While not a homeassistant driver/app, it works with Matter.
For those of you still running Litetouch 2000 lighting systems (there are dozens of us!), I’ve created a Matterbridge plugin that exposes your Litetouch loads as Matter devices. This means you can control your Litetouch dimmers and switches from Hubitat, Home Assistant, Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, or any other Matter-compatible platform.
Background
Litetouch 2000 was a great whole-home lighting system from the late 90s/early 2000s, but integration options have always been limited. I previously maintained a Vera plugin for it, but with Vera’s decline and the rise of Matter as a universal standard, I decided to build something more future-proof.
What It Does
Connects to your Litetouch CCU via RS-232 serial (need special homemade cable, instructions in the github project)
Exposes configured dimmer and relay loads as Matter devices
Full dimming support (0-100%)
Real-time status polling so changes from keypads are reflected in your smart home apps
Works with any Matter controller (Hubitat, Apple Home, Google Home, etc.)
Workaround for an Apple Home bug that caused lights to go to 100%, and then back down to the requested set level
No official support for shades/blinds. Maybe they work? All of my shade motors are dead so I couldn’t test.
Requirements
Raspberry Pi (or similar) with serial connection to your Litetouch CCU
Yes. I misspoke, I have a Standard CCU. But it works with both the standard and compact.
I have a 5000LC also that I bought as a spare. I need to program it though so it’s ready to swap right in. I’ve had a lot of relays die on me, and a couple of dimmer modules. Maybe this stuff doesn’t like LED lights so much, but there’s no way I’m going back to incandescent. I have 135 lights and my electric bill was over $700/mo. Knocked down to $135/mo after switching to LED.
All of my switch plates and buttons are almond colored and I hate it. One of these days I’m going to model up the switches and 3d print new ones, engrave them on the CNC for embedded paint, and then paint my switch plates a color that doesn’t scream 1992.
If I get around to programming the 5000LC, I’ll make the plugin support that also. The 5000LC does unsolicited updates over serial, so no need for my polling loop on that platform.
If you NEED 5000LC support right away, I’d be willing to do it on a paid hourly/project basis. Otherwise it’s not a priority right now.
I’m actually in the process of reverse engineering the protocol that goes between the modules and the CCU so I can replace the CCU completely. I was interested because I have a standard CCU and I could make a test set up that wasn’t running my house. I’ve got it partially working right now, but I need to get some more data points, but I can successfully control a for channel high-powered dimmer standard channel, dimmer, and channel high power relay from something other than the CCU. I started the project because I didn’t realize you could remotely control the standard CCU from the serial port and I want to integrate it with my control system that I’m designing.
I used to work for lawn home systems back in the day so I have some experience and before light touch got bought out by Sivan. They gave me my LC 5000 system.
Mine’s been running for 17 years now and has had three lightning strikes and still works
There’s a 9 pin serial port inside. You’ll need to make a special cable, it doesn’t use a normally wired cable. 2 of the pins on the CCU side need to be tied together. Just get a couple of the rj-45/serial plugs, and then take one apart and wire it appropriately. Then put a straight through ethernet cable between your plugs. You’ll need a USB-Serial converter plugged into a raspberry pi, and then you’ll install matterbridge and my plugin. Note that you will need to figure out your load addresses and the names of each. So you’ll probably have to open your panels to get the module addresses, or go into the annoying menu system on the CCU. There are no names in the CCU, so you’ll still have to figure out what each one is named. There should be a manual switch to turn loads on and off on your modules in the panels. Get your kids to run around the house while you turn each one on and off to figure out what they are for. Do not confuse keypad addressing with module addressing. My plugin needs module addressing.
Also note that I don’t have explicit support for blinds/shades. My house had them, but the motors burned out at some point, so I’m unable to test that. I don’t know what happens when you set one up as a switch in the matter plugin. It might work, it might not.
This is WILD. I was considering going down a Savant upgrade route, and am now using HA to turn on and off switches on a 30+ year old system. Bravo. @signal15 I have 150+ switches (module addresses). What do you have your polling interval set at? I’m considering reducing it, but don’t want to tax the system.
Keep us posted on this @Kudu. Signal’s solution is awesome, but the age/upgrade path for this system scares the heck out of me. If there is a reasonable way to bypass the CCU I’m curious to learn more.
