral. Cap off all 3-wire conductors in both boxes.
In the 2nd Breezeway box, cap off the 3-wire coming from the previous switch. Power the switch using the available hot and neutral. Whatever breaker powering hot and neutral here will be the one the light goes on as well. Using the 3-wire going to the Garage box, white to Neutral and Red to Load. Cap off the black. This is going to be the controlling switch. You’ll pass the switched hot through the next box to the light.
In the Garage box, power the Inovelli using the available hot and neutral. For the 3-wire coming from the last Breezeway box, red to black on the 2-wire going to the light. (This is the switched hot.) White to white on the 2-wire going to the light. (This ensures you are using the proper neutral.