RGBW Controller 2 - I DO NOT UNDERSTAND!

wiewior · March 3, 2024, 5:50pm

Hello,
I read a lot of posts in this forum and still have problems to understand how to control the LED Strips with FIBARO RGBW Controller 2.

Could someone simply clarify how to control:

Dimming for colours
Dimming for white only
Setting up simple colours: red, green, yellow, blue etc.
Setting up colour mix. - How to control the colour with the colour controller?

I would appreciate step-wise approach like:

For this operation use only these Items…
To control white only make this
Do not touch these items (read only, does not make sense)

I fight with all items an and I have a feeling they live their own life. I understood in RGB mode you can control each channel separately.
Item: switch_dimmer you can switch ON/OF and dim the light
Item: color_color you can pick up the color
(thought so because when I do this the LED Stripe does not react for the colour I choose.
What is the different between color and color1, dimmmer, dimmer1?
It makes me creasy.

In addition with every parameter change i receive this warning:

2024-03-03 18:49:09.174 [WARN ] [ternal.converter.ZWaveColorConverter] - No conversion in ZWaveColorConverter to StringType

My connection:
24V DC
2 x 5m RGBW LED Stripes in parallel
INx configured as operational mode 2 (monostable switch) - BUT NO SWITCHES CONNECTED physicaly
Parameter 150: checked RGB and HSB modes

My setup:
OH 4.1.0
RaspberryPi 4+

rlkoshak · March 5, 2024, 3:17pm

Show your Thing. In MainUI click on the “Code” tab and paste the contents here. Use code fences:

```
code goes here
```

Also show your Items. The error you posted indicates you’ve linked a Color Channel to a String Item.

Finally, show how you are attempting to control these Items, what commands are being sent?

In general a light with white balance will need two Items to control it: Color Item to control the on/off/ brightness, and color of the light and a Dimmer Item to control the white balance/color temperature. The Color Item can be used and controlled as a Switch or as a Dimmer.

wiewior · March 10, 2024, 5:35pm

[Updated to 4.1.1]

Hello Rich, thank you for your response.

this is my code:

