Virage Switches, Dimmers and Plugs are all controllable remotely, but also send a signal when they are turned on or off. This signal and control combination can be harnessed to create multi-way switches with any number of devices through the creation of automations in your hub software.
Virage has created Blueprints for Home Assistant to simplify this, but it can also be easily accomplished in Domoticz, OpenHAB or other systems using a similar approach.
Simply link devices together (via a group or an automation) such that a change in the state of one changes the state of the others.
Domoticz
OpenHAB
For information on how to wire your Virage devices in a Multi-Way setting, see How to I wire a Multi-Way switch?
Virage has created Blueprints for Home Assistant to simplify this, but it can also be easily accomplished in Domoticz, OpenHAB or other systems using a similar approach.
Simply link devices together (via a group or an automation) such that a change in the state of one changes the state of the others.
Domoticz
OpenHAB
For information on how to wire your Virage devices in a Multi-Way setting, see How to I wire a Multi-Way switch?
To ensure maximum flexibility, VirageSwitches and VirageDimmers do not support traditional N-way wiring but instead use virtual N-way switches created in your hub software. This means the devices communicate with each other through WiFi, rather than through the electrical wires in your walls.
If you are replacing a standard N-way switch with VirageSwitches, you will need to modify the wiring (note that if you are not qualified to do electrical wiring, please contract a licensed electrician). Each VirageSwitch needs to be connected to 120V power (black and white wires), with only one (the master) connected to the light you wish to control.
To replace a typical 3-way light (wiring may vary):
To bring power to the remote switch, connect the black and white wires on the remote switch to the black and white wires on the three-conductor wire in the remote device box. Fold over the red wire on the switch and in the three-conductor wire and wrap them with electrical tape to prevent short circuits. DO NOT connect the red wires to one another!
Master
First, connect the white wire on the three-conductor wire in the master device box to the white wires on the master switch, leading to the electrical panel, and leading to the light (4 white wires in total).
Connect the black wire on the three-conductor wire in the master box to the black wire on the master switch and the black wire leading to the electrical panel (3 wires total). Finally, connect the black wire leading to the light to the red wire on the master switch. Fold over and tape the red wire in the three-conductor wire for safety.
When you are done, the remote switch should be connected to your electrical panel and nothing else (via the master device box), and the master switch should be connected to panel and the light you want to control.
When you turn the breaker back on, the master switch will operate the light, the remote switch will turn on and off but will not control the light until you create a virtual 3-way switch in your hub (see How do I create a Multi-Way switch?).
If you are replacing a standard N-way switch with VirageSwitches, you will need to modify the wiring (note that if you are not qualified to do electrical wiring, please contract a licensed electrician). Each VirageSwitch needs to be connected to 120V power (black and white wires), with only one (the master) connected to the light you wish to control.
To replace a typical 3-way light (wiring may vary):
- Turn off the breaker controlling the circuit you will be working on. Note that not every wire in a device box is necessarily connected to the same breaker - verify that all wires in the boxes you will be working on are de-energized before starting work.
- Find the device box with the wires leading to the light you want to control. This will be the master switch for your light.
- Next, identify the other wires in that box. There will be a 3-conductor wire leading to the device box containing the other (remote) switch, and a two-conductor wire leading to your electrical panel.
- The device box for the second switch (the remote) should contain one three-conductor wire.
To bring power to the remote switch, connect the black and white wires on the remote switch to the black and white wires on the three-conductor wire in the remote device box. Fold over the red wire on the switch and in the three-conductor wire and wrap them with electrical tape to prevent short circuits. DO NOT connect the red wires to one another!
Master
First, connect the white wire on the three-conductor wire in the master device box to the white wires on the master switch, leading to the electrical panel, and leading to the light (4 white wires in total).
Connect the black wire on the three-conductor wire in the master box to the black wire on the master switch and the black wire leading to the electrical panel (3 wires total). Finally, connect the black wire leading to the light to the red wire on the master switch. Fold over and tape the red wire in the three-conductor wire for safety.
When you are done, the remote switch should be connected to your electrical panel and nothing else (via the master device box), and the master switch should be connected to panel and the light you want to control.
When you turn the breaker back on, the master switch will operate the light, the remote switch will turn on and off but will not control the light until you create a virtual 3-way switch in your hub (see How do I create a Multi-Way switch?).
Your new VirageHub comes pre-installed with RaspberryPi OS, and you can install a range of home automation software using the instructions supplied by the software provider. Alternatively, Virage has created images for three popular home automation systems, optimized to work with Virage products. These can be downloaded from the Software page.
These images can be easily installed on your VirageHub using the supplied USB cable and image-writing software such as Balena Etcher:
These images can be easily installed on your VirageHub using the supplied USB cable and image-writing software such as Balena Etcher:
- First, download the image of your choice, then simply plug the USB cable into the bottom-most USB plug on your VirageHub, plugging the other end into a PC or Apple computer. The M.2 SSD drive in the VirageHub should be recognized by your computer (note that Windows PCs may issue an error message that the contents of the drive are not readable - please ignore this).
