Overview
Z-Wave is a mesh network protocol commonly used in home automation systems. A number of manufacturers such as GE, Trane, Honeywell, Kwikset, Yale, and others have built Z-Wave devices such as lights, locks, thermostats, and garage doors. This article relates to the general Z-Wave protocol features such as adding, removing, learn mode, and resetting the network. For additional device specific information please review the lights, locks, thermostats, and garage door articles or refer to the install guide from the manufacturer of your device.
Adding a Device
To add a Z-Wave device, go to Settings > Devices > Click on the add button and then select the type of device. The base will then go into inclusion mode and you will be prompted to follow your manufacturers instructions to put the device into inclusion mode. Once the device is added you will hear a confirmation beep from your base and you will be brought to a screen to name the device and to choose an icon.
Some Z-Wave devices may support secure adding also known as ‘S2’. S2 devices encrypt their communication with the Base for added security. These devices can be added using the process described above, but once the device has been discovered, you will be prompted to enter a PIN code provided on the device label to complete the process. After the device has been successfully added, it will operate like any other Z-Wave device. If secure add fails, the device may still add, but in an unsecured mode, and you may be prompted to delete and reinstall the device to ensure it is properly secured.
Note: Not all Z-Wave device types may be supported by the system. If you choose to add a device that is unsupported, it will come into the system as unknown and be located in the lights and appliances cards.
Controlling a Device
Once a Z-Wave device has been added to the security system, it can be controlled using the home automation cards on the main screen of the iOS, Android, or web applications. All devices can be issued basic on/off commands, but devices which support other features will have additional control options on their card.
| Lights | Turn the light on and off and change the brightness for dimmable switches |
| Locks | Lock and unlock the lock |
| Garage Doors | Open and close your garage door |
| Thermostats | View your current temperature and mode, adjust your temperature settings, change the heating and cooling mode, and change the fan mode |
| Unknown Devices | Any device that is added to the system but is not recognized as a fully supported device will only have basic on/off control. |
Sensors
Unfortunately the system does not currently support Z-Wave sensors. It is recommended that you use 345Mhz sensors that can be bought in the Blue by ADT store instead.
Removing a Device
To remove a device, go to Settings > Devices and choose your device. You can then delete it by clicking remove and following your manufacturers directions to put the device into exclusion mode. If a device is not on the network, you may fail the remove and then be prompted to remove the failed device. This will remove the device from the network without it being present. If you would like to add your device to another system, then you will need to reset the device per the manufacturers instructions. You can use the general exclusion for resetting devices as well under Settings > Devices > Going to your base > Selecting advanced settings and then clicking General Exclusion.
Removing a Failed Node
If you are attempting to remove a device that is no longer active in the Z-Wave network, you can instruct the Base to remove the device. Navigate to the advanced Z-Wave settings page for the failed device and press “Remove Failed Device”. The Base will proceed to remove the device from the Z-Wave network. Note: If your device comes back online after it has been removed via Removed Failed Device, you will need to reset your device in order to re-add it. Use “General Device Exclusion” to do this.
Replacing a Device
To replace a device, go to Settings > Devices > Choose Your Device and then select Replace Device. You will first be prompted to click on the device you are replacing. If it is not on the network you will be prompted to remove the failed device. After the first device is removed, you will be prompted to add your new device by following the manufacturers instructions to add a device. Once the replace is confirmed, then your device will then work as your other device did with rules. If you attempt to replace a device with a different type of device, for example replacing a light with a lock, then your rules will no longer work for that device.
Adding Your Base to Another Network
If you would like to add the Base into another Z-Wave network, you must first delete all Z-Wave devices from the Base before proceeding. Once all devices have been deleted, follow the instructions on the other controller to put it into add mode. Once the other Z-Wave controller is in add mode, you can place the Base into learn mode by navigating to Settings > Devices > Choosing your base > Opening Advanced Options and then choosing Z-Wave Utilities.