UID: zwave:device:0f5fc641be:node50
label: Stairs LED Stripe
thingTypeUID: zwave:fibaro_fgrgbw442_00_000
configuration:
  group_9: []
  group_8: []
  config_154_4_00FF0000: 255
  group_5: []
  group_4: []
  group_7: []
  group_6: []
  config_30_4_000000FF: 0
  group_1:
    - controller
  config_32_4_00FF0000: 255
  group_3: []
  group_2: []
  config_152_2: 3
  config_150_1: 0
  config_155_4_7F000000: 0
  config_33_4_0000FF00: 0
  config_154_4: -1
  config_33_4_000000FF: 0
  config_156_4: 1667457891
  config_64_2: 0
  config_156_4_00FF0000: 99
  config_20_1: 2
  config_31_4_000000FF: 0
  config_41_1: 15
  config_62_2: 3600
  config_22_1: 2
  config_43_1: 15
  config_34_4_00FF0000: 255
  config_34_4_7F000000: 4
  config_32_4_000000FF: 0
  config_1_1: 1
  config_155_4_00FF0000: 0
  config_30_4_0000FF00: 0
  config_31_4_0000FF00: 0
  config_33_4_7F000000: 2
  config_66_2: 3600
  config_154_4_7F000000: 127
  config_154_4_000000FF: 255
  config_32_4_0000FF00: 0
  config_154_4_0000FF00: 255
  config_30_4_00FF0000: 0
  config_32_4_7F000000: 1
  config_151_2: 3
  config_157_1: 0
  config_33_4_00FF0000: 255
  config_155_4: 0
  config_42_1: 15
  config_156_4_000000FF: 99
  config_156_4_7F000000: 99
  config_31_4_00FF0000: 255
  config_31_4_7F000000: 5
  config_34_4_0000FF00: 0
  config_35_2_0000FFFF: 600
  config_65_2: 10
  config_21_1: 2
  config_63_2: 5
  config_40_1: 15
  config_156_4_0000FF00: 99
  config_34_4_000000FF: 0
  group_10: []
  config_30_4_7F000000: 0
  config_155_4_000000FF: 0
  config_155_4_0000FF00: 0
  config_23_1: 2
  node_id: 50
bridgeUID: zwave:serial_zstick:0f5fc641be
channels:
  - id: switch_dimmer
    channelTypeUID: zwave:switch_dimmer
    label: Dimmer
    description: The brightness channel allows to control the brightness of a light.
      It is also possible to switch the light on and off.
    configuration:
      config_restorelastvalue: true
  - id: sensor_voltage
    channelTypeUID: zwave:sensor_voltage
    label: Sensor (voltage)
    description: Indicates the current voltage
    configuration: {}
  - id: meter_watts
    channelTypeUID: zwave:meter_watts
    label: Electric meter (watts)
    description: Indicates the instantaneous power consumption
    configuration: {}
  - id: meter_kwh
    channelTypeUID: zwave:meter_kwh
    label: Electric meter (kWh)
    description: Indicates the energy consumption (kWh)
    configuration: {}
  - id: meter_reset
    channelTypeUID: zwave:meter_reset
    label: Meter reset
    description: Reset the meter
    configuration: {}
  - id: color_color
    channelTypeUID: zwave:color_color
    label: Color Control
    description: The color channel allows to control the color of a light. It is
      also possible to dim values and switch the light on and off.
    configuration: {}
  - id: color_temperature
    channelTypeUID: zwave:color_temperature
    label: Color Temperature
    description: The color temperature channel allows to set the color temperature
      of a light from 0 (cold) to 100 (warm).
    configuration: {}
  - id: scene_number
    channelTypeUID: zwave:scene_number
    label: Scene Number
    description: Triggers when a scene button is pressed
    configuration: {}
  - id: config_decimal_param157
    channelTypeUID: zwave:fibaro_fgrgbw442_00_000_config_decimal_param157
    label: Start programmed sequence
    description: Start programmed sequence
    configuration: {}
  - id: alarm_power
    channelTypeUID: zwave:alarm_power
    label: Alarm (power)
    description: Indicates if a power alarm is triggered
    configuration: {}
  - id: alarm_system
    channelTypeUID: zwave:alarm_system
    label: Alarm (system)
    description: Indicates if a system alarm is triggered
    configuration: {}
  - id: switch_dimmer1
    channelTypeUID: zwave:switch_dimmer
    label: Dimmer 1
    description: The brightness channel allows to control the brightness of a light.
      It is also possible to switch the light on and off.
    configuration:
      config_restorelastvalue: true
  - id: meter_watts1
    channelTypeUID: zwave:meter_watts
    label: Electric meter (watts) 1
    description: Indicates the instantaneous power consumption
    configuration: {}
  - id: meter_kwh1
    channelTypeUID: zwave:meter_kwh
    label: Electric meter (kWh) 1
    description: Indicates the energy consumption (kWh)
    configuration: {}
  - id: meter_reset1
    channelTypeUID: zwave:meter_reset
    label: Meter reset
    description: Reset the meter
    configuration: {}
  - id: color_color1
    channelTypeUID: zwave:color_color
    label: Color Control 1
    description: The color channel allows to control the color of a light. It is
      also possible to dim values and switch the light on and off.
    configuration: {}
  - id: color_temperature1
    channelTypeUID: zwave:color_temperature
    label: Color Temperature 1
    description: The color temperature channel allows to set the color temperature
      of a light from 0 (cold) to 100 (warm).
    configuration: {}
  - id: color_raw1
    channelTypeUID: zwave:color_raw
    label: Color Raw
    description: Sets the color from a comma delimited key=value string
    configuration: {}
  - id: alarm_power1
    channelTypeUID: zwave:alarm_power
    label: Alarm (power) 1
    description: Indicates if a power alarm is triggered
    configuration: {}
  - id: alarm_system1
    channelTypeUID: zwave:alarm_system
    label: Alarm (system) 1
    description: Indicates if a system alarm is triggered
    configuration: {}
  - id: switch_dimmer2
    channelTypeUID: zwave:switch_dimmer
    label: Dimmer 2
    description: The brightness channel allows to control the brightness of a light.
      It is also possible to switch the light on and off.
    configuration:
      config_restorelastvalue: true
  - id: switch_dimmer3
    channelTypeUID: zwave:switch_dimmer
    label: Dimmer 3
    description: The brightness channel allows to control the brightness of a light.
      It is also possible to switch the light on and off.
    configuration:
      config_restorelastvalue: true
  - id: switch_dimmer4
    channelTypeUID: zwave:switch_dimmer
    label: Dimmer 4
    description: The brightness channel allows to control the brightness of a light.
      It is also possible to switch the light on and off.
    configuration:
      config_restorelastvalue: true
  - id: switch_dimmer5
    channelTypeUID: zwave:switch_dimmer
    label: Dimmer 5
    description: The brightness channel allows to control the brightness of a light.
      It is also possible to switch the light on and off.
    configuration:
      config_restorelastvalue: true
  - id: sensor_voltage6
    channelTypeUID: zwave:sensor_voltage
    label: Sensor (voltage) 6
    description: Indicates the current voltage
    configuration: {}
  - id: sensor_voltage7
    channelTypeUID: zwave:sensor_voltage
    label: Sensor (voltage) 7
    description: Indicates the current voltage
    configuration: {}
  - id: sensor_voltage8
    channelTypeUID: zwave:sensor_voltage
    label: Sensor (voltage) 8
    description: Indicates the current voltage
    configuration: {}
  - id: sensor_voltage9
    channelTypeUID: zwave:sensor_voltage
    label: Sensor (voltage) 9
    description: Indicates the current voltage
    configuration: {}

