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THE SMARTEST BLOG

NO. 1 Z-WAVE PAIRING TRICK

March 04, 2015 51 Comments

Man pairing a smart device to a Z-Wave network using his smart home.

Sometimes you just can’t pair a sensor or a switch with your Z-Wave hub, no matter what you try. You’ve done your research and installed similar devices without any problems. You’re positive this unit is compatible with your hub and yet it will not include.
We have found a solution that will work most of the time if everything else has failed. As strange as it may sound, the trick is to exclude the item from your network. 

But why would I unpair something that has never been included to my network in the first place? 
Well, there are at least 2 reasons:
  1. Configuration errors sometimes occur during the pairing process. As a result, the device is not successfully paired but neither is it ready for another pairing attempt - it needs to be excluded first.
  2. You might have received an item that has been previously associated with a different Z-Wave network (maybe it was tested at a factory and is still part of that network). Luckily, you’re able to exclude a Z-Wave unit from any network using your controller.

How to unpair a Z-Wave device that has not been paired with your controller yet?
Simply send the appropriate command to put the controller in “exclusion mode”. Keep in mind that every hub is a little different when it comes to executing this process and you’ll want to have your device manual around to perform the device-specific exclusion confirmation (e.g., a physical button press) which is unique for every device.

Here are the step-by-step exclusion instructions for the most popular Z-Wave systems:

Z-Box Hub

  1. Click the gear icon in the sidebar menu to access Settings.
  2. You will be redirected to the Devices menu.
  3. Click the red Remove device button in the top right corner.
  4. Select the Z-Wave Device option.
  5. Get ready to activate your Z-Wave device and click Start.
  6. While the Z-Box Hub is in exclusion mode, perform the device-specific exclusion confirmation (e.g., a physical button press).
  7. The Z-Box Hub will confirm that the device has been removed and you can now try adding it again to your system.

Home Assistant

  1. In Home Assistant, go to Settings > Devices and Services > Z-Wave JS > Configure.
  2. Click on Remove Device.
  3. Click on Start Exclusion.
  4. While Home Assistant is in exclusion mode, perform the device-specific exclusion confirmation (e.g., a physical button press).
  5. Home Assistant will confirm that the device was removed, and you should now be able to pair your device with the system.

Hubitat

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Click on Z-Wave Details
  3. Click on Z-Wave Exclude
  4. While Hubitat is in exclusion mode, perform the device-specific exclusion confirmation (e.g., a physical button press).
  5. You should receive confirmation of exclusion once the unit is excluded

SmartThings

  1. Make sure your device works manually or is powered up
  2. Go to the Devices tab in your SmartThings app
  3. Tap Home hub (or custom name of your ST hub)
  4. Tap the 3-dot icon in the top right corner
  5. Tap Settings
  6. Tap Z-Wave Utilities
  7. Tap Z-Wave Exclusion
  8. The app will show this message: “To delete Z-Wave devices, follow the manufacturer's instructions.” There will also be a spinning circle over the message.
  9. While Exclusion Mode is active, perform the device-specific exclusion confirmation (e.g., a physical button press).
  10. The app will confirm device exclusion
  11. Tap Done

Once exclusion is completed, please try adding the device again by clicking the "+" icon on the home screen, selecting "Add device" from the drop-down menu, and clicking on Scan Nearby or Scan QR Code if your device supports SmartStart.

While the app is looking for new devices, perform the device-specific inclusion confirmation (e.g., a physical button press).

HomeSeer

  1. In the web interface, go to the PLUG-INS drop-down menu and select Z-Wave
  2. Click on Controller Management
  3. Look for the the Z-Wave Interfaces area and expand your Z-Wave Controller section
  4. Open the Actions menu and select Remove/Exclude a Node
  5. Click the Start button and perform the exclusion sequence on the Z-Wave device you need to reset
  6. When the process is complete, you’ll see a confirmation message on your screen: "DONE - Remove Node Operation is Complete."

