July 15, 2016 18 Comments
For those of us interested in home automation, this might be a familiar scenario: You’ve bought that new 4-in-1 sensor you’ve wanted for a while, and rush to unwrap the package like a kid on Christmas Day. Then you insert the batteries and make your way to your SmartThings hub to include it into your network. And then the disappoint descends: it’s a sensor that’s new on the market, and it’s more complicated to integrate it than a simple on/off device. It will probably take a while before SmartThings provides official support for it. So how do you include a Z-Wave device to your hub if it's not on the list?
This is where custom device handlers come in: community members will often develop their own code to be able to use new devices with SmartThings. They usually publish them on development platforms like GitHub and then post a link to the code on the SmartThings forum. But they don’t always include instructions on how to install the custom device handler and assign it to the device. The average user may think it’s a complicated process, when in fact it’s quite simple!
Here are some instructions that should help you get a custom device handler (i.e. that awesome new device of yours!) to work in SmartThings. I’ll be taking the Zooz 4-in-1 Sensor as an example, but this process will work for any device that needs a custom handler (you’ll just need to use a different link for the right code).
1. Log in here with the same username and password you use for your SmartThings app: https://consigliere-regional.api.smartthings.com
2. Click on My Device Handlers in the top menu
3. In the top right corner, click on Create new device handler and choose From code from the top tab menu. You'll be presented with a blank area where you can copy the code from this link and paste it in (it's always best to use the raw version of the code)
4. Next, scroll to the bottom and click Create. Now click Save, then click Publish > for me.
You should now see this device type in your list of Device Handlers
Simply exclude the device if you had included it prior to installing the new device handler. Then add the device to your SmartThings hub by clicking on Add thing > + Connect New Device in your app. Press and release the Z-Wave button on the sensor twice quickly.
Remember to keep the device within 3 feet away from your hub during inclusion — the device should be automatically discovered as the Zooz 4-in-1 sensor. Then, leave the sensor by the hub for a few hours so it can fully configure.
And that should be it! I hope this was helpful in simplifying the process behind custom device handlers. Feel free to share your questions and feedback in the comment section below!
February 01, 2023
Wow, this is incredibly useful! I cant tell you how many times I got a new smart switch and dimmer to test out and had this very issue. I am generally able to get it to work, but my G0d it takes a long time and tends to give me a headache.
July 14, 2020
You actually don’t need to use the SmartThings Classic app to take advantage of the custom device handlers. The instructions refer to the IDE portal and some handlers are not optimized for the new app but for the most part, the handler installation process is not related to the app you’re using at all.
July 07, 2020
IMPORTANT!!!
TO USE DEVICE HANDLER – INSTALL “SAMSUNG SMARTTHINGS CLASSIC” APP!!!
WON’T WORK WIH NEW ONE.
I’ve spent like an hour to figure out why I can’t find any place to add custom device…
Please update post with this info.
August 17, 2018
Hi Brian, this looks like an issue with the device handler. We don’t carry this particular product so don’t have any experience with getting it integrated with any Z-Wave system unfortunately. We recommend reaching out to the developer who wrote the code, it may be outdated and needs an update to conform to the latest platform standards on SmartThings.
August 14, 2018
I have read 5 different tutorials that all give the same instructions but when I hit “Create” I get this error: Org.springframework.security.access.AccessDeniedException: Run Locally Permission not allowed for DeviceType: d903c6b9-cf7c-4173-b72e-1fb06ba4b8ee
Why and how do I fix this? I’m trying to get my Remotec relay to work again since there no longer seems to be a Generic Z-wave Device option in Smartthings
December 22, 2017
Hi Paul,
It’s possible you need to reset the sensor first. Please try this:
1. Tap the menu icon in your SmartThings app
2. Tap Hub is online
3. Tap Z-Wave Utilities
4. Tap General Device Exclusion
5. The app will show this message: “Please follow the manufacturer’s instructions to remove the Z-Wave device from My SmartThings.” There will also be a spinning circle next to the message “Exclusion Mode Active”
6. While Exclusion Mode is active, click the Z-Wave button on the sensor with a paperclip 3 times very quickly
7. The app will confirm device exclusion
8. Tap Done
Once exclusion is completed, please try adding the device again by clicking on Add Thing in the ST app and clicking the Z-Wave button 3 times with a paperclip quickly.
Let us know if that helped!