Items:

My steps:

Switch the LED Strip ON:

CommandEvent      ] - Item 'Stairs_LED_Stripe_Dimmer' received command ON
2024-03-10 18:23:06.895 [INFO ] [openhab.event.ItemStateChangedEvent ] - Item 'Stairs_LED_Stripe_Dimmer' changed from 0 to 5
2024-03-10 18:23:07.124 [INFO ] [openhab.event.ItemStateChangedEvent ] - Item 'Stairs_LED_Stripe_Dimmer' changed from 5 to 7
2024-03-10 18:23:23.921 [INFO ] [openhab.event.ItemCommandEvent      ] - Item 'Stairs_LED_Stripe_Dimmer' received command 57
2024-03-10 18:23:25.489 [INFO ] [openhab.event.ItemStateChangedEvent ] - Item 'Stairs_LED_Stripe_Dimmer' changed from 7 to 34
2024-03-10 18:23:25.551 [INFO ] [openhab.event.ItemStateChangedEvent ] - Item 'Stairs_LED_Stripe_Dimmer' changed from 34 to 35

First Question. Why it changes the value to from 5 tp 7 and than from 7 to 34 and 35?
The dim value was 5 before switch ON so it shall remain 5 not jumping to 34 and 35
This is the first example. Later on when i change the Color Item it is not stable.
Maybe we will try to check my settings first to have simple dim function on white line.

Hardware setup. Two parallel connected 5m LED Stripes

rlkoshak · March 10, 2024, 8:52pm

Many devices gradually dim up or down after given a command and depending on the reporting period it will post intermediate dimmer values as it changes.

wiewior · March 12, 2024, 5:50pm

But if i set value 7 I expect to be at the end 7%, right? If it is not the case I will be always confused.

rlkoshak · March 12, 2024, 6:35pm

If you set it to 7%, eventually it should end up at 7%. However, autoupdate may cause some confusion. This is a service built into OH and enabled by default that changes the state of the Item based on a predicted end state after the command is processed. That can cause confusion for devices that report their state, especially in this case because you’d see the following:

autoupdate predicts the new state and updates the Item
command is received by the device which starts to dimm
the device reports changes to the dimming level periodically while it’s dimming until it reaches the new state

So you’d see the Item change to 7, then jump up to 56 then gradually then 36 then 15 and then 7 (for example).

Things can get even more confusing if the order of the updates do not arrive in the order they were sent.

To start disable autoupdate on this Item through the Item’s metadata.

wiewior · March 15, 2024, 8:48pm

Autoupdate to all items set to false.

Changing the dimmer value only unfortunately causes “jump”

2024-03-15 21:43:50.591 [INFO ] [openhab.event.ItemCommandEvent      ] - Item 'Stairs_LED_Stripe_Dimmer' received command 21
2024-03-15 21:43:52.168 [INFO ] [openhab.event.ItemStateChangedEvent ] - Item 'Stairs_LED_Stripe_Dimmer' changed from 21 to 32
2024-03-15 21:43:52.172 [INFO ] [openhab.event.ItemStateChangedEvent ] - Item 'Stairs_LED_Stripe_Color_Control' changed from 5.455,100,8.6275 to 5.455,100,32

Either autoupdate does not work or setting it as “false” does not matter

Setting again only dimmer value to 100 switches back and changes also Control_1 item.
I do not understand why? Could it be a hardware connection wrong?

