Smart home tech isn’t just for indoors anymore—it’s transforming yard care too. While we’re used to voice assistants and smart thermostats, outdoor tools like sprinkler systems are catching up. Instead of wasting water on rigid schedules, smart systems adapt to the weather, skip rainy days, and keep your lawn healthy with minimal effort.
Smart sprinkler control makes it easy to upgrade your existing irrigation system with a device like the Zooz ZEN17 Universal Relay. Compatible with SmartThings, Hubitat, Z-Box, Home Assistant, and HomeSeer, it fits into most smart home setups without locking you into one platform. This post covers the benefits of automating your sprinklers, how to set up the ZEN17, control options, and real user tips to help you get the most from your system.
The Zooz ZEN17 Universal Relay might sound technical, but its features are surprisingly practical—especially when you're trying to bring smart control to something like your electronic sprinkler system. At its core, the ZEN17 includes two independent relays that act as dry contacts. That just means they can control power to other devices without carrying power themselves—ideal for safely managing sprinkler zones or valves. You can configure each relay to be either normally open (NO) or normally closed (NC), depending on what your setup needs. For instance, when set to NO, each relay can handle up to 20 amps—plenty for most residential irrigation needs.
If your hub supports Z-Wave Long Range, you'll be able to get advantage of the latest Z-Wave upgrades like wireless coverage up to 1300 feet and reliable direct-to-hub communication which is perfect for outdoor use cases. With Z-Wave, your smart home stays private and secure thanks to off-cloud protocol capabilities and SmartStart pairing which requires unique device identification before a product can be added to your network.
The ZEN17 Universal Relay can be used to control electronic sprinkler valves that operate on low voltage, typically 24 VAC. These are the most common types of sprinkler valves used in residential and light commercial irrigation systems. The relay functions as a dry contact, which means it can act like a simple on/off switch to complete the circuit and activate the valve when needed. It's important to note that the ZEN17 does not supply power to the valves—it only closes or opens the circuit—so a separate 24 VAC power source is required to power the valves.
One of the handiest aspects is its flexible power source. Whether you’re tapping into an existing 12–24V AC/DC system or just plugging in via USB-C, the ZEN17 adapts easily to what you already have. Because each input and relay operates independently, you’re not locked into a one-size-fits-all setup. That means you could control two different sprinkler zones separately, or even automate another outdoor device alongside your sprinklers—like a garden light or water feature.
Built-in timers add even more convenience. Say you want to run your front yard sprinklers for 15 minutes in the morning. You can set that up with the ZEN17’s auto-off feature—no need to manually shut it down or rely on a third-party app. Plus, it uses Z-Wave 800 series technology, which gives you quicker communication with your smart hub, stronger signal range, and secure connections thanks to features like S2 encryption and SmartStart.
Whether you're handling one zone, two zones, or using the Zooz Universal Relay as a master valve controller, the setup is straightforward. Here are some helpful tips and diagrams to help you complete the installation successfully.
This creates a simple relay-controlled circuit that allows your smart hub to open or close each valve based on your programmed schedule.
💡 Pro Tip: If you’re using the ZEN17 to control a master valve instead of individual zones, connect the relay to just that main valve. All downstream zones will operate in sync.
For a visual reference, check out this official wiring diagram from Zooz Support (read full instructions for more details and guidance here):
Up next, we’ll cover how to integrate the ZEN17 with your preferred smart hub and get your automation rolling.
You'll find hub specific instructions for inclusion and programming of the ZEN17 device on the Zooz Support Portal. We've linked them here for your convenience as well:
The Z-Box Hub offers one of the most seamless experiences for setting up and automating the Zooz ZEN17 Universal Relay, since it’s designed with full Zooz compatibility in mind. This makes it an excellent option for beginners and advanced users alike.
Z-Box will automatically detect the ZEN17 and configure two relay controls as switch devices (R1 and R2), no custom drivers or handlers are needed.
With Z-Box's Linked Devices feature, you can combine several ZEN17 Universal Relays into a single, streamlined device. Each ZEN17 relay supports up to two independently controlled channels—ideal for operating separate sprinkler solenoid valves. By linking these relays through the Z-Box hub, you gain centralized control and smarter, more efficient watering across your entire lawn or garden.
You can integrate weather conditions or soil moisture sensors to optimize watering. For instance, use rain data to prevent watering on rainy days or adjust the watering schedule based on soil moisture readings. You're even able to add sequences to enable you to run multiple sprinklers in a specific order.