- Open your image writing software, choose the image file you downloaded as the source, select the target (make sure it's the correct one!) and write the image. Once it's done, reboot your VirageHub and you're in business!
Yes! All virage direct-wire devices and 120V power supplies are UL, CSA or ETL listed for use in Canada and the US.
Yes! All Virage WiFi devices are based on ESP-8266 compatible chips, and can be flashed from within the device UI with Tasmota, NodeMCU, Espurna or other compatible firmware. Please note that not all open source firmware is capable of controlling all Virage devices.
To flash a new firmware, open the web page for the device, choose Configuration and Firmware Upgrade. Choose the file you want to flash, and click Start upgrade. The stock firmware is less than 500K, so any new firmware that is less than 500k can be directly installed. If the new firmware is more than 500k, you will have to use a smaller intermediate firmware to create enough empty space to upload the new firmware.
Note: Altering the stock firmware in any way other than to flash an approved Virage firmware image will void your warranty and is done entirely at your own risk for both function and safety.
To flash a new firmware, open the web page for the device, choose Configuration and Firmware Upgrade. Choose the file you want to flash, and click Start upgrade. The stock firmware is less than 500K, so any new firmware that is less than 500k can be directly installed. If the new firmware is more than 500k, you will have to use a smaller intermediate firmware to create enough empty space to upload the new firmware.
Note: Altering the stock firmware in any way other than to flash an approved Virage firmware image will void your warranty and is done entirely at your own risk for both function and safety.
The VirageDimmer will support all kinds of incandescent lights, up to 600W total load.
For other types of light, please refer to the manufacturer's specifications. Generally, however, compact fluorescent lights are not dimmable (or do not dim well if they are dimmable). The manufacturers of LED lights usually specify whether or not they are dimmable, however it is our experience that some lights do not dim well even if they claim to be dimmable.
Note that the VirageDimmer will support LED lighting loads of up to 150W.
For other types of light, please refer to the manufacturer's specifications. Generally, however, compact fluorescent lights are not dimmable (or do not dim well if they are dimmable). The manufacturers of LED lights usually specify whether or not they are dimmable, however it is our experience that some lights do not dim well even if they claim to be dimmable.
Note that the VirageDimmer will support LED lighting loads of up to 150W.
The answer depends a lot on what home automation software you choose to use, the structure of your network, and the level of security you want to maintain.
VPN
The most secure way to access your home automation system remotely is to establish a VPN between your remote device(s) and your home network. This will allow you to access the web interface of your home automation software from anywhere, but only from certain devices.
Port Mapping
A less secure approach is to open a port on your router and map that port to the port and IP address used by the web interface of your home automation software. Any remote device will then be able to gain access, provided they know the correct external address or URL for your router, the correct external port number, and of course the user name and password you use to access your home automation software.
It is also common to use a Dynamic DNS service when using this approach, if your ISP does not provide you with a static external IP address (most do not unless you pay extra). Dynamic DNS allows you to create a domain name and dynamically map that name to the external IP address of your router. In this way you can access your automation hub using a consistent human readable URL instead of a constantly changing IP address.
If you use this approach, it is recommended that you put all of your home automation devices on a VLAN that is separate from your main network, and enable SSL on the web interface of your installation (this can be done either natively or using a reverse proxy server like NGINX). While this does not eliminate all potential security issues, it does mitigate them to some degree.
Third Party Services
The makers of Home Assistant have created a separate, fee-based service (Nabu Casa) that can allow you to securely access your Home Assistant installation without a VPN or Port Mapping. This service also offers Alexa and Google Assistant skills that allow you to control Home Assistant by voice. Note that this service is not in any way affiliated with Virage.
Apps
Home Assistant also has an Android or Apple App that can connect your smart phone to your installation, via any of the approaches listed above.
VPN
The most secure way to access your home automation system remotely is to establish a VPN between your remote device(s) and your home network. This will allow you to access the web interface of your home automation software from anywhere, but only from certain devices.
Port Mapping
A less secure approach is to open a port on your router and map that port to the port and IP address used by the web interface of your home automation software. Any remote device will then be able to gain access, provided they know the correct external address or URL for your router, the correct external port number, and of course the user name and password you use to access your home automation software.
It is also common to use a Dynamic DNS service when using this approach, if your ISP does not provide you with a static external IP address (most do not unless you pay extra). Dynamic DNS allows you to create a domain name and dynamically map that name to the external IP address of your router. In this way you can access your automation hub using a consistent human readable URL instead of a constantly changing IP address.
If you use this approach, it is recommended that you put all of your home automation devices on a VLAN that is separate from your main network, and enable SSL on the web interface of your installation (this can be done either natively or using a reverse proxy server like NGINX). While this does not eliminate all potential security issues, it does mitigate them to some degree.
Third Party Services
The makers of Home Assistant have created a separate, fee-based service (Nabu Casa) that can allow you to securely access your Home Assistant installation without a VPN or Port Mapping. This service also offers Alexa and Google Assistant skills that allow you to control Home Assistant by voice. Note that this service is not in any way affiliated with Virage.
Apps
Home Assistant also has an Android or Apple App that can connect your smart phone to your installation, via any of the approaches listed above.