I’d like to figure out the best way to control the LEDs of the ZEN35 in HomeAssistant.
I’m using the device as a remote control more or less, there’s no load. I’ve set the Zwave configuration parameters so that the buttons don’t directly affect the LEDs; it’s all done through commands.
In HomeAssistant the Device starts with several disabled Entities. In particular for each of the five buttons there are four Entities:
- An Indicator, name like
Button 1 Indication - A Configuration Parameter (mirroring Parameters 1), name like
LED Indicator (Button 1), options are Always On, Always Off, and two others, - A Brightness setting
LED Indicator Brightness (Button 1), options are 10% … 100% - A Color setting
LED Indicator Color (Button 1)
If I want to turn an LED on and off in response to some external event (for example, my washing machine finishes) I have a few options using these entities:
- Use the Indicator: this is quick and easy but does not respect the Brightness setting; it always turns on at 100% brightness.
- Use the Indicator as above, and then the Brightness setting… but this produces a visible flash as for a few hundred milliseconds it’s at peak brightness
- Set the Configuration parameters to change the LED from Always Off to Always On and visa versa. This does respect the Brightness setting but it seems unintuitive.
There’s also the option of Z-Wave: Set device configuration parameter but this makes my automations much harder to make, modify, and read. It would be nicer to use the exposed Entities.
Is there a preferred option? Is it a bug that the Indicator doesn’t respect the Brightness setting? I’m using the most updated firmware, 1.40.