Wink

  1. Go to the main Hub page within the app
  2. Click on the three dots (Settings) in the upper right corner
  3. Click on Wink Hub
  4. Scroll down and click on Z-Wave Controls.
  5. Select Exclusion Mode
  6. Perform the device specific exclusion action on your device (see manual for details)
  7. Your Wink hub LED indicator will go from blinking blue to solid green to indicate exclusion was successful

After the exclusion process, try including the device again. And don't forget to check if the product is supported by Wink here.

NOTE: Sometimes, you will have to repeat the above process a few times before the unit is excluded. Always look for the appropriate indicator that the device is ready to be paired, like a flashing LED light.

Nexia

  1. Press the exclusion ("-") button on the hub
  2. Activate the device for exclusion (e.g., a physical button press, check your manual) to reset it
That’s it! Now try adding the device again.

We hope that helps but if you're struggling to add a device to your network, get in touch. Every purchase at our store comes with lifetime tech support!

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10 Responses

Jan (The Smartest House)
Jan (The Smartest House)

August 07, 2018

Hi Bill, unfortunately we don’t have any experience with Frontpoint security and wouldn’t even be able to confirm they’re Z-Wave. Alarm panels usually use the Z-Wave protocol for automation devices like plugs, switches, locks, or thermostats but they tend to use the 433 MHz frequency for their security devices. And while the idea is similar, the technology is quite different and to our knowledge, SmartThings wouldn’t recognized these devices. We recommend getting in touch with either Frontpoint or SmartThings so they can confirm our assumptions for you. Sorry we couldn’t be more helpful here!

Bill P.
Bill P.

August 06, 2018

I am leaving Frontpoint for home security and using a SmartThings hub. I know the motion and door sensors on the Frontpoint system are Z-wave, but they were programmed at the factory and do not have an obvious pair switch. I have excluded the devices thru Frontpoint from the hub. Wondering if you know of a way to re-pair devices like this… or if there’s a way to use a connector directly on the board to force it into learning/pairing mode. I’ve paid for the equipment outright and would like to reuse the door and motion sensors.

Jan (The Smartest House)
Jan (The Smartest House)

July 20, 2018

Hi Mario, every Z-Wave device needs to enroll in exclusion mode, this is an official requirement from Z-Wave Alliance. Sometimes you won’t be able to find it in the manual but it’s usually the same trigger as you use for inclusion so simply click on Retry on your Vera and follow the steps for inclusion in your lock. Another thing to try would be to perform a hard reset on the lock, you should be able to find it in the instructions but if you can’t, get in touch with Yale support and they should be able to walk you through the process.

Mario
Mario

July 17, 2018

Hi… I just purchased a new Yale Lock YRL210 as I was having trouble with an older Yale lock and my Veralite. I reset the veralite and added my hue lights again. Now I try to add the Yale Lock without success. Vera people advised to exclude and include as you also suggest. The problem is that my new Yale lock does not allow exclusion option (#7 and #3), is not avalilable option. So the exclusion/inclusion trick does not work in this case. Any ideas? best regards. Mario

Jan (The Smartest House)
Jan (The Smartest House)

June 12, 2018

No problem Alan, glad we could help!

Alan
Alan

June 11, 2018

Thank you…..this worked perfectly!!!!!

Jan (The Smartest House)
Jan (The Smartest House)

June 05, 2018

Hi Mario, good question! Z-Wave devices can only be included to one network (one hub) because they communicate locally via radio signal, not in the cloud like Nest or Ring. This keeps the communication fast, private, and secure but unfortunately ties devices to single controllers unless the hubs are interconnected between one another, a good example would be the joint offer from ADT Pulse and SmartThings. If you’d like to have your ADT security system working nicely with a good smart home hub, this may be a better solution for you.

Andy
Andy

June 05, 2018

Yes, unpairing and pairing worked perfectly with the Watercop and Winkhub2. The first attempts at pairing were unsuccessful. I am using the Dome leak sensor and the Watercop and the setup works flawlessly with the Wink Hub 2

Mario
Mario

June 02, 2018

Hello, is it possible to connect switches/outlets/etc. to multiple hubs? I’m trying to use wink and adt pulse. So far I can only get the switches and outlets to one or the other. Ring and nest connect to both no problem.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!

Jan (The Smartest House)
Jan (The Smartest House)

June 01, 2018

Glad it helped Dave :) Good luck building your Z-Wave network!

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