ZEN53 DC Motor Controller FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions About the ZEN53 DC Motor Controller
Find the answers to your questions quickly by searching key words!
- Press the CTRL and F keys at the same time on your keyboard. A little box should pop up in your browser window.
- Type in a key word in your question like "hub" or "compatible". You should see your key word highlighted every time it is mentioned on the page.
- Use the arrow keys in the search box to jump to each instance that your key word is mentioned.
INSTALLATION QUESTIONS
Can the ZEN53 be installed outdoors?
- No. The ZEN53 is rated for indoor use only.
What is the operating temperature of the ZEN53?
- 32-104° F (0-40° C)
What are the dimensions of the ZEN53? How big is the device?
- 1.5" tall, 1.4" wide, 0.7" deep
Can I fit multiple ZEN53 in the same switch box?
- If your switch box is deep enough and the box is not overcrowded with wires then you should be able to fit more than one ZEN53 unit in the same switch box.
How do I install the ZEN53?
- Your ZEN53 relay should come with a manual containing the most common DC Motor set-up. You can find the manual here.
- Installation Tips and Tricks
How Can I Identify the Wiring For My ZEN53?
- Your ZEN53 comes with lifetime tech support and we're happy to help identify the wiring in your set-up and provide custom wiring instructions, free of charge. However, our techs are not magicians, mind readers, or telepaths with the ability to verify wiring without clear images from each switch box involved in your set-up. Please review the requirements in this article before submitting your images and wiring diagram request to Zooz support.
What is the warranty coverage for the ZEN53?
- Zooz 700 and 800 series devices are covered by a 5-year extended warranty once registered. Please register your device here and review the full warranty policy here.
Where can I find the device manual for the ZEN53?
PRODUCT FUNCTIONALITY QUESTIONS
What security level does the ZEN53 pair to my controller or hub with?
- The highest level of security the ZEN53 supports is S2 Authenticated.
Will the ZEN53 act as a signal repeater for other Z-Wave devices in my network?
- Yes because the ZEN53 is constantly powered. Your Z-Wave hub decides which devices to use to reach other Z-Wave devices. Any non-battery powered Z-Wave device will act as a signal repeater; it would be up to your hub whether or not it will be used in a communication route.
- If your hub supports Z-Wave Long Range and you have the latest LR version of the ZEN53 device, you can add it to your network as a Long Range device which means it will communicate with the hub directly at a much greater range. But it also means it will not participate in your Z-Wave mesh and will not act as a signal repeater or range extender since Z-Wave Long Range is a star topology type network.
What kind of load is the ZEN53 rated for? What is its maximum rating?
- 1.5 A (use with DC motors only)
Are the ZEN53 leads copper or aluminum?
- COPPER stranded wires, which are tinned with an antioxidant layer.
What does each wire on the ZEN53 do?
- S2 : The brown wire is the Switch pigtail, which would connect to the switch for manual on/off control.
- S1 : The yellow wire is the Switch pigtail, which would connect to the switch for manual on/off control.
- OUT- : The blue wire is the outcoming (negative) connection for the motor to close the circuit and trigger the connected load.
- OUT+ : The white wire is the outcoming (positive) connection for the motor to close the circuit and trigger the connected load.
- GND- : The black wire is the incoming connection from the low-voltage power supply (6-32 V DC only).
- VDC+ : The red wire is is the incoming connection from the low-voltage power supply (6-32 V DC only).
Z-WAVE QUESTIONS
Do I need a Z-Wave hub to buy the ZEN53?
- No. With the ZEN53 installed, you can still control the connected load with the wall switch so you can install it without having a Z-Wave hub; however, to control the device remotely and access the advanced features, you would need a Z-Wave hub. The ZEN53 communicates via Z-Wave and would require a hub to allow you to control it remotely. We recommend the Z-Box for the most intuitive hub control of the ZEN53 and all other Zooz devices.
- To control any of our Z-Wave devices remotely through your smart phone, you'll need a compatible Z-Wave hub like the Z-Box. These devices require a central controller that communicates with them and sends commands. Once you have a controller, you would download that controller's dedicated app on your phone and control your connected devices through that app.
Will I still be able to control the ZEN53 if my Z-Wave hub is down or offline?
- The ZEN53 simply adds Z-Wave control to your existing load, so you will have manual control of the connected load from the wall switch. You won't be able to control the load via the ZEN53 through your Z-Wave hub. You always need a connection to a wall switch in order to operate your motor without a Z-Wave hub.
Is the ZEN53 compatible with my hub?
- You can find a list of compatible hubs for a given device under the Works With section on the product's page. Here is the list of hubs compatible with the ZEN53 (the Z-Box is recommended for use with all Zooz devices).
Will the ZEN53 work with my alarm panel?
- No. Alarm panels like Alarm.com will typically only support single switches, door locks, select thermostats, and any authorized items on their list. We would recommend reaching out to your alarm panel company to verify compatibility and to get the latest on any device integrations they may be working on.
- It would be up to your alarm panel to integrate the ZEN53, as it follows Z-Wave protocol and has been Z-Wave certified. There is nothing we can change on our end to have the DC Motor Controller be recognized correctly; Alarm.com would have to support the integration. Read more about alarm panel compatibility here.
Where do I find all of my ZEN53's advanced settings?
How do I add the ZEN53 to my Z-Wave hub?
- Z-Box Installation articles
- SmartThings Installation articles
- Hubitat Installation articles
- Home Assistant Installation articles
- Z-Wave System Installation articles
Does the ZEN53 support Long Range technology?
- Yes it does. However, in order for Long Range to be implemented, both the end device and the hub software must support Long Range. At this time, no hubs provide Long Range support; the Z-Box should provide Long Range support in 2024.
How can I tell what firmware my ZEN53 is running on?
- The firmware that your ZEN53 is shipped with should be printed on the back of the device where the model specifications are. If your hub supports and properly integrates the device, you should also see the firmware listed in your Z-Wave interface.
- Firmware that is listed as 1.01 (or any other value with a 0 in the middle) in the ZEN53's change log may display as 1.1 in your hub.
How do I update the firmware of my ZEN53?
- Some Z-Wave hubs have a built-in firmware updater that you can use. Otherwise, we recommend using the PC Controller tool on the Simplicity Studio Software as described here.
- You can access firmware files directly in the firmware repository here.
How long does the update take? How do I know when it's finished?
- Firmware updates should usually take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes depending on connection quality and how much information needs to actually be updated on a given device.
- If it is taking longer than that, please try to bring the hub / controller closer to the device that is being updated.
Where can I find the history of changes and firmware updates for the ZEN53?
What series Z-Wave chip does the ZEN53 use?
- The ZEN53 uses a 700 series Z-Wave chip.
Is the ZEN53 available in other Z-Wave frequencies?
- The device is currently available in 908.42 MHz (US) frequency only. We do not currently have plans to release it in EU or AU frequency.
Check out the Zooz Knowledge Base for free support articles about the ZEN53 DC Motor Controller (and all of our devices)!
