Frequently Asked Questions About the ZEN34 Remote Switch
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INSTALLATION QUESTIONS
Can the ZEN34 be installed outdoors?
- No. The ZEN34 is rated for indoor use only.
What is the operating temperature of the ZEN34?
- 32-104° F (0-40° C)
What are the dimensions of the ZEN34? How big is the device?
- Remote Switch: 2.6" x 1.4" x 0.5"
- Remote Switch with mounting plate: 4.3" x 1.9" x 0.7" (see in image above "...that looks like a switch")
- Remote Switch with wall plate: 4.6" x 2.9" x 0.5"
Is the ZEN34 available in other colors?
- No. The ZEN34 is currently available in white only.
What is the wireless range of the Remote Switch?
- Z-Wave devices work best in a mesh network, so even though the ZEN34 has a range of up to 250 feet line of sight, this means 250 feet with other Z-Wave signal repeating devices between where the hub is and where the ZEN34 will be installed.
- It is the hub that decides the communication route to each device. The more signal repeating (non-battery powered) devices included on your network, the stronger it is and easier it is for the hub to reach devices that are further away.
- Environments with a lot of glass or metal elements, large furniture, and thick walls can also be very disruptive to Z-Wave signals.
- Basic glass can easily be penetrated by wireless signals including Z-Wave, but with double or triple pane glass windows it will reduce the strength of your Z-Wave signals. If your glass window is treated against emissions and radiation (these are typically present in new buildings as a standard so make sure to determine that before attempting, tilts, films, or glazes may be a indication of that), these can be highly reflective and block/reflect Z-Wave signals.
What kind of battery does the ZEN34 use / need?
- The ZEN34 is powered by 2 x CR2032 batteries.
Will it work in environments colder than what it is rated for?
- Cold temperatures can reduce ion mobility, increasing the batteries' internal resistance and dropping the output voltage. No energy storage is lost, it's just that the energy doesn't get to the device, it dissipates internally. So in cold weather it may stop responding, but once it warms up, it should still operate and respond. The switch needs a certain amount of voltage from the battery to report, and when that energy is dissipated due to the cold, you get a loss of function until the battery is warmed.
What is the battery life of the ZEN34?
- The batteries in the ZEN34 should last around a year with standard use (10 presses a day).
Can I use rechargeable batteries?
- We don't recommend it. Rechargeable batteries usually decrease in max voltage with time, so you may see a shorter battery life if using these. The Z-Wave chip manufacturer also requires all Z-Wave devices to report low battery at 2.6V and many rechargeable batteries are not full 3V when charged so it may seem like the battery is empty even at full charge.
Is the mounting base for the ZEN34 able to charge the Remote Switch
- No. The magnetic mounting base included with the ZEN34 is for installation / storage purposes only. It will not charge the batteries in the ZEN34 when mounted / placed in the base.
What voltages should the battery report for 100% and when there is a low battery alert?
- 3.2V - 3V is a full battery (100%) and the Z-Wave chip manufacturer requires all Z-Wave devices to report low battery at 2.6V.
How do I get the most battery life out of my ZEN34?
- We recommend pairing Z-Wave devices to your hub without security (if your hub lets you choose during inclusion). S2 security adds an additional layer of information to communicate with your hub which can drain the battery quicker than you'd like, in rare cases.
What is the warranty coverage for the ZEN34?
- Zooz 700 and 800 series devices are covered by a 5-year warranty. Please register your device here and review the full warranty policy here.
Where can I find the device manual for the ZEN34?
PRODUCT FUNCTIONALITY QUESTIONS
What security level does the ZEN34 pair to my controller or hub with?
- The ZEN34 will include with the highest level of security: S2 Authenticated.
Will the ZEN34 act as a signal repeater for other Z-Wave devices in my network?
- No because it is a battery powered device. 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.
Can I use direct association to control another Z-Wave device with the ZEN34?
- You can use scene control or direct association to control another Z-Wave device when using the ZEN34, as long as the hub supports scene control and direct association functionality. For direct association, both devices will need to be included on the same security level.
- If the device you're trying to associate does not support S2 Authenticated security, and your hub allows for security level selection at inclusion, you can include both the ZEN34 and other device with No Security. (Note: S0 security is not No Security).
Can I control the ZEN34 via my smart speaker (Alexa, Google, etc.)?
- No. Smart speakers only support selected basic Z-Wave devices when they are connected to your Z-Wave hub. They will not recognize advanced products such as scene or button controllers, like the ZEN34.
Is the ZEN34 able to dim my other Z-Wave dimmers? How does it work?
- As long as the ZEN34 is associated with a dimmer, it will increase brightness of that dimmer when you're holding the top paddle on the ZEN34 and decrease brightness (dim) when you're holding the bottom paddle on the ZEN34.
Z-WAVE QUESTIONS
Do I need a Z-Wave hub to buy this device?
- Yes.
- To control any of our Z-Wave devices remotely through your smart phone, you'll need a compatible Z-Wave hub. 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 ZEN34 if my Z-Wave hub is down or offline?
- No if the ZEN34 was only programmed to trigger scenes or automations. Yes if the ZEN34 was directly associated with other Z-Wave devices, but there may be a delay in the triggered device responding to a command issued on the ZEN34.
Is the ZEN34 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 ZEN34.
Will the ZEN34 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 Remote Switch, as it follows Z-Wave protocol and has been Z-Wave certified. There is nothing we can change on our end to have the ZEN34 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 ZEN34's advanced settings?
How do I add the ZEN34 to my Z-Wave hub?
- SmartThings Installation articles
- Hubitat Installation articles
- Home Assistant Installation articles
- Z-Wave System Installation articles
How can I tell what firmware my ZEN34 is running on?
- The firmware that your ZEN34 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 ZEN34's change log may display as 1.1 in your hub.
How do I update the firmware of my ZEN34?
- 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 will need to register your device in order to have access to Zooz firmware files.
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 ZEN34?
What series Z-Wave chip does the ZEN34 use?
- The ZEN34 uses a 700 series Z-Wave chip. We are in the process of updating this model to the new 800 series Z-Wave chip so it should be 800 series by the end of 2023.
Is the ZEN34 available in other Z-Wave frequencies?
- The ZEN34 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 ZEN34 Remote Switch (and all of our devices)! If you can't find your answer there, reach out to us!
