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.
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:
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).
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.
You've probably heard the term Z-Wave thrown around if you've been shopping for smart home devices, especially anything related to security systems, door locks, or home automation hubs. But what actually is Z-Wave, and why do so many serious smart home setups rely on it? Here's everything you need to know to get started!
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And honestly, we get it. Once you open up a switch box and start Googling terms like “single pole vs multi-way” or “line and load,” things can feel overwhelming fast. Instead of forcing you to compare every switch model and decipher electrical terminology on your own, our new guide walks you through the decision process step by step so you can narrow down the right switch for your setup without second guessing yourself.
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Billy McKee
January 01, 2016
I took back an Iris system and kept 2 devices that I wanted to hook up to new Nexia Bridge. The glass break sensor hooked up immediately. The GE Outdoor Switch Module was stubborn, until I found this remedy. I had to unplug the bridge and take it under battery power and hit the minus button on the back holding it next to the GE switch 3 times (3 cycles – hit button, watch it blink for 30 seconds, and then glow steady – 3 times). At first this confused my Nexia app with an unknown error, so I had to remove the battery to reset the bridge. Upon re-hooking the bridge back up to my router and power supply, the app came back online as nothing ever happened and the GE switch was found in the very next attempt and is working like new! Thanks for this fix and posting it!!!