Check out the full instructions here for creating linked devices on Z-Box: Create Smart Sprinklers with Z-Wave Relays on Z-Box Hub Using the Linked Devices Feature (the article uses the ZEN16 MultiRelay model as an example, but the same instructions may be applied to the ZEN17 Universal Relay).
What's even better? With the Z-Box's built-in Garden feature, setting an automated watering schedule ensures your plants get the hydration they need—without the guesswork. Whether you're managing a few pots or a full backyard setup, this guide will walk you through the simple steps to configure a watering schedule tailored to your garden’s needs. Get your green space thriving with smart, effortless care. Check out our easy, step-by-step guide: How to Set a Watering Schedule on Z-Box Using the Garden Feature.
Advantages:
Home Assistant users will find the ZEN17 works smoothly using the Z-Wave JS integration, offering full access to both the relays and inputs for powerful automation capabilities.
Configuring Automations:
With the device added, you can create automations to schedule your ZEN17 watering system. Some examples of programming options:
Tips
switch entity you can control in scripts or automations.Zooz devices are integrated with the Z-Wave Plus plug-in and the Z-Wave JS Front-End of HomeSeer. If you're experiencing issues with accessing the advanced settings of your device or the unit not properly displaying, we would recommend first updating to the Z-Wave Plus plug-in or the Z-Wave JS Front-End, then excluding and re-including your device to your network in order for it to be recognized correctly.
Automating with Events:
The HomeSeer Event Engine gives you powerful logic tools to automate your sprinklers:
Optimization Tips:
The Zooz ZEN17 integrates seamlessly with Hubitat, especially when using the custom driver that unlocks all device features, including full control of relays and inputs.
Configuring the Device:
With the advanced driver, Hubitat will display:
Automation Scenarios in Hubitat:
Unlock the Universal Relay's full functionality—including independent control of both relays—by installing the custom Edge driver.
Creating Automations:
SmartThings offers flexible automations using either the app’s visual builder or SmartThings Routines:
Tips:
Once the Universal Relay is installed and connected to your preferred smart hub, the real magic happens through automation. Whether you're optimizing for efficiency, convenience, or weather conditions, here are powerful ways to program your smart sprinkler system.
*This scenario is supported by select hubs which offer integration for both a connected soil moisture sensor and a Z-Wave hub. The next section covers this scenario in more detail.
If you're looking for a soil moisture sensor that provides actual moisture percentage (not just a basic wet/dry reading) and can be integrated with a Z-Wave hub, there are few practical options to consider. While there are no native Z-Wave soil moisture sensors that offer real percentage values at the time we publish this post, you can achieve this functionality with a hybrid solution.
Sensor:
The Ecowitt WH51 Soil Moisture Sensor measures actual soil moisture levels from 0% to 100%. It is battery powered and communicates via RF (not Z-Wave), so it requires a gateway like the Ecowitt GW1200, GW2000, or HP2551 to access the data.
Integration Options:
sensor.soil_moisture_1) with real-time percentage readings. Home Assistant can then use this data to trigger Z-Wave devices, like your ZEN17 Universal Relay. ecowitt_gateway.groovy and ecowitt_sensor.groovy) and is actively maintained with features such as local LAN integration, sensor auto-detection, and dashboard tile support.Pros:
Cons:
Recommended Setup
To get accurate soil moisture data and use it to control Z-Wave irrigation or other devices, the following setup is recommended:
This combination offers local control, accurate data, and reliable automation between your soil sensor and your ZEN17 Universal Relay sprinkler controller.
Smart home communities are buzzing with creative ways to use the Zooz Universal Relay for sprinkler control. Whether you're looking for installation help or inspiration for your own setup, these user experiences and resources can be incredibly valuable.
Smart sprinkler automation isn’t just a cool upgrade—it’s a meaningful improvement in how we care for our homes, save water, and simplify daily routines. With the Zooz ZEN17 Universal Relay, you get a powerful yet flexible tool that transforms traditional irrigation into a fully programmable, intelligent system.
Ready to take the plunge?
✅ Check your current setup
✅ Choose your preferred smart hub
✅ Grab the Zooz Universal Relay from The Smartest House
✅ Start building your smartest lawn yet
Have questions or want to share your own setup? Drop your experience in the comments below!
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Tom Carmody
August 11, 2025
If it had 6 outputs (I actually have 5 zones) I’d buy it.
What is the operating ambient temperature range? Thanks