Once you've installed the custom driver for your ZEN35 Scene Dimmer and added the device to your hub, it's time to program it. There are a few different ways you can assign actions to the remote control buttons.
You can use the 4 remote buttons as well as the main switch button to trigger other devices and scenes in your system. The main button can be used as an on/off switch for a connected load and still control other smart devices with the multi-tap triggers. Or you can use the main button for remote control only without anything on the load side at all.
Each button can be individually programmed to trigger automations through Central Scene commands or to directly control other Z-Wave devices using Direct Association. This dual-mode capability allows users to choose between flexible, hub-based automation logic or simple device-to-device control. Whether you're aiming to activate complex Home Assistant scenes or simply control a nearby light switch, programming the ZEN32 offers a smart and adaptable solution for seamless home automation.
Below, we'll cover what Central Scene and Direct Association are and how you can program either option on SmartThings.
Central Scene / Scene Control
Each button on the ZEN35 sends a unique Scene Number, allowing SmartThings to recognize which of the five buttons was pressed. What makes this controller especially versatile is its use of Key Attributes, which identify the type of interaction—such as a single tap, double tap, hold, or release. These combinations of Scene Numbers and Key Attributes give users granular control over automations, enabling one button to perform multiple functions based on how it's pressed. For example, a single tap might turn on a light, while a hold could dim it, and a double tap could activate an entire scene.
ZEN35 + ZAC99 Momentary in 3-Way Setup
Are you looking to have scene control options or dim from the other locations when installing the ZEN35 in a multi-way location? You can use the ZAC99 Momentary switch in the other location(s) in your multi-way installation and use the reported events to trigger scenes as well as dim from the ZAC99.
Scene control is not available from a standard, dumb on/off switch because the ZEN35 is designed to trigger scenes based on momentary inputs—quick presses that send a signal to activate a programmed scene. A standard "dumb" on/off switch physically changes the electrical state (open or closed circuit) instead of providing the momentary signal input. With a momentary switch like the ZAC99, the ZEN35 consistently receives clean, simple press events it can interpret correctly to trigger scenes, ensuring smooth and reliable scene control.
The ZAC99 is SPST and only the top portion of the switch is pressed. If you click the switch once, it will turn on. If you press and hold it while it's on, it will decrease brightness (when connected with a dimmer in a 3-way). If you click it again, it'll turn off. Once off, when you press and hold it will increase brightness.
Programming Central Scene / Scene Control From the Routines
Each button will appear as a possible trigger under "Device Status" in the SmartThings app built-in Routines tool.
To access it, click on the Routines item in the lower screen menu in your SmartThings app:
- Create a new Automation by clicking on the + icon in the top right corner of the screen.
- Under If, please press the + button.
- Select Device status as the trigger.
- Select the ZEN35 Scene Dimmer to program the main button or any of the 4 remote control buttons from your device list.
- Select the button trigger (double tap, held, etc) you would like to use in this automation.
- Click Save.
- Add additional conditions to your automation under the If section or move on to the Then section.
- Click on the + button to add the action you would like to trigger with the button of your choice.
- If you want to turn a device on, simple click on Control devices
- Select the target device from the list
- Click Next
- Select Turn on (or a different action of your choice)
- Click Save.
- You can add multiple devices or scenes to be fired by the same button trigger if you click the + button next to Then again and follow the prompts on the screen to add another action.
- Once the trigger and action items look good, click Save and rename your automation if needed so you can easily find it among other smart rules you programmed using the Automation tool.
- Click OK for the automation to be saved.
If you need to edit or delete your automation, simply open the Routines section from the lower screen menu in your SmartThings app. Tap once to edit it, press and hold to delete it.
Programming Central Scene / Scene Control From the Control Screen
Just click on the button device in your SmartThings app and take a look at the list of available actions, then click on the ones that you'd like to use as triggers. Don't forget to click Save after you've assigned an action to your trigger!
If you need to edit or delete any of the programming, just go to the SmartThings app menu and click on Automations. Then find the action you'd like to remove on the list of your automations and press and hold it to delete. This method is available only for the small remote control buttons. For the main switch button, you'll need to use the automation programming method described above.
Direct Association
Direct association is a direct link established between two Z-Wave devices where one of them acts as the trigger and the other acts as the receiver of that trigger. For example, if you associate a Z-Wave light switch to a motion sensor, the light switch will turn on anytime motion is triggered, without the hub getting involved or without the need to set up an automation for it. In other words, one Z-Wave device sends a direct message to another Z-Wave device, bypassing the hub. These are usually very simple unconditional commands like "on/off" or "dim/increase brightness". The communication works one way without any feedback to the other device. The controlling device simply sends the command to the controlled device or devices associated in what we call "association group". The controlling device is not affected by the controlled device at all, even though there is a link established between the two, it only ever works in one direction.
Associations Groups
The association groups supported by the ZEN35 can be found in the device manual, in the Advanced Settings document, and we've included them below as well:
Group 1: Lifeline to hub
Group 2: Main button basic set (pressed only, doesn't send anything when switch turned on via hub)
Group 3: Main button multilevel set (held)
Group 4: Main button multilevel start / stop
Group 5: Small button #1 basic set
Group 6: Small button #1 Multilevel (held) > in sequence > held = increase brightness, release = stop level, held = decrease brightness, release = stop level
Group 7: Small button #2 basic set (pressed)
Group 8: Small button #2 Multilevel (held) > in sequence > held = increase brightness, release = stop level, held = decrease brightness, release = stop level
Group 9: Small button #3 basic set (pressed)
Group 10: Small button #3 Multilevel (held) > in sequence > held = increase brightness, release = stop level, held = decrease brightness, release = stop level
Group 11: Small button #4 basic set (pressed)
Group 12: Small button #4 Multilevel (held) > in sequence > held = increase brightness, release = stop level, held = decrease brightness, release = stop level
Limitations and Considerations
Security Level: Before attempting association programming, double check that both devices are added with the exact same level of security; if one device is included with S2A and one is included with S0, the association will not be available. you can read more about the requirements, limitations, and recommendations for programming using Direct Association here.
To program associations:
- Click on the ZEN35 main button device in your SmartThings app
- Click on the 3 dots in the corner
- Click on Settings
- Scroll down to Device Associations and read the instructions and disclaimer carefully to finish programming the switch according to the association groups outlined above.
Important: Only add association links if you have experience with working with association. Incorrect programming may affect the device's operation.
If you need any help getting your Scene Dimmer programmed on SmartThings, please reach out to us!
