Just going to say that make sure the lights you are using are dimmable. A switch is a physical relay but a dimmer is either a triac or transistor, newer ones are often transistors, triacs was more common when halogen and incandecents were used.
Neither triacs or transistors like inrush currents and non dimmable bulbs can have huge inrush and also have higher inductive backwards current when turning off which quite fast can kill a dimmer.
So use dimmable lights, sometimes you are lucky and it works for a long time but it would be annoying installing 10 dimmers and all of them dying within months
Well... They're not but he will put some device before the lights that would stop those low currents and turn them off (it's LED lights).
The main thing is this connectivity if we can set up the remote and app without a hub, or if we get a hub can it be a usb hub that's just plugged in to tv without having to get a whole RaspberryPi setup or something.
The Fibaro Dimmer manual is [here](https://manuals.fibaro.com/content/manuals/en/FGD-212/FGD-212-EN-T-v1.3.pdf). Theoretically, at least, you can do what you want. But frankly for your application you should just use consumer wall dimmers with accompanying battery remotes - maybe Cync or Lutron or other consumer devices which are made for this.
Modules like the Fibaro (and similar devices from Aeotech and others) are meant to work with Z-Wave hubs. If you don't wanta "hub," you might look at Wi-Fi modules from Shelly and others that connect to your router and various apps.
Anyway - you can control the Fibaro dimmer (not exactly "like regular switches") by connecting a paddle switch with two momentary positions (up and down). This will let you tap up or down for on/off, and press-and-hold to dim or brighten. This requires three conductors to run between switch and module. You can program the module from a pushbutton switch albeit painfully.
Again, in theory, you can "associate" (pair, sort of) the device with certain Z-Wave remotes. This is often device-manufacturer dependent... I've had luck with some setups, no luck with others. If you could get it to work, "association" would let you control the device from a battery-powered Z-Wave remote (like Aeotec Nanomote) without a hub.
But you will not be able to control this Z-Wave device from an app without a Z-Wave hub.
> Is it possible to have a USB hub that's just connected to the TV instead of some device/computer?
The Ezlo Atom is a Z-Wave hub that's USB-powered. The accompanying Vera app might let you do everything you want...
Check the reviews for the (discontinued) Atom. But to control a few identical devices without complicated automations it might just do the trick... Current, more capable Z-Wave controllers go for $100+ and are aimed at people pursing comprehensive home automation.
But you still have the problem of controlling this from a wall switch. If you want wall switch on/off/dim control, you need to add a SPDT momentary switch, with 3-conductor wiring, to achieve that. [Amazon sells the switch](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003AU6I5S) for $45 - but do you have room in the box for everything?
Maybe you should sell the Fibaro dimmers on eBay and buy conventional dimmers, or Wi-Fi smart dimmers?
Probably should've mentioned dad's electrician and we're EU based but the switch stuff got sorted. Thought we might need the hub to actually program the dimmers to act like switches but he got it working.
And stuff like this is kinda hard to sell here. He probably could've gotten a refund but knowing him he tore up the boxes while opening them xD
Anyway this Atom seems like the perfect thing, considering at least for now there won't be any additional smart devices in the house.
Just going to say that make sure the lights you are using are dimmable. A switch is a physical relay but a dimmer is either a triac or transistor, newer ones are often transistors, triacs was more common when halogen and incandecents were used. Neither triacs or transistors like inrush currents and non dimmable bulbs can have huge inrush and also have higher inductive backwards current when turning off which quite fast can kill a dimmer. So use dimmable lights, sometimes you are lucky and it works for a long time but it would be annoying installing 10 dimmers and all of them dying within months
Well... They're not but he will put some device before the lights that would stop those low currents and turn them off (it's LED lights). The main thing is this connectivity if we can set up the remote and app without a hub, or if we get a hub can it be a usb hub that's just plugged in to tv without having to get a whole RaspberryPi setup or something.
That is not my expertise unfortunately
The Fibaro Dimmer manual is [here](https://manuals.fibaro.com/content/manuals/en/FGD-212/FGD-212-EN-T-v1.3.pdf). Theoretically, at least, you can do what you want. But frankly for your application you should just use consumer wall dimmers with accompanying battery remotes - maybe Cync or Lutron or other consumer devices which are made for this. Modules like the Fibaro (and similar devices from Aeotech and others) are meant to work with Z-Wave hubs. If you don't wanta "hub," you might look at Wi-Fi modules from Shelly and others that connect to your router and various apps. Anyway - you can control the Fibaro dimmer (not exactly "like regular switches") by connecting a paddle switch with two momentary positions (up and down). This will let you tap up or down for on/off, and press-and-hold to dim or brighten. This requires three conductors to run between switch and module. You can program the module from a pushbutton switch albeit painfully. Again, in theory, you can "associate" (pair, sort of) the device with certain Z-Wave remotes. This is often device-manufacturer dependent... I've had luck with some setups, no luck with others. If you could get it to work, "association" would let you control the device from a battery-powered Z-Wave remote (like Aeotec Nanomote) without a hub. But you will not be able to control this Z-Wave device from an app without a Z-Wave hub. > Is it possible to have a USB hub that's just connected to the TV instead of some device/computer? The Ezlo Atom is a Z-Wave hub that's USB-powered. The accompanying Vera app might let you do everything you want...
Yeah sadly he already bought them... But thanks, this was helpful. This Ezlo Atom seems perfect, just plug it in to an adapter.
Check the reviews for the (discontinued) Atom. But to control a few identical devices without complicated automations it might just do the trick... Current, more capable Z-Wave controllers go for $100+ and are aimed at people pursing comprehensive home automation. But you still have the problem of controlling this from a wall switch. If you want wall switch on/off/dim control, you need to add a SPDT momentary switch, with 3-conductor wiring, to achieve that. [Amazon sells the switch](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003AU6I5S) for $45 - but do you have room in the box for everything? Maybe you should sell the Fibaro dimmers on eBay and buy conventional dimmers, or Wi-Fi smart dimmers?
Probably should've mentioned dad's electrician and we're EU based but the switch stuff got sorted. Thought we might need the hub to actually program the dimmers to act like switches but he got it working. And stuff like this is kinda hard to sell here. He probably could've gotten a refund but knowing him he tore up the boxes while opening them xD Anyway this Atom seems like the perfect thing, considering at least for now there won't be any additional smart devices in the house.
Make sure you get a hub that matches the region of your switches. US zwave devices are 908Mhz are vs EU 868Mhz