As a passionate user of smart home technology, I’ve been diving into the world of home automation to create a seamless experience. However, I’ve encountered a unique challenge that I’d love to share and get your thoughts on.
I recently found myself in a situation where I need to use both Wink and SmartThings hubs in my home. The reason? My Chamberlain garage door opener isn’t compatible with SmartThings, while my custom air exchanger requires SmartThings for temperature differential control—a feature Wink doesn’t support. This dual setup is working, but it’s far from ideal.
Here’s where it gets tricky: I need events from one hub to trigger actions on the other. For instance, when my garage door opens, I want SmartThings to automatically adjust the lighting and thermostat. But currently, there’s no built-in way to bridge these two ecosystems. I’ve scoured forums and documentation, but nothing seems to address this specific need.
So, I decided to think outside the box. My idea revolves around using Z-Wave 3-way switches connected to both hubs. By wiring these switches together, I theorize that toggling one switch on Wink could physically change the state of the other switch on SmartThings, thereby triggering an event. The same would work in reverse. Essentially, the switches act as a physical bridge between the two hubs.
But here’s where I need your expertise: I’m not entirely sure how Z-Wave 3-way switches behave in this setup. Would both switches reliably trigger events on their respective hubs? Is there a risk of unintended behavior or loops? I’m also considering whether using primary 3-way switches is necessary or if secondary switches would suffice.
I’m willing to invest in the necessary hardware, even if it means tucking the switches away unused. The functionality I’m aiming for is crucial, and I’m determined to find a solution. However, I’d love to hear if anyone has tried something similar or has alternative ideas to achieve this cross-platform communication.
Thank you all in advance for your insights and suggestions. I’m excited to see if this creative approach can work and look forward to learning from the community’s experiences!
Best regards,
[Your Name]