2024-03-15 21:50:01.778 [INFO ] [openhab.event.ItemStateChangedEvent ] - Item 'Stairs_LED_Stripe_Dimmer' changed from 85 to 100
2024-03-15 21:50:01.779 [INFO ] [openhab.event.ItemStateChangedEvent ] - Item 'Stairs_LED_Stripe_Color_Control' changed from 5.455,100,8.6275 to 5.455,100,100
2024-03-15 21:50:02.161 [INFO ] [openhab.event.ItemStateChangedEvent ] - Item 'Stairs_LED_Stripe_Color_Control_1' changed from 5.455,100,8.6275 to 5.455,100,98
2024-03-15 21:50:02.415 [INFO ] [openhab.event.ItemStateChangedEvent ] - Item 'Stairs_LED_Stripe_Color_Control_1' changed from 5.455,100,98 to 5.455,100,8.6275

Switching LEDs OFF by setting dimmer to 0, switches it off but value of the dimmer is not equal 0 but 48(???)

2024-03-15 21:52:28.708 [INFO ] [openhab.event.ItemCommandEvent      ] - Item 'Stairs_LED_Stripe_Dimmer' received command 0
2024-03-15 21:52:30.284 [INFO ] [openhab.event.ItemStateChangedEvent ] - Item 'Stairs_LED_Stripe_Dimmer' changed from 100 to 48
2024-03-15 21:52:30.287 [INFO ] [openhab.event.ItemStateChangedEvent ] - Item 'Stairs_LED_Stripe_Color_Control' changed from 5.455,100,100 to 5.455,100,48
2024-03-15 21:52:30.348 [INFO ] [openhab.event.ItemStateChangedEvent ] - Item 'Stairs_LED_Stripe_Dimmer' changed from 48 to 46
2024-03-15 21:52:30.351 [INFO ] [openhab.event.ItemStateChangedEvent ] - Item 'Stairs_LED_Stripe_Color_Control' changed from 5.455,100,48 to 5.455,100,46
2024-03-15 21:52:30.605 [INFO ] [openhab.event.ItemStateChangedEvent ] - Item 'Stairs_LED_Stripe_Color_Control' changed from 5.455,100,46 to 5.455,100,8.6275
2024-03-15 21:52:30.669 [INFO ] [openhab.event.ItemStateChangedEvent ] - Item 'Stairs_LED_Stripe_Color_Control_1' changed from 5.455,100,8.6275 to 5.455,100,38
2024-03-15 21:52:31.386 [INFO ] [openhab.event.ItemStateChangedEvent ] - Item 'Stairs_LED_Stripe_Color_Control_1' changed from 5.455,100,38 to 5.455,100,8.6275

rlkoshak · March 15, 2024, 11:03pm

OH is only going to do what it’s told at this point. When you send it a command with autoupdate false, any update to the Item comes from the binding and the binding is getting that from the device.

Setting it to false did exactly what it’s supposed to. It’s showing only what the binding tells it to.

So what ever you are seeing is coming from the device/binding.

A color item represents color in HSB. That stands for Hue, Saturation, Brightness. If you change the brightness, that last value will change. Both Items are linked to the same Thing so if course but Items are going to change when you command one to change the brightness.

The best I can offer is there might be something going wrong with the conversion between what the device is using (often when there’s a color light it only understands RGB or one of the many other color coordinate systems so there’s a lot of conversion going on, even for simple dimming.

I didn’t know this device but it might be worth an issue. Since it’s zwave it might just need an update to the database entry.

But first show which Items are linked to which Channels. Also note that often, all you need for a light like this is a Color Item and a Dimmer Item for the color temperature. You can send ON/OFF to a Color Item. You can send a Percent type command to a Color Item. You didn’t need a separate Switch or Dimmer Item.

wiewior · March 17, 2024, 10:51am

Understood. I can simplify it for me just to not link dimmer 1-5 channels. So they will not appear in the UI and let me control with Color and dimmer only.

Dimmer:

Color Control:

Color Temperature:

Color Control 1:

Color Temperature1:

Dimmer 2:

Dimmer 3:

Dimmer 4:

Dimmer 5:

rlkoshak · March 17, 2024, 3:54pm

At this point all I can guess is there something going wrong between the device and the binding. You’ll need to file an issue.

You’ll probably need to generate debug level logs for the binding.

Where ever possible, post text from the code tabs over screen shots. Screenshots are very hard to read, cannot be searched, changing be copy and pasted from, etc.

wiewior · March 17, 2024, 6:05pm

How to do this officially?
How to title it that developers could understand easily what is all about?

rlkoshak · March 17, 2024, 6:55pm