December 19, 2017
I can not get my sensor to connect. I’ve installed the device handler, I go to “add a thing”, and I press the button on the bottom of the sensor with a paper clip twice quickly and it blinks 5 times. Smartthings never finds it and I’m within 3 feet from my hub. Any suggestions?
September 26, 2017
We’re glad that was helpful Lionel!
September 25, 2017
ok, got it, the inside switch is the wrong button, need to use the paper clip then it worked great.
thanks for the post!
September 24, 2017
Hello,
thanks for the instructions, I added the device handler on both
https://graph-na04-useast2.api.smartthings.com
https://graph-na02-useast1.api.smartthings.com
I have 2 ZooZ but they don’t get detected when I do Add Thing.
There is a tiny switch inside the device, I tried to press once, twice, thrice, quick/slow, hold…, the Zooz blinks green once and that’s all.
I don’t know what to do now.
Thanks for tips!
Lionel
September 05, 2017
Hi Deepak,
There may be a few reasons why the device isn’t recognized correctly. Either the handler was not published in the right place or the device had been included before you published the handler or there’s another configuration issue at play. Please get in touch with our support so they can go through different troubleshooting options with you and help you solve the problem. Thanks!
September 05, 2017
Hi guys,same here as Dan. It discovers the device as generic and not as a zooz one..am i missing something in settings?
August 15, 2017
Hi Mike, did you try waking the sensor up manually by clicking on the Z-Wave button 3 times quickly after you made the change in the settings? If not, the change hasn’t been registered by the sensor yet.
August 15, 2017
I installed a second z-wave 4 in 1 and this handler was already installed and everything seems to work properly except the LED option. I have it set to 1 (for no LED) but it is still flashing red every few minutes. My other 4 in 1 (identical) does not flash. Any thoughts?
March 14, 2017
Hi Dan, we’re glad to hear you were able to make it work. Between the 2 different URL’s, it can be kind of confusing. We always recommend to start with checking if your sensors and switches are listed under My Devices first – if they’re not there, it means you need to log in using the alternative URL to install the handler in: https://graph-na02-useast1.api.smartthings.com
March 12, 2017
Nevermind, I find out now that ST’s shards aren’t all properly tied together… I had to be sure I was in the right shard.
March 11, 2017
So I follow these instructions exactly but when it finds the device it STILL just thinks it’s a generic z-wave sensor device. The Zooz name does not appear in the “found devices” list. I have tried this with three (3) versions of ZSE40 device handler code I found out there. I see them all in my device handlers list but they don’t seem to make any difference. Thoughts??
June 28, 2024
Welcome to the ultimate guide on transforming your home with smart lighting. We want to focus on the solutions that are most helpful in creating a comfortable, energy-efficient, and aesthetically pleasing environment. Whether you're just beginning your journey into home automation or looking to expand your existing setup, understanding the nuances of smart lighting is essential. Let's jump in!
Imagine your lights gradually brightening in the morning, simulating a natural sunrise to help you wake up gently and feel more refreshed. In the evening, your lights gradually dim, creating a calming atmosphere that can help you unwind and prepare for a good night’s sleep. Sounds perfect, right? But how exactly do you get there?
June 10, 2024
Smart lighting is one of the first steps in automating your home or office. It brings convenience, energy efficiency, and it's pretty fun. If you're a renter or someone looking for a quick and easy way to upgrade your home's lighting, you're probably thinking about smart bulbs. In this blog post, we'll explore the benefits and limitations of smart bulbs. We'll cover some creative ways to maximize their value as well as the best methods to control them. By the end (spoiler alert), you'll understand why you may still want to invest in smart switches over smart bulbs.
May 20, 2024
You've likely encountered announcements about the arrival of Z-Wave Long Range (ZWLR) devices. In fact, many of the products sold at our store today support the new ZWLR protocol. But what exactly does "long range" mean in the context of home automation? How is it different from the conventional Z-Wave mesh setup? And most importantly, what advantages does it offer to everyday users?
Ward
February 01, 2023
I followed this guide a while back, and managed to get a ZigBee motorised blind to wotk with Home Assistant / Alexa.
Thank you for that :)
Will I be affected by this news from Samsung SmartThings… “we will start migrations of Groovy device DTHs”
https://community.smartthings.com/t/the-end-of-groovy-has-arrived/246280
Hope you can help.
Thanks.