From this menu, select Z-Wave Learn Mode to put the Base into learn mode. Follow the instructions on the other controller to complete the add process. Once the add is complete, the Base will request a copy of the other Z-Wave network configuration, and the network devices will appear on the Blue by ADT iOS, Android, and web applications.
When the Base is included in another Z-Wave network, it will ignore Basic Z-Wave commands that are sent to it.
Copying Your Z-wave Network Information To Another Controller
If you would like to copy your network information to another controller, you must add the controller to the Z-Wave network using the normal device add process. Once the controller has been successfully added to the Z-Wave network, all network configuration will be automatically transferred to the new controller.
Resetting Your Z-wave Network
In order to factory reset your Z-Wave network, go to Settings > Devices > Choose your Base > Open Advanced Options > Choose Z-Wave Utilities and then select Z-wave Reset Controller. After a few seconds, the Base will beep to indicate that your Z-Wave network has been reset. Any devices which were part of your Z-Wave network will need to be reset before they can be re-added. Use the Z-Wave General Exclusion menu under Z-Wave Utilities to do this.
Interoperability with Z-wave Devices
This product can be operated in any Z-Wave network with other Z-Wave certified devices from other manufacturers. All non-battery operated nodes within the network will act as repeaters regardless of vendor to increase reliability of the network.
Functional Overview
This device behaves as static controller based on the Z-Wave Controller Library. It controls devices using the following Z-Wave Command Classes:
| Version | Non-secured CC | Version | Secure CC |
|---|
| 2 | COMMAND_CLASS_ZWAVEPLUS_INFO | | COMMAND_CLASS_NETWORK_MANAGEMENT_ INCLUSION |
| 2 | COMMAND_CLASS_TRANSPORT_SERVICE | 2 | COMMAND_CLASS_NETWORK_MANAGEMENT_BASIC |
| 1 | COMMAND_CLASS_CRC_16_ENCAP | 2 | COMMAND_CLASS_NETWORK_MANAGEMENT_PROXY |
| 1 | COMMAND_CLASS_APPLICATION_STATUS | 1 | COMMAND_CLASS_ASSOCIATION_GRP_INFO |
| 1 | COMMAND_CLASS_APPLICATION_CAPABILITY | 1 | COMMAND_CLASS_DEVICE_RESET_LOCALLY |
| 1 | COMMAND_CLASS_SECURITY_2 | 1 | COMMAND_CLASS_NETWORK_MANAGEMENT_ INSTALLATION_MAINTENANCE |
| 1 | COMMAND_CLASS_SECURITY | 2 | COMMAND_CLASS_MANUFACTURER_SPECIFIC |
| 1 | COMMAND_CLASS_INCLUSION_CONTROLLER | 1 | COMMAND_CLASS_POWERLEVEL |
| 1 | COMMAND_CLASS_SUPERVISION | 1 | COMMAND_CLASS_NODE_PROVISIONING |
| | | 5 | COMMAND_CLASS_FIRMWARE_UPDATE_MD |
| | | 2 | COMMAND_CLASS_ASSOCIATION |
| | | 2 | COMMAND_CLASS_VERSION |
FAQ
My Z-Wave device periodically goes offline. What can I do? If your Z-Wave device is periodically going offline there may be a problem with the mesh network. Try adding a Z-Wave switch or plug-in module to improve the range of your network.
I added a Z-Wave device and it beeped, but I can't find it. Where is it? If a device is added to the system, but it is unknown, then it will go into the lights and appliances card. You can remove and try re-adding the device in the event it was an addition issue by going to Settings > Devices > Choosing the device and then selecting to remove it. If it is unsupported though, you may end up in the same situation when you re-add it as well.
My Z-Wave device does not show the correct status in the applications. What can I do? Not all Z-Wave devices report status changes to the base. For those that don't we pull every 2 minutes to ensure your network doesn't slow down. If you would like to refresh a device that doesn't report it's status, you can go to Settings > Devices > Choose Your Device and then click refresh.
