Add to Chrome
Add to Edge
Add to Firefox
Add to Opera
Add to Brave
Add to SafariWhen comparing Cooper Aspire RF 5-Button Scene Control Keypad vs GE Z-Wave In-Wall Smart Switch, the Slant community recommends GE Z-Wave In-Wall Smart Switch for most people. In the question“What are the best Z-Wave light switches?” GE Z-Wave In-Wall Smart Switch is ranked 1st while Cooper Aspire RF 5-Button Scene Control Keypad is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose GE Z-Wave In-Wall Smart Switch is:
Using a Z-Wave programmer (aka a master controller), you can essentially flip the switch's software (if you installed it upside-down, intentionally or accidentally, the software can compensate for that). Also, the LED indicator can be programmed to turn on when the light is on, which is very useful for lights you can't see - ie outdoor lights.
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Brightness controls
In addition to turning scenes on and off, holding the button will brighten or dim them slowly, truly giving you full control from a central switch.
Pro Multi-room control from a single switch
This switch enables instant control over different 'scenes' (groups of lights) all at once. Each scene has it's own LED indicator that lights up when the scene is activated, and turns off when it is deactivated.
Pro Labels included in the package
Out of the box, the switch is left blank. However, if you choose, there are generic labels in the box (Welcome, All on, Movie, Dining Room, Goodnite etc) which can be attached to remind you which button controls which scene.
Pro Programmable
Using a Z-Wave programmer (aka a master controller), you can essentially flip the switch's software (if you installed it upside-down, intentionally or accidentally, the software can compensate for that). Also, the LED indicator can be programmed to turn on when the light is on, which is very useful for lights you can't see - ie outdoor lights.
Pro Touch controls
Tapping the switch will toggle the lights on/off, and long touching will slowly brighten or dim the lights.
Pro Small LED indicator
There is a small blue LED indicator on the bottom right of the switch. By default, it turns on when the light is off, allowing you to easier see where the switch is in the dark. If you have a Z-Wave programmer however, you can change it to be the opposite - when the light is on the LED is on. This can be useful for lights outside, or other situations where you can't immediately tell if the device is on or off.
Cons
Con Middle buttons hard to find
The top and bottom buttons are easier to press than the button on the middle, which is about 1/3 shorter than the top and bottom buttons.
Con Only controls scenes
While it would be useful if the vertical button on the right could control a light itself, instead it just turns off the scenes controlled by the other buttons. This switch can't control individual lights unless you configure that light as a scene all by itself.
Con Installation can be difficult
If you haven't swapped out wall switches before, it can be tricky. You will have to un-wire the old one, and wire the new one to the existing wires. The instructions use some jargon that isn't explained, which you will need to figure out before the instructions make any sense ('line' means the wire coming from the breaker, 'load' means the wire going to the light fixture, and 'traveler' means the wire(s) that runs between multiple switches that control the same light.
Con House wiring requires neutral wire
The neutral wire is needed for this wall switch - it simply won't function without it. Older houses may not have the wiring required for these switches to work.
