We received CEDIA samples and they look awesome! Really good 3D print.
Just a backstory real quick – the B2B company that we work with wanted these for CEDIA so they could show them off and while we couldn’t get tooling done on time, we got it pretty close via a 3D print and the firmware on the devices are very basic, so keep that in mind with the videos below. Once we get back from CEDIA (Sept 5-7), we should be finalizing tooling and onto firmware development (the real beast).
But I want to say I’m super proud of the hardware team on this one – they managed to pull off the hardest project (from a hardware standpoint) that I’ve ever worked on.
As you may know, we had a different manufacturer working on this initially and they couldn’t figure out how to meet all the requirements so we transitioned back to our main one and put them under a strict timeline and they delivered.
Not only that, but initially we were told that the 8-Button design wouldn’t allow for etching due to light leakage and other factors, but they managed to get it to work. In addition, we had a last minute request from the B2B partner (bc why not?) to get it so the text on the switch could be left-justified instead of center justified so that more words could be added to the paddle.
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So, it’s my pleasure to share this bc I’m really excited for it.
Pics
Note: Some of the laser etching is off and the buttons look a little off, but in person it looks much better. I didn’t take the pics as they were sent straight to the B2B client:
A lot will depend on how well this works, but the example on the bottom right with a shade and light control is . I have wifi controlled shades in each room and right now have automations for double pressing to move up and down the shades, but it’s a bit awkward and also non-obvious to anyone but us.
I would also really like some scene buttons in our living room.
Have to say, I’d probably replace about a half dozen or more of our regular 2-1 switches with these if they worked right.
It does seem like I would lose the ability to really see the brightness of the lights reflected on the LEDs, since there would be a single led on the light button, but I think I could be ok with that.
I was on the fence about the need for these at my home but was going to get one or 2, Now I want several. Seeing the photos and getting ideas, I am now drooling with excitement to get these. And now I want like 6. LOL - When is preorder planned? or did I miss it.
It looks great and I can see a lot of use cases for these at my house.
I just hope if laser etching is going to be available in the final product that it will be more refined, thinner lines and the labels positioned more towards the upper left corner of the button for a more polished, refined look. Something more in line with the style used in the Lutron RadioRA3 line of products.
Also, I noticed a delay of almost one second between the button click and the LED responding in some cases. I hope these delays can be configurable for those not needing multi taps.
Put two or more of these side by side on a wall, with the bold text and icons and it may star looking too bulky.
I know… I’m really picky when it comes to user experience
Anyway… my two cents.
Congrats and looking forward to release date.
Also, if I preordered the original zwave version (from 2021) would I be able to switch to the blue series? And am I correct in assuming that this switch will be just as if not more compatible with the canopy module?
I’m in the same boat as the rest here. I am really looking forward to this switch and will be purchasing a handful as soon as they become available Any project updates that you could share?
Quick update: We’ve had the engineer relook at an alternate design to try to keep the paddles flush and the gaps between the paddles consistent as that was the struggle at CEDIA with the 3D prints.
The two solutions were to use the current, “lever” design:
The fulcrum design was great at making sure the paddles were flush, but the issue became that the depressing of the paddle became inconsistent as you could not press the paddle down in the red area:
We noticed a competitor used a similar design and the way they overcame it was to make their buttons rounded (think convex buttons) which forced the end user to push the button in the middle. Unfortunately, we just did not like the design of the rounded buttons.
This left us with the lever design and after some thought, the engineer said the following (yesterday):
So, yesterday, I went ahead and approved tooling with the lever design and am putting my trust in them as they’ve never let us down and he’s a great engineer. He knows what we’re trying to accomplish, so this is one of those, “I’m skeptical, but please pull it off, I trust you” type scenarios.
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Next steps are that they will open up tooling and get some actual samples created and will test it with the official plastic (not the 3D printed stuff).
What we’ll likely do if there is still an issue that can be fixed is send out the beta samples so we can at least start testing the firmware while they fix any tooling issues, but I am crossing my fingers that there won’t be any.
@Eric,
The good news is that area of the tooling in an injection mold with those levers is likely done with inserts. So, if iterations are needed, then it’s not a total tear-up/retool.
But yeah, 3D printing is phenomenal in 2024, but still doesn’t match a production part off a dialed in tool.
100% been there / get it. It’s never a comfortable place to be in with, “please sign the go-ahead on this expensive steel, with the putting your faith in the design engineer who engineered it/modeled it that prototype issues are resolved in production tooling.”
-JD
I am very excited about this product. It already is perfect for my home and many of my clients’ homes. However, some of my clients prefer the high-end look that competitors offer where the buttons are metallic or finished with some other material.
Once the design of the buttons is completed, will there be any sort of STL or 3D-file release of the reference design that allows 3rd-party buttons to be manufactured/sold? Will the B2B client be producing non-plastic versions for sale?
Allowing 3rd-parties to produce custom buttons does not increase the final product cost for the general market either. You’d purchase the custom buttons separately.
In my experience as an installer, Inovelli is either on-par with or better than Control4 in every regard.
If possible, I would much rather provide my clients with a switch from a company that I care about and believe in.
I like that I can buy and install Inovelli switches myself on my own hub.
Control4 seems entirely aimed at markets where you “call up a contractor” (at hundreds of dollars per call) to make any changes at all to your automations.
If you’re a billionaire, I guess that’s not an issue. In my case, it is a huge issue plus I like coding things myself anyway.
Certainly, Inovelli switches can be installed by high-end contractors – but they aren’t limited to that.
I am not sure I understand the purpose of your comment. No one is suggesting that you purchase Control4, in fact, quite the oppisite. Nor is anyone suggesting that Inovelli should be limited to billionaires with high-end contractors where you have to “call up a contractor”; also the precise opposite.
Perhaps my original question was unclear. Let me rephrase it:
Are there any plans to allow 3rd parties to collaborate and make high-end face-plates/buttons?
. I have wifi controlled shades in each room and right now have automations for double pressing to move up and down the shades, but it’s a bit awkward and also non-obvious to anyone but us.
Want. Now. 
Any project updates that you could share?
